Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-12-03

laws under which the government for q
very small consideration Is rapidly losing
title to immense tracts of land covered
with timber which should be properly re-
served as permanent sources Of timber
supply.
The suggestion that q change be made in
the manner Of securing surveys Of the
public lands Is especially worthy of con-
sideration. / am satisfied that these sur
veys should be made by a corps of compe-
tent surveyors under the immediate con-
troll and direction of the commissioner Of
the general land office.
A Non-Partisan Land Court Asked For
An exceedingly important recommended
ton of the Secretary relates to the manner
In which contests and ntigated cases grow
Ing out of efforts to obtain government land
are determined. The entire testimony upon
which these controversies depend in all
their stages Is taken before the local regis
tiers and receivers. and yet these officers
have no power to subpoena witnesses to
enforce their attendance to testify. These
cases, numbering 5000 or 1900 annually,
are sent by the local officers to the commits
sioner Of the general land office for his
action. The exigencies of his other duties
oblige him to act upon the decisions of the
registers and receivers without an oppor-
tunity Of thorough personal examination.
Nearly two thousand of these cases are
appealed annually from the commissioner
to the Secretary of the Interior. Burdened
with other important administrative duties
his determination of these appeals must be
almost perfunctory and based upon the ex-
animation of others. though this determine
ton of the Secretary operates as a final
.frkafa q inn
portance.
/ concur In the opinion that the commits
sioner of the general land office should be
relieved from the duty of deciding litigated
land cases; that a non-partisan court
should be created to pass on such cases.
and that the decisions of this court should
be final. at least SO far as the decisions OF
the department are now final
The proposed court might be given au-
thority TO certify questions of law. in
matters of especial importance to the Su-
preme Court of the United States or the
Court Of Appeals for the District of CO.
lumbia for decision. The creation of such
a tribunal would expedite the disposal of
cases and insure decisions Of a more sat
isfactory character. The registers and re-
ceivers who originally hear and decide
these disputes should be invested with au-
testify before them. Though the condition
of the Indians shows a steady and healthy
progress. their situation is not satisfactory
In all points.
Some of them to whom allotmenls of
land have been made are found to be I'M
able or disinclined to follow agricultural
pursuits or to otherwise beneficially man.
age their land. This is especially true of
the Cheyepnes and Arapahoes, who, as 1t
appears by reports of their agent, have.
In many instances never been located upon
their allotments. and in some cases do not
even know where their allotments are.
Their condition has deteriorated. They
are not self-supporting and they i've in
camps and spend their time in idleness.
I have always believed that allotmen,s
OF reservation lands 20 Indians in severalty
should be made sparingly. or at least slow
ly. and with the utmost caution.
In these days when white agricIltur-
lists and stock raisers Of experience and In
telligence find their lot hard one we
ought not to expect Indians. unless far
advanced in civilization and habits Of in
dustry, to support themselves on the small
tracts of land usually allotted to them.
II the self-supporting scheme by anot-
ment fails the wretched pauperism Of the
original condition Of regulated dependence.
1t Is evident that the evil consequences Of
tll-adyised allotment are intensified In the
cases where the false step cannot be re-
traced on account of the purchase by the
government of reservation lands remain
ing after allotments are made and the
disposition Of such remaining lands to set
tiers or purchasers from the government.
tn. ruas.w .-.ut poxverfu Eactnr
am convinced that the proper solution
Of the Indian problem and the success of
every step taken In that direction depend
to a very large extent upon the intelli-
gence and honesty of the reservation
agents and the interest they nave in their
work. An agent fitted for his place can do
much toward preparing the Indians under
his charge for citizenship and allotment OF
their lands. and his advice as to any mat
ter concerning their welfare will not mis-
lead. An unfit agent will make no effort
to advance the Indians his reservation
toward civilization or preparation for al
lotment Of lands in severalty, and his opin-
lon to their condition In this and other
regards Is needless and valuciess.
The Indications are that the detail Of
army officers as Indian agents will result
In improved management on tho reserva-
tons.
Wheneve- Jllotments are made and any
Indian on the reservation has previously
settled upon a lot and cultivated 1t. or
shown disposition to improve IT In any
way. such lot should certainly be allotted
to him. and this should be made plainly
obligatory by statute.
In the light of experience and consider
ing the uncertainty of the Indian situation
and its exigencies In the future, am not
only disposed to be very cautious In max
ing allotments. but incline to agree with
the Secretary of the Interior In the opin-
Ion that when allotments are made the
balance of reservation land remaining after
allotment, instead of being bought by the
government from the Indians and opened
for settlement with such scandals and I'M
fair practices as seem unavoidable, should
remain for time, at least, as common
land. or be sold by the government on be-
half of the Indians in an orderly way and
at fixed prizes, to be determined by Its 10
cation and desirability, and that the pro-
ceeds, less expenses, should lie held in
trust for the benefit OF the InGian pro-
prietors- The intelligent Indian school