The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1884-12-03
INDIAN LANDS
Debated In tho s.nnts-rhe Propriety OF
LEnslni TEacts. -

d. .
Debated In tho s.n..ts-rhe Propriety OF
Leasing Trnets.
WASHINGTON, D. G., Dec. I'm the
Senate to-day Mr.. Vest offered resolution
directing an investigation into all leases OF
lands in Indian Territory for grazing or
other purposes by 1ndianTtribes, the num-
Der Of acres embraced in said leases, their
terms, and persons or corporations becom-
ing iessees; also all circumstances under
which the leases were made, the means
used in obtaining leases and whether
authorized by law. ~
Mr. Vest said he had information that
these leases were obtained from Indians
by corruption, fraud and bribery, and
some Indian councils Iiad been influenced
by the worst practices. lie criticised the
course OF the Interior Department in the
protection OF such leases, they being, he
claimed, in direct controvention OF the
revised statutes. sasszE
Mr.. Dawesremarked ti1attte lease having
been made by the Indians themselves the
Secretary Of the intGfior, while withhold
ing his consent had held it not US his duty
to interfere under the impression that tht.
leases were for the benefit ot the Indians.
Mr.. Dawes thought this a mistaken view,
and that the matter should be looked into
and the remedy applied, otherwise every
foot OF land III Indian territory would he
improperly leased.
Mr.. Maxey said he knew OF the la1ge
tracts OF land referred to that had been
leased ridiculously low. lIe thought IN
investigation was loudly called fo-.
Mr.. Harrison thought that ii the cir
cnmstances were as stated they consti-
tuted an outrage, and If the Secretary OF
the Interior did not deem himself author,
lied by law to interfere a Joint resolution
OF Congress should be passed making it
his duty to doso. .sL.-
The debate brradencd into n general
discussion OF 1rdiun lands and supplies.
Mr.. Beck stating that the Government
paid $40 head for cattle worth Sl2, Mr..
Dawes said that these leases OF Indian
lands, while wrong, were no more ont
raseous than the authorized enclosure bv
wire fences OF thousands of acres OF public
lands. OF one tract of. TO-, GOO acres OF
Indian lands, $1,000 acres were in exclu-
slve possession OF outsiders, whose herds
consumed everything that grew on it,
while the Indian Bureau had been obliged
to advertise'for beef to support the Indians
on whose reservations these herds were
feeding Had the Indians used these res
ervations for themselves, they would
have supported themselves. In one in.
stance the Indians had in one year sold
1000 bushels OF wheat from the reserva-
ton now occupied almost entirely by
private individuals without any power on
the part OF the government to disposcss
such individuals. The evils consequent
on leasing Indian lands and fencing in
public lands, alr. Davis continued, imposed
4 grave duty on Congress o. remedial
action, and il not taken in time the public
dolaain would pass irrecovcrablv into the
possession OF large land owners, foreign
and native. lie hopea-tl,t matter would
not be allowed to end in talk, or be con-
fined to Indian lands alone. Congress had
power to clothe the executive officers Of
the government with ample authority in
the premises and should do SO. At the
request Of Mr.. Conger,-th matter went
over one day. q