Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1888-02-18
THE SIOUX BILL.

1t is sReperted to the A0uae, with
Further Amendments-FuKl Akstrscs
OF the Comraittee's Report.
Washington, Feb. 16-Mr. Peel, from
the house committee on Indian affairs,
to-day reported back the proposed sub
stitutss for the house bills relating to
the division OF the great Sioux reserya-
ton. The substance OF the bill hiss al
ready been published. A few minor
changes have been made since the com.
fnittee decided TO adopt the bill, which
are not, however, such as to affect it's
general purpose. Some objections were
made 30 the privileges granted by the
bill to the Chicago, Milwaukee i st.
Paul railway. The provision In relation
to that has been somewhat modified.
After giving the company right Of way
through the reservation, IN accordance
with agreements already made, the bill
leaves to the secretary of She interior
the amount OF land which the roads
shall absolutely have. The roads must
be constructed over the said lands and
right OF way within two years after the
passage OF the act. In his report filed
with the bill. MIR. Peel says:
Notwithstanding the warlike habits
demonstrated from time to time by the
Sioux, eliminating in the Minnesota
New Ulm massacre, ETC., the government
has for twenty years been dealing with
them with o lavish hand, supporting
them in idlsness and keeping them in q
great wilderness away from civilization
on reservation, the extent Of which 10
almost as great ss Kentucky. The sine
has come when it is an imperative nsces.
slty, as an economical measure on the
part OF tho governments az we'll al for the
prosperity OF the Indians, that there
should be change. The government is
paying for the support OF these Indians
vi, $4,000 annually, and since the treaty
OF 1858. $29, ,463, ,642 has been expended
in their support. This support being
supplied to them, there is little inclina-.
tion on their part to support themselves
or make an effort TO take up lands in
severalty. Tho country now occupied
by tho Sioux comprises $1,000 square
miles, upon which the entire Indian pop.
ulation does nos exceed 22,4S7, or one
Indian to every one and thFee-quaftsrs
miles. The reservations proposed TO be
staked out by this bill possess the fol-
lowing dimensions In square miles:
Pine eBsidgs........a $50 Cheyenne Riysr. A sse
stsssna Rocr ~ Lever Love hrsIs ~ ~
A careful estimate Of the humber OF
acres required OF ell lsnds to each of the
Indians shows that iS would ACT rsouiYe
one-fifth OF the lands reserved to make
up the amount required. The Rosebud
reservation has the largest number OF
Indians. II fixes abous 500 900 acres
to give them lands In seyerslty, while
the entire reservation contains 4 252.-
800 acres OF choice land.
The report recapitulaties the terms OF
the treaty OF 1882, showing that Ii was
signed by 4l6 chiefs and head men, be.
sides about 40 chiefs and head mon OF the
Grow Creek. This last was recommended
by the interior department.. and passed
the lower house OF congress IN 1883. but
was not brought to vote in the senate,
In support OF his recommendation fol
the ratification OF this agreement, Mr.
Peel says:
This agreement was signed by the
chiefs and head men representing the
tribes, and said that il followed the
agreement OF 1875, when both the In.
dians and the commission were guided
in making il by the precedent estab-
lished by the act OF congress approved
by the president, in making tht
agreement Of 1876. which construed anc
followed the treaty OF 1858. The In.
disns have received end the government
has paid over SIG 100000 under thil
construction, and on the hasis OF thes,
acts these Door Indians Are now entirel,
dependent upon tbs governments so
support. We think il unwise TO declar,
the presidents established invalid b,
adopting 9 different theory or rule from
that already established and acceptss
by the Indians; and, while il would b,
! ibetter Tor congress to legislAte for thes