The Princeton union., 1896-05-14
Senator Nelson's Letter and the
Report Of the General Land
Office expert Clerk

Dunn, and one from Major Baldwin,
all favorable, [ appeared before the
Committee on Public Lands of the
senate relative to the Mile Laos set
tiers and argued in favor. Of legislation
allowing the settlers to enter these
lands under the homestead law. The
committee, after hearing me, again re-
ferred your resolution, and the bill I
introduced, to the commissioner Of the
general land Office, or rather to an ex-
pert clerk of the Office, who has been
detailed to look up matters for the
committee on public lands. Enclosed
I send you copy of his letter on this
subject, which [ fear, has given the
measure a black eye:
Yours truly,
KNUTE NELSON.
Senator Nelson encloses a copy of a
letter to Senator Dubois, chairman Of
the committee on public lands, from
William O.. Conway, the expert
clerk" referred to. This letter re-
views in a comprehensive manner the
status OF Mile Lacs lands, and the
treaties and legislation pertaining
thereto. We append a few extracts,
based upon the treaties and laws,
which serve to show how the depart
ment, and indeed congress itself, must
regard the rights of the Indians
Says the expert"
''It clearly appears that since the
passage of the act OF July 4, 1884, said
lands have not been open to settlement,
and any persons who have gone there
for such purpose are trespassers and
can have no rights, legal or equitable
as against the Indians. See public
notice issued by the secretary of the
interior under date of March 5, 1890,
for the information of any who might
contemplate settlement thereon. Copy
herewith. See also letter from the
acting commissioner of the general
land Office TO Knute Nelson, u. S. Sen
ate, under date Of the 18th of January,
1896. Copy herewith"
1T was stated by the acting commits
sioner Of the general land office, under.
date Of the 18th Of February, 1896, that
the examination of the Mile Lacs
lands as provided for by said act can
not be begun until the allotments to
the Indians have been completed, as it
will not be known until then how much
of said lands will be subject to disposal
as aforesaid. -7 ~.
1T cannot be legally ascertained
which of the lands are agricultural ex-
cept by examination under said act.
which has not yet been made, nor can
it be determined which lands occupied
by settlers will be required for allot-
ments to Indians until after the allot-
ments provided for are completed.
,- 1T appears that lands were reserved
for the Mile Lacs Indians on the
White Earth Reservation, if they
should elect to go there, but they have
not so elected, refusing, on the con
trary, to leave the Mile Laos reserva-
tion, on which they have long lived,
and asking that lands be allotted to
them thereon in accordance with the
understanding with them when thev
gave their consent to the act of Janu-
ary "A, 1889. The matter of allowing
allotments in the Mile Laos reserva-
tion is now under consideration in the
department..
In this case the prospect appears to
have been held out to the Indians from
the first that they would be allowed to
retain their old homes, and not com
PEELED to go elsewhere, but most of the
lands which might have been appro-
priated for homes for them in accord
ance with this understanding appear
to have been otherwise disposed of to
white people.
There are some five or six thousand
acres remaining in the Mile Laos res
ervation not embraced in valid adverse
claims, a quantity inadequate to give
allotments to all the Mile Lacs In
dians, several hundred in number. and
it is believed that if the rights Of per-
sons who have gone on these lands
while reserved from settlement under
existing law, for the benefit of the In
diians, i contrary to the published notice
OF the secretary of the interior above
mentioned, and who now assert claims
as settlers, are confirmed by special
legislation in their favor as proposed,
there will be no lands left for allot-
ments to the Indians
From the foregoing, it would appear.
that there is very little probability
that settlers upon Mile Laos lands.
who have no entries, will be permitted
to make homesteads. Should the Tn
dians elect to remain, as it is said they
have, settlers now there may be com
PEELED to give up their locations and
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