Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1888-10-23
A DESERTED CITY.
A General Exodus from Washing.
ton Follows Adjournment.
FEW PUBLIC MEN REMAIN,
The Sioux Negotiations Were a Fla'
Failure, and the Indians WIN Tn
doubtedIy he Given Reason to
Regret Their stubbornness.

WASHINGTON. Oct. 23.-Washington 10
well nigh deserted Not more than two or
three congressman still remain IN the CITY,
and many Of the resident officials are away
at present also. The president and some
thing more than quorum Of his cabinet are
the only conspicuous public men left here.
During the next two weeks the center OF
political activity will be in New York city,
whittier most Of the leaders Of both parties
have gone 10 assist in the campaign IN New
York, Connecticut and New Jersey.
few prominent congressman, however,
like Speaker Carlisle, have gone to Ohio ana
Indiana. The reports which come here from
the various doubtful states are received with
different interpretations, according TO the POI
litical predictions of different people. The
Republicans are hopeful, but not more so
than the president and his cabinet. The
president himself fully expects to be re-
elected Col Lamont expresses perfect con-
fidence as TO the result, and so does Post
master General Dickinson.
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 re-
duction of their reservation, has convinced
the authorities that public policy demands
that no further attention should be paid to
the treaties under which the Indians are con-
stantly falling behind in their efforts 10 pre-
vent the wiping out of their tribal relations.
II 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 a demand for more. The presi-
dent and Secretary Villas are not inclined to
think that S1.25 is too much TO allow the In
dams for the land, provided that the lands
were all alike and opened to settlement under
other than the homestead law but there is
considerable land that will never command
80 cents per acre and even where the land is
of good quality it is considered as a good deal
of a 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 generally
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 Indians they will
not work, and cling to their tribal relations
and traditions The Osages of Indian terri
tory are an example of this. They are the
wealthiest in the United States
They have in addition the possession of
plenty of lands for their support and for
farming purposes and fund in the United
States treasury, the interest of which is suf-
flcient to give every family of five persons
$500 per year They have so much money
that half the annual income Is withheld
by the government, and yearly goes to in
crease the large principal The result of this
wealth is a total stoppage of the civilization
of the Osages.
They do not work themselves, but hire
white men TO work their lands, and still
cling to their tribal relations and refuse TO
take land in severalty The same difficulty
is experienced with other Indians having suf-
ficient TO buy them food and clothing. 1t is
quite likely that the concessions made to the
Indians viii all be added TO the amendment
to be made to the act at the coming session,
but it is about settled, unless overtures come
from the Indians, that no further negotia-
tions will take piace