The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1894-05-08
TELLER's REPORT.
An Anomalous ConditIsu OF Affairs in
Indian Territory.

An Anomalous ConditIsu of Affairs in
Indian Territory.
WASHINGTON, May 7.-Ssnetor Teller
today presented the report of the com.
mittee on civilized tribes of Indians ON
affairs in Indian territory. The report
show an anomalous condition of society,
and indicates that many abuses have
grown up.
The report gives the Indian popula-
ton of the territory as 90, 055; white.
between $4,000 and $4,000, who have
no right to citizenship. TIE Indisns
themselves are held responsible for the
intrusion OF whites. The expense of
maintaining the federal court and pros
ecuting crime in the territory is nbout
one-seventh of the judicial expenditure
of the United States. This cannet be
fully remedied until territorial or state
government is established. The COM
mittee think. however, a partial remedy
may be found in the appointment OF two
additional justices aud ths appointm en- t
by the court OF commissioners in differ
ent localities.
The report also refers to the fact that
the children of white and black popula-
ton are deprived of the advantages OF
the common schools, and say that while
the parents of the children may have
gone to the territory with knowledge
of this condition, the people of the
United States cannot afford TO close their
eyes to the wrong to the children, and
declares that the matter OF allowing the
children of so large population to grow
up in ignorance ia one of national con-
Germ.
The publication of the occupancy of
the land is treated at length. The COM
mittee finds that the original theory of
the government, that the Indians were
to own the land in common, all having
equal interest in it, has been violated,
and that q few enterprioing citizens of
the tribe, frequently not Indians, but
citizens by intermarriage, have become
the practical owners of the best and
greatest part of the lands. Instances,
they say, come to their notice of men
having as high as 100 white tenants, and
in one case reported, a white man,
though an Indian citizen by marriage,
had 400 holdings, amounting to about
10000 acres. In the most progressive of
the tribes, the committee found that
about 100 peraons had appropriated half
of the best land. The report shows that
this condition of affairs was never con-
templated, and suggests that congress
shall take the matter in hand and pro-
vide remedy in the interests OF both
white and black. No remedy 10 sug-
gested at this time, however, because
the Dawes committee is now in In
dian territory with the purpose of sub
uniting 70 the several tribes a PROPOSE
ton for change of the present condi-
ton.
I'VE PREFER" the committee says, "to
wait until it shall be seen whether this
difficult and delicate subject may not be
disposed of by an agreement with the
several tribes of the territory: But if
the Indians decline to treat with that
committee and decline to consider any
change in the present considerations of
their titles and govern ment, the United
States must, without their aid and with
out awaiting their approval, settle this
question OF the character and considera-
tion of their land tenures and establish
n government over the whites and In
dams of that territory in accordance
with the principles of our constitution
and laws.
Nothing" they say, twill do bat the
abandonment OF the present syatem. 1t
cannot be modified or reformed, but
better system must he substituted.
That this will be difficult to do, your
committee freely admits. but becauRe it
is a difficult task is no reason why con-
gress should not at the earliest possible
moment address itself to the question:"