The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-12-06


are without title TO the land they occupy
and have no voice whatever I'm the govern
ment, either or the nations or tribes.
Thousands OF their children who were
born i'm the territory are OF school are. but
the doors of the schools of the nations are
shut against them. and what education
they get Is by private contribution. No
provision for the protection of the life or
property of these white citizens is made by
the tribal governments and courts.
The secretary OF the interior reports that
leading Indians have absorbed great tracts
of land TO the exclusion of the common
people and government by an Indian aris-
tocracy has been practically established
10 the detriment of the people. IL has been
impossible for the states TO keep its citi-
zens out OF the territory, and the execu-
tory conditions contained I'm the treaties
with these nations have for the most part
become impossible of execution. Nor has
IL been possible for the tribal governments
10 secure 10 each individual Indian his full
enjoyment in common with other In
dans of the common property OF the ma
tions. Friends OF the Indians have long
believed that the best interests of the In
dians of the five civilized tribes would be
found I'm American citizenship, with all the
rights and privileges which belong to that
condition.
BY section rs OF the act OF March 3, 1898,
the president was authorized to appoint
three commissioners TO enter into nego-
tiations with the Cherokee. Choctaw
Chickasaw, Muscogee Tor Creek) and
Seminole nations. commonly known as the
five civilized tribes in the Indian territory
Briefly the purpose of negotiations were
10 be: the extinguishment OF tribal titles
TO any lands within that territory now held
by and and all such nations or tribes. either
by cession of the same or. some part there
OF TO the United States. or by allotment
and division of the same in severalty
among the Indians of such nations or tribes
respectively "a may be entitled TO the same
or by such other method as may be agreed
upon between the several nations and
tribes aforesaid, or each OF them. with
the United States with a view to such an
adjustment upon the basis of Justice and
equity as may. with the consent of the said
nations of Indians so far as may be neces-
sary be requisite and suitable TO enable
the ultimate creation of state or states
of the union which shall embrace the lands
within said Indian territory.
The commission met much opposition
from the beginning. The Indians were very
slow 10 act. and those in control manifest
ed "A decided disinclination to meet with
favor the propositions submitted 10 them.
A little more than three years after this
organization the commission effected an
agreement with the Choctaw nation q lone.
The Chickasaws, however, refused to
| agree TO its terms. and as they have a COM
mon interest with the Choctaws in the
lands of said nations. the agreement with
the latter nation could have no effect with
out the consent OF the former. on April
23 1897 the commission effected an agree
ment with both tribes-the Choctaws and
Chickasaws. This agreement. il is un-
derstood has been ratified by the con-
stituted authorities of the tribes or ma
tions parties thereto, and only requires
"a Inv
ing.
on the 9th of September, 1897, an agree
ment was effected with the Greek nation,
but IL is understood that the national coun-
ell OF said nation has refused to ratify the
same. Negotiations are yet to be had with
the Cherokees, the most populous of the
five civilized tribes. and with the Semi
noles. the smallest in point of numbers and
territory The provisions in the Indian ap-
preparation act, approved June 10. 1896,
make IL the duty of the commission 10 in
vestigate and determine the rights OF ap-
plicants for citizenship i'm the five civil
lied tribes. and TO make complete census
rolls of the citizens OF said tribes. The
commission is at present engaged in this
work among the Creeks. and has made APP
pointuents for taking the census of these
peopIe up TO and including the 30th of the
present month.
Should the agreement between the
congress. and should the other tribes fail
20 make an agreement with the commits
sion, then IL will be necessary that some
legislation shall be had by congress which
while just and honorable 10 the Indians,
shall be equitable to the white people who
have settled upon these lands by invita-
ton of the tribal nations. Henry l..
Dawes. chairman OF the commission. in
letter to the secretary Of the interior un-
der date of Oct. IL. 1897. says: individual
ownership is in their (the commissions 81
,x)1nion absolutely essential to any per-
manent Improvement in present conditions.
and the lack of IL is the root
of nearly all the evils which so
previously affect these people.
YELLOW FEVER.
The recent prevalence of yellow fever
~ number OF cities and towns
throughout the south has resulted in
much disturbance of commerce and DEM
onStrated the necessity OF such amend
ments to our quarantine laws as will
make the regulations of the national
quarantine authorities paramount. Tho
secretary of the treasury. in the portion
Of his report relating to the operation OF
the marine hospital service. calls atten-
tion to the defects in the present quar-
antine laws, and recommends amend
ments thereto which will give the treas
ury department the requisite authority
40 prevent the invasion .of epidemics
from foreign countries. and. IN times OF
emergency like that of the past summer.
will add to the efficiencyfof the sanitary
measures for the protection OF the peo-
pie. and at the same time prevent un-
necessary restriction OF commerce.
| concur in his recommendation in fur
ther effort TO prevent the invasion OF
the United States by yellow fever. The
Importance OF the discovery of the exact
cause of the disease. which up to the
present time has been undetermined. is
obvious, and to this end systematic
ARCHAEOLOGICAL investigation should be
made. / therefore recommend that con-
gress authorize the appointment OF a
commission by the president To consist
Of four expert bacteriologists, one 10 be
selected from the medical officers OF the
marine hospital service, one 20 be APP
pointed from civil life, one to be de-
tailed from the medical officers OF the
army and one from the medical officers
OF the navy.
The Union Pacific railway. main line.
was sold under the decree OF the United
States court for tho district of Nebraska
on the first and second OF November Of
this year. The amount due the govern
ment consisted OF the principal OF the
cubeidy honda tp- COG and no arcrttod