The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1895-12-05
Interior Department Work Of the
Future Mapped Out.
ABOUT LATE INDIAN TROUBLES
Public Lands and Forests-Pacific Bond
Aided Railroads and the
Governments Claim.


dent. 1t reviews the varied work of the
department, beginning with the Indian
service and calls attention to the strict
enforcement which has been given to
civil service reform. both as to those
places covered by the classified service
and those to which rules OF this SER
vice do net apply. The secretary
dwells upon the necessity OF eliminat-
Ing politics from the management of
indian affairs and of conducting each
reservation strictly on business prin-
ciples, the object being to make every
Indian who remains upon the reserva-
ton self-supporting and ready, as soon
as possible. to assume the duties of citi-
zenship and be free from the paternal
care of the government.
The secretary Is of the opinion that
IL the resources of each reservation are
treated intelligently and the Indians
required to labor in those pursuits
which are adapted to particular res
ervations, in a few years practically
all the Indians can be made self-sup-
porting.
REORGANIZATION
The secretary recommends the reor-
ganization Of the bureau as follows:
First-That instead OF a single commits
sioner Of Indian affairs, the Indian service
De placed In charge of three commission
ers. two of them to be civilians, to be APP
pointed from different political parties,
and one to be a detailed army officer.
Second-That the tenure OF office an
indian agent is to be dependent upor. the
faithful discharge of his duties. and that
appointments and removals be made by
the president upon the recommendation of
the three commissioners of Indian affairs.
Third-That the classified service be ex-
tended all over the subordinate positions,
both at the agencies and at the schools.
fhe reduction of 20 per cent, which the
law required to be made in connection
with the Indian contract schools, has
been strictly carried out. and the secre-
tary adds that there seems to be no rea-
son why such reduction should not con-
tinue from year to year until the system
OF government aid to sectarian schools
shall terminate.
ALLOTMENTS.
Referring to the subject Of allotments
the secretary says there are a number
Of changes which should be made in
the present allotment system, which
require congressional action. According
to the present law, an Indian becomes
citizen of the United States upon re-
ceiving his allotment. In any case
he Is ready to receive land before he is
prepared for the consequences of citi-
zenship. Allotments should be made
long before the reservations are open
ed. Each Indian should be settled upon
his homestead and be self-supportin.,
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 accord
ed to other citizens. Under the present
system Indians to whom allotments
have been made and upon whom citi-
zenship has been conferred still receive
enormous gratuities and need every dol
lar they receive. Upon each reserva-
ton part of the Indians will be ready
for citizenship before others and all are
ready to own land and work it before
they are ready for citizenship. The
law should be changed so that allot-
ments can be made upon the recon-
mendation of the agent to those who
are ready for it and patents should be
issued later, with the approval of the
secretary of the interior to those In
dams showing themselves fitted to re-
ceive the land so assigned.
The secretary also recommends that
authority, with the approval of
the president, be given to the Indian
bureau to sell parts of Indian reserva-
tons, the money to be used exclusively
In the Improvement of allotted lands
or for the purpose OF furnishing agri-
cultural implements and cattle to the
Indians who may reside upon the re-
lands.
Referring to the Uncompahgre res
ervation, the secretary calls attention
to the fact that through a geological
survey an examination has been made
Of the gilsonite beds which seem to be
Of very great value, and he recon-
mends legislation which will allow these
deposits to be sold or leased to the
highest bidder.
The report Views the Jackson Hole
disturbances and gives an account of
active means taken by the department
to secure justice for the killing of the
Bannock Indians on July Is last, and
also to preserve peace between the In
iians and the whites. He commends
the peaceful course of the Indians I'M
der the circumstances so extremely ag-
on the part of the whites.
Ia WES' COMMISSION.
The secretary presents a copy of the
report OF Dawes commission, which
Ffrst-A territorial government over the
I've civilized tribes. adapted to their ne
analomous conditions, so
framed as to secure all rights of residents
n the same. and without imparing the
vested rights of citizen, Indian or other
PERSONS not an Intruder.
Second-The extension of Jurisdiction of
he United States courts in the territory.
both In law and equity. to hear and de-
ermine all controversies and suits of any
nature concerning all right of use and
of tribal lands of the several
nations. to which any citizen. Indian or
'ther person. or the tribal government OF
my nation. is or may be made a party
PLAINTIFF or defendant.
Referring to the law work Of the as
sistant attorney generals office and of
The general land office. the secretary
again urges the Importance OF creating
1 board of principal examiners, both In
he secretary's office and in the land
office, to whom may be referred such
classes OF cases as the secretary and
may deem advisable.
PUBLIC LANDS.
the report estimates the amount II
public lands undisposed of to be about
800 900. 900 acres at the close Of the ifs
,al year. and shows that the total re-
,eipts during the year from public
ands amounted to over s2.000.000. The
land grants to railroads
amount to nearly 100000 acres.
After reviewing in detail the work of
the land office during the past ~
the secretary takes up the
question of the disposition OF arid