The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-12-10
THE COLvILLE RESERVATION.
No Part of 1t Public Land-Not to Ii
Opened for q Long Time.

Washington City, Dec. s.-Special.-An
investigation of the status OF the land in
the Colville Indian reservation in Wash
ington, on which certain locaters Of mines
and homestead entries have recently set
tied, shows that these entrymen will pro-
baby be decided "sooners' in the broadcast
sense Of the word. The item which was
telegraphed East from Spokane to the ef
feet that the latest land in the north half
OF the reservation was public land, was
shown to about every official who would
have knowledge OF the matten both in the
general land office and the Indian office.
In the surveying division of the former Of
fee, disclaimer was made that any d.
rections had been given to change the
character OF this land on the new map;
that the north half Of the reservation is
Indian land and is now being surveyed.
At the conclusion of this work. allotments
will be made to the Indians occupying that
portion OF the reservation, after which II
VIII be thrown open 10 settlement by pres
fdential proclamation. Further than this,
no information could be obtained in the
land office. Neither could any informa-
ton be had as to the approximate date OF
the opening OF the reservation TO settle
ment The officials of the Indian office
were very much surprised when the
change that had been made in the designa-
ton of the Colville lands was pointed out
to them. Commissioner Browning said in
~sSSdIu 10 the tIdt no autUOEliy
could have been given by any one 20 mako
the change. as none was warranted by the
circumstances Continuing he said:
II think the mistaken idea among the
lawyers spoken OF IN regard 70 the status
OF the lands is entirely due to the word
ing of the last section OF the act of July
!, 1892, which, as you see, here provides
that nothing herein contained shall be con.
strued as recognizing title or ownership
or said Indians TO any part OF the said
Colville reservation, whether that hereby
restored 10 the public domain or that still
reserved by the government for their use
and occupancy.
The other seven sections Of the act pro-
vide for the survey and allotment Of the
lands to the Indians now occupying them
and the opening by the president at a time
when he may see ut. The act further pro-
vides that the net proceeds arising from
the sale and disposition of the lands to be-
so opened to settlement and entry shall
be set apart in the United States treasury
for the time being but subject 10 such flu
ture appropriations for pubic use as con-
gress may make, and that until so other
wise appropriated. may be subject 10 ex-
penditure by the secretary Of the interior
from time to time in the building OF school
houses, the maintenance of schools for
these Indians, for the payment OF such
part Of the local taxation as may be prop}
erly applied to the lands allotted 10 such
Indians, so long as such allotted lands
shall be held in trust and exempt from
taxation. and for such other purposes as
he may deem proper.
This act was passed subsequent TO the
agreement entered into between the In
dian office and the Indians for the pur-
chase of the northern half OF the reserva-
ton. Congress refused to ratify the agree
ment because IL took the view that the
lands did not belong to the Indians and
were the property of the United States, re-
served for the use and occupancy of the
Indians. / am very sorry that the act was
not passed before we negotiated with and
secured the consent of the Indians to the
disposal Of the lands for since that time
they have come TO regard them as their
own and viii probably trouble us a great
deal by reason of the erroneous impress
sion they have gained. 1t IS probable that
President Harrison was doubtful Of the
conclusion reached by congress. for the
bill became a law without his signature.
Il say. In conclusion, that the land is
sim reserved, however, and that no set
tier or miner viii have a right to locate
there until the day set by the president for
the opening OF the reservation. Inasmuch
as they are now only surveying the reser-
walton, I am OF the opinion that this proc
lamadon is still a long way Off