Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-02-09


PLANTS or THE DELEaATEs.
The conference with the Sioux Indian DEL
egation was resumed this morning. Instead,
however, Of talking to the Seer tary Of the
Interior the Indians expressed their views to
Gen. Morgan, the Commissioner Of Indian
affairs. long room in the Atlantic building,
where the Indian bureau is located, was used as a
council chamber. All the Indians now in the
city were present and they filed up the body
of the room. The few spectators who were able
to crowd in the limited space occupied seats
along the sides of the room.
COMMISSIONER MoRaAN's SPEECH.
The proceedings were opened shortly after
10 o'clock by Commissioner Morgan, who
spoke as follows his words being interpreted
by Louis Richard:
II am very glad to see you here this morn
ing. l have asked you to come together that
may explain some things and that may hear
from you In regard to some matters of admin
istration. The commissioner of Indian
affairs has no power to make laws. He has no
money, no provisions or anything else for the
Indians except what Congress gives The COM
missioner simply takes what Congress gives him
and hands it over to the Indians. We have heard
good deal of what has happened in
the past. think We have heard all that is
profitable about the past 1 want now to hear
about plans for the future. Congress has
passed laws carrying out the Sioux agreement
with one exception.
WHAT HE IS READY TO DO.
The commissioner is now ready to carry out
these provisions We are prepared to issue the
rations in the future as Congress has decided.
We are prepared to give the cows, wagons and
other things which Congress has authorized.
We are prepared to issue the extra 500, 900
worth of beef to the Indians entitled to receive
IT which was cut OF In the past.
l listened TO some Of the requests made by you
on Saturday and want to say a word about
that. In regard to the boundary line between
the Pine Ridge and Rosebud reservations that
line was fixed by law and agreed to
by the Indians l supposed it was salts
factory to you. find that it is a matter of
law and l can make no change. Senator
Dawes, the chairman of the Senate Indian
committee, says he thinks that the law will be
amended SO that it will be satisfactory to the
Indians. As far as the commissioner is con-
cerned he does not care whether the Indians
OF Pine Ridge move over and take their lands
and rations from the Rosebud. l think that
We can consider that matter settled.
AS TO THE SCHOOLS.
So far as the schools are concerned Congress
has given the money SO that we can improve
the educational facilities. Congress has been
very liberal in the matter of the education of
L
matter to the Indian Office that q satisfac tory
plan will be marked out. l intend to visit
your reservation in the spring and see
for myself what is needed. will say nothing
more, but wish to hear from you what will be
helpful in the administration of the Office
The commissioner then introduced Senator
Dawes as the best friend the Indians ever had
SENATOR DAWES TALKS.
Senator Dawes said that he attended the con-
ference on Saturday, but was unable to stay
very long. He had visited the Indian country
very often and he saw before him several
familiar faces. He stated that he had some
thing to do with the preparation of the
law by which they ceded their lands to
the government He said that when Capt.
Pratt returned and told what the In ans
thought about the law better law was passed
Congress thought that the first law was good
one, but after looking it over and hearing what
the Indians said, they saw that it could
be improved. Congress was gratified
that the second law was approved.
1t was thought that law had been made to
carry out every one Of those agreements 1t
was found later on that accidentally two or
three things were left out. Then new law was
made and it is now thought that the thing is
complete He said that if the Indians
would speak. it would be corrected. The
President and Congress mean to see that the
agreements are carried out. He desired that
the Indians should do their part. 1t was known
that the dry weather had made the crops bad,
they had not got everything they ought to
have.
MUST NOT BLAME THE GOVERNMENT.
The Indians, he said, must not blame the
government for the dry weather, but if they
| did not get all the rations that were due them
then they could blame the government. He
reminded them that they had told him when
he was in their country several years ago that
they would try to become self-supporting The
government would help them to do this They
would be aided in building houses and
In obtaining horses, cattle, agricultural nipple
ments, DC. The government has done great
deal for the Sioux Indians and has agreed to
give them $1,000 900 to start them and the best
thing about it is that the Indians have agreed
to return this money by having their
their benefit. He thought that
this was the best scheme yet devised and if the
Indians did their part they would have great
future. No Indian tribe except the Osages
would have such a fund. He advised them to
to do and calling it square they would begin
| afresh. He told the Indians that he would
come out to see them next summer. II they
would have patience the government would en-
deavor to have patience with them.
ARRANGING FOR THE RED MEN,
After Senator Dawes finished his speech he
withdrew from the room. The commissioner
| then told the Indians that he had set them a
good example by making short speech and he
hoped that they would benefit by it.
He suggested that the Indians not vet heard
from should speak first. and he mentioned tho
names Of White Ghost, Big Name and Good
Horse as the speakers. Hollow Horn Rear
wanted representatives from each delegation 10
be heard. He asked whether tomorrow there
would be another conference. The commits
siouer replied in the affirmative.
WHITE GHOSTS COMPLAINTS
1t was finally decided that White Ghost OF
Grow Creek should be heard first, and he pro-
| ceeded to speak. He first fiatsered the
commissioner and the white race ex.
pressing his love for them and his desire to
live with them in peace. He adroitly compared
the mental condition of the Indians TO
children and said that it was necessary to sneak
plainly and a: length in order that thew might
understand what was said His first complaint
was In regard to the encroachment of the white
people upon the lands owned by the
Indians He had become weak and his
flesh watery in consequence of anxiety
over this matter. The commissioner
assured him that he would look into the mat
ter. White Ghost then spoke of the $50 which
was promised him under the agreement. and
the commissioners told him that money was to
be paid after they had taken their lands in
severalty. He spoke of the small quantity of
land that would be allotted to the Crow creek
Indians. and the commissioner observed that
Congress had been asked to pass
law that would equalize the allotment of Land
I all AlxAC IL