Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-12-01
THE UTE SCHOOL PROBLEM.

The Order Removing the Indian Chief of
Police Revoked by Commissioner Morgan.
There has been an effort TO secure the re-
moval of the southern Utes from Colorado to
Utah. The people of Durango. near the reser-
walton, have been very persistent in urging the
removal, so that the present Ute reservation
might be thrown open to settlement and thus
promote the prosperity of their town. Indian
Commissioner Morgan has opposed the removal
Of the Ctes on the ground that ii would be very
detrimental to their progress and welfare. He
has recommended instead the allotment OF
about 100 900 acres of their land in severalty.
which would leave more than SOC. 900 acres SC
be thrown open to settlement by the whites and
thus the reservation would be DESTROYED. Du-
range would be benefited and the Indians
would not be injured.
When Fort Lewis, which IL immediately ad-
joining the southern Cite reservation and in the
vicinity OF Durango. was abandoned by the
military it was turned over by the War Depart
ment to the Department of the Interior, and
by the advice of the agent Of the southern
Utes, Supervisor Keck and Senator Teller, and
on the recommendation of the commissioner Of
Indian affairs, 1t was by the order of Secretary
Noble converted into an Indian training school
for the special benefit of the Utes The
grounds are extensive, the buildings are ample,
the school ia well organized under the control
of an experienced superintendent and is capa-
bic Of accommodating 800 pupils. more than
the entire number Of Ute children. The effort
TO establish the school has been opposed by
Durango people and others interested in the
removal of the Utes on the theory that il the
Indians should put their children into the
school at Fort Lewis they would be uuwilline
to 60 themselves to Utah.
The Indian Office has used all possible infu-
cnce to secure children for the school, but has
only been able thus far to secure about fifty
although the school has been in operation
nearly year.
In 1890 Congress enacted the following law
THAT hereafter the commissioner of Indian
affairs, subject TO the direction of the Secretary
of the Interior, is hereby authorized and d.
rected to make and enforce by proper mean,
such rules and regulations will secure the at.
tendance Of Indian children Of suitable age and
health at schools established and maintained
for their benefit" On June 81, 1892, the Sec
Rotary of the Interior wrote to the commissioner
of Indian affairs that he must rely for the en-.
forcement Of this law on the Indian polici
force and said: You will have to strengthen
your police force, in which will assist you te
the utmost extent"
Mr.. Bartholomew. the agent for the southern
Utes, was directed by the Indian Office Il
gather up the children and put them in school
using his police force if necessary. Ignazio IL
chief of Indian police. He declined to assist
the agent in this work and Commissioner Nor.
gan ordered his removal as chief of police.
Senator Wolcott of Colorado called upon the
commissioner on Tuesday last and requested
him to revoke the order, assuring him thai
! unless it done there surely would bt
trouble. On this request Commissioner Morgan
sent at once, Tuesday, November 90, a tele
graphic dispatch to Agent bartholomew re
voking the order. He has had no communion
ton with Secretary Noble about 1t and does MOI
know what action the Secretary has taken.