The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-11-23
TO HOLDLAND FOR INDIANS
Sales In Large Tracts Are Har0ful-
schools Exercise . Coed In
1uence.

Special Dispatch to the Post-rntelligeacer.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 1.-THE plan of
buying large tracts Of land from the In
dams and then opening them to settle
hona, or OF selling them at q fixed price.
as IN the case of the Neg Perez reservation.
win probably be discontinued by the gov
eminent. Secretary Bliss Is inclined 20
the view that all lands now possessed for
the Indians should be held in trust and
sold in small quantities as the occasion
might arise, the money thus acquired TO
be invested for the Indians benefit, and
rot turned over to them in a lump sum.
recently had several conferences with
Western senators regarding the Indian
problem. and this latter plan seems to
have met with q good deal Of favor.
The Indian commissioner states that the
process Of educating the Indians to the
necessity Of title to land. by patent or
otherwise, Is slow. Indians have always
regarded use and occupancy of land as
sufficient to Justify claim and q right
to the same. Land used by an Indian was
held to be his as much as the hair OF
fis head and such possession was never
disturbed by another member Of the
tribe. Prior to the approval of the gen.
erai allotment act on February s, 1881. In
dams occasionally sought homes on the
Indian homestead laws. A few have made
entries Hereunder since that date. Some
have made final proof CT their entries and
obtained patents for their lands; others.
ignorant of the law and the ways of the
white man in securing title to lands, have
failed to do SO. This delay has led to
many contests of Indian entries and
claims. particularly If the tracts were de-
sirable. The equities in the case are AL
a u-o w; he IND h,,t
count of his ignorance of the law and OF
the English language Ii frequently occurs
that a strict enforcement of the legal
technicalities and regulations deprives him
of his rights. The Indians poverty is also
often against him in a contest with the
white man. The commissioner says:
Because the Indian is the ward of the
OF all government officials dealing with
the public lands to guard with care the
rights OF the Indian and protect him there,
materially aid this office in its efforts to
save to the Indian land to which he Is
Justly entitled. 1t often occurs that an In
the general land office for the reason that
the entryman has failed to make final
proof within the statutory period. In such
aton the eass Should be foa con
sideration to the board of equitable adju-
dication. course which has been prac-
genera II aaoea Wod be ana rrea helm
to the INDIAN
Secretary Bliss Is expected to make sew
erai recommendations to congress for leg
islation, which, while Ii will protect the
Indians in their promised rights. Will also
give more opportunity for the development
of the country In which the reservations
are located than has been possible In the
past.
schools CfviIixe the Indians.
In the annual report of DR.. w. N. HAIL
mann. superintendent Of Indian schools.
which has just been made public, the sub
ject of returned students going back to
their tribes after school life is taken up.
Supt. Hailmann SAYS the information OBJ
tanned by him justifies the statement that
the severe criticisms made Of both the
Indians and schools on this score, IL at
all justifiable. are so only to a limited de-
gree. Wherever ON reservations there has
been a marked progress in civilization. II
is traceable largely to the returned stu
dents influence, the majority Of whom are
fneasureably successful in the efforts to
turn away from tribal evils and draw
backs, though many obstacles confront
them, not only in the stubborn conserva-
tism OF older Indians, but also in excessive
tutelage on the part of the government
Honor and grateful admiration" he
says. ARE due to the young heroes and
uSIpiueS VINO lOrtn from our
Indian schools, pitting their lives against
adamantine walls of unreas oning tradition
and superstition, wrestling victory from
what seems utterly hopeless defeat
The discovery of many children Of very
little. II any, Indian blood In the boarding
schools leads TO the recommendation that
inasmuch as there seems TO be no remedy
under existing laws. Ii is imperative in the
interest of Justice TO both races that con-
sress should early indicate by statute what
degree of blood shall constitute an In
dian and 10 what extent adopted Indians
shall be entitled 10 governmental support
in the matters OF education.
In the superintendent reference to the
Indians as agricuiturists. the opinion is
given that in the study of agriculture an
excess acreage of land is ! hindranee.
rather than help. from an educational
standpoint.