St. Paul daily globe., 1890-05-22
WHITE CLOUD SPEAKS.
A Commentary on the Gross Der
ELECTION of the Government.

A Commentary on the Gross Der
ELECTION of the Government.
The Chippewa Indians are strong be
levers in the good faith of the govern
ment when it is backed by Hon, Henry
M. Rice, and they do not propose to
take any chances with new man on
the Chippewa commission. Yesterday
White Cloud, the head chief of the Red
Lake bands called on Gov. Merriam, and
through c. II. Beaulien, of this city,
held a long conference with his excel
lency. He told the governor that his
people had heard that Hon.
Henry NJ. Rice was to be re
moved from the Indian Commission
and he informed the governor that the
Indians were very anxious for MI.
Rice's retention in the commission.
that he had heard nothing of such
rumor and promised that he would do
all in his power towards preventing any
such action. From this White Cloud
passed on to a review of the present
condition of his people, which he said
was not at all satisfactory.
During the summer of 1889 COM
mission consisting Of Hon. Henry M.
Rice, Bishop Marty, of Dakota, and
Prof. Joseph B. Whitney, of Wisconsin.
negotiated a treaty with the Chippewa
Indians of the state, by the
terms of which the Indians
in consideration of the payment of GER
tain sums of money. among which GER
tain overdue annuities are reckoned,
were to cede to the government all the
lands embraced in their several reser-
vatlons except so much of the Red Lake
and White Earth reservations as may
be necessary to give the Indians lands
IN severalty as provided by the act au-
thOriZing the appointment OF the COM
mission. The commissioners went on
and socceeded in negotiating the treaty,
and their report was forwarded to the
interior department last fall, but,
government from some cause or
other to take prompt action
considerable suffering among the In
dians was caused by the failure OF the
authorities at Washington to pay the
overdue annuities. and, as White Cloud
expressed 1t yesterday, the Indians are
becoming fearful least those now living
will not survive to padtake of the bene
fits of the treaty.
In the different Chippewa reservations
in the state there are no less than 4, ,747,
93l acres of land, of which 5,260,O0O are
in the Red Lake reservation, and 1885,,
672 acres in White Earth, the remainder
being divided between the Bois Fort,
Deer Creek, Fond du Lac, Grand
Portage, Leech Lake, Mile Lac,
VermiIlion Lake, Winnebasosh-
ish. Cass Lake and White
Oak Point reservations. Of the White
Earth reservation all but four townships
are to be ceded to the government, and
nearly two-thirdS of the former. The
value of the pines on the lands to be
ceded is estimated ali the way from
S25, ,oOO, 900 to $50, 100000. In considera-
ton of the cession, and in payment of
annuities due under former treaties,
withheld for some reason which does
not appear, the bill introduced in the
senate short time ago to carry out the
terms OF the treaties provides payment
10 the several tribes as follows:
To the Chippewa Indians of Lake
Superior and Mississippi. $4,000.
For compensation for loss and damage
sustained by the building of dams and
reservoirs on Lake WinnebagoshiSh,
Cass lake and Leech lake, S15G, 200, with
interest at per cent from Sept. II,
1856. to and including June so, 1890, and
the sum of S1S0,000. or SO much thereof
as may be necessary, to be paid per
capita in two yearly lnstAllments. For
compensation for 46, $50 &cres or land
overfiowed by reason of the dams afore-
said, at S1.25 per acre, S5S,6oO. For