The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-05-04
New Puyallup Indian Bill Ex-
cludes the Spectators.
coLvILLE BILL BEFORE SENATE.
Tacoma's Contemplate Opposition to
Lake Canal Appropriation.
The Bill Benefits Seattle, but No Part
of the State Suffers Thereby-The
Senate Passes the New Chinese Bill
House Passes Consular Appropriation

WASHINGTON CRY. May Especial. i
As was anticipated, the Senate committee
on Indian affairs today arrived at a decis-
ion in regard to the Puyallup Indian res
ervation trouble. Senator Allen had an
ticipated that his bill would be reported
favorably, but the committee decided to
present another on the line of the Dawes
bill that has been considered by that body.
An entirely new bill was drafted and re-
ported to the Senate by Chairman Dawes.
The bill provides that whenever the con-
ditions are complied with, in the opinion
OF the secretary of the interior, relative to
the Puyallup reservation, which are en-
braced in the reports of the Puyallup In
dian commission, the secretary may pro-
vide for the alienation of the Indian title.
The lands are described as that portion
of the reservation deemed advisable by
the commission to be set apart and sold
Any Indian who has owned lands in
severalty and desires to sell the same,
shall make application to the secretary, to
be delivered by him in person or by the
agent of the Indians at the reservation,
signifying his desire to sell and describing
the tract held by him, and the secretary
shall then have the land appraised at its
fair market value by three disinterested
persons, and then have the land sold at
public auction to the highest bidder above
its appraisement. The purchase money is
to be paid one-third at the time of sale
and the other two-thirds, with per cent.
interest, to be paid in two and four years.
Provision is made to render the title good
in the purchaser by certifying that
congress has removed the restric-
tions ia ON the land. Two or more
tracts of land may be sold at the same
time if the secretary deems it to the inter-
est of the Indians. The Indians selling
the land shall have a lien upon the prop
erty, which shall be good for him person
ally and for his heirs in case of his death,
and is not allowed to make any assign
ment of his lien. The last section of the
bill provides that no sale of the lands
shall be valid except as provided in this
act.
The result of this bill, it is claimed, is to
invalidate all contracts made with the In
dians by persons seeking to purchase land
heretofore, and this is feature which the
people of Tacoma have protested against
from the start. 1t provides for the sale of
Indian lands to the highest bidder, with
Indians for the sale of the lands with other
parties. and practically annuls all such
contracts.
Senator Allen, when seen by the Posi-
INTELLIGENCE correspondent, said that he
had not had an opportunity to read the
bill reported from the committee, but as
he understood its provisions at this time,
1t was sort of compromise between his
bill and the bill hitherto presented by Sem
ator Dawes. He said, however, that if.
after having given due consideration to
the bill presented today. he found it was
not satisfactory to the people of Washing
ton, he would move to substitute his own
bill on the floor of the Senate when the
matter comes up there for consideration.
Senator Squire will urge before the COM
mittee on Indian affairs in the Senate the
speedy passage of the bill for the opening
of the Colville reservation.