Clarksville evening chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn) 1886-1890, 1888-10-23
THE sioux ACT.
1T is LIKELY TO BE AMENDED AT THE
NEXT SESSION
so AS TO PROVIDE FOR OPENING
THE RESERVATION

without Further Attempt to Gain the
Consent of the lndians-It Has Been
Demonstrated That Money Given to In
dians is Great Drawback to the Pro-
gress of Their Civilization.
WASHINGTON, Oct. 23.--The negotiations
between the Sioux and the government are
at an end, and it is more than likely that
congress at its next session will amend the
Sioux act SO as to provide for the opening of
the great reservation without any further
attempt to gain the consent of the Indians
The increasing demand of the west for
more land for settlers and the fact that the
Sioux can make no progress without the
reduction of their reservation, has convinced
the authorities that public policy demands
that no further attention should be paid to
the treaties under which tine Indians are con.
stantly falling behind in their efforts
to prevent the wiping out of their tribal
relations. 1t is believed that the demand for
more money for this land is simply an
excuse urged by the older Indians to prevent
progress, and that if the increase were
granted it would be followed by demand
for more
The president and Secretary Villas are not
inclined to think that $l.25 is too much to
allow the Indians for the land, provided that
the land were all alike and open to settle
ment under other than the homestead law;
but there is considerable land that will never
command fifty cents per acre, and even
where the land is of good quality it is con-
sidered as a good deal of burden upon the
settler to be compelled to live five years
upon the land and pay the regular minimum
price per acre also.
The chief reason for refusal, however, to
grant the request that the price Of this land
be raised, is a belief on the part of Secretary
Villas and the friends of the Indians gener-
ally that the possession of so much money
must retard the progress of civilization
among the Indians. Where there are plenty
of funds in the treasury to support the In
dians they will not work and cling to their
tribal relations and traditions.
The Osages, of Indian Territory are an
example of this They are the wealthiest
tribe in the United States, They have in
addition the possession of plenty of land for
their support and for farming purposes, and
a fund in the United States treasury, the in
terest of which is sufficient to give every
family of five persons $500 per year. They
have so much money that one-half the
annual income is withheld by the govern
ment, and yearly goes to increase the large
principal
The result of this wealth is total stoppage
OF the civilization of the Osages. They donot
work themselves, but hire white men to work
their lands, and still cling to their tribal re-
lations and refuse to take land in severalty.
The same difficulty is experienced with either
Indians having money sufficient to buy them
food and clothing 1t is quite likely that the
concessions made to the Indians will all De
added to the amendment to be made to the
act at the coming session, but 1t Is about set
tied, unless overtures come from the Indians
that no further negotiations will take place.