The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1901-12-06
Washington chat.
Special Correspondence.

LOTI1ldllOH dlu III AS~
gard to timber operations on the Min
nesota and Wisconsin reservations. He
insists thai the operations Of h past
wear in Minnesota should never be re-
peated. and that the large tracts of
timber should be sold to the highest
bidder and milled or the reservations.
according to the policy adopted on the
reservations in Northern Wisconsin.
After an investigation Of the situa-
ton on the Minnesota reservation, Sen
ator Quarles has changed the opinion
which he entertained last winter in re-
gard to the National park project.
Last winter" said the senator,
when the hearings were held before
the Indian committee in regard to the
project for making a national park OF
the Chippewa reservation in Minnesota,
1 was impressed with the feasibility of
the idea, and thought it would be prac-
tical and desirable. I spent some time
on the reservation this summer, and
Travelled over it extensively. l reached
the conclusion that the park project
would not be practicable, and l should
be opposed to having the lands utilized
for that purpose. / am convinced that
pine timber lands could not be reserved
-and they are not fitted for park pur-
poses. Most of the pine timber on
these reservations has reached maturi-
ty and Is beginning to die. Such tim
Der should be utilized for lumber pur-
poses. This dying timber increases the
danger of forest fires, and the result
would be that the timber would be con-
sumed and the park rendered insight
ly The pine timber lands are not to
be compared with hardwood timber
lands for park purposes, and are in
many ways untitled for such purposes.
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Developments are expected to follow
as a result Of the recent abrogation by
Secretary Hitchcock of the Browning
ruling. It is stated that the bureau at
Catholic Indian missions will soon urge
payment of money from Indian trust
funds to defray the xpens of educat-
ing Indian children in sectraian schools.
Father Ketcham, assistant director Of
h bureau, was a caller at the Indian
office recently, and 1t is understood he
had a conference with the officials on
the subject. Temporarily, at least, the
Indian office Is committed to the policy
OF permitting Indians to send their
children to schools which they select
themselves.
There is no doubt" said an official
of the interior department, that an
effort will be made to divert Indian
funds for the support Of s~ectarian In
dian schools. The abrogation Of the
Browning ruling is the first step in this
direction, and will doubtless be fol-
lowed by representations that the pa
rent of an Indian pupil has the right to
select he school his child shall at
tend; that portions Of the tribal funds
should be diverted to pay the expenses
OF such children as nay attend the Sec
tartan schools. 1t is our belief that the
wisdom OF again invoking the ruling
Will soon become apparent. The prop
osition that will undoubtedly soon be
made as to the tribal trust funds is an
important one. If adopted 1t would de-
feat the spirit Of the policy Of congress
in Withdrawing government aid to sec
tartan institutions. An effort was made
to divert a part of the trust funds OF
the Menominee Indians of Wisconsin a
~" >oA o6O IA ouppOII VI SGClaTldn
schools, but the proposal was rejected
then, as 1t will be again, il the Indian
bureau has its way"
The navy department. is greatly EN-
~barrassed by the scarcity of commits
stoned officers and the lack Of enlisted
men. The placing in commission of the
Cincinnati and the Rainbow have
caused additional drafts upon the per-
sonnet to the extent that officers whose
last cruise was erde l not more than a
year ago must again be assigned to du-
ty on shipboard.
When the Olympia and Illinois are
placed In commission, later, the list Of
available seagoing officers, practically.
Will be exhausted.
The time has come when there must
De = Encouragement of the shore billets.
and the scarcity Of officers for duty on
shore already Is manifest.
Inc navy department 8 finding some
difficulty In securing good men for the
navy. This is not due to the fact that
the navy Is unpopular in any sense. but
1t comes from the condition which ex-
ISIS all over the country, where men
VINO would, be apt to go into the navy
under ordinary circumstances are Ind.
Ing ready and profitable employment in
al lines OF trade. The prosperity of the
country naturally affects recruiting in
poth army and navy, and with the
small force at the disposal Of the latter
service, the Discrimination to enlist in
the navy is naturally felt.
$3.50
Indian Commissioner Jones has nre-
pared a reply to the recent letter of
Fire Warden Andrews of Minnesota.
concerning the preservation of the In
dian forests Of the state. No reference
Is made to tie proposition to establish
. national park on the Minnesota ands
Approval is expressed OF that norton
- a. Andrews letter concerning the
necessity of an adequate patrol to mrs.
vent forest fires. and to the recon-.
mendation hat the cutting of timber
De ocne on h progressive and sciar-
tinc plans followed in Germany and
other foreign countries. Such a nolicv
Is Favored by the interior department.
oH1cials, and will be adopted in fut,,ra
operations in Minnesota under tho L.
islatlon which congress is expected n
enact at the coming session.
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