The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1884-12-04

| IN my former reports have recommended
the disarming of the Indians. l desire tc
again call attention 10 the subject. / agar
desire to call attention to the necessity fol
| legislation for the punishment of crimes on
| the Indian reservations. Since my last re
/ port the Supreme Court of the United States
/ decided in the case of "EXparte Crow Dog,
! indicted for murder, that the District Court
OF Dakota was without jurisdiction, when the
crime was committed on the reservation by
one Indian against another. If ofrenses OF
this character cannot be tried in the courts
OF the United States, there is no tribunal in
which the crime of murder can be punished
Minor oHenses may be punished through the
agency of the court of Indian Offenses," but
ii will hardly do to leave the punishment of
the crime of murder to a tribunal that exists
only by the consent of the Indians of the
reservation. If the murderer is left to be
punished according to the old Indian custom
1t becomes the duty of the next OF kin to
avenge the death of his relative by either
killing the murderer or some one of his kins-
men. The laws OF the State or Territory
wherein the reservation is situated ought to
be extended over the reservation, and the
Indians should be compelled to obey such
laws and be allowed to claim the protection
thereof.
COURT OF INDIAN OFFESsEs
The Commissioner of Indian Affairs, under
my direction. in 1888 established a tribunal
for the punishment of crimes among Indians
on their reservations, and entitled Court
of Indian Onenses." Experience has demon
strated the great value of this tribunal in
maintaining order on the reservation. Where
cial effects thereof have been apparent, not
only in maintaining order, but in teaching
the Indian to respect the rights and property
of his fellows. The agent at the Umatilla
Agency, Oregon, saws: The court has worked
admirably, and made radical changes, eSpec-
tally among the young men of the tribe, for
the better, as all disorders or ofenseS that
come before the Judge here are inexorably
punished.
LEASING OF INDIAN LANDS.
In my last report l called attention to the
Ind hx-
stOckmen with their herds, under arrange
ment made with the Indians. i declined TO
treat these arrangements as leases made on
the part of the Indians, but did treat them
as licences on the part of the Indians recog-
niZed by section 2ll7 OF the Revised Statutes.
| do not understand that the parties so occu-
pying these lands with the consent OF the
Indians are there in violation of law, but
their condition is not satisfactory one
either TO themselves or the Department.
The Department in allowing them to remain
reserved the right to put them OF OF such
notwithstanding such permit or
license. if tie Department considered it
necessary to do so in the interest of the In
dams. How far the Government may disre-
gard the license so given by the Indians is
question that need not be discussed until II
is presented but should the Department
attempt such exclusion against the wishes OF
the Indians, IL would certainly lead 10 trouble.
The amount paid for such privileges is under
stood TO be two cents per acre for lands
so occupied. This amount is not fair COM
DenSatlOn at TINS Tune Tor the use OF Sucn
lands, or for at least a considerable portion
thereof Much of the land so occupied could
be leased at from four to six cents per acre.
The Cheyenne and Arapahoe Indians at
tempted to lease 1885,, $50 acres of their re-
servatiOn, leaving unOccupied by Stockmen |
about 10000 acres. From the lands so Occu- |
pied by stockmen the Arapahoes and Chey- |
annes received last year two cents per acre. |
amounting to ST,35T.GO, or an average of |
% per capita. As it is believed that this |
reservation might be leased at from four TO |
six cents per acre. the amount may be in
creased to S24 &c or 1868 per capita. 1t is be- |
ieved that the cattlemen will very readily |
consent to double or treble the price now |
paid if they can haze some assuraneeS that
hey viii not be d sturbed at the wbfm or |
caprice of the Indians. The amount now |
received, SI233 per capita, is quite sufficient |
f the Department could control its payment |
70 the Indians to aid very materially in their |
support, and civilization. A family. of FIVE 4
PERSONS would receive SOL .G5 per ,annum /
1t --two~eents per acre. - At six cents
per acre the amount realized would |
90 far toward their support with
Dut further aid from the Government. |
other tribes also have good grazing lands |
hat might be leased at profitable rates, leav- |
ng the Indians a sufficient quantity of land |
or their own use, either for agriculture or
grazing. Some legislation should be had on |
he subject to enable the Government TO de- !
nand and receive for the Indians the full
-alue for the occupation of their lands, and |
o prevent conflicts between rival claimants |
folding such licenses or privileges. Such |
occupants are not on the reservation in vio-
alton of law if they have the consent of the |
indians; yet should their conduct. be such as
O convince the department that their pres
nceis fnjdTiotis to the Indians, it is quite |
to say what would be the result of |
N attempt ON the part'of the Department to
emoye them if the Indians continue to con-
cft t. their remaining. While there can be
10 objection to allowing the Indians
# the Indian Territory to lease-their
andS for grazing purposes, there ~ a serious
objection TO allowing the Indians on reserva-
ions outside of the Indian Territory to lease
ands valuable for agricultural purposes for
he purposes of grazing only. If the reser-
alton is larger than is required for the ust.
# the Indians occupying it there should be
thereof, and all that is not needed
or the use of the Indians should be opened
o settlement. The time has passed when
arge and valuable tracts of land fit
or agriculture can be held by Indians for
ither hunting or grazing lands TO the ex-
fusion of actual settlers. With valuable
agricultural and pastorallaTids in quantities
ar beyond his wants or ability to make use
ul he is a beggar and dependent upon the
and when the Government fails
o make suitable appropriation for his sup
'Ort, he is brought to the verge of Starva-
ion. Left to himself, he will continue in
his wretched condition until the vices of
avage life shall destsOy his race. His de-
tructiOn will not be speedy. but will GER
ainly come unless he can be induced to
dept the civilization of the age, which he
las until recently scorned. At no time in
he history of our intercourse with the In
ians have they shown greater desire to
bandon their savage life, than during the
aSt year. They are asking for stock cattle,
nd declare their willingness to take care of
hem If furnished, and very generally pro-
eSS Willingness to do whatever is-fequired
II them in order to become self-supporting.
II my last report | recommended that all the
appropriations not made under the provi-
ions of treaty StipulatiQnsShould be placed
{ the disposal of the department to be dis
ributed as the necessities and wants OF the
Indians demand. Another years eX-
erience and observation has strength
nd believe if the non-treaty appro-
riations were placed at the disposal of the
apartment to be distributed at the diScre-
ion OF the Secretary of the Interior there
Iould be less complaints about starving In
lans, and that much good might be done by
sing such appropriations to assist those In
ians who show the greatest disposition to
ecome self-supporting.
CASH ANNUITIES TO INDIANS.
In my last report | called attention to the
ractice of paying to Indians cash as interest
N the funds held in trust by the Govern
lent. In some instances the Indians are ca
able of receiving and expanding such sums
L money in judicious way, but in most
asses the money so paid to them is wasted
nd often worse than wasted. Such pay
1entS should be made in stock cattle, agri-
uItural implements, or by the erection of
ultable dwelling houses for those willing to
ccupy and live in such houses. Wherever
he Indian is capable of caring for this money
ue him, it should be paid to him in cash; but
e will never care for it properly until he has
'een taught to labor and has learned the
-aiUe of money nv rDinU