Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1881-01-27
journ was defeated; yeas, l27; nays, 129. An
other call of the House was ordered and then
the House adjourned.
The POjlcQS,
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE OF INvEsTIaA


HEHOh1 Or The OF INNESTIGA
TIoN.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 26-The commission
appointed by the President to proceed to th
Indian Territory and confer with the Ponci
Indians for the purpose of ascertaining th'
facts in regard to their recent removal an(
present condition, so far as is necessary TO de
termine the question what justice and hu
manity requires should be done by the United
States government in the premises, to-day SUBJ
mitted report to the President, in which they
say the removal Of the Poncas was injudicious
and without just cause; that the lands from
which they were removed had been
ceded to them by treaty, the goverement un-
dertaking to warrant and defend them in
their title; that the Indians had violated no
condition of their treaty, and that their rght-
ful claim TO the lands thus ceded still existed,
and that up to within a few months they have
maintained the strongest desire to return to
their reservation in Dakota, and a portion of
| the tribe have actually succeeded in getting
back, but that the majority had become tis-
couraged in such efforts, and finally despairing
of the government protecting them in
| their rights, had agreed to accept the terms
offered for their permanent location in the In
dian territory
The report further says that the portion of
the tribe who have returned to Dakota have
received no assistance from the government,
but have been self supporting, except as aided
by benevolent people; that they are on friendly
relations with both Indians and whites, and
that they desire to remain where they
are and receive the same advantages for
sslf improvement, etc., accorded other reser-
vation tribes. In view of these facts the COM
mission recommend that an allotment of 100
acres of land be made to each man, woman
oY,6 oh off fbn p of
lands to be selected by them on their old re-
serYation in Dakoto, or land now occupied by
Ponca Indians in the Indian territory, within |
one year from the passage OF an act OF Con- |
gress granting such tracts of land; that until |
the expiration of this period free communica- |
ton be permitted between the two branches |
of tribes; said land to be secured to |
shall not be subject to lien, alienation or en-
cumbrance, either by voluntary conveyance
or by judgment, orders or decree of any court
or subject to taxation of any character for
period of thirty years from date of patent, and
until such time thereafter as the President
may remove restrictions, and that they shall
be subject to the laws, both civil and
including the laws of alinea-
ton and descent in force
in the State or Territory where such lands are
selected; that the government shall continue
its appropriations the same as at present, not
less than $4,000 per year during period of
five years from the passage of the act making
allotments aforesaid, the same to be for the
benefit of members of the tribe pro rata, and
that the additional sum of $4,000 be appro-
priated and expended in agricultural imple
ments, stock and seed, 5000 of which shall
be for the exclusive benefit of Poncas in Ne
braska and Dakota Territory.
In conclusion the commission say it is of
the utmost importance to white and red men
alike, that all Indians should have opportunity
Of appealing to the courts for protection and
vndication of their person and property. The
members of the commission were Brigadier
General George Crook, and Nelson A. Miles,
United States army; Wm Stickney of Wash
ngton, and Walker Allen, of Newton, Mass.
Walker Allen submitted additional report, In
which he says that while he subscribes to the {
conclusions and recommendations of
MS colleagues in the inquiry as far as
hey go, he differs with them in his view of
he duty of the commissioner to report the
acts and reasons upon which the conclusions
md recommendations are based, instead Of I'M
conclusions and recommendations
which may appear to be uncalled for.