The morning call., 1894-05-08
SEIZED THE LAND.
Something for Congress
to Work On.
INDIANS OF THE NATION.
Their Affairs Demand Instant
Consideration.
MUST HAVE A NEW GOVERNMENT
AS 1t Is Now a Few Men Have All
the Power and Most of the
Property.

WASHINGTON, May 7.-Senator Teller
to-day presented the report of the Com
mittee on Civilized Tribes of Indians on
affairs in Indian Territory. The report
shows the anomalous condition of society
and indicates that many abuses have
grown up. 1t gives the Indian population
of the Territory at 50,055. while there are
between 250.O0O and 100000 whites who
have no right to citizenship. The Indians
themselves are held responsible for the
intrusion of the whites. The expense of
maintaining Federal court and prose-
cutting crime in the Territory is about one
seventh of the judicial expenditures of the
United States. This cannot be fully
remeded until Territorial or State govern
ment is established. The committee
thinks, however. that partial remedy
may be found in the appointment of two
additional Justices and the appointment
by the courts of Commissioners at differ
ent localities.
The report also refers to the fact that
the children OF the white and black popu-
lation are deprived of the advantages of
common schools. and says that while the
parents of the children may have gone TO
the Territory with knowledge OF that
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
is one of national concern.
The question of the occupancy OF the
land is treated at length. The committee
finds that the original theory of the Gov
ernment that the Indians were to own the
land in common, all having equal Interest
in it, has been violated, and that q few
enterprising citizens of the tribe, frequent
ly not Indians, but citizens by intermar-
riage, have become the practical owners of
the best and greatest part of the lands.
Instances, they say, came to their notice
of men having as high as 100 white ten
ants, and in one case reported a white
man, though an Indian citizen by mar
riage, had 400 holdings. amounting to
about 90 600 acres. In the most progress
siye of the tribes the committee found that
about 100 persons had appro priated half
of the best land. The report shows that
this condition of affairs was never contem-
plated, and suggests that Congress shall
take the matter in hand and provide
remedy in the Interest of both whites
ana luulRQS. NO I6m6uY Is ouSSoSLcn db
this time, because the Dawes Commission
is now in the Indian Territory with the
purpose of submitting to the several tribes
a proposition for change of the present
condition.
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 il the
Indians decline to treat with that COM
mittee and decline to consider any change
in the present condition of their titles and
government the United States must with
out their aid and without awaiting their
approval settle this question of the charac-
ter and condition of their lands tenure
and establish government over whites
and Indians OF that Territory in accord
ance with the principles of our constitu-
tion and laws"
Nothing, the committee says, will do but
the abandonment of the present system.
1t cannot be modified or reformed, but a
better system must be substituted. That
this will be difficult to do, the committee
freely admits, but that it is difficult
task is no reason why Congress should not
at the earliest possible moment address