The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1897-11-25
SECRETARY BLISS REPORT.
AZ IS REFRESHING TO NOTE tn
100000 PENSION CLAIMS ARE
PENDING.
WORK OF THE DAWES COMMISSION
many EVILS of Indian Tribal Govern
ment Pointed Out-Existinr Com
iohs In Alaska Demand
0h"nge In It's 'Government.

ussfeeaung S1S6,532, 40 for approprio.
tloas ny congress for the fiscal wear end
ing june 30. 1899. -"A eiiu-
discussing pensions, he said 2OOOOO
peIsioh claims are awaiting adjudication
ana II is estimated 40 or SO per cent Of
anese VIII De finally admitted, If thew
the Saplaly adIudicated they will swell
100000. When, however, these claims
are adludicated ard the first payments
made thereon, the amount of the pension
ron VIII decrease very RAPIDLY. possihlv
10 Sl2o,Oo0,OOO or $130,0O0 900 the first
The total Indian population of the
United States, exclusive of the New
York Indians and the five civilized tribes,
'approximates HITS, located on 1T
reservations, which contain approximate
ly 81, 44 1897 acres. Of these, 4545 have
accepted allotrrents of lane which az
gregate about GAIL acres.
Secretary Bliss says while the opening
OF the Wichita reservation In Oklahoma
to white settlement would greatly pro-
mote the development of that country,
vet in view of the unsettled condition
OF the questions affecting the rights, I'M
til there is further legislation he does
not see how it can be done without caus-
ing great injury and distress. To guard
that the Dawes commission be author
lied to Investigate questions as to their
rights and claims, and report recon-
mendations for a speedy and just set
Element.
Referring to the work Of the Dawes
commission, it is announced that the in
vestigatien of the rights of applicants
for citizenship in the five nations have
been practically completed, the commits
sion has been preparing the rolls of cit
izenship of the several tribes and has
negotiated three agreements. That, with
both the Choctlws and Chickasaws of
April %, 1897, is before congress and
had been ratified by those tribes. That
made with the Greeks in September was
rejected almost unanimously by the
Greek council, and there is little pros
pect Of any further agreement with them.
The 'Cherokees have refused to make
agreement and negotiations with them
have been abandoned for the time. be-
ing. Such agreements as have been
concluded vary SO in their provisions that
in face of the fact that eventually a
uniform system of government must be
provided for the Indian Territory 1t is
questionable, the report says, Whether
any of the grants should he definitely
ratified by congress until the desired and
necessary uniformity can be secured.
The secretary says the five tribes nave
undoubtedly violated in many ways tne
spirit of their agreements with tne ~ nlteu
States. under which the territory IS now
held and governed, and while he does
NOT recommend any harsh government
action. the secretary calls the attention
of the president and congress 10 tue
chaotic condition of affairs growing I out
of. the several tribal administrations. Inc
leading Indians have absorbed great
tracts to the exclusion of the common
people, and government by an lnaidn
aristocracy has been practlcaily estao
iished to the detriment OF the people.
Fam Frnm 100000 to 100000 whites, by
nermission of the Indian government,
have settled in the territory, out are
merely tenants by sufferance. M.
M government for the Indian Terri
tow viii he satisfactory until congress
shall nroyide for the establishment OF
single uniform system Tor the 'eh.iIe ~
dian Territory that shall place us III
habitants in possession OF the rish'' VI
American citizens. -. 4l.+ tbo no
r;nd for the allotment of lands to the IN
li Indians be extended sucn
t;ma beyond April /, 1885, as congress
s si deem best. Difference is made
90 Tho conventions of the uneompahgres
aS to allotment requirements ana IL Is
stated that the proceeds of the 'Goloraoo
lands when received. over ana a a;o,e
the cost of the removal OF the e. 1Sn9
fS4 29157) and the trust fund OF Sl,IoV,-
nnn is to no applied so far as requisite
W Nv tho reimbursement of the Unltans'
whose lands are to be taken. Inc VI,
omornnohCres. contrary to their IDEAS, uo
ot in Fact nav for the allotments. eA-
cont as n matter of exchange. II !ne
sfp of fine Colorado lands can not I'M
mediately yield sufficient Tor ,relniouts; Is
ment of the Unitahs the governlneho nd
urged to advance the necessary e sun ;ts 're.
n await the sale of the landS , d9f zoe Is
inu'i ;D the treasury to the credit OF we
NV NV fnnd resulting from the sale OF tne
Cuorodo lands. and in addition tnere
ConUiI nnt be realized from the sales over
eEnn Oo() 70 reimburse the government;
tbo eynenses. etc, OF the removal ia, ann
The ST 25OOO0 set aside IRON me Ipt ,;Tl
moneys as trust FUND. sun of Tho
.tion as will enable the peo pnS+ Of the
Tinted States to reap the benent DC ~ ' ;s
valuable and uselui hiine'"
recolin1 ' oot;on in securing proper legis-
.ppe for the coming twelfth census Is
l auaod lack of sufficient time In the pas
us az three enumerations Is coinpiaineu
~ and the necessity OF many rel nc nn7
an the way of leSsenlnS. tlie - ororoI
III tn' and the elimination or ses eeai
PPu DOLL of inquiries from the tWe nn
Drali ',s either by postponement or Trans
census trroous already in existence Is
urged. ho+ hafore the close
a tbn field season the geologleaI SUI w ~
OF On III hove gathered sufficient data as ~
WI Mi,i settIed areas of the. reserves 1 s,
me 1neoe sg't in the executive forestry orders
prac Cnabia the department to form an
oninion as to population anu IO1or rrae' and
y1nnts included within the res . ond ag.
t H,en distributions of the forest anu "s
r'c rsn,ncerning Alaska, Secretary p rad,
Con visiting conditions demand rao
says oS Sn,Ssi IN the laws relating, thereto;
. he recommends that the , nupnt and
anu. ~ no extended to that dlstrlct, a and
thst additional land Offices he crG eau, into
. .nnanronr;ations made to carry tneni 1n,
a#ocfi that the granting of rights o, wns
erect o;; 1ra telegraph and telepnonss
for rai nd The construction of roads anu
1 nlt he specifically authorized; tnao pf If
.i ;s;nn no made for the incornorattlo,Hd ;ng
'v,,Ss,mo;cinalties: providing for the noiut fnr
. ~ niections, defining .quallhcations a ~,
OF e,ec' and giving such powers as oi are
voting anu orercisod nv MUNICIPALITIES eise,
uIeu an that the legal and political Sia' in
" +be native population whi ;n hn oy.
~ no Defined that clti2pnsnI" rho