The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1901-10-28
HOPE TO OPEN
UINTAH LANDS
Utah Congressional Delegation
to Work for Bill.
MAY HAVE IT PASSED SOON
PLAN HAS BEEN ON FOOT FOR
YEARS.
MAY HAVE IT PASSED SOON

For the past seven years efforts have
been made Z. Utah $ Representatives in
congress to secure the opening OF the
Uiutah Indian reservation to exploration
Of its mineral resources and TO settlement
for developing its agricultural resources
In all of the plans proposed the welfare
OF the native redmen has been held in
view, bpi for reasons that are apparent
the efforts TO of,l the reservation have
come to uaught. With the reassembling
OF congress, however. another and more
vigorous endeaVor W II be made by sen
ators Rawlins and Kearns and Repre-
sentative Sutherland to accomplish what
has been heretofore successfully opposed
In reviewing the situation yesterday
and pointing out the difficulties in the
way of securing the opening of the vast
uohldii' Huch OF Whlch Is OF no service
TO the Indians. Senator Kawiins stated
yesterday that in 1894 an art was passed
by congress for the appointment Of a
commission to treat with the Indians on
tho cessiOn Of their lands. The con.mis-
sion was appointed. but no effort was
made on it's part TO accomplish what was
Intended by the enactment.
The next effort was undertaken i'm 1897
when Senator Rswlins entered the SEN
ate. His provision went through. calling
for the appointment OF another commits
sion to bring about the opening of the
reservation. but instead OF doing what 1t
could i'm the direction intended, it worked
TO retard the movement
Senator Rawlins' Ideas.
Il went out with the members of the
commission. continued Senator Rawlins,
and the Indians made set speeches OPP
posing the surrender OF any part of their
lands. 1 subsequently learned that
secret meeting had been held previously
between the commission and agents and
the leading Indians. i'm which the In
dams were advised and aided as to the
statements they should make at the couu-
Gil Tine commission spent its time there
until the appropriation of S15.O00 was eX-
hausted. and nothing was accomplished
ngH inf saTfHH "
bill which would have set aside "A certain
portion OF the reservation to acCommo-
date the needs Of the Indians. and di-
recued the sale OF the residue OF the lands
under the agricultural and mineral land
laws. the proceeds to be reserved for the
benefit of the Indians. The bill was re-
ferred to subcommittee in charge of
Indian affairs. composed OF Senators
ThurstOn. Plats. Quarles. Jones and Pet
ugrew. The committee was of the opin-
ion that the reservation should be opened.
and inclined to favor the passage of my
bill. but as # looked to the opening
without obtaining the consent of the In
dams. the members OF the subcommittee
decided that another effort in that di-
rectiOn should be made.
All the members of that committee
Joined IN a request to the commissioner
OF Indian affairs to send Major M-Laugh-
lin the most successful negotiator with
Indians. to treat with them. This was in
the spring OF 1900. and provision was
made for paying the expenses. but the
commissioner failed to comply with the
bill, and will try to secure its passage at
the coming session Of congress.
Obstacles to Opening.
The obstacles to tho opening OF the
reservation are the Indian bureau OH
Gals. who are generally hostile to the
opening OF any reservation. IL dimin-
ishes their Jurisdiction and patronage,
and the private corporations and inter
estS which have obtained leases to the
mineral lands I'm the reservation. mainly
for speculative purposes. which would be
without value II the reservation were
opened. These companies have main
tanned Hobbies at Washington. and have
placed stock with persons they thought
influential in preventing favorable ac-
tion.
Senator Rawlins added that the senti-
ment of the senate IS favorable to open
ing the reservation. but as TO the dis
position of the house. he is not so GER
tain. except as to the antagoniSm Of the
house committee ON Indian affairs To
the suggestion that some OF tie projected
railroads might help to secure the OPEN
!uE. the senator replied that some as
Sistauce may be looked for from this
direction. as il would be TO the interest
OF the railroads and to the entire state
to have the reservation declared open in
tho manner Indicated by the latest meas
ure proposed.