The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-07-01

Red Men Left to the Tender Mercses OF
the Commission

mined bat unsuccessful eford TO get an
amendment into the Indian appropriation
bill which should permit the Puyallups to
dispose of their lands. At that paragraph
in the bill which refers to the PuyaiIup
agency he offered his amendment which
read as follows:
Provided, That all lands heretofore con-
shutting part of the Puyallup Indian
reservation, now held in severalsy by the
Puyallup Indians patents TO which have
been issued by the United States TO said
Indians, said patents containing certain
restrictions upon the sale and convey ance
OF said lands, are hereby declared 10 be the
property and estate in fee simple. Tree and
clear of each and every restriction as TO
the sale, conveyance, or other disposition
OF the same heretofore imposed by the
government of the United States. pro-
yided, however, that no sale OF said lands
shall be valid until the parties shall ap-
pear before the United States district
judge of the district in which said lands
are situate, aud therelpon SUBMIT to him
all the terms and conditions of such pro-
posed sale for his approval. aud II ap-
proved by such judge he shall indorse his
approval on the contract or other instru-
ment evidencing such sale; thereupon
such sale may be executed and completed
in accordance with the terms and con-
ditions so approved by said judge"
. Holman, the Watchdog, and chairman
of the Indian appropriation bill. raised
the point of order that this new leg1sla-
ton did not decrease the expenditures,
therefore. according to recent ruling OF
the house, such an amendment could not
be added to an appropriation bill.
Mr. Doolittle urged that il would reduce
expenditures, and called the attention of
the house to the existing United States
statute, which il would modify, which
authorized the president to appoint COM
mission of three ito select and appraise
such portions of the allotted lands as are
not required for homes for the Indian
allottees, and also that part of the agency
tract, exclusive OF the burying ground. not
needed for school purposes. in the Puy-
allup reservation in the state of Wash
ington. Aud, If the secretary of the in
terror shall approve the selections and
appraisementsm made by said commission.
the allotted lands so selected shall be sold
for the benefit of the allottees. and the
agency tract for the benefit of the Indians.
after due notice, at public auction, at not
less than the appraised value, for cash. or
one-,hird cash, and the remainder on such
time as the secretary of the interior may
determine. to be secured by vendors lien
on the property sold"
This commission, which Is now enjoy
ing itself out in the state of Washington,
has 81, 900 of government money a?pro-
priated for il TO expend. s'If my amend
ment shall become law" urged Mr.. Doc
little, "the necessity for any further work
upon these allotted lands will have been
done away with entirely. and its passage
will decrease the expenditures of the gov
eminent"
Representative Wilson also added his
urging to thst of his colleague in behalf of
the amendment. He said
az wish to call the attention of the house
to the tact that year after year when We
have come into the house with an Indian
appropriation bill there has been a great
hue and cry about the expenditures con-
tanned in the bill and about the amount
appropriated. Every time that We discuss
| the biz We seek in some manner to do
| those things that viii ultimately re-
| suit in decreasing the expenditures ior In
dian affairs.
81 called the attention Of the house to
| four or five cases the other day, three of
| them in my own state. Now. II you viii
| permit these Indians TO sell their lands ~
| what they are worth, subject TO the con-
/ troll of the United States court. sufficient
money will DO obtained 10 support the
| Indians for all time. and il viii not be
necessary TO MAKE any further appropria-
ton for an Indian agent or Tor the schools
/ al that agency, because the section oflaad
/ which Is owned by the tribe as whole
/ and which has not been allotted will sell
/ for money enough TO swell the school fund
that Is already provided for BY law 50 that
/ IL viii educate them for all time 10 come.
| This amendment therefore, does tend TO
decrease expenditures. and the only way
| that you can ever succeed IN reducing the
1 expenditures of the Indian department is
| by gradually cutting of The Indian
| agencies wherever il is possible and de-
| creasing your expenses IN that way. |
| might add that you can also make saving
By removing the Indian warehouse farther
west You can save sZs,uVo or SSae0o IN
| that way.
After this warehouse has been out at
! Chicago . little while, If the gentlemen
| cannot agree about retaining it there. We
| will take 10 out 10 Spokane. and THAI word
/ means Ia the Indian language. 'IAke
| everything IN sight and we are trying 10
| do il.
How are you going to stop appro-
| prlailng moneF for Indian agencies. he
| continued, unless you permit the Ia
/ dams 10 sell their lands where they are
| valuable and put that money into fund
to take care OF them and educate them
/ their own money. no. the peoples money.
| Al reference 10 the aSA p1eSr1 ~ thr AaSh
/ congress the Indians say: 1t Is none Of
/ your business; We viii not sell cur lands
| that say; We have acquired them By
| treaty, and We want 80 dispose of them
| ourselves and take eur own money 20 pro-
vide for our own comfort and happiness. ;
! These Indians are educated They own
/ probably as valuable body Of land a. can
be found anyw here in the United States. /"
In reply to question from Holman as
70 whether he had not advocated the ex-
| istsag lAw, Wilson said: Il vas con-
strained by the gentleman from Indiana
20 accept that as the very best could get. !"
rs il not true" eaeEied Mr.. Doolitsls.
''thsi this government has been engaged
for the last atty yezrs or more IN TIE at
tempt to educate the Indians. 70 ma ks
men OF them capable Of transaetlng their
osn busiaezsf Tnese people. the Payai-
Iups. holding these allotted lands are sdu-
Gated, capable Of tranSacting sheir ox
business; and eaa any one tell me why,
naaer the policy OF tais congress. we hnd
the government of the United states hold
Ing on TO those men wish stronger grip
than II woa!d bold on 70 blanket Indians
anedaeAsed aad ancisllixsd. Way vii