The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1885-01-07
Washington Notea.


WASHINGTON, jan. ct il estimated
that tho cost OF collecting the revenue
at all ports ofentry for the fiscal year is:
For salarles, OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. So aj. l3g
Miscellaneous ... .... ...... ....... lIOO6y9
The employees number 4,li7.
1NYEs1iGA ING INDIAN LAND LEASES.
The investigation into Indian land
leases was begun by the senate COM
mittee on Indian affairs to-day.
John w. Scott, agent for several tribes
IN the Indian Territory, was called.
He said all tribes under his charge had
leased portions of their lands. The
POncas had leased $1,000 acres, or one
half of their possession, at $1,000 per
annum. The land was not sublet but
occupied by Sherburne, the lessee, for
grazing purposes. The present policy
of leasing, witness considered the best
He was asked if the price paid by
sherbuTne was a fgi- one, but he was
not prepared to express an opinion on
this point. He thought, however, that il
would bring more If open to competi-
ton. The Mes Perces had leased a por-
ton OF their reservation for 1000 year.
The Pawnees had leased $4,000 acres at
cents per acre for q term of ten years.
Witness was present and advised the
Indians in making some of these leases.
Since public attention had been so wide.
ly called to this matter, witness thought
ihe lands might now be leased for a
higher price.
John G.. Tufts, agent for the five civil
nZed tribes, testified that the Cherokee
strip 200 miles long and fifty-six miles
lie, was leased to an association Tor
100000 per year. The land would now
probably rent Tor $4,000 more.
This evening several witnesses were
examined, all of whom were lesseos OF
lands from the Cheyenne and the ARA
pahoes, as follows:
ii. l.. Newman, st. Louis, $4,000 acres.
A. Il. Givens, 81. Louis, 1861
w. IL, Mulaly, Caldwell, Kansas,
s00OO0, and Edward Fenlon, Leayen-
worth, Kansas, $1,000
Tue testimony OF witnesses was SINH
lar In general purport, and may be
briefly summarizes:
These gentlemen filed applications
with the agent of the Cheyeunes and
Arrapahoes for leases, aud Miles said
To them no thought, inasmuoh
as the lands were not producing
anything for the Indians, II would be
for their Interest to lease them. He
thereupon called a council of the tribe
and represented the matter tU them
In a favorable light, stat
Ing, according TO Mullaly,
who WAS present, that tho secretary OF
the interior thought iavorablv of the
proposition, and that the price offered
was 2 cents per annum per
sore, the leases to run ten
years, and the Indians, after
several days deliberatlon by themselves,
accepted the offer, and Agent Miles OK
ecuted tho leases and him
self divided the lands among
the lessees, refusing to give
any one OF the latter the privilege oil
making his own selection. The lands
since have been fenced in and partly
stocked, and the leases as made, have
embodied the provision that
occupation and payment OF
rent should begin when the secretary OF
leases, The secretary had, however
refused formally to approve
the leases, though he had
given tacit approval, and had
promised protection az far as II could
legally be extended as against parties
who had no contracts and paid
no rents, and upon this alone
the lessees began paying rent
In Dash TO the Indians. In reply to n
series Of Inquiries, witnesses said, sub
stantially, that no guarantee had been
received from Secretary Teller beyond
that contained i'm his letter of April
8, 1893, TO Edward Fenlon, already pub
l'shed In the senate executive doru-
ment, aud this letter stated in effect
that II was not the present policy OF the
department to affirm atively re-
cogn'ze any agreement OF
q lease, character aud question
ye' me secretary saw no objection to