Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1884-12-03
LAW MAKERS AT WORK.
Senator Vest Asks Cor Speedy In
vestigation into the Leasing
of tho Indian Lands.
A Resolution offered for Inquiry Int
the Conduct Of United States
Marshal Wright Of Ohio.
After q Long Discussion Over the Ohio
Election the Resolution Us
Adopted.
The Interstate Commerce Bill Taken w,
Reagan Ably Advocates Hia
Measures Of Reform.



WASHINGTON, Dec. Ain the sem
ate to-day MIR. Sheffield the senator
from Rhode Island, was sworn la.
The chair laid before the senate the
reports OF the secretary OF the treasury
and the comptroller OF currency,
Senator Vest offered resolution d.
reeting an investigation into all the
leased lands In the Indian territory for
grazing OF other purposes by the In
dian tribes, the number OF acres emf
braoed In said lands, terms and the
persons or corporations becoming the
ieAsees, also all the circumstances under
which the leases were made the
means used I'm obtaining the leases and
whether authorized by law.
Senator Vest said he had Informal
ton that these leases were obtained
from the Indians by fraud and bribery,
aud that some OF the Indian councils
had been influenced by the worst prac-
tees of civilization.
Senator Vest criticised the course OF
the interior department in protecting
the leases, they being, he claimed, IN
direct contravenlion OF the revised
statutes.
Senator Dawes remarked that the
leases having been made by the ln-
dams themselves, the secretary Of the
interior, while Withholding his con-
sent, had held IL not his duty 10 inter-
| fere, under the impression that the
leases were for the benefit OF the In
dians. Senator Dnwes thought that
this was mistaken view and that the
matter should be looked into aud
| REMEDY applied.
Senator Morgan said he knew that
| the large TRACTS referred 81 had been
! leased at Tldioulously low figure. He
thought that an investigation WIZ
called for.
Senator Harrison thought that II the
| circumstances were Hs stated, they
constituted an outrage, and II the sec
rotary did not deem himself author
lied Ia interfere, a Joint resolution Of
congress should be passed making II
his duty TO do 40.
The debate here broadened into
general discussion OF the Indian lands
and supplies, Senator Beck shifting
that the government paid $40 per head
for cattle worth gl2
senator Dawes stated that these
leases Of the Indian lands while wrong
were not more outrageous than the
authorized Enclosure by wire fence Of
the public lands. or one tract Of l00-
600 acres OF the Indian lands 50, 900
were In exclusive possession Of out
siders whose herds consumed every
thing that grew, while the Indian
bureau had % advertise for beef 10
support the Indians on whose reservu,
ton these herds were feeding Had the
Indians used the rescrva-
ton for themselves they
would have supported Themselves.
In one Instance the Indians had 10 one
year sold ~ 900 bushels of wheat from
n reservation now occupied almost en-
tirely 10y private individuals, without
any power on the part Of the govern
ment 10 dispossosB such individuals.
The evils OF leasing and fencing the
public lands imposed grave duty on
congress. III remedial action were not
taken In time the public domain
would pass into the possession OF large
hand owners, foreign and native. He
hoped that the matter would not be
allowed 10 end In talk or TO contined
10 the Indians lands Congress had
power to clothe the executive officers
OF the government with ample author
ity In the premises, and should do so.
AT the request Of COnRer Of Michi-
gan the matter went over one day.
The senate then adjourned.