The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1897-11-26
INTERIOR AFFAIRS.

Islt.. E.timst~s for >.xt Fiscal N-.r
Expeeted Rapid Increase in the rensl..
Rolls, to Proceed. a Permanent Decrcs.s
Indian Affairs aud the Dawes tomml.-
sion.
WAsItISGToS. Nov. la.-Secrciarv a,
the Interior Bliss. in his annual report
made public last night. submit, est.
mates aggregating Sls6. sSe ila for an.
preparations by congress for the hsca
year ending June 80, 1897.
Discussing pensions. he says 20Ool
pension claims are awaiting adjudica-
ton. and it is estimated that 40 or 81
per cent OF these will be finally al.
mitted. IL they are rapidly adjudicatrd
they will swell the pension roll from
Is. 600. 900 To 1900, 900.
When, however. these claims are al
iusted and the first payments made
thereon, the pension roll will decrease
very rapidly, possibly To Sl25, 600 o)J Or
$3.50. 900. 600 the first year.
The total Indian population OF the
United States. exclusive OF the New
York indians aud the five civilized
tribes. approximates Hills. located IN
II. reservations. which contain approx.
imately 80, 40i. So acres OF these
&.545 have accepted allotments 81 land
which aggregate about Ga. i4s acres.
Secretary Bliss says. while the open
ing of the Wichita reservation IN OKLA
homa to white settlement won.d
greatly promote the development %
the country. yet. in view of the unset
tied condition of the questions affect
inc their rights. until there is further
legislation. he does not see how it can
be done without causing great injury
and distress. To guard agains. this
recomme ndation is made that tile
Dawes commission be authorized 10 H.
vestigate questions as To their rights
and claims. and submit recommends
tions for speedy and just settlement
Referring To the work OF the Dawes
commission. il il announced that tie
investigation Of the rights OF appi-
cants for citizenship in the five ma
tons has been practically completed,
the commission has been preparing Tie
rolls Of citizenship Of the several tribes
and has negotiated three agreements
That. with both the Choctaws aul
chickasaws. Of April -. 1891 is before
congress, aud has been ratified ty
those tribes. That made with The
Greeks September > last. was re-
jected almost unanimously 10y the
Creek council. and there il little pros
pect of any further agreement WITH
7 them. The Chcrokces have refused 70
make an agreement. and negotiations
with them have been abandoned i3
the time being.
, Such agreements as have been con
Guided vary 50 in their provisions thai
in view of the fact that eventually
, uniform system OF government mus
be provided for the Indian territory i
D is questionable. the report SAYS, whether
any of the agreements should he DEL
t uitely ratified 10y congress until the De-
sired aud necessary uniformity can os
7 secured.
: The secretary says the five tribes
have undoubtedly violated in many
e ways the spirit Of their agreement
{ with the United States under whicn
: the territory is now held and governed
;. and while he does not recommend any
q harsh government action. the secretary
calls the attention of the president and
congress 10 the chaotic condition o. az
, fairs of the territory growing out q
u the several tribes methods of adm MS
tration.
Leading Indians have absorbed grea
c tracts To the exclusion of the coinmol
q people. and government by an India
|, aris,ocracy has been practically esla'
e lished. to the detriment of the people
d From 200. 600 to 100000 whites by per
IS mission Of the Indian government
is have settled in the territory, but ar
n merely tenants by sufferance.
Is No government for the Indian teri
ID tory will be satisfactory until congres
D. shall provide for the esta blishment 9
~ a single uniform system for the entlr
u territory that shall place all its inhAa
IS itants in possession OF the rights
American citizens.
~ Recomme ndation is made that 70
y period for the allotment of lands to 70
= Uncom pahgre Indians be extended sue
time beyond April /. ls9s. as congrrs
~ shall deem best. Reference IS maze
- the contentious of the Uncompahgre
" "a to allotment requirements. anu y
&c stated that the proceeds OF the So'
" RADIO lands. when received. over AZ
ie above the cost of the removal 81 "
In Indians (s4ay. 55s) and the trust fund
4 81. $50 900. i, to be applied. 50 lar
.. requisite, TO the reimbursement 81 y
'P Unathes. whose lands are to be taNe'
~ The Uncompahgres. contrary 10 ths
~ ideas. do not. in fact. pay for the a"o
70 ments except as n matter of exchans'
n NEW COUNTERFEITS.