Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1891-04-30
BOTH SIDES STATED
White Settlers and Indians Claims
Clash in Allotting Land to the
Latter.
Special Agent Mexican is Blamed for
Showing Undue Favor to the
Red Wards.
He Replies by Stating Clearly and Con-
cisely What His Duties are in
the Premises.
1t is Question that Involves the Right
to Valuable Land Around the
Mile Square.

Special Agent Mexican is receiving a
great deal OF criticism and censure from
settlers who have taken land across the
river, for what, it is alleged, is unjust
in favor Of the Indians.
The two morning papers yesterday con-
tanned rather lengthy accounts Of the
matter, the substance of which, as cX-
tracted from the Capital, reads like this:
In allowing Indians to select lands he
is permitting them to locate anywhere
they desire, without any regard to claims
taken up by white settlers. For In
stance, the whole of the Allison addi-
tions, which were taken up for townstc
purposes, have been allotted out to the
children of Joe Rivers. The Phillips
claim, upon which over $1,000 worth of
Improvements have been made. has been
allotted to the Narcelle and Traversce
children. Il. Ii. Martins claim, adjoin-
ing the mile square. goes to LaPlants
children. Fred Pettigrew's claim will be
also taken, and thus it goes. by the
work now being prosecuted by the allot-
ting agent, nc white settler has any
claim to any lands he may have taken
over a year ago, when the president de-
clared the reservation open to settlement.
OF course it is not believed for a minute
that these Indian children can hold the
lands, but they compel white settlers who
went upon the lands in good faith to
bring contest before the land office. If
they win their case before the land Office
the Indian department could appeal to
the general land Office, aud thus run up
additional bills of cost. The law by
which the Sioux ceded their lands very
plainly stated that an Inoian would have
to be living upon the land he desired to
take when the presidents proclamation
was issued. This being the case, it don't
stand to reason that they can now go to
fit to do for their children. Another
point in allotting the lands is that they
can be classed either as agricultural or
grazing lands. II grazing lands, they are
permitted to take up just double the
amount they would for agricultural pur-
poses. 1t is understood that the agent is
claiming most Of the lands up Bad river
wrong. MIR. Mexican, of course, is sent
here by the Indian department to virtu-
ally act as their attorney, but in permit
ting them to take white settlers lands he
IS doing them an injury: II they are
beaten in the econtest-which they surely
take up lands in any other section.
Special Agent Mexican was met in the
Locke last evening by FREE PRESS re-
porter, and requested to make some state.
ment that would show under what order
of duty he was guided In the matter, tina,
now bids far to become q red hot contro-
versy. AT first he demurred, stating thai
he was acting under instructions and die
not care to enter into newspaper wran.
gle. Finally, however, he volunteered
the following:
81 am endeavoring to follow my in.
structions and the law as construed BY
the secretary Of the Interior, and ] have
not Intentionally or arbitrarily trampled
upon any mans rights. Neither have l
without regard to the rights Of other:
allowed Indians to select land wherever
they chose. Indians have right, under
| the law, to have the land upon whict
they were living on Feb. 10, 1890, allotted
to them, and the law fixes the quantit,
each head of a family and minor chile
shall have. must allot that quantity tt
them, and have rot in any case givel
any one more than he or she was en-
titled to-"
what about grazing lands?" wa
asked.
"The law says where the land is main
ly valuable for grazing purposes each In
dian shall be entitled to double the quan
tity he would be otherwise entitled too
in other words he is entitled to 800 acres
as the head of a family, If the land is al
good for agricultural purposes, but
mainly good for grazing he shall have GA
acres. The department rules that III th
land can be made more valuable as graz
ing land than as agricultural it shall b
graded as grazing land, and the allottin
agent and Indian agent jointly must de
eide as to the general character Of tn
lands allotted. In some instances hav
decided the laud as good agriculture
land, and made my allotment according
", but where most or q large proportio
of the land lies in the hills think th
whole tract allotted could not fairly b
called agricultural land"
4 "What about giving Scotty Phillip
1 900 acYes?''
That's not correct. l did not allc
him that quantity, but L did give him whs
he was entitled to under the law. llama
is fortunate enough to have a dozen chi
dren It isnone of my business and l al
not responsible for that
Have you made any allotments With
or adjoining the mile square?''
No sir, none at all! Ihaye been urge