The Billings herald. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1882-1885, 1884-05-10
WASHINGTON LETTER.
(From Our Regular Correspondent }

T1VES OF THE INDIAN TERRITORY.
WAsnISGToN, April 2S.-Nearly
every winter there is vigorous at.
tempt made in Washington to steal
the rich lands of Indian territory
Various propositions have been
suggested looking to the establish
ment of a regular territorial form
of government, the granting Of the
lands in question to the Indians in
severalty, SO that they might be
subject to purchase by white set
tiers. All Of the open encroach-
ments upon the territory have been
successfully resisted. But the In
dians are in danger of being driven
out by indirect means. Cattle
grazers have, in defiance Of law,
been permitted to lease the rich
grazing land of the Indians for the
pitiful sum of two cents an acre,
until over three millions Of acres
have been leased. These leases
have been distributed as follows
Edward Fcnlon, I.eavenworth, Kan,
564,4SO acres; VIM. e. Mallalay,
Caldwell, Kan, 564,4S0 acres; H.
B. Denman, Washington, D. c.,
$4,000 acres; J. S. Morrison, Dar-
lington, I. r., 1920 acres: Lewis
NJ. Briggs, Muscota, Kan, 3lS, ,720
acres; A. G. Evans, st. Louis, Mo-,
456,96O acres; r. D. Hunter, St.
Louis, Mo-, 100000. 1t is claimed
that all these leases were obtained
by corrupt means by paying to the
Indian chiefs, in the councils of the
tribes interested, large sums of
money. Only part of the Indians
agreed to these enormous grants
and but few of them received any
benefit therefrom. Technically the
Secretary of the Interior has not
formally approved these leases.
But he has not disapproved them,
and he has gone so far as to order
Indian agents not to interfere with
the leases and to drive off all peo-
pie who have no leases. The result
promises to be the gradual extin-
gushing of the Indians property
interest in this last great reserva-
ton set aside by the government
for the Indians.
THE PLEA OF AN INDIAN PRINCESS.
Princess Winnemucca, of the Pi-
ute tribe of Indians, was before a
Sub. committee on Indian Affairs
during the week, pleading for the
setting apart of a reservation for
her Tribe. She spoke in good En-
glish, emphasizing her remarks
with graceful gestures. AS she de-
picted the grief Of her people she
was frequently moved to tears. She
said her tribe was scattered; that
they had been driven from place
to place. 1.-TWO winters ago." she
said, "while being driven from one
point, old men and children were
frozen to DEATH" She also said
that Indian agents hal deprived
the tribe of stores provided for
them by the government. The Pi-
utes are located in Nevada. The
princess asked that Camp McDer-
mott be set apart for them.
THE HOUSE STOPS TIE "JoB."
The House has very properly
put down it's foot on the big job
concealed in the Senate Postal Tel
egraph bill. The House Post. Office
Committee is willing to try the ex-
pertinent of a postal telegraphic
service through contracts with tele-
graph lines. But it refuses to favor
the provision which enables the
Government to build it's own lines
in case it does not find the contract
scheme practicable. Such a pro-
vision would be sure to make con-
tracts impracticable and would open
the door to magnificent Govern
ment job of telegraph construction
and plumber.
| BUREAU OF NAVIGATION.
By a vote of 175 to A the House
passed the bill introduced by Mr..
Dingley, of Maine, and recon-
mended by the Secretary of the
Treasury, to create a Bureau of
Navigation in the Treasury Depart
ment. The object is to lay the
foundation of a bureau or board
akin to the British Board of Trade,
which shall be charged with the
special duty of looking after the
interests of the American CONNER
cial marine. The bill provides for
commissioner of navigation to be
appointed by the President, at a
salary of 1000 a year, and for a
deputy commissioner and clerks, to
be transferred from the Treasury
Department.
ENCOURAGING THE COTTON EXPOSITION
Bills have been introduced into
the Senate and House, providing
fo: a loan of 81 100000 in aid ofthe
worlds industrial and cotton expo
sition, which is to open in Decem-.
Der next. The loan is to be made
in manner similar to that granted
in aid of the centennial exhibition
in 1876.
MIR. FOSTERS MISSION.