Savannah morning news., 1885-07-25
The Indian Territory Cattle Com
panics.

panics.
TIE action OF the President in declaring
the contracts which certain cattlemen
claim to have with the Cheyennes ana
ArapahOes 10 pasture cattle on their
reservations in the Indian Territory will
be very generally approved. These con-
tracts with Indians, by which ricn cattle
companies have come into possession Of
the best pasture lands in tue Indian Ter
ritOry. have been a source Of discomfort
and trouble ever since they were made.
1t was evident to those who gave the
matter careful consideration at the be-
ginning Of this leasing business that the
policy Of allowing the Indians to let their
lands was not only bad but also danger
Gus. II was not to be expected that the
cowboys, many Of whom are rough and
lawless, would get along tremendously
with the Indians aud 1t was not reason
able to suppose that the Indians would
be satisfied with the rent they agreed to
accept for their lands when they began to
understand how great the profits were
which the cattle companies were real
izing.
The cattle companies leased the lands
from the Indians under Mr. Teller's ad-
ministration of the Interior Department.
When the question Of leasing these lands
was under consideration it was stated by
those who were capable OF giving an in
telligent opinion that the admission Of
cattlemen on the reservations would be
productive Of trouble. Mr.. Teller, there
fore, did not act without a full knowledge
Of the consequences to be apprehended.
There is some ground for the statement
that be was persuaded to sanction the
leases against mis- judgment by men
occupying very influential positions.
In fact, it was stated several months
ago that a half dozen United States
Senator'S We're stockholders in these In
dian Territory cattle companies. If it is
true that Senators receive part of the
profits that come from the leases of these
Indian lands there is no difficulty IN un-
derstanding why Mr.. Teller agreed to a
condition of things that he must have
thought would be productive of complica-
tions.
Doubtless an extraordinary effort will
be made to induce the President to recon-
slider his action ordering certain cattle
companies out Of the Territory within 40
days. There is no reason to think that the
effort will be successful. When the Presi-
dent thinks that ne is doing what is right
it is not an easy matter to get him to
adopt n contrary course.
1t is a question whether the President
ought not to have ordered all the cattle
companies out of the Territory. There are
companies on other reservations which are
pretty certain to get into trouble with the
Indians in the very near future. AS the
Indians find out that their lands are not
yielding them anywhere near what they
are worth they are certain to become dis
satisfied, and finally troublesome.
AS long as the right of the Indians to
the Indian Territory is recognized, cattle
companies, colonists, and settlers ought
to be kept out Of it. II the government
proposes to open the Territory to settle
ment, it ought to do 30 in a way that
would give no special advantages or
privileges to any one. TO allow cattle
companies to take possession of the best
lands, while those who want to settle in
the Territory are driven out at the point
Of the bayonet, is hardly fair.
1t seems that the trouble with the Chey-
ennes and Arapahoes has brought to the
surface some very crooked transactions.
The agents for these Indians have been
drawing rations for 900 more persons
than there are in the two tribes. Eyi-
IDENTIFY these agents have teen getting rich
at a rate that makes an Indian agency a
very desirable place for men who have no
conscience. The President would do the
Indians and the country great service,
doubtless, if he should remove all the
agents who have been a long time in
Office before he takes his summer vaca-
tion.