Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1885-12-25

In the present condition of the Inai-
ans, no attempt should be made TO
apply fixed and unyielding law cf
action to their varied and varying
needs and circumstances. The In
dian bureau, burdened as it is with
this general oversight, and with the
details of the establishment, can
hardly possess itsef OF the minute
particulars of cases needing treat
ment, and thus the propriety Of
creating an instrumentality auxiliary
to those already established for the
,, care of the Indians, suggests Itself.
1 recommend the passage of law
authorizing the appointment of Six
commissioners, three of whom shall
be detailed from the army, to bo
charged with the duty of a careful
inspection from time to time of all
the Indians upon our reservations or
subject to the care and control of
the Government, with q view of dis
covering their exact condition and
needs, and determining what steps
ouuil Uo tdheu Ou DCu6iA VI tuS Wv
ernment to improve their situation
IN the direction of their seIf-support
aud complete civilization. That
they ascertain from such inspection
what, if any of the reservations may
be reduced in area, and in such
cases what part not needed for In-
dIan occupation, may be purchased
by the government from the Indians
and disposed of for their benefit
what, if any, Indians may, with their
consent, be removed to other reser-
vations, with view of their concen-
tration, and the sale on their behalf
of their abandoned reservation
what Indian lands now held in COM
mon should be allotted in severalty;
in what manner and to what extent
the Indians upon the reservation can
be placed under the protection OF
our laws and subjected to their PEN
alties, and which, if any, Indians
should be invested with the right Of
citizenship. The powers and func-
tions of the commissioners in regard
to these subjects should be clearly
defined, though they should in con-
junction with the Secretary of the
Interior be given all the authority to
deal definitely with the questions
presented, deemed safe and consist
ent. They should also be charged
with the duty of ascertaining tn In
dians who might properly be fur
Dished with implements of agricul-
ture, and of what kind; in what
cases the support of the Government
should be withdrawn; where the
present plan of distributing Indian
supplies should be changed; whore
schools may be established, and
where discontinued; tho conduct,
method and fitness of agents in
charge of reservations; the extent to
which such reservations are occupied
or intruded upon by unauthorized
persons, and generally oil matters
related to the welfare and improve
ment of the Indian. They should
advise with the Secretary of the H.
terror concerning these matters OF
detail in management, and he should
be given power to deal with them
fully, if he is not now invested with
such power. This plan contemplates
the selection of persons for commits
sioners who are interested in the In
dian question, and who have practi-
cal ideas on the subject of their
treatment.
OUR PUBLIC LANDS.
The public domain had its origin
in cessions of land by the States to
the general Government. The first
cession was made by the State Of
New York, ard the State of Virginia.
The territory, the proprietorship
of which becomes thus vested in the
general Government, extended from
the western line of Pennsylvania to
the Mississippi river. These pa
triotic donations of the States were
incumbered with no condition, ex.
cept that they should be held and
used " for the common benefit of
the United States" By purchase,
with the common fund of all the peo-
pie, additions were made to this do
main until i. extended to the north
ern line of Mexico, the Pacific ocean
and tho Polar sea. The original
trust " for the common benefit of the
United States" attached to all. In
in accepting that trust the policy
Of "many homes rather than large
est ates" was adopted by the Govern
ment. That these might be easily
obtained and be the abode Of secur-
ity and contentment, the laws for &C.
QUESTION were few, easily understood,
and general in their character.
But the pressure of local interests,
combined with speculative spirit,
have in many instances procured the
passage of laws which marrod the
harmony of the general plan and in
numbered the system with multi
tude of general and special enact
ments, which render the land laws
complicated, subject the titles to un-
certainty and the purchaser often to
oppression and wrong. Laws which
were intended for the "common
benefit" have been perverted 30
that large quantities OF land are
vesting in single ownership. From
the multitude and character of the
laws, this consequence seems incap-
able of correction by mere admins
tration. 1t is not for the common
benefit of the United States that q
large area of the public lands should
be acquired, directly or through
fraud, in the hands of q single in
dividual. The nations strength is
in the people. The nations pros.
perity is in their prosperity. The
nations glory is in the equality Of
her Justice. The nations perpetuity
is in the patriotism of all her people
Hence, as far as practicable, the plar
adopted in the disposal of the public
lands should have in view the origin