The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-02-13
INDIAN APPnopRIArIoN BILL
Reported in the Senate, With Amendments
of Great Present Interest.

Washington, Feb. Ex-senator Petit
grew, from the Commute on appropria-
tons, reported the Indian appropriation
bill ID the senate. AS reported, the bill
carries, as an amendment, the provision
! for the allotment of lands in the Indian
Territory and for displacing the local
Indian courts by a system Of federal jul
dietary. Another amendment throws
to settlement the lands of the Uncom-
pahgre reservation in Utah. A provision
is also inserted in regard to the support
Of Indian schools. giving the secretary
authority to make contracts with con-
tract schools and apportioning the
amount paid thus among the various re-
ligious denominations. but these con-
tracts are - be made only where non
sectar schools cannot be procured.
| The provision is the same as that of the
present law, except that the per centage
| is reduced from so 10 40 per cent.
Among other amendments in the legis-
lative features Of the bill are the follow
ing: Giving competent Indians the pref
erence in the employment of farmers at
Indian agencies; striking out the provis-
ion allOying the Quapaw Indians to lease
their land in the Indian Territory and
inserting a provision allowing the Sisse-
ton and Wahpeton Indians the right 10
make leases requiring the commissioner
OF Indian affairs to employ Indian girls
as assistant matrons and Indian boys
as assistant farmers wherever practical
BILE; authorizing disabled Indians TO lease
the lands allotted to them: providing for
commission 20 treat with the Rosebud
and Lower Brule Indians for the cession
Of their lands; providing for commits
s!oner to superintend the sale of Indian
lands: comforting jurisdiction upon the
nf ala inns IN, to oil
tiers claims.
The agreement with the Shoshone and
Arapahoe tribes in Wyoming for the ces-
sion Of the Big Horn Hot Springs is also
inserted az an amendment.
AS reported. the bill shows an Increase
OF S247, $50 over the amount appropriate ed
by the house BILL making the total 81
$50. 400. The principal item OF this IL
crease Is s141. 500 for the re-survey Of the
lands Of the Chickasaw nation and $40
eco provided for irrigation in Indian res
eyvatlons, instead of $4,000, as in the
house bill.
Washington. Fsb. fan important
amendment has been made 10 the In
dian appropriation bill by the senate
which provides for a different course
than heretofore adopted for opening Of
lands TO settlement. The amendment Is
as follows:
That eli that part Of the Cncompah-
gre Indian reservations IN the STATE %
Utah except such lands AZ have been here
tofore allotted or selected for allotment
TO said Indians Is hereby declared open
70 public entry under the laws Of the
United States; provided that no one PEI
son shall be allowed 10 make more than
four claims on lands containing gilson-
lite"
Some years aga the treaty cediaG their
lands was ratified and IN the ratification
provision was made for opening the land
by proclamation Of the president. Act-
ing on the advice OF the secretary of the
interior. the president has not issued the
proclamation, and several times the sec
rotary has requested additional iegisia-
lion concerning the asphalt deposits on
the ceded lands No further legislation
has been granted by congress but instead
resolutions have been introduced calling
upon the secretary 10 have the lands
opened. Some bitter criticisms were made
upon the secretary IN the last session OF
the senate for his refusal II issue the
proclamation. This amendment 80 the
Indian bill. II passed. viii compel the
opening. II IS possible, however. that the
bill may be vetoed because OF this very
provision. which assumes an executive
function