Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1891-12-17
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR.
The Indian Problem Discussed and
RECON- mandations offered


ceeding with the tribes for a reduction OF the
reservations, with the incident labor OF making
alotments; and was never more carefully con
Quoted. The provision OF adequate school fScil-
tiles for Indian children aud the locating OF
adult Indians upon farms involve the solution
cations. annuites and tribal n.eotia toSs With
the agents, inspectors. and commissioners who
distribute and conduct them--must pass away
the individual ownership OF a farm from which
he derives his subsistence by his ow1f labor pro-
tected by and subordinate to the laws which
eral government or by the local communities i'll
which he lives with the means OF educating his
children. When an Indian becomes n citizen IN
an organized state or territory his relation to
the general government ceases, i'll great measure,
to be that Of a ward; but the general govern
ment ought not at once to put upon the state
or territory the burden of tue education OF his
children. 1t has been my thought that the gov
eminent schools and school buildings upon the
reservations would be absorbed by the school
has been found necessary TO protect the Indian
against the compulsory alienation OF his land
by exempting him from taxation for period OF
twenty-five years, 1t would seem 70 be right that
the general government. certainly where there
tribal funds in its possession, should pay to
the school fund of the state what would be
equivalent to the local school tax upon the
property OF the Indian.
1t will be noticed from the report of the COM
mss oner OF Indian affairs that already some
contracts have been made with district schools
for the education OF Indian children. There IS
great advantage. think, in bringing the In
dian children into mixed schools. This process
will be gradual. and in the meantime the present
educational provisions and arrangements, the
result Of the best experience of those who have
been changed with this work, should be con-
tinued This will enable those religious bodies
that have undertaken the work OF Indian educa-
ton with SO much zeal and with results so re-
straining and Deneficent to place their insttu-
lions in new and useful relations to the Indian
and to his white neighbOrs. Er
THE OUTBREAK AMONG THE SIOUX,
which occurred in December. last. is, as to its
causes and Incidents, fully reported upon by the
war department. and the department OF the ln-
terror. That these Indians had some Just COM
plants, especially in the matter OF the reduction
OF the appropriation for rations aud IN the de-
lays attending the enactment of laws to enable
the department to perform the engagements en-
tered into with them, is probably true; but the
Sioux tribes are naturally warEke and turbu-
lent, and their warriors were excited by their
medicine men and chiefs who preached the COM
ing OF an Indian messiah who was to give them
power to destroy their enemies. In view OF the
alarm that prevailed among the white settlers
near the reservation and OF the fatalities which
would have resulted from an Indian incursion,
placed at the disposal OF Gen. Miles, command
ing the division OF the Missouri, all such forces
as were thought by him to be required. He is
entitled to the credit of having gwen thorough
protection to the settlers and bringing the hos
tiles into subsection with the least possible loss
OF life.
The appropriation Of S2.991,4 5o for the
Choctaws and Chickasaws, contained i'll the
general Indian appropriations bill OF March 3,
that have not yet approved q release to the
government or the Indian claim to the lands
mentioned. This matter will be made the, sub.
ject OF special message, placing before congress
all the facts which have come to my knowl-
edge.
The relation OF the five tribes (cvized) now
occupying the Indian Territory TO the U nited
States is not, / believe, the best calculated
to promote the highest Announcements OF these
Indians. That there should be within our bor-
ders five independent states having no relations
except those growing out OF treaties with the
United States, no representation in the national
legislature its people not citizens, is a startling
anomaly.
1t seems to me to be inevitable that there
shall be before long some organic changes in the
relation of these people to the United States.
What form these changes should take DO not
think it desirable now to suggest, eVenn they
were well defined in my own mind They should
certainly involve the acceptance OF citizenship by
the Indians and representation IN congress.
These Indians should have opportunity to pre-
sent their claims and grievances upon the floor
rather than as now, in the lobby: II com
to confer with them in a friendly spirit upon
this whole subject, even if 10 agreement were
presently reached, the feeling OF the tribes upon
this question would be developed and discussion
would prepare the way for changes which must
come sooner or later.
LAND IN sEyERALTY.
The good work OF reducing the larger Indian
reservations by allotments in severalty to the
Indians and the cession of tie remaining landsto
the United States for disposition under the
homestead law, has been prosecuted during the
year with energy and success. In September
last was enabled to open to settlement IN the
Territory of Oklahoma 100000 acres OF land.
all OF which was taken up by settlers in single
day. The rush for these lands was accompanied
by great deal of excitement, but was happily
free from incidents of violence
1t was source of great regret that was not
able to open at the same time the surplus lands
OF the Cheyenne and Arapahoe reservation.
Of the Of the
Deserving and impatient settlers are waiting to
occupy these lands and urgently recommend
that a special deficiency appropriation be
promptly made OF the small amount needed, SO
shae the may r ana the the
settlers to get upon their homesteads III the
early spring.
During the past summer the Cherokee commits
sion have completed arrangements with the
Wichita, Kickapoo and IonkaWa tribes, Where
by II the agreements are ratified by congress.
settlement in Oklahoma. The negotiation for
the release by the Cherokees OF their claim to
the Cherokee strip has made no substantial
advised but it is still hoped that the cession OF
this large and valuable tract may be secured.
The price which the commission was authorized
when all the circumstances as to title and the
character OF the lands are considered, a fair and
adequate one and should have been accepted
Since March 4. $780, about % 900 600 acres
have been separated from Indian reservations
and added to the public DOMAIN Tor the use OF
those who desired to secure free homes under
benefcent laws. 1t is difficult to estimate
the increase Of wealth which will result from the
conversion of these
WASTE LANDS INTO FARMS,
but it is more difficult to estimate the better
ment which will result to the families that have
found renewed hope and courage in the owner
ship Of home ana the assurance OF a comfort-
able subsistence under free and healthfui condi-
tons 1t is also gratifying to be able to feel, as
we may, that this work has proceeded upon
lines OF justice towards the Indian. and that he
may now, if he will, secure to himself the good
influences OF q settled habtation, the fruits OF
industry aud the rights OF citizenship
. Early in this administration q special effort
was begun to bring up the work OF the general
land office. BY faithful work the arrearages
have been rapidly reduced. At the end of the
last fiscal yearly only "a, LIZ final agricultural
entries remained undisposed OF. and the COM
missioner reports that, with the present force,
the work can be fully brought up BY the end OF
the next fiscal year
Your attention is called to the difficulty pre-
sented by the secretary of the interior as to the
administration OF the law of March 8. 1891, es-
tablishng a court Of private land claims. The
small holdings intended to lie protected by the
law ara estimated to be more than Is, 900 in
number The occupants ara most deserving
class, aud their titles supported by the
strongest equities. The difficulty grows out of
the fact that the lands have largely been sur
veyed according to our methods, while the hold
ings, many OF which have been in the same fam
lily for generations are laid out in nrrrow strips
a few rods wide upon astream and running back