The state herald., 1897-12-31
INDIAN TERRITORY.
2PLANs FOR rHE FUTURE.
Congress Trying to Break up the Tribal
Arrangement-Great Value of tho In
'dianS' Land.

The two committees on Indian af-
fairs are working together In the prep
aration3tof bill to carry out the rec
concentrations of Secretary Bliss with
regard TO new form of government in
the Indian territory. They are unan-
lmous in the opinion that prompt and
radical action should be taken to dis
solve the tribes, abolish the existing
tribal governments and place the In
habitants of the several reservations
upon the same footing as the citizens
or other territories, with equal rights,
privileges and protection. The chiefs
and other leading men will, of course,
resist any attempt to deprive them of
their present autocratic power and rev.
enues.. and will appeal to treaties that
were made years ago, but the officials
OF the Indian Bureau declare that those
treaties have been trampled upon so
long and deiiantly by the natives that
all their rights were forfeited years
ago.
The first step to be taken will be the
organization and admission of Indian
.Nrrltory into the United States, the ap-
poSntment of governor, secretary,
judges and other officials that compose
tAic mummy ttlIiuTlil olSuiilLiitlOu
Then census of the territory will be
taken and an election ordered for leg
islature to frame u code of laws.
When the new order of things is per-
manently established 1t will be ncces-
sary 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
tribes Persons who occupy farms end
other property upon which improve
ments have been made at their ex-
pense will probably be allowed to pur-
chase them at an appraised valuation.
the proceeds being turned into fund
for the benefit of the Indians. Squat
ter's rights will be recognized and pro-
tected as far as they do not Interfere
with the public welfare. Leases that
have been made by officials or individ-
uals will be recognized as public prop
crty, and the rentals will be adjusted
upon an appraisement of their values
Ii 1t shall be found that any person is
having the use of lands for which he
does not pay an adequate compensation
that lease will be cancelled, but the
holder may have the option of renew
ing the same upon other terms that
will be to the best advantage of the
tribes.
A large portion of the Indian lands
Is now occupied as ranches by white
people or members of the tribes, but the
revenues are enjoyed by n few indi-
vidual Indians and not by the Indians
as n community. II Is proposed, there
fore. TO abolish these monopolies and
require all rentals shall be paid into
the public treasury under regulations
to be prescribed by the secretary of the
interior. This proposition will lie met
with vigorous resistance. because IL
will deprive n small number OF the
lea,Ars of each tribe of lucrative in
comes 10 which they have no just
claims
The allotment, of lands in scveralty
will be II difficult problem. because
nearly all the valuable tracts are now
occupied. and the members of the com
mittce are not yet clear as 10 the meas
ures they should take In that direction.
They are holding daily consultations
with ex-senator Dawes and General
Armstrong. of the Dawes commission.
and will be largely guided by their rec
concentrations. The members of the
committee are anxious 10 secure the
rights Of the individual members Of the
TUBE, who have hitherto been living
IA a state OF semi-scrvliudc. 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
bc sold at anything like their actual
value and the proceeds distributed pro
rata among the members of the live
tribes they would form one of the rich
est communities on earth, but the
great majority of the natives have no
perception Of their own wealth and are
not competent 10 project themselves II
they should he lntrusted with the care
of their own property. Proper provls-
lon VIII be made In the bill for their
protection. II Is the Intention TO pro-
vide for the investment Of the proceeds
Of the sale Of their lands In funds. so
that the interest may he used for edu-
catIonal purposes. for the erection of
public buildings and for other purposes
that win promote the general welfare.