The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-04-26
THE soUraxRv U1xs.


A.o hVter controversy over Vheir FRO
Poses Transrer 70 = New Reservation.
WASHINGTON. April 25.-The Indian Rights
Association are arrayed against the Ute re-
moval bill. which has been reported favorably
In the House by a committee vote OF six to
Jour Commissioner Morgan opposes the prof.
ect which. In fact. was blocked In the last
Congress-
The case ia a peculiar one. The Southern
utes more than three years ago accepted
proposal made under the authority OF Con.
gress. By three Commissioners. to exchange
their present reservation in the southwest
corner OF Colorado for one across the border
In Utah. The consideration offered to them
was $4,000 in cash and $4,000 In sheep. to-
Rether with the appraised value Of all i'm
provements made on their Colorado lands:
while two OF their chiefs were to receive gratu-
tiles OF $500 each and two others $3.50 each.
Their new reservation was also to carry the
privilege OF hunting on unoccupied lands
around the La Sui mountains.
This compact. duly entered into by the re-
auired number Of persons OF the three Ute
bands on tho Colorado reservation. the Weemi-
nuchc. the Moache. and tho Capote. forms the
basis OF the report made by the House commit
tee In favor OF the removal Plan. 1t Is accepted
as tho wish Of the Indians. expressed in accord
Utes want to 60. and the people OF southwest
ern Colorado want to have them 60. tho agree
ment ought to be carried out in good fifth. It
IS further shown that tho Utes complained to
Agent Parker. who was sent expressly by
commissioner Morgan to ascertain their real
wishes. that the Government does not keep its
word about removing them. and. again. that
there can he no settled plan OF administration
for them during tho delay in carrying out the
The ground taken by the opponents OF the
a h.an al t,V h
t never to have been made: They represent
going ~ sSe settiers, '! th T tho commis.
croach on their Colorado, lands. and were
ing and hunting privileges on and around
tract three times as large; As for the principal
II must be said. howsver. that that many valid
and wise bargains for giving up all or parts
Of reservations 5, tS have been aGcemplishsd
issr Or sSpiass TSs distribatiSn osPe sash q
live stock. and Of emoluments to the chiefs arc
among the familiar means resorted to. Be.
sides. 1t seems to be admitted that the present
was Snd lila Gat 1. long
Stretched ss so ne tn es ooundas ss
detour Tor the neighborins people Since the lie
not . good Tor ali Seasons -" tSe ?rserya
ent direction: Tho indians are also moro
likely to wander, out. and to become a source Of
But %hileth review Of the question will
show that 1t has two sides. the Indian Rights
As; ASSOCIATION int have a strong argument in the
grade movement The modern policy is
toward severalty allotments and bringing
the red men into contact with civiliza-
ton. nm In going to the Sun Juan region.
Moq IL les: 60 f. and n Would h S6
encourage them to till tho soil. The promise
OF hunting privileges around the reservation
appeals to the love OF u wilder life. while It
appears that protests have already been mndo
by neiGhb9Iing settlers against spch priv.
the removal treaty; the cost Of the transfer Of
the new agency hui! dngs and OF u new mill
tary post. and the longer route for supplies.
this prolect may provo extensive. The build
Ing Of irrigating works in the new reservation
and the eXtingUishng of mining claims now
Colorado cannot fairly object to having in
the extreme southwestern corner Of her terri
tory this one Indian reservation. All the other
bands have been removed. and 1000 red men
cannot he called more than her share, as
Western state: Older states. including Michi-
three times rs many on reserVntions: Cnlifor.
MIA has six times as many.
Perhaps 1t might DO well to ascertain whether
the Indians would give up part Of their Colo
on tho remainder, II this should prove an &C:
ceDtab!e substitute and IL the Utes are fitted
for such allotments. the settlers would get
part OF the lands they covet and the objection
to the reservation as barrier to travel would
also be in rart removed. The Government
still more liberal proposition than the one they
have accented.