The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-10-18

he has been attending council OF the
Uintah Indians, which was held at White
Rock yesterday. Senator Rawlins had
been requested to attend by the members
of the Uintah commission, who were anx-
ious to ascertain the temper of the In
dians as regards allotments and the ul-
innate opening of the reservation. In
an Interview the senator informed The
Herald representative that the council
disclosed the fact that the Indians gen.
land. According to the senator's s estimate,
there were at least 200 Indians present. all
of whom seemed to manifest great inter
est in the proceedings.
After Major Guffin. chairman of the
commission, addressed the assembled
braves and told the object of the coun-
ell. Sowawic arose and stated that the
reservation belonged TO the Indians and
they wished to be let alone He believed
that his people should be free TO raise
| their tepees where they will on their res
ervation without interference, as the
country had been given to them by Wash
ington in good faith He was opposed to
the allotment because the Indians knew
nothing of farming. de was opposed TO
giving up any portion of = reservation,
as he feared that the InGldnS would not
receive any compensation and would then
lose all.
Several other influential men of the
tribe followed and expressed the same
sentiments. All were opposed to the work
of the commission and the general polcy
of the government. So apparent was the
opposition to any concession being made
that the commission concluded 20 request
that they be recalled. as 1t was evident
that nothing could be done under the
present circumstances. 1t is the opinion
of Senator Rawlns and tne commission
as well that sufficient land to provide
homes for the Indians should be set aside
on some portion of the reservation, where
they could all be placed together and pro-
vided for. and not allowed to scatter here
and there all over the country, in the
hope by so doing they can keep out the
whites. 1t is the opinion of Senator
Rawlins, as expressed in his interview,
that very little has been accomplished in
the governments policy of handling the
Indians and some radical changes would
necessarily have 20 be made before any
thing would be accomplished. While the
government had been 10 considerable eX-
pense building schools and other improve
meDtS. the results as indicated by the
condition prevailing. We're very meagre.
He expressed the opinion that bin would
be introduced and passed at the next
congress which would embody the result
of the present investigation and would
provide a scheme for just settlement of
the conditions now prevailing.
When asked as to his opinion on this
section of the state and its future, the
senator was decidedly enthusiastic and
expressed the belief that there was a
great future before it. and predicted in
the future q CITY would rise up here that
Importance. He was particularly /.uck
with the availability and flow of the
streams of the reservation and said the
resources of that section passed his eX-
pectations. When asked concerning fu-
ture legislation affecting the gilsonite de-
posits he shook his head and stated that
the eastern members held some ideas that
would have to be diSpelled before anything
could be looked for in that direction.
The senator will speak on the political
ISSUES at the Social hall tonight