Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1902-02-26
FIGHTS FOR EAST OMAHA
Congressman Smith Joins Other Iowans in
Strong Opposition.
CITIZENS INSIST ON FULL BRIDGE RIGHTS
Congressman Burke Gets Definite
Statement on sioux Claims in south
Dakota Beet Sugar PrOs-
poets at Grand Island.
CFrom a stan Correspondent

the Council Bluffs district said today that
he would oppose the bill changing the
character Of the East Omaha bridge across
the Missouri river.
THE people Of Council Bluffs and vi
cinity." he said, ARE opposed to permit
ting this bridge to be used entirely for
railway purposes. The people Of my dis
trict insist that the bridge company shall
permit them to cross the river with teams
and on foot have had a number Of let
ters from leading citizens of Council Bluffs
relative to the bill introduced in the house
by Congressman Mercer making radical
changes in the character Of the bridge, and
for one will not be a party to the change
The city council of Council Bluffs has Wig
orously protested against the bill and l
will personally appear before the commit
tee on interstate and foreign commerce and
present the objections of my constituents
to the measure"
As 1t appears now, with the opposition Of
Mr.. Smith and largely that Of the Iowa del
egation, 1t is doubtful IL the bill will ever
get out Of the commerce committee in its
present form.
Claim of the sioux Indians.
Congressman Burke of South Dakota, who
has been active in behalf Of the Indians OF
his state, received a letter today from Sec
retary Hitchcock Of the Interior depart
ment, which was gratifying to the Pierre
representative. Mr.. Burke has been per-
sistent In his efforts to ascertain Just what
sum of money was due the Sioux Indians
as a result of the treaty entered into be-
tween the United States and the Sioux
tribe in 1889. BY this treaty the Sioux In
dams of South Dakota ceded portion OF
their reservation and provided for divi-
sion Of the remainder into separate reser-
vations, now occupied by the Cheyenne.
Pine Ridge and Rosebud Indians. The lands
thus ceded were to be paid for at $1.25 per
acre for all lands filed upon during the
first two years after the passage Of the
act of ratification. After this period OF
two years, the lands we're to paid for at 20
cents an acre for two years additional, and
finally 30 cent an acre was to be paid. The
government was also to pay $1.25 an acre
for sections sixteen and thirty-six in each
township in the reservation reserved for
school sections. At the expiration Of ten
years after the ratification Of the treaty,
February 10, 1900. the government was to
pay the Indians fifty cents an acre for the
remainder of the lands not taken. AS is
well known, a small portion Of the lands
was taken and the government therefore
owes the Indians for virtually all the lands
included in the immense Sioux reservation,
covering about 100000 acres. The law
provided that this money should be placed
in the treasury to the credit of the Indians
at an snnualJinterest Of hveper eentems~s
Surveys to Establish Amount.
Two years have gone by after the ten
year period and the Sioux Indians have not
received dollar from the government,
nothing having been placed to their credit
In the treasury Of the United States. After
two years of effort to secure some express
sion from the Interior department as to
whether any congressional action was nee
essary to have this money placed to the
credit Of the Indians, or If not, why the
terms OF the treaty have not been complied
with, Secretary Hitchcock, In letter to the
congressman, today says:
"The terms of the act as such that the
amount due the Indians can be ascertained
and properly placed to their credit in the
treasury without further legislation by con-
gress. except that portion Of the land es-
tiuated to be about 13O 900 acres is yet un-
surveyed, but this unsurveyed portion is
now under contract, and as soon as these
surveys are made the whole question will
be determined and the money placed to
the credit of the Sioux Indians"
Many persons in South Dakota ara inter-
ested in this matter as the whole amount to
be deposited by the government to the credit
of the Sioux Indians and to be divided
among the several tribes will amount to
nearly s5.25o.Ooo.
Sugar Factory for Grand Island.
Henry T. oxnard, president Of the Amer
lean Beet Sugar association, says that he is
receiving many letters from leading citizens
of Grand Island asking that a beet sugar
factory at that place be put in operation
| this year.
ITO these petitions and requests" he
adds. "I have instructed my local manager
| to say that II We can be assured OF q suf-
ncient quantity of sugar beets we will op-
crate the factory at Grand Island this sea-
son. The question Of operation rests en-
tirely with the farmers OF that vicinity. II
they give us enough material we will re-
sumo 1t must be patent to everybody that
an idle plant is not only hurtful to the ma
chinery, but to the business interests as
we'll"
Nebraska PCstmasters.
Senator Dietrich today made the follow.
ing recommendations for postmasters
Mrs Lucy X. Partridge. at Kenesaw
Adams county, vice her husband, l.. B
Partridge, deceased. Mrs. Partridge wal
highly indorsed by the citizens of Kenesaw
Charles c. Gregg. at MeCool Junction, Yorl
county. vice William McFadden; Mrs. NJ
z. Miller. at Bradshaw. York county, re.
appointment; s. B. Newmeyer. at Guide
Rock, Webster county. reappointment.
Captain A. Shaker Of an artillery corps
who commanded the Sixty-sixth compan,
at Honolulu, and a brother-in-law of Sena.
tor Dietrich. is in Washington on a shor
leave, having just returned from the Pa
eihc islands. Captain Shaker expects to b,
stationed at Fortress Monroe and within
year or two to receive his majority, as h,
stands eighth in line In a list of $50 cap
tains.
L. A. Myer of Montana, a nephew OF Sen
ator Dietrich. is in Washington.
Senator Millard has sent a large consign
ment OF sugar beet seed to the Commercial
club at Omaha for experimental purposes
Representative Smith today introduced Al
important measure in congress vesting Il
the president power to negotiate reciprocit
treaties with all foreign powers until Jul
"a, 1905.
"I do not know that this bill will reeeiv
attention at the hands OF congress, but d
know that something OF this kind ought {
be done" said Mr.. Smith.