The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1899-01-27
WASHINGTON CHAT

Complaints have been received by
the Indian commissioners, from Indian
agents in the Northwest that the "a
tons allowed the pupils in Indian
schools were insufficient. The school
ration was made up by the Indian Of
flee some time ago upon reports re-
ceived by the various agents, and it
was tie understanding that they were
satisfactory. The complaints of the
| agents We're submitted to the secretary
of agriculture, who referred the mat
ter to experts. A report has been sub
miltpd by Secretary Wilson to the Of
feet tlat the rations are sufficient in
quantity and nutrition.
1t was recently stated that probably
Capt Mercer, assigned to the new
agency at L3cch Lake. would be di-
rected TO join his regiment, owing to
the desire of the war department Off
cials to have all commissioned officers
perform active military service. Upon
the personal request of Secretary Bliss,
Capt Mercer has been retained and
| directed to proceed to Leech Lake as
| soon as he Strengthened his accounts
and completed the transfer OF the
agency property to his successor ut
OMAHA. who has already been named
Representative McCleary is prepar-
ing bill providing for the payment by
the government of the expenses for
medical attendance incurred by sol
diers of the late war while at home on
sick fullough. The representative is
i'll consultation with the surgeon gen
! eral on the details Of the measure.
While efforts are being made by the
Minnesota delegation to have two
additional companies of the Seventh
infantry detailed for duty mt Smelling
and Walker. it is said at the depart
ment that it is not believed that any
| more troops can be spared for duty in
Minnesota at this time The request
that an additional officer be detailed
for the company ut Smelling has been
| allowed. Some one evidently erred,
as it was found that it was impractic-
able to send detachment to Walker,
| as only one commissioned officer was
detailed for duty With the company at
| Smelling. An officer has been ordered
| to proceed from Fort Wayne. Mich, to
take detachment to Walker.
| The resolution presented by Senator
| Platt Of Connecticut calling for all da-
| ia in the hands of Secretary Bliss with
reference to timber operations on the
| Chippewa reservations. has been re-
! ferred to the secretary for report. The
I SECRETARY has requested the land and
Indian commissioners to prepare the
| information on the subject. and it Is
| probable this will be submitted to the
senate committee OH appropriations
| the latter mart of next week ~
| Senator Platt's action does not con-
template a congressional investigation
OF the timber operations. but is de-
| signed to aid the committee in consid-
ering the amendment in the Indian APP
| preparation bill affecting the timber
! operations. ~,
The action of the senate committee in
! incorporating in the Indian appropria-
ton bill, as reported. an amendment
| fer the support Of Secta1an schools,
which was stricken out by the house
| committee. was Il surprise to officials
of the interior department. While it
is believed that the amendment will be
adopted by the senate. it will probably
rrpciptate a contest when the bill is
referred to the conference committee.
| The friends Of the proposition will
make a strong fight in support Of the
amendment. and the outcome is looked
| forward to With interest. 1t is under
| stood that the Indian commissioner
! has prepared q statement against the
amendment. That official declined to
say whether such statement would
be filed. Commission er Jones strongly
supports the policy of the department
ag;linSr further governmental support
Of sectarian schools
Land Commissioner Hermann reports
that after careful consideration of the
subject he has concluded there is no
necessity for increasing the corps of
examiners now estimating pine on the
Chippewa reservations. The commits
sioner recently said that when the in
creased funds for the expenses of the
corps We're made available. additional
cruisers could be put to work. in order
to complete it within two years. The
commissioner now believes the present
corps is large enough to finish the
work in the time named.
Indian Commissioner Jones has sub
mitted an important amendment to
the senate committee on Indian affairs,
now considering the Indian appropria-
ton bill with reference to the disDos-
al Of the timber question on the White
Earth and Red Lake reservations.
The amendment proposes that the pine
on the lands under the Jurisdiction of
the Indian office shall be cut and dis
posed of at the option Of the Indian
commissioner. under the direction Of
the secretary of the interior. The
amendment is important for the reason
that. if adopted. it will result in a rad
ical change in the method of cutting
timber on the diminished Chippewa
reservations. as it is known that Com
missioner Jones does not approve of
the system. Commissioner Jones is IA
vorably impressed with the policies for
the disposition Of Indian timber in
vogue on the reservations in Wiscon-
sin. On the Menominee reservation in
that state timber is cut by the Indians,
banked and sold on government scale
to the highest bidder. On the reserva-
items of the La Pointe agency. on Lake
Superior, the system is to authorize
mill men to put up mills on the reser-