St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-06-19
LANDS THAT ARE LOS.
Report of Senate Committee Regarding
Reservations in Dakota and
Montana.
The Grow Greek Settlers Claims How
the Rich Cattle Barons Secured
Their Leases.
Plans By Which Duluth Hopes to Sc
cure Her Share of Northwest
ern Commerce.
The st. Paul Jobbers Have a Pleasant
Time at Hudson--R
Band Convention
Indian Reservation,

WASHINGTON, June Ex-senator Har-
rison from the committee on Indian affairs
to-day filed supplementary report regard
ing the investigation OF the condition of the
Indians i'll the Indian Territory and other
reservations. In the report the committee
say regarding the Crow Greek and Winnie
bago reservations in Dakota territory, that
there are about 1850 Indians drawing ra-
tons there. The troubles which SUBJ
committee consisting of senators Harrison,
Ingalls, and Jones ARK were sent to in
quire into, grew out of the throwing open
to the settlement by order of President Ar
thur of certain lands embraced in this res
ervation and the subsequent revocation of
that order by President Cleveland. On
this subject the report says:
The committee are of the opinion that the
reservation is much larger than is needed, or
can be wisely used for the Indians residing
thereon, but II the lands are covenauted by
treaty with them, we cannot repossess them
without the consent of the Indians. We be-
ieye it is entirely practicable to procure the
consent of the Indians to reasonable reduc-
lion of the reservation, as well as of the
greater one lying West of the Missouri river.
An attempt in that direction has already been
naugurated, and the necessary legislation
nas been passed by the senate. But the COM
mittee believe that the settlers who went
the executive order of Feb. 81, 1885, and in
good faith made settlement thereon, are en-
titled TO be protected as fully as possible
from the consequences of this unfortunate
complication.
In regard to the Crow reservation in Mon
lana the report recommends that it be re-
duced to such limits as will enable the Indians
to use what they retain and vest the titles in
individuals. In the opinion of the commit
fnn
given by Messrs. Blake & Wilson for the
rental of between $500. 600 and 5000. 600
acres at these lands and very inadequate
and the report says:
Charges of fraud in the negotiation of the
lease were made. 1t is enough" the report
continues, ito say that the Indians are in
capable of intelligent transaction of such
business. Ii leases are to be allowed at all,
the department should have taken entire
supervision OF the business"
WHAT THE COMMISSIONER SAYS.
Special to the Globe.
WASHINGTON, June 1S.-Indian Com
missioner Atkins has observed the criticism
made in regard to leases for grazing on the
Crow reservation in Montana, and says he
desires the fullest publicity given to all the
Indian Office or Agent Williamson have
done in the matter. Under the Crow
lands for grazing under such rules as the
secretary of the interior may impose.
When Agent Williamson took charge of
the reservation, he found already on it
several herds of cattle belonging to
Briggs & Ellis, Ash. Wilkerson and
the Columbia Land 81 Cattle company.
Briggs and Ash applied for a removal
of their permits and the Columbia company
wanted a new lease for 5, 900 cattle addi-
tional. These were referred to William
son to learn his views and the wishes of
the Indians. He replied that the Indians
had no objection to the leases in question.
There were no Indians on the land desired,
and white trespassers could be kept off by
giving the various applicants for leases au-
thority to come on the reservation. Other
applications came in from Haskins and
Mcclure. Thomas Barry applied last Feb
ruary for
PERMISSION TO CRAZE SHEEP
on the reserve at cents a head. William
son said this was insufficient and no permit
was allowed. In regard to the charge that
Nelson Story, J. K. Dllworth and III. c.
Lowell had 20, 900 cattle on the reservation.
the commissioner says he knows nothing, as
the Office has no information of these gentle
men or their cattle, and he does not believe
Williamson has either. The commissioner
says the old Blake and Wilson lease made
with the Crows in 1886, but not approved
by Secretary Teller. is still in existence.
This is all there is of the mat
ter. Williamson. he says, has shown
the greatest care to obey the home office
and look after the interest of the Indians,
as his correspondence with the applicants
for leases will show. No action has yet
been taken by the Indian office or Secretary
Lamar in regard to Briggs lease. The
terms proposed and agreed to by Briggs and
the Indians was 40 cents per head for one
year from June, 1886, for as many cattle as
he desired to Craze. 1t is not known
whether or not the Briggs lease will be