The Warner weekly sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1885, 1883-12-07
INTERIOR DEPARTMENT T.
Secretary Teller's Report, Giving a Full
Exhibit of the Indians and
Public Lands.
TIE INDIAN QUESTION.

or the fifty. four pages of Secretary Teller's
annual report, 20 are de voted to Indians, 6 10
public lands, 3 to patents, . each to educa-
ton and railroads, and II miscellaneously to
geological surveys, Alaska, Utah, Yellowstone
park, census, and government buildings. Much
of the matter presented on the Indian question
is threshed straw. 1t is interesting to note
that
The department has located an Indiru school a
Lawrence, HAMS, to be conducted on the plan OK
Carlisle, Hampton and Forest Grove. The citizIns
purposes of this school $50 acres OF choice iaud in
the immediate vicinity OF the city. of the cash value
of something over $4,000: The buildings are
now in course OF construction, and when COM
pleted will accommodate about $40 children. II
is desirable to increase their capacity TO
800. School buildings at Chilocca, Ind,
T., and Genoa, Nebr., are about ready for occnpa-
ton. The capacity OF each of these schools is 150.
1t il proposed TO establish boarding schools al
Devils LAX, Rosebud, aud Sisseton, OAK; Wash
axle, Wyo.: Wichita, Ind. T.; and Sileiz. Greg.
Some of these are in course of erection. Secretary
Teller reminds the country that the United States
owes now. under existing treaties, 49, 56,000 for
Indian education. which government ought, but
has not paid, and urges that now when there ia q
surplus of revenue, is a goad time to mako an an
propriation. OF the Indian tribunals OF three
head men at each agency no adequate report Is
given. Crimes on reservations are yet without the
necessary legislation from congress.
The commissioner of Iudian affairs again calls at
tention 70 the persistent attempts made by Payne
aud others TO invade the Indian Territory for the
purpose Of settlement, and recommends the enact
ment Of a law adding Imprisonment to the fine now
provided for, in which the secretary concurs. The
increase OF Indian agents salaries is
on the ground that better pay wouid command
better men. The commissioner Of Indian affairs
recommends that a fund be placed ut the disposal
of the department 10 pay the fees OF homestead
entries by Indians, in which the secretary cvncurs.
II SIOUX RESERVATION.
After recounting the failure OF the Sioux treaty
to meet the approval OF tbs senate, the secretary
continues:
whether the proposed payments are sufficient
must be determined from the value OF the land and
the tenure under which 1t Is held. 1t does net APP
pear from az examination OF the treaty of 1868 that
1t was the intention on the part OF tho government
TO recognize the whole OF that vast tract of land
called the Sioux reservation as the property OF the
Sioux alone, for it Is provided that other Indians
might be settled on the reservation with the consent
of the Indians thereon; no provision is
made for compensation for the land TO
be taken f. that purpose. It appears to
have been the purpose OF the government in
| ressrving that vast tract 70 secure to each Sioux
Indian a piece Of land for his personal benefit: for
it is provided that the head of a family should be
| allowed to take not exceeding $50 acres, aud
| others a less amount: out Of the reservation these
smaller pieces were TO be carved. The amount OF
land stipulated to be given to the Indian ia moro
than double the amount that is allowed citizens Of
] the United States to take under the settlement
laws. Ii Is also provided in the treaty OF 1868,
that y the tract reserved aoonv was 70 not , sumcie o9ss 70 ,s sed
should be- added. There il also a provision
that any male Indian eighteen years
Of age, OF said tribes, mgy take q
homestead Of 160 acres anywhere on public land
by residing on IL for three years. Il IL further pro.
yided Ia the act OF 1858 that. on the selection Of
land as aforesaid, the government will give TO par
ties selecting the same seeds, agricultural fmple-
ments. etc. to tie value Of 500 the first year, and
123 per year ror three years thereafter: and that
each person engaging In farming shonld receive
920 per year. or $40 more than IL ne continued Il
roam over the reservation. The treaty Of 1865
provides that schools shall DO maintained &C gov.
ernment expense for every thirty scholars: also
that the United States would furnish to each family
that should commences farming one good American