Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1883-12-05

comments ana Suggestions
Relative to Indian
Matters.
The following extracts from the annual
report Of H. N. Teller, secretary of the
interior. will be Of interest to this sec.
tion of the country:
Continued from yesterday.)
The government having ATTEMPTED to
support the Indians until such time q
they shall become self supporting, the
interest OF the government as we'll as that
OF the Indians demands that every DOS.
sible effort should be made to induce
them to become seli-supporting at %
early day as possible. l therefore sug.
gest whether it is not practicable to for.
mulate Certain rules for the government
nf the Indians on the reservations that
81 Ill restrict and ultimately abolish the
practices have mentioned. am not
ignorant OF the difficulties that will be
encountered in this effort; yet believe
IN all the tribes there will be found many
Indians who will aid the government in
its efforts to abolish rites and customs
so injurious to the Indians aud so con.
trary to the civilization that they ear.
nestiy desire.
In accordance with the suggestions of
bis letter, the commissioner of Indian
affairs established tribunal at sill the
agencies. except among the civilized In
dians, consisting of thee Indians, to be
snown as the court of Indian offenses.
The members OF this tribunal consist OF
the first three officers in rank of the DO.
lice force, if such selection is approved
by the agent; otherwise, the agent may
select from among the members of the
tribe three suitable persons to constitute
such tribunal.
The commissioner of Indian affairs,
with the approval of the secretary of the
interior, promulgated certain rules for
the government of this tribunai, defining
utfenses OF which 1t was to take cogniz-
auce. 1t is believed that such tribunal
composed as it is of Indians, will not be
| Objectionable to the Indians and Will be
| a step III the direction of bringing the
Indians under the ciVllizing influence o!
| law. Since the creation of this tribunal
the time has not been sufficient to give 1t
Il fair trial, but 80 far it promises to ac-
complish all that was hoped for at the
time OF its creation. The commissioners
recommends an appropriation for the
support OF this tribunal, and in such re-
commentator I concur.
CONFORMATION OF INDIAN AGENTS.
The salaries allowed TO Indian agents
are, in most cases, grossly inadequate to
the labor performed by them. In several
Instances agents have found the labor go
great and the compensation 80 small that
they have surrendered their positions to
accept larger salary, with less labor
and responsibility, in other fields. The
work required Of an Indian agent is OF
the highest order. and can only be per.
formed by men of large capacity and
business experience. He is charged with
the distribution of a large amount OF
property among the Indians. He sub.
mits estimates for the necessary appro
prlations for his agency, has the general
overnight of the affairs Of the agency
and directly represents the government
in its efforts to care for, protect, and ad
vance the Indians. Work OF this
character ought not to be left to men ol
doubtful financial probity or of ques
tionable merals Men who can properly
perform the work assigned to them q
Indian agents can make more money
with less labor and privation, in othel
pursuits
earnestly recommend that the saleriea
of agents be increased sufficiently tt
secure good men and retain them IN til.
service.
INDIAN TITLES.
The tenure by which most of the In
dian tribes hold their land is very un
satisfactory. In few cases the IndianI
are sufficiently advanced to spprecist.
the advantages of land in severalty, bu
the great mass of the Indians are no
only not ready for land in severalty, bu
violently opposed to 1t. and incapable o
taking care OF such title if given to them
A title in severalty to or individua
ownership of land is unknown in Indial
polity, and they cannot understand VII,
one man shonid have claim on or it'll
to land that he does not occupy, an,
more than they can understand how on
man can become the owner of more al
than he needs. They do not cultivat
land in common, but each Indian has
separate patch or piece of ground whicl
he tiils year after year if be desires
When he neglects to cultivate it, an,
other person may do 70. While he can
not comprehend individual ownership
he does know what title to his trib
means. He has been accustomedt to hea
the claim made that his tribe owns
section of the coontry. The invasion b
one tribe of the region claimed b
another has been the cause of inumerabl
, wars. The denial of ownership IN hi
trlhe he fully understands. and whethe
that denial comes iron a hostile tribe {
! from one of his own number, il is, III hi
opinion. q crime to be punished. Th
reservation belongs to the tribe III tru:
for all the members thereof If they wis
to occupy it. Ii is soli, il must /
sold for all
l renew the Recommendation that
made on the subject in my former IT
pors:
10 the end that the Indians may /
J. secure in their tltles and have the assn
ance that they will not be removed. e
!. cept by their free consent, recothmen
the passage Of law to give zach tribe
patent for the laud the government h,
guaranteed to It. leaving the Indians
determine the question OF allotment +,
themselves. This system has given e
tire satisfaction To the civilized Indial
of the Iudiau territory, and is consonal
with Indian law and religion.
LEASING or IHpIAN LANDS.
= In April last, certain parties. allegir
that they had made lcsses or agreemen