La Junta tribune., 1898-01-01
INDIAN TERRITORY.
PLANS ron the FUTURE.
cssgrsss rsyIag To Break mp the Tribal
Assaassseat-tsr~atv Value of the In
d1ans' Laad.

The two committees on Indian af-
fairs are working together In the prep
aration OF bill 10 carry out the rec
concentrations of Secretary Bliss with
regard to q new form of government In
the Indian territory. They are unan-
imous In the opinion that prompt and
radical action should be taken to dis
solve the tribes. abolish the existing
tribal governments md place the In
habltants OF the several reservations
upon the same footing rs the citizens
OF 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 auiocratic power and rev.
enues, and viii appeal to treaties that
were made years ago, bu, the officials
~ the Indian Bureau declare that those
treaties have been trampled upon so
long and defian.ly 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
territory into the Unitcd States. the ap-
pointment of governor. n secretary.
Judges and other officials that compose
The ordinary territorial organization.
Then census OF the territory will be
iaken and an election ordered for a leg
islnture TO frame Il code of laws.
When the new order cf things is per-
manently established Il will be neces-
sary for the government to ailot the
reservation in seycralty among the
members Of the five ;ribes 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 and
other property upon which improve
nlents have been made at their ex-
pcnse will probably be allowed to pur-
chase them at an appraised valuation.
the. proceeds being turned Into a fund
for the benefit OF the Indians. Squat
ter's rights will be recognized and pro-
tected us far az they do not interfere
with the public welfare. Leases that
have been made by officials or individ-
uals will be recognized as public prop
erty, aud the rentals will be adjusted
upon an appraisemcnt of their values.
III 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, bur 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 few indi-
vldual Indians and not by the Indians
as n community. 1t IL 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
fv1k~ Lao. N
with vigorous resistance, because II
will deprive a small number of the
) leaders of each tribe of lucrative In
comes to which they have no just
claims.
The allotment of lands in severalty
will be difficult problem, because
nearly all the valuable tracts are now
occupied. and the members of the com
mittee are not yet clear as to 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 to secure the
rights OF the individual members of the
tribe, who have hitherto been living
in a state of semi-servi,ude. entirely
ignorant of their own claims and too
feeble to enforce them IL they had any
comprehension of what they were.
II the lands in Indian territory could
be sold Mt anything like their actual
value and the proceeds distributed pro
rnta among the members Of the five
tribes they would form one OF the rich
est communities on earth. but the
.grent majority of the natives have no
perception Of their own wealth and are
not competent to protect themselves II
they should be intrusted with the care
OF their own property. Proper provis-
ion will Ike made In the bill for their
protection. l; is the intention 10 pro