The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1897-11-20
SECRETARY BLISS AN
NUAL REPORT.
THE INDIAN QUESTION.
Opening of the wichita Reservation
Opposed Necessity for Govern
ment Reform In Indian Terri
tory Set Forth aud Unifos IN
ity Urged Reforms for
Alaska suggesteu.

WAsnISGToN, Nov 10 Secretary Of
the Interior Bliss, in his annual re-
port, submits estimates aggregating
Sl5G, 552. .4l9 for appropriations by Con-
gress for the fiscal year ending June
30, 1898.
Discussing pensions he says 200, 900
pension claims are awaiting adjudica-
tion, and it is estimated that 40 or so
per cent Of these will be finally ad-
mitted. II they are rapidly adjudicated,
they will swell the pension roll from
50, 0J0, 900 to s7.000,JOO When, how
ever, these claims are adjudicated, and
the first payments made thereon. the
amount OF the pension roll will de-
crease very rapidly, possibly =" ci25,-
0O0 600 or $40, 600, 900 the first year.
The total Indian population of the
United States, exclusive Of the New
York and the five civilized tribes, ap-
proNimates III, l1s located on III res
ervations, which contain approximate
| ly 3,404, s37 acres. OF these 4.545
have accepted allotments of land
which aggregate about GA acres.
Secretary Bliss says that while the
Iopening OF the Wichita reservation in
Oklahoma to white Sc ttlement would
greatly promote the development of
the country, yet in view of the uu-
settled condition of the questions af-
fecting their rights, until there is fur
ther legislation, he does not see how
il can be done without causing great
Injury and distress To guard against
this recomm sndation is made that the
| Dawes commission be authorized TO
Investigate questions as to their rights
and claims and report recommended
tions for speedy and just settlement
Referring to the work of the Dawes
commission, it is announced that the
Investigation of the rights of appli-
cants for citizenship in the five nations
has been practically completed; the
commission has been preparing the
rolls of citizenship of the several
tribes and has negotiated three agree
ments. That with both the Choctaws
and ChiclSasaws of April %, 1897, is
before congress. and has been ratified
by those tribes That made with the
Creeks September - last, was eject
ed almost unanimously by the Creek
council, aud there is little prospe ct Of
amy further agreement with them.
The Cherollces have refused to make
|ngreement. and negotiations with
them have been abandoned for the
time being
Such agreements as have been con
cluded vary so in their provisions that
n view of the fact that eventually
uniform system of government must
BE- provided for the Indian territory,
II is questionable, the report says,
whether any of the agreements should
be definitely ratified by Congress- until
the desired and necessary uniformity
can be secured.
The secretary says the five tribes
have undoubtedly violated In many
ways the spirit of their agreements
with the United States, under which
the territory is now held and gov
ietned, and while he does not recon-
mend any harsh government action,
the secretary calls attention Of the
president and congress to the chaotic
condition of affairs of the territory,
growing out of the several tribes
methods of administration. Lead
ling Indians have absorbed great
tracts, to the exclusion OF the common
people, and government b. an Indian
aristocracy has been practically es-
tablished, to the detrimcnt Of the peo-
Pile From 200, 600 to 25O O00 whites,
by permission of the Indian govern
meut, have settled in the territory,
but are merely tenants by sufferance.
No government for the Indian terri
tory will be satisfactory until Con-
gress shall provide for the establish
ment Of single uniform system for
the entire Indian territory that shall
iplace all its inhabitants in possession
of the rights of American citizens.
Concerning Alaska Secretary Bliss
says existing conditions demand a rad
ical change in the laws relating there
to. ind recommends that complete
territorial government be authorized
and established, and that representa-
ton in Congress be granted
Recommendations are submitted for
separate appropriations for the civil
service commission to be expended
under its own supervision; that Indian
lagents be held responsible on their Of
fetal bonds for all funds in their Gus
tody, the law to apply to army officers
as we'll as civilians and that when de-
sired, the United States provide such
bonds for army officers acting as In
dian agents.