The silver star., 1897-12-30
INDIAN TERRITORY.
HANS ron the FUTURE.
o.srsss rryins 70 Brsak up the Tribal
As.sngsnsnt- Great Value Of the In
nnns' LAnd.

The two committees on Indian NJ
Ain are working together In the prem
sration of q bill to carry out the rec
smnendations of Secretary Bliss witt
,eeard to a new form OF government In
IN indian territory. They are unan.
|luous in the opinion that PROMPT and
radical action should be taken to dis
solye the tribes. abolish the existing
tribal governments and place the in.
AabItants Of the several reservations
upon the same footing as the citizens
81 other territories, with equal rights,
privIleges and protection. The chiefs
and other lending men will, Of course,
resist any attempt to deprive them OF
their present autOcITtic power and rev
enues. and will appeal to treaties that
were made years agO. hut the officials
of the Indian Bureau declare that those
treaties have been trampled upon so
bong and deflantly by the natives that
HI their rights were forfeited years
ago.
The first step to he taken will be the
organizatiOn and admission of Indian
territory into the United States, the ap-
pointment of governor, u secretary,
Judges and other officials that compose
lhe ordinary territorial organization.
Then census of the territory will be
aken and an election ordered for a leg
slature to frame n code of laws.
When the new order Of things is per-
manently established 1t will be neces-
harry for the government to allot the
reservation In severalty among the
members OF the five tribes and take
measures for the protection of the
white population and other settlers
who have no legal claims upon the
kribes. Persons who occupy farms and
pther property upon which improve
ments have been made mt their ex-
pense will probably be allowed to pur-
rhase them at an appraised valuation,
lhe proceeds being turned into a fund
for the benefit of the Indians. Squat
ler's rights will he recognized and pro-
ected as far ms they do not interfere
With the public welfare. Leases that
have been made by officials or individ-
balls will be recognized as public prop
bfty. and the rentals will be adjusted
|hpon an appraisement of their values.
II 1t shall be found that any person is
having the use of lands for which he
locs not pay an adequate compensation
lhat lease will be cancelled, but the
boldcr may have the option of renew
)hg the same upon other terms that
pill he to the best advantage Of the
)fibes.
A large portion of the Indian lands
= now occupied as ranches by white
people or members of the tribes, but the
)evenues are enjoyed by few indi-
fdual Indians and not by the Indians
hs community. 1t Is proposed, there
fore. to abolish these monopolies and
tsQuire all rentals shall he paid into
y public treasury under regulations
D be prescribed by the secretary Of the
Interior. This proposition will be met
Eith vigorous resistance, because 1t
Will deprive small number of the
)eaders OF each tribe OF lucrative in
ZONES TO which they have no just
klaims.
The allotment of lands IN severalty
will be difficult problem, because
pearly nll the valuable tracts are now
occupied. and the members Of the COM
|nittcc ARE not yet clear as to the meas
hres they should take in that direction.
they are holding daily consultations
with ex-senator Dawes and General
ARMSTRONG, Of the Dawes commission,
bnd will be largely guided by their rec
The members Of the
fonmittee are anxious to secure the
lights Of the individual members Of the
lrlbc. who have hitherto been living
in a state OF semi-servitude, entirely
Ignorant of their own claims and too
feeble to enforce them II they had any
comprehension of what they were.
II the lands In Indian territory could
be sold at anything like their actual
value and the proceeds distributed pro
rata among the members of the five
tribes they would form one Of the rich
Pit communities on earth, but the
great majority OF the natives have no
perception of their own wealth and are
not competent to protect themselves II
they should bc Intrusted with the care
pf their own property. Proper provis-
Jon will be made In the bill for their
protection. 1t Ii the Intention to pro