Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-12-10
,,Er1JNG Daily REGISTER THURSDAY DECEMBER TO- 1891

thought by him to be required. He is
entitled to the credit Of having given
thorough protection to the settlers and
of bringing the hostiles into subsection
with the least possible loss Of life.
The appropriation OF S2,99l,450 for
the Choctaws and Chicasaws contained
in the General Indian Appropriation
bill of March 3, 1891, has not been ex-
pended for the reason that | have not
yet approved release to the govern
ment OF the Indian claim to the lands
mentioned. This matter will be made
the subject OF special message, piac-
ing before Congress all the facts which
have come to my knowledge. The rela-
ton of the five civilized tribes now occu-
pying the Indian Territory to the United
States is not, believe, that best cal
culated to promote the highest advance
ment Of these Indians. That there
should be within our borders five
independent States having no
relations except those growing out Of
treaties with the government OF the
United States no representation In the
national legislature, its people not citi-
zens, is 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 IL advisable now TO sug-
gest, even If they were well defined In
my own mind. They should certainly
involve the acceptance OF citizenship by
the Indian and representation In Con-
gress. The Indians should have oppor-
tunity to present their claims and griev-
ances upon the floor rather than, as now
IN THE LOBBY.
II commission could be appointed
to visit these tribes to confer with them
in q friendly spirit upon this whole
subject, even If no agreement were
presently reached, the feeling OF the
tribes upon this question would be de-
veloped and discussion would prepare
the way for changes which must come
sooner or later.
The good work of reducing the lar
ger Indian reservations by allotments
In severalty to the Indians and the
cession of the remaining lands to the
United States for disposition under the
Homestead law, has been prosecuted
during the year with energy
and success.
In September last l was enabled
to open to settlement in the Ter
ritory of Oklahoma 100000 acres
of land, all of which was taken
I'D by settlers in a single day. The
rush for these lands was accompanied
by great deal of excitement, but was
happily free from incidents Of violence.
1t was a source of great regret that |
was not able to open at the same time
the surplus lands OF the Cheyenne and
| Arapahoe reservation, amounting to
about 100000 acres, by reason OF the
insufflciency OF the appropriation for
| making the allotment. Deserving and
| impatient settlers are waiting to occupy
| these lands, and | urgently recommend
| that special deficiency appropriation
be promptly made Of the same amount
needed so that the allotments may be
| completed and the surplus lands opened
| in time to permit the settlers to get upon
! their homesteads in the early spring.
| During the past summer the Cherokee
commission have completed arrange
ments with the Wichita, Kickapoo, and
Tongua tribes, whereby, il the agree
ments are ratified by Congress, over
500. 600 additional acres will be opened
10 settlement in Oklahoma. The Dego'
tiation for the release By the Cherokees
OF their claim TO the Cherokee strip has
made no substantial progress, so far as
! the department Is officially advised,
but it is still hoped that the
cession OF this large and valu'
able tract may be secured.
! The price which the Commission was
authorized TO offer, Sl.25 per acre, Is In
my Judgment, when all the circum
stances rs to title and the character OF
the lands are considered, fair AID
ADEQUATE one and should have been ac'
cepted by the Indians. Since March 4,
1889. about $4,000, 900 acres have been
separated from Indian reservations and
| added TO the public domain for the use
Of those who desired 10 secure free
| homes under our benefcent laws. IL Is
| difficult TO estimate the increase oi
wealth which will result from the con
version OF these waste lands into farm:
but it is more difficult to estimate the
betterment which will result to the fam
lilies that have found
RENEWED HOPE AND COURAGE
in the ownership of home and the as
surapce OF comfortable subsistence
under free and heathful conditions. II
is also gratifying to be able to feel, as
we may, that this work has proceeded
upon lines Of justice toward the Indian,
and that he may now, il he will, secure
10 himself the good influences OF set
tied hab!tation, the fruits OF industry
and the security of citizenship.
Early In this administration special eff
fort was begun TO bring up the
work of the General Land Office.
BY faithful work the arrear-
ages have been rapidly reduced.
At the end of the last fiscal year only
s4.172 final agricultural entries remain
| ed undis posed Of, and the commissioner
reports that with the present force the
work can be fully brought up by the
end OF the next fiscal year. Your at
tention is called to the difficulty pre-
sented by the Secretary OF the Interior
as to- the administration OF the law OF
March 3. 1901. establishing Court OF
Private Land Claims. The small hold.
ings intended to be protected by the law
are estimated to be more than fifteen
| thousand In number. The claimants
are a most deserving class and their
titles are 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 holdings, many OF which have been
| Ia the same family for generations, are
laid ont In narrow strips few rods wide