The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-05-02
U|NTAH RESERVATION BILL
TEXT OF THE HOUSE COMMIT
TEES FAVORABLE REPORT.
If the Indians Refuse to Cede Their
Lands the Act Becomes Inopera-
tive-Two Million Acres.
Especial to The Herald.)


Washington, D. c., April 2S.-The re-
port of the house committee on Indian
affairs, recommending the passage OF
the bill for the allotment of the Uintah
Indian lands, SAYS the reservation
contains more than 100000 acres or
land, much of which by irrigation can
be made productive and valuable Tor
agricultural purposes, it being eSti-
mated by the surveyor general or
Utah that so per cent thereof is suit
able for agriculture Numerous
streams of water traverse the reServa-
ton, which, at considerable expense,
by means of dams and canals and
bitches can be diverted from their
natural channels and appropriated
upon the lands contiguous thereto. The
greater portion OF the reservation Is
unoccupied and is not required by the
Indians residing thereon, but without
legislation it cannot be occupied ana
must remain sterile and unproductlVe.
1.-The Uintah Indians, more frequent
ly called Utes," says the report, re
side in the extreme eastern portion or
the reservation. They are less than
$50 in number, a 81, notwithstanding
the generous treatment OF the gov
eminent accorded them. are rapldly
diminishing. In recent years the
United States has allotted land in sew
crafty to portion of them, with graf
flying results Those to whom allot-
ments have not been made reside at
the same place with those who have
received lands All are DESTROYS or
taking lands in severalty. SO 1ar as
known. the Indians are impressed with
the advantages that will result from
an abandonment of their tribal rela-
tionS and entering upon an industrial
growth founded upon landed owner
shin.
THE policy of the government IN
dealing with the Indians is to allot
lands IL severalt- to them and en-
courage the building of homes ana aS-
ricultural and industrial development.
1t is believed this policy is best for
the Indians and will conduce 10 their
preservation as well as clviilzatlon-
without legislation there is no author
ity in the government or its ofnclalS
to allot lands upon the reservation to
the Indians. The interior department,
as we'll as the Indian bureau, approves
this measure with the amendment re-
ported believing that. by its passage
not only this result so desirable Will
be accomplished, but large area OIL
territory released and made avallapie
for disposition by the government.
Notwithstanding the very noeral plu-
visions made in the bill for the lndl-
ans. there will be a large area Tor ces-
sion to the United States. In other
words. though the bill provides that
each head of a family shall receive lou
acres of farming land and the same
amount for grazing purposes, nearly
9. Oo0, 900 acres will be added 10 tne
public domain, If, pursuant to TINS
measure. treaty with the INDIANS Is
negotiated and ratified.
"The bill merely provides for the ap-
pointment of commission, consisting
of not more than three persons, TO al
LOT. lands TO the Indians and obtain py
a treaty a cession from them TO the
government of the residue OF the lanu
upon the reservation. Ii the INDIANS
refuse to take allotments or to cede any
portion of the reservation, then tnls
1oea sure becomes imperative. On the
other hand. if the Indians receive the
commissioners, accept the allotments IN
severalty, and join in treaty OF ces-
sion to the government, then, Wheh
the commission reports Such treaty
congress will determine whether the
terms are such as will be approved
If the treaty fails of ratification, the
passage of this bill will have been in
vain: if approved, the Indians will be
benefited. and the title whether in
choate or indefeasible it is not neces-
sarv to Determined held by the Indians
will be extinguished, and the lands not
occupied by them will become a por-
ton of the public domain OF the United
States.
MIR. Hall, the assistant attorney gen
erai in his report to the secretary OF
the interior, dated Oct. g. 1898, finds
that the Indians are the owners of the
lands within this reservation, because
under the act of congress of May D,
1864 19 Stat, D. 81, it was provided
that the lands within the Uintah reser-
walton should be set apart for the per-
manent settlement and exclusive occu-
patton of the Indians" In order,
therefore, to make available for settle
ment any portion of these lanes II Is
necessary to obtain consent of the In
dams. by treaty or otherwise. The
usual method employed by the govern
ment in similar cases is to appoint
commission, as provided in this DILL
The bill as it passed the senate pro-
Vided for three commissioners. Inc
secretary of the interior suggests that
under some circumstances one COM
missioner can discharge the duties as
we'll as three; accordingly an amend
ment is proposed by which, If the
president deems it advisable, less
number than three may be appointed.
I'm view of the fact that a commits
sion is now at work allotting lands TO
the Uncompahgre Indians upon a res
servation adjoining the Uintah reser-
walton, and these commissioners are
daily associated with the Uintah In
dams, il is thought that the work con-
templated by this bill can be speedily
accomplished, and that the amount pro-
vided in the bill as it passed the senate
to cover the expenses of the commits
sion is excessive. Accordingly your
committee recommends an amendment
by which $4,000 is appropriated instead
of 5000, and the passage of the bill as
amended