New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-02-04
CHIPPEWA INDIANS ssEK REDRESS

CHIPPEWA INDIANS SsEK REDRESS.
THEY CLAIM rnAT TINY ARE DfFR 'UDFD OF TIM
PrR rlGHrs nv GOvrpVMFST AGENTS.
WASHINGTON Feb Specian.-A delegation
OF Chippewa Indians are here from Northern Wis
consn TO protest against the action NJ their agent,
j T. Gregory. Of Ashland. in disposing OF the tim
Der upon their lands contrary to the law of the
Interior Dcparm Mt In the course Of the Adj
mnStraton Of President Arthur a rule was adopt
cd allowing them TO sell the timber from their
land under contract with the highest bidder, and
with the condition that the Indians should be
employed and paid the ruling rate Of wages to cut
aud remove the logs from the land The agent
has the power 10 make these contracts subject TO
the approval Of the Commissioner Of Indian Az
fairs and with the consent of the Indians. But
II Is charged that Gregory is selling the TIMBER 10
his favorites without competition, at prices below
commercial rates, and that, too, while men are
employed to cut and remove the logs against the
policy and regulations of the Department Gregory
Is Wisconsin man and was appointed upon the
rec, nm .ndation Of Secretary Villas and j. ii.
Knight, Of Ashland his partner and political
manager IL is also claimed that much of the
timber sold finds II way to the Superior Lumber
Company at Ashland, Of which Secretary Villas
ard j. ii. Knight are stockholders the contract
having been made with one Kennedy an employe
of the company II is also charged that the
matter has frequently been brought to the atten-
ton of Nh Villas before he became Secretary Of
the. Interior, without any correction OF the evil.
but now that he has taken official control of
Indian Affairs the Indians come 10 washington
denies the charges, claims that they are inspired
BY unsuccessful bidders and that the law is being
carried out so far as is practicable
But the Indians are Of different opinion. They
assert that the Bad River the Lac dc Flambeau
sEd the ether Chippewa reservations in Wisconsin
have been stripped OF timber for the beneht OF
lumber firms who are friendly with Agent Gregory
al prices much lower than might have been OBJ
tanned il other persons had been allowed to bid
end without regard to the alo'ments in severalty
have been allowed TO select the best and most
accessible tracts without the presence Of the
agent and the farmer as the regulations require,
and il is cha rgcd that The contracts have not been
reported to the Commissioner of Indian Affairs for
his approval They claim that they might get
Is per cent more for their logs than they are re-
ceiving at present if the contracts were made ac-
cOrdng 10 law.
The regulations Of the Department contemplate
that the Indians should not only receive the full
market price for their timber. but that they should
also be paid regular wages for the work done In
cutting il and taking II TO market. For example.
II they sell their timber for six dollars per log
stumpage, they should receive IN addition four or
FIVE dollars as the case may b. for cutting and
hauling IL But at the price now paid for their
timber they are getting only three or tour dollars
instead Of the ten or eleven TO which they arr
titled.
HEARINGS ON THE PACIFIC RAILROAD
WAsHINGToN. Feb. 8.-1he House Committee
on Pacific Railroads to-day considered the Outh-
waite bill and that proposed by the majority Of
the Pacific Railroad Commission. The committee
concluded TO listen TO any statements which the
representatives of the Central and Union Pacific
Companies might care TO present. II Is learned
that the committee was induced 70 grant these
hearings upon written requests by @ Hunt
ington and Others and that the hearings will
probably occupy two days. Mr.. Huntington APP
pearng for the Central Pacific Company Friday
end Charles Francis Adams president Of the
Union Pacific Company, on Saturday.
SCOTS MONEY ALONE COMMENDS HIM
WASHINGTON. Feb. Special. -" IL seems 70
me that MIR. Randalls Jaw has become more set
than ever sid an old politician to-day. The
man who made this remark served In Congress
with Randall several years, and he is shrewd
aud well-informed observer Of I' liY""i Events lie
bear before the apple towers bloom that Cleve-
tand Y sick Of his bargain with William l. Scott
scout has not thing to commend himself to the
democratic party except his money. II Is not
strAnge that nAav ~ tho DemocrAtA distrust him