Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-07-06
rPATDS ON THE INDIANS
or,v ETCOOK'S LETTER TO
sECRETARY LAMAR.

7'an Million acres ol Ian"
psntsI Of one and Two-Third Cents
per Acre-IIlegal Leases That ought
Not TO be COuutenRnoed.
v4sH1NGroN, July 5.-Gen. Edward
II NcCook, Ex-Governor of Colorado, has
,,,ri,ten a letter to Secretary Lamar in
vrn,ch after quoting from the revised
s.stutes TO show that only the United
c,stas can make any contract with the
Indians for lease Of their lands, he gives
+ts names of nine persons or corporations
-goo control nearly 10, 900, 900 acres OF land
in Indian Territory, for which the rental
il lut * cents per acre.
rosnvs that these leases are clearly IL
,,.,si and should not be permitted the
,5,,rtanance OF an administration pledged
+,sat lis face against corruption, cOllu-
,;or and wrong, but that the lessee should
p immediately dispOssessed, nOtwith-
standiuo the fact that the lessees had the
+scit recognition Of the Department of the
Tntarior under a former administration.
I{e concludes as follows: 1.-The actual
Ftrts now are, that instead of the Indians
4,8saessiug and enjoying the benefits de-
stoned for them, their country is Oyerrun
yyitb gpeculat0rs and adventurers of every
degree. who haye despOiled them of their
nr0pertv, and have practically seques-
trrad their birthrights, destroying their
Crrortlinities for self-suppOrt, and leaving
f6am nothing tor the future, while keep
5ng them dependent on the present. These
mon who f0r the last three years have
sroyed covert protection, and have boldly
insisted upon an official recogni-
zion OF their claims, are in many
instances foreigners who owe no allegi-
apce 10 this government, and in all cases
e,ade every duty and obligation which
the laws impose upon American citizens.
This part Of the Indian country to which |
have called your attention is a country
where force reigns and rapine dWells,
where unscrupulOus men ask the support
Of the government and the army of the
United States to protect them in violating
the law aud IN avoiding any responsibility
for their acts. They are apparently repre-
seutGtives of great official aud financial
influence and seem to have behind them an
aut0crdtic element as mysterious rs it is
powerful, which banishes from the fair
laud they now hold every American cit-
zen who is not with them, or of them, as
trespassing. Their representations to
y0urdepartment are not the prayers Of the
weak appealing for protection, but the
demands Ofthe strong who, from ripe eX-
perience, evidently believe that the fu-
ture and past will be the same"
The contest for DOorkeeper of the House
OF Representatives has already begun.
Mr.. Wintersmith, who was DoOrkeeper
Of the last House, is the leading candi-
date but his health is 50 bad that it is
feared that his physical condition will im-
pair his chances for reelection. His pop
ularity is such that a second term is
guaranteed him if only he can get upon
his feet again in time. Gen. Field. of
Georgia, his opponent two years ago, is
canYassing for the place. Other candi-
dates are talked Of, but they are friends
of Mr. Wintersmith, and declined To dis
euss the matter themselves until advised
OF his wishes aud expectations.
The estate Of the late Richard r. Mer-
rick Is estimated at between $4,000 and
100000.
TARIFF BILL.
The New York EUening TeleGraDa saws
Mr. Morrison is determined to press tar
III bill next winter and there is not much
doubt that be voices the sentiment OF the
revenue retOrmers on this topic. Strange
to say, there will be very few contested
election cases in the next House-not
more than four, and probably this will be
reduced to three before the first Monday
!
Dental election raises many embarras-
sing questions involving the election of
lnemOers Otthe House of Representative,
but the contest Of 1884 was remarkably
hee from affairs of this kind. AT the
smallest calculation Congress viii save
al least a month from this fact
alone. There are no means
OF asceriaiuing how much debate will
be required TO dispose of the silver and
@rii questions. The silver men are bi;
Iery opposed 20 the Presidents attitude,
ana they remember and still talk about
ms utterances last winter, before he was
ilaugurated, upon that topic. They be-
ieNe That his first message to Congress
VIII treat the silver question in the same
felo as be has heretofore taken, and which
Is iamillnr to tue general public. Suffice
u to say, that any effort toward The sus-
pension OF silver coinage by the friends Of
lhe administration will bring about a
contest second only in interest and in
leh-lty 10 the tariff question. The silver
men believe they Will have clear major
l'y in the House.
FOR AND AGAINST.
This is not conceded by those who are
eNueaNoring to secure a repeal Of the
present compulsory coinage act. but il
must be SAID that ii the anti-silyer men
VIII be found to have the advantage IL
"lu ne because the administration has
Oreu making converts. A careful exam
i,q'llon Of the list of members OF the next
Aouse shows majority OF those who are
imposed TO be 10 favor OF continuance
W 'ilFer coinage. The present aspect of
sue matter Is, therefore, that the silver
men VIII probably defeat the President on
tlt7 phrucularissues, unless there should
w. 71lne unusual change between now
ana December. While the tariff re-
.o,Hefs, under the lead of Mr.. M0rrI-
o'u' are at work endeavnriug to
uIt lne passage OF some law to further
iyUuce ihe burden OF taxation from tho
su.g,ulaers Of the people, the protectionists
"I4 NOT be idle. Pig Iron Kelley. so II h
oa,"' mas already formulated a plnn To
"l1"Aonlle Mr.. Morrison and his follow
Ii-' Mr.. Morrison will seek 10 accom-
i"'n one result by an attack upou the
V 1ms revenues Of the country. and
'', helley viii come 10 the front with an
T'Nult upon the internal revenue svsfem
NV since the tauif agitation began I'm
tn, rofty-seyenth Congress Kelley has
"t rss.. ni' eye on. The Internal Revenue Bu-
u,,.' ne removal OF the tax on matches
t,a. VHe Oh his moves, and he ia confident
ria, ~ can accomplish results equally as
tioH.ls to the public by further reduc.
w lhe same line OF taxes.
kELLEY's TARIFF FIGHT.
9, VI course his plan contemplates loavinc
src '1s'9ms duties practically as they
.-.s ,ir Al 7 Kelley should take this stand
will To 3 - every reason TO believe he
Reuubiicar 9e supported by the solid