The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-04-04

Frons The journal Barea.. 1soo,,, 20, Pod ,
8si!ai'sg, WaShtn0tsa
Washington, April 4.--Indian Commits
sioner William A. Jones is preparing a
statement which he will send to the editor
OF Outing in reply to the attack upon him
in that periodical by George KEENAN,. In
that article it was alleged that the com
missioner had not dealt fairly with the
Indians on the Standing Rock reservation
in leasing the grazing lands belonging to
them. The commissioner was charged
with a change Of heart" in changing
from the permit system to the leasing
sysem and with not living up to the treaty
made with the Indians last fall
Mr.. Jones says that the KEENAN, article
Is full of misstatements and was evidently
written without full knowledge OF all
the facts, to say the least In that way
only can no account for it. To Journal
man the commissioner said:
When Mr.. Kennan accused me Of a change
OF heart in the method Of permitting grazing
on the Standing Rock reservation he was not
acquainted with all the facts. III order to
present them fully it will be necessary to-
40 back further than he did i'll his recitation
OF the alleged history Of the proceedings.
More than q year before the grazing PROPOSE
ton was made public, my attention was
called to the fact that the squaw men and
half breeds on the Cheyenne River and
Standing Rock reservations were pasturins
large heards OF cattle there. On the Cheyenne
River lands The number was estimated at
1000; the Standing Rock reservation, con-
siderably less. These men would go to
Omaha and Kansas City and arrange there
with cattle growers to take a bunch OF cattle
on these reservations and Craze them during
the season. For this they were paid so much
head 1t netted them thousands of dol
lars The money went into their pockets ana
the Indians did not get cent OF 1t. They
we're even crowded off the ranges themselves
so that they could not Craze their own cat
tie. on which they depended to make living.
To Break Up Bad Practices.
This was the condition that obtained last
spring. 1t was determined to break up these
outrageous practices of few men who were
getting rich at the expense Of the full blood
Indians, to whom the reservations belonged.
In May q tentative proposition was made to
have the permit system of grazing put in
operation. 1t should be known that there is
q difference between the permit and leasing
systems Under the permit system the con-
sent of the Indians is not necessary to make
contracts for grazing cattle on the reserva'
tons. The departn ent grants cattle owners
the privilege of taking their cattle on the
reservation for stipulated period for which
they are required to pay certain price pei
head. Under the leasing system the consent
Of the Indians must be obtained because I'M
der it contracts are made to run for a term
OF years. The contracts give the lessees con
troll Of the areas covered by their leases. sub
1ect to the conditions of the contract.
Last spring the proposition put forth wa!
re tn hp rat Oc
cupying the Sioux to Craze so many head o
cattle on the reservation at ST a head a year
Nothing was done, however until Oct
when a letter was sent to agents at all thu
reservations in South Dakota urging them Il
try and secure agreements with the Indians
in their charge to lease the unoccupied land
for grazing purposes. III accordance will
this suggestion Agent Blngenheimer, at tn
Standing Rock agency, concluded al agree
ment with those Indians. Here is d copy OF 1t
Text of the Agreement.
We, the undersigned Indians of STANDING
Rock reservation, North Dakota, over Il
for period not to exceed five years, Tor Tn
purpose Of grazing cattle thereon at a rat
of not less than one ($l) dollar per ne tt1 pc
introduced and grazed upon said reservation
the unoCcupied portions OF said standing ROC
reservation the consent hereby given to D
lowing conditions
The tract of land assigned under each per
nit contract or lease must be proper!
fenced the cost of such fencing to pc PAL
from the rental which may be due 1or IN
first year. At the expiration OF such permit
contract lease, said fencing shall De an
remain the property Of the Indians OF I'M
reservation, and during the term that catti
are so held upon this reservation such renee
must be kept in q proper state or repair
the expense OF the owner or the STOCK.
All persons so introducing and grazing stoc
will be required to exercise all possible car
and diligence to prevent depredatlons by tne'
cattle upon the lease-holds of other STOCK
men, or upon lands occupied by Indians
this reservation; and In the event OF the az
pearance Of any contagious disease anon
their herds every possible step must be take
to prevent spread OF and to stamp out sue
disease
Not "NOminated I'm the Bond"
Mr. KEENAN, charges that there was in tt
agreement a clause providing that commi
tee Of the Indians was to go with the agel
and: designate the "unoccuped'' lands.
will be seen that there is no such provlsio
Major Bingenheinler denies that there W;
sucn an understanding, either written or We
bal He says that several Indians came
him and suggested that such a committee
appointed but that no bargain was mad
His explanation was made after the leases n
been drawn and were about to be execute
knew absolutely nothing about 1t, and
my direction the descriptions Of the land