, 1884-01-12
ELI 70 Open the ImsiiiIa Reser,atien.

On December llth, Mr. George introduced
a bill providing for attachment Of land IN
sev.ralty to the corfeisrsted bands of Cayuse
Walla Walla and Umatilia Indians DOW
living ON the umatllla Reservation In esss-
ern Oregon, and for the sale of that part OF
tie reservation remaining s,er the settle
meat This bill is certainly proper and
lust one and It's enactment would not violate
any treaty with the lndians or leave them
vi hout maintenance. II is IN principle, as
far from thst which proposed 10 rob Chief
Moses of his country last year, as righ. Is
from wrong. The Umatilla reservation oe-
cupies the fairest location in Umatilla county.
Its area Of 10000 acres Is about equally
timely suitable for general farming and the
latter almost as valuable for rsrge and for
its timber. Upon this splendid domain
little band OF Indians, not more than 200 IN
all, are quartered. They made some little
Sc Of the land In the way of farming and
for pastursge, but most Of it lies sacred
wilderness, surrounded by rich and pro
g-essive country. Its presence instead of
being blessing is a drawback to the country,
for it is a hindrance to great development.
The bill, an abstract of which follows pro-
poses only to DO what would be for the good
of all OF them. II provides, too. for the
disposal OF the lands remaining after the set
item, mt in a way which will secure what
they are worth, and in this respect the bill
is great improvement on plans heretofore
prepared, which would have made the Va
Gated lands the object Of grab game.
Section of the bill provides in the settle
ment with the Indians to give of the asr-
cultural lands to each head of family loo
acres; to each single person over the age OF
Is yesrs, SO acres and to each child under
Is years of age, not otherwise provided
40 acres. In addition to the allotment OF
agricultural lands, reasonable amount Of
timber and pasture lands for use by the in-
dams in common is TO be reserved: and Go
acres Of agricultural land is to be set apart
for an industrial farm and school. just
means are provided for the selection OF the
lands to be retained by the Indians IN sever
alty, and all lands are to be inalienabe for
twenty five years. And it is provided that
any Indian or Indians residing upon the
reservation who may desire to remove to or
settle upon any other reservation shall be
permitted to do so, and shall retlil their
right to share their equal proportion ot
benefits to be derived from any fund that
may arise from the sale of any Of the lands
of said Umatilla reservation, and IN addi-
ton the equitable value OF the right to take
lands IN severalty On the reservation, To be
determined by the Secretary of the Interior
and taken out of the fund; and the same
shall be expended from time to time for their
benefit in establishing them in their new
homes.
Section > provides for the sale Of the va
Gated part Of the reservation. The lands
are TO be appraised and surveyed into tracts
and each purchaser Will be allowed to buy
l60 acres Of agricultural land and 40 acres Of
timber land, and 10 more. Onethrd OF the
purchase price of untimbered land must be
paid Mt the time OF purchase, one-thIrd IN
one year, and one-thiri in two years. with
interest on the deferred payments at the
rate OF ) per cent. per annum- Cash down
must be paid for timber lands. And where
improvements nave been made, Trey are to be
separately appraised and the value Of such
improvements must be paid at the time of
purchase. Each purchaser must make oath
that he buys for bis own use and occupation.
and not for another. The fund arriving
from the sale of the lands is to be paid into
the United States treasury, where 1t will
draw per cent interest Twenty per cent.
Of the original fund Will go toward establish
ing the Indians on their allotments; and S20,'
600 for an industrial school and for such
other purposes as the Secretary of the In
terror may direct, provided the Indians
pledge themselves to compel their children
between the ages Of ! and Is years to attend
school.
Section sppropriates $4,000 out Of the
national treasury for the carrying ont of the
act, the government to be reimbursed from
funds resulting from the sale Of reservation
lands.
Section 5 provides that before the execu-
tion of the act, the consent Of the Indians
must be obtained.
Section 6 authOrins the Secretary Of the
Interior to carry out the act