The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1890-02-11
ROOM FOR MA VA SMILING FARM.
Nine Million Acres ceded in the
Great Sioux Reservation.
A Deed Presented to Congress With
over 4ooo Signatures.
Some Timely Advice as to the Treat.
ment Due the Indians.

WASHINGTON, February 10.-President
Harrison today sent to Congress the report
of the commission appointed to negotiate
with the Sioux Indians for the surrender of
portion of their great reservation in Dako-
ia. The commission consisted of Chas. Fos-
ter of Ofio, VIM. Warner of Missouri, and
Gen. George Crook of the Army. The report
gives in detail every step taken in the nego-
tiations. The deed which accompanies the
report is signed by 4.463 male Indians over
IS years of age, this being in excess of the
required number. This commission makes a
number of recommendations. A matter of
first Importance, it says, is the selection of
the agents who are to manage and superin-
tend the affairs at the separate agencies.
Competent agents should be supported by the
department and their control of agency af-
fairs be practically absolute. This control
should carry with it the power to discharge
summarily any or all employees for cause.
One OF the most prolific causes of trouble at
that agents were placed at disadvantage by
having employees appointed to serve ostensi-
bly, under their orders who, by virtue of
their influence at Washington, were practi-
cally independent of their control The
commission deprecates the recent action of
OF beef rations supplied from the various
agencies. This action, following so soon af-
Ger the conclusion of the negotiations, the
commission believes will have very injurious
effects. If reductions be smade, the commits
sion recommends that the Indians be notified
before spring opens so crops may be culti-
waited. This action will be looked upon as a
violation OF the express statements of the
commission.
The report states that Indians everywhere
fnl inn cft ss.No 81.
of education. The report recommends that
schools be established on the reservations
and that the education should be largely
practical. At an early day, industrial
schools should be established ON the several
reservations. Attention is called to the
inferior quality of the clothing issued, and
change is recommended in the time of
Issuing annuities The commission recon-
mends that the fund derived from the sale
OF ceded lands be divided among all the
Indians on per capita basis. The COM
mission also recommends legislation appro-
priating sufficient fund to enable the
department to furnish the Indians at once
with live stock and agricultural impliments
1t says the interest on the permenant fund
should Immediately be made available. The
amount OF land secured to the governments
under the agreement is estimated at 5000, 900
acres.
The President in his letter of trans
initial, says the consent of more than three
fourths of the adult Indians to the terms of
the act was secured. The Indians accepted
the Interpretation of the law made by the
commissioners. The commissioners had no
right, the President says, to bind either
Congress or the Executive by their con-
struction of the statute, but were agents for
Inc tnenoJitia Limited States to submit definite
indians. That falling, they were
to agree upon modified terms to be submitted
to Congress for ratification. Good faith de-
mands that if the United States accepts the
lands ceded, the beneficial construction of
the act given by our agents should be admit
ted and observed. Upon the subject of
schools and school houses, the Indians asked
the commissioners If the cost would be
charge against the lands ceded to tho United
States. The commissioners answered, the
President says he thinks correctly, in the
the commissioners that my s5pSPriated
by the act to pay for certain bonds for ponies
taken by the military authorities in 1876,
would not be charge against the proceeds of
the ceded lands, is an obviously correct in
depreciation. So also was the assurance that
the expenses of the commission would not be
charged against the. proceeds of the lands.
The statement by the commissioners to the
Indians that they could elect to take their
allotments under section of the treaty of
1868 and also have the benefits of sections s
and 10 Of the treaty, the President says can
be readily admitted.
InO OCNtCbdaJ VI tut submitted
with his letter transmitting the report of the
commission, the draft OF bill embOdying
the recommendations of the commission re-
Quiring legislation. An appropriation
necessary to carry into effect the provision
of the act, the President says, should be
promptly made and Immediately available.
The Secretary submits that with the knowl-
edge we have of the Indian character and
the expectation that must have been awak-
e ened oy the promises of the commissioners,
the adoption of the recommendations of the
commissioners should be more urgently in
sisted upon, If the act is to be proclaimed
and the Secretary questions the power of the
Executive to refuse to pro-
claim the act The bill pre-
pared by the Secretary to carry into effect
the recommendations of the commission pro-
yides for an appropriation aggregating ST.
629,o30 to carry out its terms An additional
section requires the purchase of Indian
produce at fair prices for supplies for the
adjacent military posts.