The Coconino weekly sun., 1894-11-29
THE DAWES COMMISSION.
Points from Its Report on Affairs in the
 Indian Territory.


 Points from Its Report on Affairs in the Indian Territory.
 WASHINGTON. Nov. 22.-The Dawes commission which has been investigat- ing the affairs in the Indian territory and endeavoring to secure the consent of the five civilized tribes to an agree ment on some plan of territorial or state government looking to the im- provement of the condition of affairs, yesterday submitted its report, but Secretary Smith has not had chance to examine it. The report of the com mission recommended the revocation of the power of self government by the United States. It is a rehearsal of the proceedings of the commission, in conference with the Indians, which have already been given to the public from time to time as they occurred
 The commission appointed by the In- dians was not given authority to enter upon negotiations looking to allotment or change of government, so that little has been accomplished. The proposi- tion made to them was to divide the land among the Indians except the town sites, coal and minerals, which were to be sold and the proceeds divid- ed. A homestead for each citizen was to be made inalienable for twenty-five years or longer. Safeguards for the interest of tribes were included. After division a territorial government was to be formed by congress and approved by the Indian government. The Indians refused to entertain these propositions and declined to sell the land. Compli- cations are grown up in the title to coal lands which will lead to endless litigations. The full-bloods are less fit for citizenship than they were twenty years ago and there is little hope they will improve. The Indians, invite and induce white people to come into the territory, there being 250,0OO white people who cannot be called intruders and the Indians cannot fairly ask the United States to remove them. The treaty stipulation for equal tracts be- ing in the control of leaders while the real Indian is powerless to secure any partof his common property. The re- port says:
 The United States guaranteed the holding of these lands as contemplated by the treaties and is in honor bound to wrest them from un- lawful holders and restore them to rightful owners. This can only be done, and the treaty stipulations honorably maintained, by allot- ment of these lands among the people, giving to them individual title therefor
 The failure of tribal government, it is said, makes it impossible to enforce the treaty provisions. A vivid picture is given of the lawless condition of affairs in the territory which is re- fiected daily in the newspapers. Many private persons entitled to benefit in the payments of the government, it is stated, never receive any money while agents are growing rich. Payment should be made directly to the people by its own officers. Liquor traffic be made for the education of the chil- dren. The report concludes as follows: The United States put the title to a domain and its countless wealth and unmeasured re- sources in these several tribes or nationalties, but 1t was conveyance in trust for specific uses, clearly indicated in the treaties them 1 selves and for no other purpose. It was for | the use and enjoyment in common of each and every citizen of his tribe of each and every part of the territory thus | terSely expressed in one of the treaties: | ITO be held in common so that each and every member Of either tribe shall have an equal undivided interest in the whole" The | tribes can make no other use oft. They have no power to grant it to any one or to grant to any one an exclusive use of any portion of it. These | tribal governments have wholly perverted their high trust,and it is the plain duty of the United States to enforce the trust it has so created and recover for it's original uses the domain and all the gains derived in the perversion of the trust or discharge the trustees.
 | The United States also granted to these tribes the power of self-government not to conflict with the constitution. They have demonstrated their incapacity to so govern themselves, and no higher duty can rest upon the government that granted this authority than to revoke it when it has so lamentably