Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1886-01-07
THE RED MEN.
Conclusions Of Mr. Holman's Specia
Committee to Investigate In
dian Affairs.
Washington special.


Special attention having been drawn TO
the Indian problem by the treatment OF the
subject In Secretary Lamar's annual report,
n has become topic Of frequent converse
tfon among national Legislators, and indi-
cations are that Congress will adopt new
and earnest measures for settlement OF the
question. Nj Holman, OF Indiana, Will
soon submit to Congress a report or the
observations of the commission OF which
he is Chairman, and he says that be Will
Recommend that the reservation system be
abandohed, With few exceptions where It
is impracticable nov; and that commits
sion be appointed by the President to ap-
portion the lands in severalty among the
members of tribes that are sufficiently ad.
1anced in civilization to justify the belief
that the plan wotld be successful.
senator VAN svycix has taken bold of the
question as he finds II IN the Indian Terri
tory, and proposes that the National Gov
eminent shall assume direct authority,
thereby organizing the Territory with full
Corps Of civil officers, but he does not pro.
bose 10 interfere with the tribal courts and
local Ifiddn authorities.
Mr.. TSwhshend, OF Illinois, has also
made a move in the same direction, but
would accomplish the object by different
means. He says he regards the Indian
problem as one of the most important ques-
lions pressing for intelligent Congressional
action. All the previous plans adopted by
The Government have failed to produce the
desired results, but It has been demon
stfatkd that If proper methods are adopted
the Indians can be civilized and made self
supporting. He says II they are taught
how 10 labor and the value Of property
m
| the war path, and may In time be-
come useful members in society. The
first step should be 10 make them citizens
| There are many million acres Of land sci
| apart to the Indians for which they car
never have use. The proper course te
pursue; he says, is to break up their tribal
relation, put them Under the protection oi
| the law, aud make them afnenable to its
| penalties, allot TO each OF them sufhcien'
| Quantity of land to enable them by industri'
| Gus habits TO maintain themselves as indi
vidual members OF society, and dispose o.
the remainder of the land to actual settlers
and appropriate the proceeds OF the sale
for their education and support.
Mr.. Townshend's plan Is essentially or
ferent from that Of Senator Van Wyck
His bill to organize the Territory OF Okla
homa provides for the consolidation OF tn
/ 1erIllOTy u tClAlkOiih 6OVSAA
metit, the establishing Of court, and tn
allotment OF lands IN seVeralty among tn
Indians. II authorizes the appointment o
Governor and Secretary by the Presi
dent, the Governor to be ex-officio Super
intendent of Indian Affairs in the Territory
A Legislature, TO consist OF Senate o
eleven members and House Of Representa-
tives of twenty nine members, Is to b
chosen at the first election to he hell
in the Territory by all male person
over 81 years of age, lawfully domicile'
in the Territory. At subsequent election
the right of suffrage is vested In all sucl
male persons WHO have resided in the ter
ritory for six months. A court is estab
lished, 10 be presided over by one Judge
An attorney and marshal are authorized U
be appointed by the President. The juris
diction, criminal aud civil, will be OF
character similar to that of the Western
District of Arkansas. All are competent a
Jurors who are bona fide male residents o
the Territory and over 81 years of age, an
who understand the English language wei
enough to comprehend the proceedings
All laws OF the United States applicabl
and not in conflict with Indian treatie
are to be in force in the Territory
A delegate to Congress is authorize
as in other Territories. 1t ais
provides that patents shall issu
TO all tribes on any reservation OF tn
United States for all lands which have bee
set apart to them respectively, to be held 4
trust for them by the United States for tn
period of twenty five years. But the Presl
dent is authorized at any time before tn
end of that period to allot such lands i
severalty to the Indians located on the re
spective reservations in the following guam
titles: To each head of family, l6
acres; TO each single person over ~ year
of age, 80 acres; to each orphan child un
der 18 years of age, 80 acres; to eac
other person under Is years OF agt
40 acres. When the lands are mainl
useful for grazing purposes doubl
the quantities named are to be given
each. 1t provides that patents shall issu
to each allottee for the lands allotted
him, but the title is to be held in trust
the United States for the period OF twenty
, five years thereafter, when 1t shall becon
, absolute in fee simple. All conveyances {
lands allotted in severalty, made before th
end OF the period of twenty five years, ar
, 10 be void. The Secretary OF the InteriC
is authorized to purchase from the India
tribes all the lands not allotted TO them
severalty, subject, however, to the ratihci
ton of Congress. The purchase money Il
the same is to be held in trust by the Unite
States for the period of twenty-five year
7 and interest Mt the rate OF per cent. is
| be paid in the meantime for the educatio
and elf-support of the Indians.
.
|