The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1885-12-09

his fees for an arrest, the transportation of the
accused and the expense of the same, and for
summoning witnesses before commissioner,
been Maid from the public funds large fees and
travelling expenses, and the e0minilssslonSSr anu
district attorney have also naaS saeiT tba
m1nistration Of our criminal law should be rene
died. and if the plan suggested ABOVE IL not prae-
ticable, some other should be deVlseo'
THE INTERIOR DEPARTMENT.
The report Of the Secretary of the Interiorcon-
tanning an account of the operations OF this i'm
nortant department, and much interesting infor-
nation will be submitted for your consideration.
The most intricate and difficult subject in charge
of this department is the treatment land manage
ment of the Indians. l am satisfied that some
propress NAV be noted in their condition as re-
suit of a prudent administration OF the present
laws and regulations for their control, but it is
submitted that there is lack of fixed purpose or
policy on this subject, which should ,be supplied
1t is useless to dilate upon the wrongs OF the In
dams, and as useless to Indulge In the neartless
belief that because their wrongs are reVenged III
their own atTOciOuS manner, therefore tney should
be exterminated They are within the care of
our government and their rights are, or Should be
protected from invasion by the most solemn obli-
cations They are properly enough called tne
wards of the government; and lt shouio De Dorne
| In mind that this guardianship involves, on our
part efforts for the improvement OF their c0ndl-
| ton and the enforcement of their rights. There
| seems To be general concurrence III the PROPOSE
tion that the ultimate object of their treatment
| should be civilization and citizenship Fitted py
these to keep pace in the march OF progress, with
| an advanced civilization about them, they VIII
readily assimilate with the mass OF our populatlOh
| assuming the responsibilities and receiving the
protection incident to this condition The din
cuty appears to be in the selection of the means
| to be at present employed toward the attainment
| OF this result. Our Indian population, exclusN N
of those in Alaska is reported as numbering 2oo,-
| 600 nearly all being located on lands set apart
for their use and occupation, aggregatlng over
1874, 100000 acres. THESE lanas are Inciuaeu ~
| the boundaries OF III reservations Of dllferent
dimensions, scattered in 81 states ana IerrtoTles
presenting great variations in climate, ana IN tne
kind and quality of their soils Among tne Inal
| ans upon these several reservations tnere exist
/ the most marked differences IN natural TRAITS anu
disposition and in their progress towards cIyiilza
| ton. While some are lazy, vicious ana sIupiu
| others are industrious, peace1u any IN
| telligent. While portion of them are sel-sup-
| porting and independent, and have SO lar adyanc-
| ed in civilization that they make their own laws
| administered through officers OF their own cnoice
and educate their children in schools OF tnelr own
| establishment and maintenance, others still retain
| in squalor and dependence almost the Savagery OF
their natural state. In dealing with this question
| the desires manifested by the Indians should not
| be ignored. Here again we find great diversity
| With some the tribal relation is cherlshed with
the utmost tenacity, while IT'S hoe upon otners ID
| upon all, and yet there are those whose attacn-
| ment to particular locality is by no means I'M
[ Welding The ownership OF their lands IN sever
I ality is much desired by some, while by others,
| and sometimes among the most clvlilze9, sucn q
distribution would be bitterly opposed Inc Vaat-
| ed with the character of their several locauons
should be regarded. Some are upon reservations on
most fit for grazing but without focks or NERDS,
and some on arabic land have no agricultural I'M
| pements, while some OF the reservations are
double the size necessary to maintain inc NUMBER
| haps, they should be enlarged. Add to all TINS
difference in the administration OF the agencies,
| while the same duties are involved upon all, tne
disposition of the agents, and ana h ane
manner of their contact with the Indians nave
much to do with their condition and Wefare Inc Inc
| agent who perfunctoriy performs his duty, ana
| siothfully neglects all opportunity to ADVANCE
their moral and physical Improvement, and tails
to inspire them with desire for better things,
| will accomplish nothing in the direction OF their
civilization; while he who feels the burden OF an
important trust and has an interest IN ms VOTE VOTE
will by consistent example. firm, yet considerable
treatment, and well directed aid and encourage
ment constantly lead those under ms charge
1.-THE history OF all the progress which has been
made In the civilization OF the INDIANS
think will disclose the fact that the E. Degnnng
panying secular education; while the selfsaerinc-
ing and pious men and women who have aided IN
this good work by their independent endeayori
| have for their reward the benefcent results OF
their labor and the consciousness OF Chrstlan duy
well performed Their valuable Services rdee Se a
are charged with the control and management OF
orr Indian wards. What has been said lndleates
that in the present conditions OF the lhulans nc
attempt should be made to apply fixed and un-
Welding plan of action to their varied ana varying
needs and circumstance inc INDIAN ; DhFe snd
with the details of the establishment, can naruly
possess itself of the minute phases OF the partlc
lar cases needing treatment, ana tnus tne Plop. !.
etv OF creating an fundamentally auxiliary 70
those already established for the care OF tne IN
dians suggests itself. l recommend me passage
of law authorizing the appointment OF SIX com
missiOners, three of whom shall be detained IRON
the army to be charged with the duty OF a careful
inspection from time to time OF all the indians
upon our reservations or subject to the care ano
control of the government with view Of discover
ing their exact condition and needs ana 9eterilll
ing what steps shall be taken on behalf OF the gov
eminent to improve their situation IN tne uliec
ton of their self-support and complete clyllzaIlon
that they ascertain from such Inspection what, !
any, of the reservations may be reduced IN area
and in such cases what part not needed loI II! IN
dian occupation may be purchased Dy tae tSi
ment from the Indians and disposed OF Tor tneH
benefit; what, if any Indians may, with tnelr con
sent, be removed to other reservations, WIN
view of their concentration and the sale on then
behalf Of their abandoned reservations; what In
dian lands now held in common should pc ailotteo
in severalty in what manner and 70 what even
the Indians upon the reservations can be placed
under the protection of our laws ana SuDJecIeu Y
| their penalties and which, if any, Indians SHOULD
be invested with the rights OF citlzenshlp. Int
subjects should be clearly DENIED tho ,ssl
they should n &c eon gSsn al auth ws
ty to deal definitely with the questions presented
they should be also charged with the duty OF as
eertanng the Indians who might properly I o Ot
| what kind, in what cases the support OF tne gov
| eminent should be withdrawn where the preseh
| plan OF distributing Indian suppnes snouiu pt
changed where schools may be established, anC
| where discontinued the conduct, metnods aho
fitness of agents In charge OF are
and generally all matters related TO tne Weliars
and Improvement of the Indian. They should al
these matters of detail in management; and rs
should be given power to deal VIII
M Them s saeB powe es is rh fstn0W plan ss9
templates the selection of persons for commits
sioners who are interested in the lnqan quession
and who have practical ideas upon the suDJecs U
their treatment. The expense of the Indian bu-
reau during the last fiscal year was mo e !naii
S6,50O,0O0 believe much OF TINS eXpenutttuif "
might be saved under the plan proposed; tnat it'
economical effects would be increased Win ~
continuance; that the safety OF our frontier SET
| Tiers would be subserved under its operation ane
that the nation would be saved through its re
suits from the imputation OF lnnumanity, mus
tice and mismanagement IN orue5 70 caary pat
the policy of allotment OF Indian LANDS IN several
| ty when deemed expedient, it would be necessary
to have surveys completed OF the reseryatioohls
and hope that provision will be made tor lhe
prosecution of this work. In May OF the present
year, a small portion of the Chiricahua Apacnes
on the White Mountain reservation IN AIlaona a.
| left the reservation and committed numDer OF
murders and depredations upon settlers IN tnt
neighborhood. Though prompt and energetic &C
ton was taken by the military, the renegales
eluded capture and escaped into Mexico The
formation of the country through when t tnest
Indians passed, their tnoIough ,,5 ~
manner in which they scattered and concealed
themselves among the mountains, near the seent
of their outrages put our soldiers to great dlsad
vantage in their efforts to capture them, though
the expectation is still entertained that they VIII
be ultimately taken and punished for their crimes
The threatening and disorderly conduct OF tnt
Cheyennes in the Indian Territory, early las'
summer caused considerable alarm ana uneasl
ness. Investigation proved that their threatening
attitude was due in a great measure to the occu
patton of the land OF their reservation Dy immense
herds of cattle, which their owners claimed were
rightfulIy there under certain leases made by the
Indians. Such occupation appearing upon exam
nation to be unlawful, notwithstanding tnest
leases the intFuders- were ordered to remove
with their cattle from sthe lands OF the nulans ~
executive proclamation. The 1nforcement OF UNI
proclamation had the effect OF restoring oruel
and peace among the Indians, and they are now
quiet and well behaved. BY an executive order
issued on Feb. 81, 1888, by my predecessor, q
portion of the tract of country in the TERRITORY
known as the old Winnebago and Crow creek res
| eryation was directed to be restored TO the puDnt
domain and opened to settlement under the lant
laws of the United States. and a large numDer o.
persons entered upon those lands. ms actloi
alarmed the Sioux Indians, who claimed the yer
ritory as belonging to their reservation un9er IN,
treaty of 1868. This claim was determlne9, ate,
careful investigation, to be well founded, anu
consequently the executive order referred 10 was
by proclamation of April 18th, 1885, declared tt
be imperative and of no effect and all persons
upon the land were warned to leave. ms warn
ing has been substantially complied with.
Exclusive of Alaska, about three-tltths OF tne na
tional domain has been sold or SubJected 10 con
tract or grant. OF the remaining two ffths con
siderable portion is either mountain OF desert.
rapidly increasing population creates q growing