Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1895-09-05

a sum not exceeding one.third OF
the interest money due the indians
each year.
"For the purpose of learning, if
possible, the views and intentions
of the Indians with respect to this
matter at the time of making the
agreement, this Office wrote July
18th last to Messrs. VIM. H. Ode1l,
Reuben P. Boies and H. H. Hard
ing who constituted the Commission
to make the agreement with the
Indians, for information as to what
consideration was given the question
by the Indians in Council, and
what views, if any, they expressed
thereon.
"By letters of July Goth, Messrs.
Odell and Boies stated, substantial
ly, that it was the intention to have
payment of taxes begin with the
date of the patents. Mr.. Harding
under date of July 18th, stated that
it was explained to the Indians that
under the law the tax money could
not be withheld from them. until
the expiration of rs years without
their consent, and that some of the
most intelligent of the Indians fav-
ored the idea of immediate taxation
with the idea of benefits under the
laws OF Oregon, and possibly OF suf-
frage; "but it was finally deemed
best to leave that in the indefinite
way it was left, in order that in fu-
ture it would be open to mutual
agreement, so that the Indians
while granting taxation might Sc
cure just benefits from Oregon.
"The explanation given by Mr..
Harding seems to be the most in
te!ligent one in that it shows rea-
son for the use of the indefinite lam
guage found in said article three of
the agreement.
Though it thus appears that the
allotted lands of the Indians cannot
now be taxed, the question Of de-
nying to the Indians the benefit of
the laws of the State is one that re-
quires. serious consideration. 1t is
found. in section S of the geneal al
lotment act, THAT the law of des-
cent and partition in, force in the
state or territory where such lands
are situate shall apply thereto after
patents therefor have executed and
delivered"
1t is further provided by Section
6 of said Act:
"'That upon completion of said
allotments and the patenting of the
lands to said allottees, each and
every member of the respective
bands o, tribes of Indians to whom
allotments have been made shall
have the benefit of and be subject
to the laws, both civil and criminal,
of the state or territory i'll which
they may reside; and no territory
shall pass or enforce any law deny
ing any such Indian within its jur-
isdiction the equal protection of the
law. And every Indian born with
i'll the territorial limits of the United
States to whom allotments shall
have been made under the provis-
ions of this Act, or under any law
or treaty, and every Indian born
within the territorial limits of the
United States who has voluntarily
taken up, within said limits, his
residence separate and apart from
any tribe of Indians therein, and
has adopted the habits of civilized
life, is hereby declared to be citi-
zen of the United States, and is ell.
titled to all the rights, privileges
and immunities of such citizens,
whether said Indian has been or
not, by birth or otherwise, men,
Der of any tribe of Indians within
the territorial limits of the United
States without in any manner i'm.
pairing or otherwise affecting the
right of any such Indian to tribal or
other property"
The meaning and intention of the
foregoing provisions of law is clear
and unmistakable, and I should
question the wisdom of any policy
that would withhold from them the
full protection of the state laws.
y y The Government
is doing all it can to make good cit
izens of these people and it is not
understandable 81 a..,~a.l .l.za Al.