The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-10-15
THE sKoKoMIsH RESERVATION.
Not True That It Il 70 BE Opened and
the Indians ReYpOveh.

the Indians RenOred.
r-nton CITY Oct 1-SpecIai.-The report
that the Skokomish reservation Is about 10
te abolished and the Indians removed is
wholly without foundation. II probably
originated from the fact that there has
been considerable talk Of closing the board
inz school on the reservation. This latter
the government can do ~ any time; the
former II cannot do. The Indians Own their
land in severalty. have patents to IL. and
are citizens, with the right Of suffrage, the
reservation having been set apart az sep
arate precinct By the county commission
erS. In all these respects the Indians are
fl the same position as those on the PuyaI-
lup reservation. II would be as dlffcuf
and Illegal to remove them and open me
reservation as * would be TO remove the
white Inhabitants Of Mason county and
open their lands for settlement by others
But the school can be closed az any time
when the government shall wish so to do
The treaty with the Indians was made in
1856. ratified In 1879, and put into practical
effect the following year. By this employees
were TO DC furnished. annu!ties granted
and a school sustained for twenty years.
During that time the government had TO
choice, but was obliged 70 keep the school
in operation. The time expired in $50. But
by that time Il had become the settled pol
icy OF the government 10 educate the IN
dian children OF school age Throughout the
whole United States, whether the treaties
called for IL or not. as those In authority
believed that education was the best meth
Cd OF solving the vexed Indian problem.
Hence special appropriations have been
made by congress every year for this OBJ
1ect and IN this way the school at Skoko-
mish has been sustained. as well as many
others in this state: IN fact, nearly or quite
all IN the state as well as very many in
other states and territories. But IL is not
expected that this VIII last always. but
~ IN cran 30 20 rnh
advanced 20 educate their own children, as
their white ne!Rhbors do. They are self
supporting in all respects but two-the
school and physician. In regard 70 these
two points. naturally they DO not advance
as rapidly as I'm others. hence the govern
ment thinks II best 70 assist them by fur
nishing school and 2 physician.
For some time past there has been feel
ing among some in authority. however,
that IL was time 10 throw the Indians on
their own resources IN these respects, and
FOR various reasons IL was thought best TO
make a beginning at Skokomish. Last year
IL was recommended by one Indian inspec-
tor. but when the authorities at Washing
ton City asked Agent +. Eeiis his opinion.
he replied that he did not think il wise yet.
and so the matter was dropped. very few
ever hearing that II had been recommend
ed. Last spring Inspector i. Mccormick.
when on an official trip TO Skokomish
stated openly that he should recommend
Il. and as other OF his recommendations
had been adopted he said that he believed
that this would be. This created consider
able talk In this region. and employees for
a time laid their plans for the same. But
Superintendent r. T.. L. Newberne. who is
I'm charge OF the reservation. with all the
powers Of an agent. opposed IL: so did 9th
ers. and II was dropped. In August The
subject was again renewed. soon after the
meeting OF the Indian Teachers Institute
az Tacoma. and Superintendent Newberne
wrote that he believed it meant business
this time The proposition then 10
discontinue the boarding school al the
agency. but 10 establish day school near
the center Of the reservation. For a time
there was considerable correspondence In
regard 20 IT, hut while Superintendent r.
s. Graham. OF the Skokomlsh school. was
not notified as 10 the result in so many
words yet the supplies which had been
contracted for came. the school opened the
FIRST Monday IN September. as the other
schools in the Puyailup agency (consoli-
Dated did. and IL Will without doubt con-
tinue during the present fiscal year. at
least which ends next July. Whether any
change win then take place or not only the
future can determine. But this was prob
ably the foundation of the report that the
reservation was 10 be abolished and the
Indians removed.