The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1901-12-05
Washington chat.
Special Correspondence.

| "a Vi9Sohsih VIII furnish the senate
committee with some interesting in
formation and recommendations in re-
gard to timber operations on the Min
nesota and Wisconsin reservations n.
insists that the operations of the mast
year In Minnesota should never be re-
peated, and that the large tracts Of
timber should be sold to the highest
bidder and milled on the reservations.
according to the policy adopted on the
reservations in Northern Wisconsin
After an investigation of the situa.
ton on the Minnesota reservation, Ser
| ator Quarles has changed the opinion
l'which ne 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.
/ was impressed with the feasibility of
| the idea, and thought 1t would be prac-
| teal and desirable. I spent some time
| on the reservation this summer, and
Travelled over il extensively l reached
| the conclusion that the park project
! would not be practicable, and / should
/
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.
|
Developments are expected to follow
as a result of the recent abrogation by
! Secretary Hitchcock of the Browning
| ruling. 1t is stated that the bureau of
Catholic Indian missions will soon urge
n proposition which will involve the
! payment of money from Indian trust
/ funds to defray the expense of educat-
Ing Indian children in sectraian schools
Father Ketcham, assistant director Of
( the bureau, was a caller at the Indian
office recently, and il 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 sectarian In
/ a ioN snIA Lee - ,I..
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
I select the school his child shall at
/ tend; that portions of the tribal funds
should be diverted to pay the expenses
of such children as may 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. II adopted it would de-
! feat the spirit of the policy OF congress
in withdrawing government aid to sec
tartan institutions. An effort was made
! to divert part OF the trust funds OF
the Menominee Indians of Wisconsin
few years ago in support Of sectarian
! schools, but the proposal was rejected
then, as 1t will be again, IL the Indian
bureau has its way"
r r
TIE 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
1 last cruise was erde not more than
year ago must again be assigned to du-
, ty on shipboarj.
/ When the Olympia and Illinois are
! placed In commiss ion. later, the list or
available seagoing officers, practically,
/ will be exhausted.
The time has cor1e when there must
| be q Encouragement of the shore biIlets,
/ and the scarcity OF officers for duty on
shore already is manifest
The navy department IS 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-
lists all over the country, where men
who would be apt to go into the navy
+, under ordinary circumstances are find
ing ready and profitable employment In
all lines Of trade. The prosperity OF the
country naturally affects recruiting IN
both 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.
Indian Commissioner Jones has pre-
pared a reply to the recent letter or
Fire Warden Andrews of Minnesota,
concerning the preservation Of the IN
dian forests of the state. No reference
is made to the proposition to establish
: ,oI Ill a la lS.