Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-11-19

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amount devoted to INDIAN education over
S. 600. The Wisdom OF such an expen-
d1ture ~ fully borne out by phe results
ENcludfng the India1lS Of New York ara
indian pupils enrolled last year was e.
964. OF whom over 80 per cent were IN
government schools The enrolment IN
/ governments schools was greater BY Sli
than last year. wal1le the enrolment IN
contract. mission, and public schools Tell
of 1922, according to the reports received.
Many lnd1an pupils, however are cared
for In mission schools which make no re-
port to the government. The average at
tendance at all schools was over ~ per
cent OF the enrolment. 1t Is dlsappoint-
ing to note that the number OF Indian pu-
| pills cared for in district public schools Is
smaller than formerly.
Or the results Of the Dawes commission
| to the five civilized tribes the secretary
| says among other things:
Agreements concluded with such OF the
five tribes as have consented to negotiate
vary so greatly in their provisions that,
IN view OF the fact that eventually uni
form system of government must be pro-
viGed for the Indian Territory, 1t is ques-
| tioEable whether any OF the agreements
now under consideration should be def
nitely ratified by Congress until the de-
sired ara necessary uniformity can be Sc
| cured
| The five tribes have undoubtedly vio-
rated. In many ways, the spirit OF their
| agreements with the United States under
which the territory is now held and gov
erned. and while do not recommend any
| action by the government of the United
States that shall be harsh, or that shall
seem, in any way to break faith with the
| tribes. l deem 1t to be my duty to call the
attention of the President and Congress
to the chaotic condition of the affairs of
| the territory growing out of their methods
| OF administering the business of the re-
| spective tribes. Leading Indians have alb
sorbed great tracts Of land to The exclu-
| sioS OF the common people and govern
ment by an Indian arstOcracy has been
| practically established. to the detriment
OF the people large population of
WHITES. estimated at from 100000 to 2o0.-
OCO souls. has, by permission of the In
dlan government. settled In the territory.
These settlers have improved farms and
| built villages and towns. but they have no
legal status-no property rights-and are
merely tenants by sufferance.
The abolition OF tribal courts and estab-
| lishment of United States courts and veto
power OF the President over acts of tri-
bal councils, provided for by act of Con-
gress, passed June I. 1887. will. IL is be-
Meved, cause considerable improvement In
the government; but no government for
the INDIAN Territory will be satisfactory
until Congress shall provide for the es-
tablishment of Il single uniform system
for the entire Indian Territory that shall
place all ats inhabitants in possession of
the rights OF American citizens.
By the act of January 30. 1897. Il was
made unlawful to dispose of intoxicating
drinks of any kind in any way TO any In
dian who is under the charge of an In
dian agent. or under the guardianship OF
the government, or who has received an
allotment OF land to which the govern
ment still holds the trust title. This add
ditional legislation was rendered neces-
sary by decisions OF courts in the north
west that 1t was not against existing law
to dispose of liquors to an Indian aliot-
tee. Hence drunkenness was fast making
its worst inroads upon the very Indians
who had otherwise the best opportunities
to gain a foothold in civilization and
from whom the most was expected.
| fragrant dereKction of duty on the part
of deputy marshals in Oklahoma has
transpired by the arrest and imprison-
ment OF an, Usage Indian for introducing
| intoxicating liquors on the reservation.
Investigation disclosed the fact that the
deputy marshal found the whisky on the
Indian and seized it. and then sold 1t back
! to him and saw MIN drink It. This. with
| the fact that the Indian was old and I'M
able to endure the imprisonment, led to
his pardon by the President. Out of this
case has come the knowledge That it has
been the custom of deputy marshals in
Oklahoma to hunt up whiskey cases, not
to disturb the white man for selling the
liquor. but to get the Indian arrested for
the sake of the fees. In fact there is
every reason to believe that not infre-
quently the liquor seller himself has Civ
en- the deputy the name of the Indian
buyer. The authorities IN Oklahoma are
taking this matter in hand
The sale of opium and whisky in Ne
vada has been found to have reached
frightfuf proportions. Special Agent
Brewster of the department of justice.
who made the investigation, was able to
secure the arrest of several Cinnamon at
three towns in the vicinity of the Walker
river reserve. which has given a decided
check to the business there for the pres
emit at least.
Last January sixteen Navajo families,
who were grazing their flockS on unsur-
veyed lands in the Grand Canyon na-
tional park. and it's vicinity. were visited
by tine sheriff of Coconino county with an
armed posse. Arbitrary and unlawful de-
inland was made of the Indians for imme-
date payment of s. for every 100 head of
sheep. The Navajoes had no money, and
in bitter weather. through deep snow
were summarily driven across the Little
Colorado river losing large number of
their sheep, worth to them several thou
sand dollars. This so-called assessment
of the property of the Navajoes, which
had been ordered by the supervisors of
Coconino county. was undoubtedly a
mere pretext to get rid of the Indians and
secure the range for white men.
June % last the department sent re-
port of the facts to the attorney general,
with view to instituting suit for dam
ages against the officers of Cocon.no
courty. On the same date a similar state
ment was sent to the governor of Arizo-
ma, who replied July last, that he had
given the sheriff of Coconino County a
statement of the complaints against him
and demanded an explanation of his con-
duct.
The secretary. as 1t has become the GUS
tom of Indian agents to receive for safe
keeping and disbursement moneys of their
Indians received as rents of tribal ard al
.oted lands, from the sale of cattle hay
and grain. and from other sources, deems
it of great importance that legislation be
enacted to hold the agents responsible on
their official bonds for all funds of which
hey may so become the custodians. Fur
thermore, that officers of the army actiaig
as Indian agents. be also required to give
bond for the same purposes as are civilian
agents. and that such bonds be provided.
when so desired at the expense of the
United States in suitable surety COM
panies.
Especial attention Is called to the steady
increase in the business of the patent of
fee and to the necessity for an additional
force and the providing of means for the
Improvement of the facilities for tran
sactlng the steadily increasing volume of
business.