The weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1878-1881, 1881-02-08
house

wy iSps -s-A was
adopted asking the secretary of the interior
for any papers in his office within Is months
making complaints against any Indian agent
Or officer in the Indian service, and what steps
have been taken 10 prosecute them.
The presidents message, with the report of
the Ponca commission, was received. The
president quotes from various reports on the
subject, aud says the commission adds very
little to the known facts as given In other re-
ports. However, the evidence before the
commission and their recomme ndations show
csnclusively what measure of redress by the
government ought to be adopted. The com-
mission fails to state the present condition
| of the Poncas in Indian Territory, but the
evidence conclusively shows they are Salts
| fed, healthy, comfortable and freely and
firmly decided to adhere to their present
quarters. The remnant now in Dakota prefers
| to remain there. and number about $50. The
| president is therefore confident that a solu-
ton of the Ponca question, agreeable to the
Poncas and to the policy of the government,
is assured.
Our general Indian policy should embrace
the following ideas:
Prepare Indians for citizenship by educat-
ing the young of both sexes.
Lands to be allotted to Indians in severalty
-inalienable for a certain period.
Compensation to indians for their lands,
the amount paid to be suitably invested for
their benefit.
These prerequisites secured, the Indians
should be invested with the rights and re-
sponsibilities of citizenship.
The president therefore recommends leSis-
lation authorizing the secretary of the inter
ior to secure to individual Poncas in severalty
sufficient land for their support, inalienable
for a term of years, or until the restriction
| mr. ,Jinpot;np NAV ha rannva1 nv The DFnSi-
dent.
Let the members have ample time to
choose their allottments, OnI the new or old
reservations; give them full pay for lands re-
linquished and losses by Sioux depredatlons
INC by removal to Indian Territory, the
amount not to be less than that named by the
chiefs on Dec. 22 last. Nothing should be
left undone to show tie Indians that the GOV.
eminent regards their rights equally sacred
with those of It's citizens. :.
The time has come when the policy should
be TO place the Indians as rapidly as practlca
BILE on the same footing with other perman'
ent inhat itants of this country.
| do not undertake to apportion the blame
for the injustice done the Poncas; whetheI
the executive, or congress, or the pupllc Il
chiefly in fault is not a question OF practlca
BILE Importance. AS chief executive at the
time the wrong was c~onsulnmated am deep
ly sensible that enough Of responsibility TO
that wrong Justly attaches to me to make !
nv personal duty and earnerst desire TO a.
all I can to give these Indian people tina
measure of redress which is required allko o.
justice and by humanity.
RUTHERFORD B. HAYES.
The house then went into committee Of tn
whole on the District of Columbia appropri
alton bill.
The message and papers were referred t.
the Ponca committee. .
A communication from the secretary of th
interior transmitting the Ute commission re
port and correspondence with the governor G
Colorado concerning the Utes was ordere
printed.
WASHINGTON, Feb. ~2.-Logan's joint resc
luton to extend the Thanking privilege t
communications received by congressme
from executive departments OF business G
constituents, was reported back without ret
ommendation, the committee being equal
divided.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 3.-The Indian apprt
priation bill was reported with the Senat
7 amendment, the committee recommendln
concurrence in the same. The clause abo
ishing the Indian commission was retained
The report was agreed to. >.
The apportionment bill was then cohsl'
cred. :.
The ways and means committee reconsit
cred the vote to report on Hurd's tariff res
luton adversely and then postponed the ma
ter until a month from to-day.
Frye from the subcommittee reported
substitute for Kelly's bill to abolish the al
eliminating duties on goods from east OF u
Cape OF Good Hope.
WASHINGTON, Feb. ATKINS reporte
the legislative bill appropriatiug S17,OOO,0O
Ordered printed.
! A struggle ensued for the floor, Regs