The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1880-12-25
THE POxo.s' POSITION.
A Conflict of Authority I'm
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Chicago, 24.-Inter-CceaR's Washing
ton: A conflict of opin ion, IL not q ciatl
OF autho ity, seems imminent between
the secretary of the interior and III
special commission appointed By Pref
dent Hayes TO irquire into the condition
Of the POnc4s, and the manner Of thsi
removal from D@kotA to Nebraska. Fer
POhca Chiefs v ere 1t the interior depart
ment, this morning, to confsr with
Schurz on the subject OF settling theil
troubles The draft of treaty WAS read
TO them, in which for $4,000 they
sgreed TO forego all claims against gov
eminent, and TO sett down in Indian
Territory. Fifty thousand dollars OF the
money is 10 be used to purchase for them
100000 acres of land in IGdian Terri
tory, $40, 600 to be distributed among
them equally per capita, $40 600 to be
expended far stock cattle and draught
animals for them, and $4,000 10 be
invested for their benefit in per
cent. q. S. bonds as a permanent fund.
the interest OF which is 10 be distributed
among them annually, all subject to the
approval If Congress. White Eagle,
speaking for The Ponc4s. said, after lis
tening 10 the resdisg of the treaty, that
he beard it with grief. because it was
not enough. They had suffered from
predstOry Sioux and been driven from
their homes not from any fault of theirs.
Gray Hat said William WEIGH, q former
agent, had said their lands alone in Ne
brask and Dakota were worth 1913. 000,
be.ides their houses, ponies and improve
ment.; but they would sign. Other
chiefs spoke similarly. Schurz had the
treaty copied and ready for signing in
the afternoon. Then Gen. Crook com
menced asking some questions, and
finally got White Eagle 10 tell the story
of their forcible removal from Dakota by
troops and their suferings on the road,
as we'll as after their arrival 10 Indian
Territory, where they had not land
enough to Craze their remaining few
ponies, and where the POncss withered
like the grass. Gen. Crook proceeded to
White Eagle, with the
view of ssceriaining why they are now
content to give $4,000
worth Of property for $l4U, 900,
in a country where % per cent. of them
died during the fret year after their ar
rival. White Eagle, however, maintained
that no threats or promises had induced
them to come TO their present conclusi, n.
1t is evident that the special commission
ers do not sgree with the interior depart
ment as to the justice of keeping the Pom
cas- in Indian Territory, and they may
report against it, unless they find that the
portion Of the t ID row in Indian Terri
tory, is bet er than : ommonly reported.
1t is possible the prospect Ofgetiing 81 ,0C0
in cash, which in spite Of the per capita
distribution would practically be paid to
the hea chiefs in Indian Territory, is an
iuesist BILE inducement fo- them to COM
ply with Schurz' terms. A special com-
consisting Of Generals Crook
and Miles will go to InoiEn TER tory
next week to inquire into this matte, and
If they report against it. the President
will not approve of the BIZ opposed by
5, hurz. if Congress passes it. In c"nse-
luebce ofthe cTO,s-exsminAtion of w hite
4 ge and lis recital Of the Puncas'
wrongs, the afternoon wore away without
The signing OF the papers. White
Eagle wanted to say some words 10
the secretary, but was told it was too lste
for to-day, and must wat till Monday to
finish his talk, but they might ali sign the
paper to-day. While Eagle Suspected
hat he might be shut off by the opera
ion OF tle previous question under the
plan. so he cautioujly re-
marked that after be had his talk he
" ould ,ign. This adjourned the meeting
i'll Monday.
The il terror department, to-day, re-
,eIved two samples OF q ur from DEVILS
Lake Sioux, ia Oak, who raised 300
bushels of grain and over 5, 800 bushels
II potatoes, this year. THESE Indians
we're the chief operators in the
Minnesota massacres some years ago.
They said tLey were entirely satisfied
with the land they now occupy, and want
% remain in their present located In
answer to questions whether this change
had been brought about by any threats
Or promises, they said there had been no
of any kind Uffe ed them,
but they had considered the matter
among themselves, and cana 10 the
COT elusion that it WAS best for them TO
remain in Indian Territory. They re-
Iuested that this determination on their
part should be communicated TO Con-
yress.
Washington, 24.-Ths Ponca chiefs
had another council at heinterlor depart
nent, to-day, and were examined by
members Of the commission recently
named by the President, to inquire into
heir wrongs and their remedy. They
.old the story of thei- removal from
Dakota to Indian Territory, and what
they had suffered, but added
hat '.a good time had now come for
HEM"