The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-12-01
INDIAN MARRIAGE LAWS.
Their Lax Nature Likely 10 Result
In Property Complications.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 1, 1897.-Some in
teresting reports have been made by In
dian agents in the annual review of de-
velopments in their fields. AT the Pot
tawattomie and Great Nemaha reserva-
ton in Kansas, there are about $4,000
acres of surplus lands in the Prairie
Band Reserve that are likely to be a
subject of contention in the future and
there seems to be a growing sentiment
in the tribe favoring their sale. Captain
Sprole of the Fort Pock Agency, in Mon
tana, urges that the Indian trader, like
the old post trader, should go; the Gov
ernment should own its own stores.
With the trader extinguished, Indians
agent position won't be so valuable and
meantime let the Indians have all the
stores they want for in the cut-thoat
competition of the traders, Mr.. Lo stands
some show.
Captain Sprole makes this comment
The treaty of these people will soon
them in the future should be done by
those not influenced by local prejudices. =
At the Omaha and Winnebago agency,
in Nebraska, the assumption and disso-
luton OF the marriage relation at WILL
without form of law, is common, and it
is predicted will necessarily cause end
less trouble in the future as to the law
OF descent and in determining the legal
heirs to property. The manner in which
the allotments TO the Winnebagoes were
made, namely, l69 acres TO the husband
and nothing to the wife, has been and
will continue to be a source Of much
trouble.
Agent Cramsie. at the Standing Rock
agency, in North Dakota, charges that,
law, county or town officials have never
made any effort to abate the sale of
liquor in Enlmons county, and that six
or eight blind pigs are running wide
WTnOnd
Major A. e. Woodson, of the Cheyenne
and Arapahoes agency, in Oklahoma, re-
ports
THE mother-in-law is much in evil
dence among these people. She makes
herself a holy terror unless the family af-
fairs are conducted according to her ideas.
the settlement of family quarrels, and in
bringing together husband and wife
whose troubles have been of sufficient
gravity to cause separation. His pow
erS OF persuasion are frequently eXerted
in vain, however. In most instances the
wife, backed up by the mother-in-law,
is most obdurate and proof against all
argument and entreaty to return to the
family abode
Recommendation is made for withhold
ing gratuitous subsistence from the nom
progressive Indians not disposed to labor
for their support.
Many of the Indian agents recommend
discontinuanee of the issuance of rations
and clothing and urge, the substitution
Ql a poiicy AHdhliiS CASH Payments 70 the
Indians for time. The agents at Rose
bud and the Crow Creek agencies, in
South Dakota, are among these. Recon-
mendation is made that Congress modify
the act appropriating $1S7, 900 of the Crow.
Creek fund so as to have it paid in cash
and to expend $4,000 for purchasing cat
tie, S15G00 for fencing the reservation,
$4,000 for constructing cattle sheds, $1,000
for mowers and rakes, and after settle
ment of attorneys fees, the remaining
$4,000 to be paid the tribe in four cash
instalments. With this done, it is claimed
the Crow Creeks will be self-supporting
agency, in Wisconsin, the tribe is report
ed as retrograding, owing to the factional
troubles, though all of the tribe are ca
pable of becoming citizens.