New-York tribune., 1900-05-24
THE INDIAN MARRIAGE LAW.

Despite the pressure for early adjournment IL
is TO be hoped that Congress will find time at
this session to give attention TO the proposed
Indian Marriage law prepared for the Indian
Commissioners and introduced in both houses
with their approval 1t is almost always difficult
to secure adequate consideration of measures
concerning the internal affairs of the Indian
tribes This is especially true when the questions
at issue involve white interest which is
concerned TO exert influence in Washington.
Few ConCressmen possess the time or the
knowledge requisite for the solution of problems
of detailed Indian administration, and are natu-
rally disposed to procrastinate when called upon
to face such subjects. At the same time they
are usually ready to agree to the wisdom of the
executive officers managing Indian affairs, and
probably all that is needed to enable the Indian
Bureau to carry out its contemplated reforms is
simply an understanding among Senators and
Representatives of the desrability of not neg
lecting the recommendations of the Indian Com
missioners in their haste to get away from the
capital.
The bill was drawn by DR.. Gates, secretary of
the Commission, and has been subjected to the
revision and meets the approval of experts like
DR.. Riggs of Slntee DIR. Frissell, of Hampton;
Inspector Geohye Wright and Commissioner
Jones. 1t proposes to establish Indian family
relations on a regular basis, requiring licenses
for marriage and keeping system of perma
nent family records, which will be of great use
in determining succession of property among
the Indians, who are becoming more and more
individual land owners and who In a few years
will be holders Of properties in fee simple on
the expiration of Government protection of
title. Such n system of registration will pro-
tect the Indians from white adventurers who on
various pretexts try to secure properties belong
ing TO Indians, and it may also protect the
Government from baseless claims by impostors
Moreover, it is time to give the Indians other
than a savage idea of marriage. In putting on
civilized habits and acquiring lands in severalty
they have reached the stage when the mission
ary teachings concerning family life should be
reinforced by formal political sanction.
1t is, of course, necessary to deal with the Ind
ians as they are and not as we would have them
far emerged from barbarism as to have aban-
doned plural relations Therefore the bill for
the registering of marriages made in conform
ity to civilized ceremonies or by native custom
provides not merely for keeping a record of
homogeneous marriages, but of all unions made
by Indian custom, far practicable taking
note of the order of successive marriages. While
accepting the Indians as they are and wisely
refraining from all attempts to penaliZe them
for the past, the bill orders that after next Jan
uary none but homogeneous new marriages shall
be legal. Thus the rising generation is put
under pressure to conform to civilized rules
This seems to be a sensible and moderate
method of doing justice to the present state of
Indian society and working for its Improvement
AS at only about in seven of the Indian
agencies are permanent marriage records kept
existing marriage regulations enforced, 1t is
evidently highly desirable that the reformed
system should be put in operation soon The
bill carries no appropriation, but simply pro-
vides a better system under which the present
administrative agencies may work in helping
the Indians to the adoption of civilized ideas of
marriage.