The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-07-17

Price. Utah. July 16-Colonel Rand
lett. who after ten years service as
agent for the Uncompahgre. Uintah
and Ute Indians. and who has just re-
liaquished his duties TO his successor.
Captain Beck. passed through here to-
1 day en- route east. An Associated
Press representative was permitted TO
make an abstract from mis- annual re-
port to the secretary OF the interior up
10 July 1. just finished. and after al
luding to various other matters. refers
! to the present condition of these IN
dams and other important matters as
follows:
While in the ways of civilization these
Indians have not advanced as much dur
ing the past year as was hoped for at its
beginning, many families on both reserva-
tons have manifesI ed much energy in
working % establish honest eads with re-
sources from which they nope TO gain
their own subsistence when left 10 be a
self-supportinE people.
The Indians have improved very much
respecting the drinking habit. and the po-
lice have been efficient in assisting 90
suppress the liquor traffic by peddlers
coming upon the reSerVau ana saloon
keepers located just outside the reserva-
ton lines They have given testimony in
United States courts resulting in the con-
Nicticn OF TWO cases. where the judge gave
sciences Of more than one years i'm
prlsonmen-. Two others were indicted for
,he same 0ffense who skipped from the
country TWO others are now under IN
d.ctnenr who VIII be brought to trial at
tie next term OF court. The source OF
most OF the liquor rrafrlc thar ArIectS TINS
agency is located in denS Of gamblers and
prostitutes Jp3s42Sts-ae The military rsser-
vation at Fort IL 49,. which could NOT
exist witiclt the patronaSe and sncodr-
ase1ner,- received from me g rason OF
the fort whicn. Il IS understood, Soss on
without restriction
WILLIE jEAsY.
No aIlotnep1s in s4veraity have been
n,ede 10 these Indians, those that have
bsea provided with homes IN the past
four years have been taken uD9n ailot-
nsnt allowances Of land fenced up on
Surveyed sections. 50 that with them al
iOtment in severalty wiil be easily accom-
pished. By act OF June ., 1891, Jns sec
reuary Of the Interior IS directed TO locate
the UncOmpahgres by allotment after
April l. 1885; 70 open Tor entry under the
lcnd laws o. the United states all agrl-
cultural lands of the Uncompahgre reser-
walton that have not been allotted 70 said
I-d-ans. This act is the result or four
years discussion in congress, originating
through schemes of parties seeking pos
s.ssion of the valuable asphaltum depOs-
rs found upon the reservation IL IS re-
gretted BY all Interested IN the welfare OF
L-e ln0lanS mat L-llS Ir5t4-+ was AN--Al--e7A
without making provision lof locating
tt5ss Indians upon hO-aes-e1ds. as prom
fsad IN the treaty made with them IN LSs0,
s-d il is hoped that the matter wll be
racorsidered by congress separate IRON
the interests Of the r-cl aSphaitum SHARKS
-7E0se schemes have brought nothinS
cod 10 themselves and only fruted IN
rest ana anguish Tor these WrttCdle~iS
nor. IOng-sglIierllg wards Or tle govern
ment. With a porper regard Tor acting
justly. the unreserved eNecu--on OF ti5
a r~f - m H~rffa N Il
v.s. be found a difficult Undertaking
faere is only d small amount Of aSrlcui-
tlral land within the limits of the Dncom-
pahgre reservation. made up from Nluedy
scattered parts. and not enough 70 FURNISH
allO<-nent- allowance TO One-fOurth of
tnOse to be supplied.
NOT MUCH DIFFICULTY
1T Is supposed that there will not be
much dlfhculty in negotiating with the
Indians Of the Uintan reservation on Tor
Lands upon which to settle the Uncomss
Dahgres. but il should not prove sur
Drjsing if the Uintah reservation Indians
plead that the government respect tnelr
legal riedt to be consulted in this matter,
and Il->---~3biish a precedent OF arol-
trariIy violating justice and equality n
disposing of their legal possessions Il
is true as was asserted II substance De
fore congress by an advocate Ior open
ing the UncOmpahgre reservation, Inds
men can be found who would make al
lctmentS TO these Indians Dy a snort ndnA
nrOceSS- but IL is not believed mat con-
.sreSs Intended or that the secretary OF
the interior viii permit the Wlckecness
OF allotting lands on paper only 10 De
practical evasion of the law.
From official information received from
the department OF justice, II appears
that more than coo depreciation claims
amounting TO more than N,UoUOO0 have
been filed against the Ute Indians in the
United states court OF claims, ana suits
Instituted in such manner as to hold
either of the cOnfederated bands eventu-
ally responsible for the alleged deDreda-
tons. IT mas also been learned that the
number OF law officers PROVIDED Dy the
government 10 deferd Indian deDreda-
ton claims is insufficient TOR the dis
charge OF their duty, Therefore. acting
Utes of Colorado have united
with the UncompahSre, Ulntah and
White River Utes OF Utah and with the
approval of the honorable secretary Of
the interior have contracted with Mr.
Ike Oldham of Little Rock. Ark. 10
act as their attorney in defense of these
claims. Mr. Oldham, IN the interest of
hase cases is now in Utah seeking re-
butting testimony. and has recently
visited these Indians at their agencies.
Without doubt nearly, II not all of these
claims are fraudulent. still it has been
necessary 10 employ an attorney Tor de-
Tense in order that the prosecuting at
tOrneys shall not be allowed to secure
judgment by default
1t is thought that these. Indians have
just claims against the United States
that should be adjusted
THEID OTHER LANDS.
1t IS claimed that there are large bodies
of land in Colorado that they relinuuished
their rights to on one condition. that il
be sold and the proceeds OF the sale ac-
crue 10 their benefit; that no credits have
been made to them on account of such
sales and that the larger portion OF silch
lands have recently been set. aside BY
executive orders for public parks for
which # so retained. they should be-
paid. During Mr.. Oldhams recent visit
This subject was discussed with these IN
dams in open council at both agencies,
and 2 contract was made suhiect TO the
APPROVAL of the secretary of the INTERIOR.
whereby Mr. Oldham is employed 20 seek
the adjustment of these claims. and
circulating that in payment for his SER
vice he shall receive a per .centage Of the
amounts recovered from the government.
and that if nothing is recovered nothing
shall be paid for his services.