Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1895-12-05
INTERIOR AFFAIRS.
Secretary Smith Suggests Many
Changes in Indian Matters.
The ALLOTlEN7S 10 THE RED NAN.
Recommendations Of the Dawes Commits
sl0n-The Am0unt Of Public Lands I'M
disposed of-Dlsposition OF Arid
Lands--P Preservation Of Forests.

WASHINGTON, Nov. s9.-Secretar,
Hoke Smith, of the interior depart
ment, has made his annual report I,
the president. The secretary dwell
upon the necessity of eliminating poll
tics from the management Of Indial
affairs, and Of conducting each reser
walton upon strictly business princi
pies, the object being to make ever,
Indian who remains upon the reserva
ton self.supporting and ready, as soor
as possible, to assume the duties O
citizenship and be freed from the pa
ternal care of the government
The secretary recommends the reor
ganization Of the bureau as follows:
First--That instead of a single com.
missioner Of Indian affairs, the Indian
service be placed~in charge OF three
commissioners-two OF them to be
civilians-to be appointed from differ.
ent political parties, and one to be a
detailed army officer.
Second-That the tenure OF office OF
an Indian agent be conditioned upon
the faithful discharge of his duties,
and appointments and removals To be
made by the president upon the recon.
mendation Of the three commissioners
of Indian affairs.
Third-That tho classified service
be extended over all the subordinate
positions, both at the agencies and ut
the schools
Referring TO the subject of the allot-
ments, the secretary says there are u
number Of changes which should be
made in the present allotment system,
which require congressional action.
According tothe present law nh Indian
becomes citizen Of the United States
upon receiving his allotment In any
case he is ready to receive land before
he Is prepared for the consequences Of
citizenship. Allotments should be made
long before reservations are opened.
Each Indian should be settled upon
his homestead and be self-supporting
before citizenship Is conferred upon
him. When citizenship is conferred, the
government ought to let him alone and
allow him to take his place, surround
ing him with no more restraint and
giving him no more help than is ac-
corded to other citizens. Under the
present system Indians TO whom allot-
ments have been made and upon whom
citizenship has been conferred still re-
ceive enormous gratuities and need
every dollar they receive. Upon each
reservation part of the Indians will
be ready for citizenship before others,
md oil are ready to own land and
work II before they are ready Tor cit.
The law should be changed
so that allotment can be made upon
The recommendation of the ngent to
hose who are ready for IT, and pntents
should be issued later, with the APP
oroval OF the secretary of the interior,
10 those Indians showing themselves
tilted to receive the lands SO assigned.
The secretary presents copy of the
'eport Of the Dawes commission, which
recommends:
First--A territorial government over
he five civilized tribes, adapted to
heir peculiarly anomalous conditions,
10 framed as to secure all rights OF
'esldents In the same, and without i'm
,airing the vested rights OF the citizen,
indian or other person notan intruder.
Second-The extension of the inris-
LECTION Of the United States courts In
he territory, both In law and equity,
o hear and determine all controversies
md suits of any nature concerning
my right In or use and occupation of
he tribal lands OF the several mai lions
o which any citizen, Indian or other
'erson, or the tribal government of
my nation. Is or may be made a party
'laintiil or defendant,
The report estimates the amount Of
'ublic lands undispose Of to be about
mn nan.