The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-01-31
TO GUST THE CREES
The Governor Receives Word From
Representatives in Congress.
OTHER MATTERS DISCUSSED
IL Is NJ OF Thought Advisable NJ ow to
Attempt to Secure Legislation to
Put Mineral school Sections
In the States Control.
Special Dispatch to the Standard.

received to-day joint letter from
Senator's Mantle. Carter and Repre-
sentative Hartman. in which they dis
cuss the Cree Indian question and other
matters of general interest which took
the governor to Washington recently.
They say they hope to secure the re-
moval of the Crees through national
legislation. and give reasons why IL
would not be advisable to attempt TO
secure legislation at this time allowing
state control of mineral school sections.
The letter in full is:
COMMITTEE on relations with Cana
da, United States Senate. Washington,
ID. c., Jan. "a, 1896.
Hon. John T.. Richards, Governor.
Helena, Montana:
Dear Sir-In response TO matters
presented by your excellency In person
during your visit to Washington. we
beg leave to make this formal Joint
response:
"First-In regard to the Cree Indians
who have infested the state for many
years, we are in hearty accord with the
desire TO secure their prompt removal
and perpetual exclusion from the state.
Secretary Blaine having secured the
receive these Indians at the interna-
tional boundary line in 1892. II will be
necessary, as preliminary steps. to Sc
cure the renewal of that assent
through the present secretary of state.
AS explained to you by Mr.. Olney, ne
gotiations looking to this end will be
at once opened with the Canadian au-
thorities through the British ambassa-
dor at Washington. Pending such ne
gotiations, we will endeavor to devise
and secure favorable consideration OF
some measure of legislation which will
facilitate the gathering OF these no
madic bands, their delivery at the in
ternational boundary line by the fed
eral authorities and their permanent
exclusion through the same agency.
"second--while entertaining the
highest respect for the views OF the
state land board, we feel constrained
TO differ with them in regard to their
proposed application of the federal
grant of sections 16 and SO of each
township In the state to all land I'm the
state, irrespective of its mineral char
acter We feel that these mineral
lands should be perpetually kept open
TO exploration and location under the
general laws of the United States. AS
you are aware, the most strenuous ef-
forts have been made by the people OF
Montana to procure the needed legts-
lation to exempt the mineral lands OF
the state from the operations of the
Northern Pacific railroad grants These
efforts resulted in the passage OF law,
which experience has shown to be de-
fective in some particulars, and there
fore we are confronted by an existing
necessity for various amendments to
that law. We can secure these amend
ments upon the theory on which the or
iginal bill was passed. to-wit: That
national policy requires that all lands
valuable chiefly for their precious met
al bearing quartz should be perpetually
reserved for exploration and location
as part of the heritage intended by the
government for the citizens of the
country. Were we now to insist that
this principle was only available as
applied to one class of grants but not
necessarily applicable to another class.
we would. II is apprehended. seriously
impair our chances to secure the need
ed amendments to the Northern Paci-
&c mineral land classification bill and
an adequate appropriation to carry 1t
into effect Under these circumstances.
we feel constrained to differ with the
board, and until advised that a ma
jority OF the people OF the state differ
with US in this position, we feel that II
would not be wise to deprive our citi-
zens of rights which they now enjoy
of the location and appropriation of
mineral lands under the general laws
nf he xF-flI
see that insofar as the townships are
unsurveyed any law absolutely grant
ing sections 16 and So. irrespective of
their mineral character to the state.
would necessitate a preliminary survey
by the prospectors for the purpose of
determining the exact boundaries OF
sections 1s and SO before they could
safely make locations and place i'm
provements upon mining claims in any
such townships.
''Third-With reference to the sug-
gestion that we secure from the fed
eral government the consent for the
state to mortgage or pledge the lands
granted in the enabling act In aid of
certain institutions and for the pur-
pose OF constructing public buildings
we beg leave 10 submit such action
may not be necessary In view OF the
apparent legal conclusion. which
seems irresistible. that the grant TO the
state In the enabling act was without
reservation. and that the title passes
absolutely from lands that shall have
been selected. sThe government hay-
ing therefore passed the title 10 the
state. subject only 10 qualification
I that the state shall designate the land.
We cannot clearly perceive what right
or interest remains in the United
/ States requiring its consent TO such
I disposition. as the proper authorities
| o. the state may deem expedient. and
| in conformity with good public policy.
/ As 10 the restriction OF the price at
which the state may sell certain lands
| granted. We bee leave to suggest that