The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1895-10-11

Mohonk, n. Y, Oct 10-At the morn
ing session of the Indian conference the
principal speakers were D. NJ. Browning
commissioner of Indian affairs, and ex-
United States Senator Dawes Of Mass
achusetts. They discussed the work.
ing of the law providing for the allot-
ment to the Indian of lands in several
ty.
II is impossible, Mr.. Browning argued,
TO render the Indian self-supporting so
long as the old tribal relations continu.
One obstacle in the way of allotment is
the fact that some of the lands are not
suitable for farming purposes The
lands allotted must be so good that the
indians can readily make a living from
them. Another thing that works against
allotment is that the allotted lands al e
not taxable for twenty-five years. The
result is that the white communities
ABOUT the allotted lands practically say
10 the Indians: I'VE will not give you
court process or school privileges since
we receive no tax money from you.
If heUnited States would make some
provision for paying these white COM
munities an amount in lieu of taxes, the
PUBLIC sentiment in favor Of allotment
would be greatly strengthened.
Mr.. Browning read a paragraph from
his annual report, which has just teen
issued, depicting the evils connected
with the leasing Of lands by Indiau
de thought legislation was needed to
prevent the sale of whisky to Indians
and to give the Indian department con-
troll over those to whom lands have
been allotted 80 long as they need Ilo-
lection.
DAWES ON ALLOTMENTS.
Ex-senator Dawes followed. He seid
that the allotment policy had been at
once an experiment and a necessity.
congress having made provisions for
educating the Indians, found that some
thing was necessary. He could not be
civilized and Christianized merely by
intellectual training. 1t was necessary
mat ne should have a home. The tr1u-
ole was that the law had fallen among
thieves. After the allotment had been
made the government wqas authorized
10 sell the rest of the reservation.
Grasping men saw their opportunity
Their aim was to have the Indians so
disposed Of that they themselves should
nave the best part of the reservation.
instead Of the experiment being con-
nned to one reservation, seven reserva-
tons were being experimental with
The Indians were Gro wded off their res
erVauonS and the Harpies seized what
ever they could. 1t was the boast and
pride of one government official H-to
had to deal with the question, that he
had opened more reservations TO the
whites than any one of his predecessors.
The Indians in some instances were al
lotted lands that theyf had never seen
and could not find.
Referring to the lease evil, the senator
said II the United States does its duty
II will put the men off the land they
leased from the Indians, since The In
Gians, having no title in the lands that
have been allotted to them, had no right
to lease them.
The subject was further discussed
by Captain Robert II. Pratt, superin-
tendent of the Carlisle Indian schc Cl;
President Francis of the Hampton in
stltute, Rev. A. L. Riggs of the Santee
agency, Nebraska, and Rev. Lyman of
New York
AT the evening session short addresses
we're made by a number of the Indians
VINO spoke of the outlook from their
point OF view. The conference will c;cse
tomorrow evening.