New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-03-29
NETWORK INDIAN LANDS
DETAILS OF THE vREELAND BILL TO
ALLoT THEM N SEYERALTY
ARGUMENTS OF THE
nDRnSITION
OPPOSITION.

ago 2 bill which has since excited much discussion
and aroused much opposition was INTRODUCED III
Congress by Representative r 2. Vreeiano' u
Salamanca, X. Y. Its purpose IS 70 ailot IN sever
atty Indian lands IN Western New-fork ana put
the red men who occupy them on the roaa TO
citizenship
The importance Of the measure IS due not simply
20 the large OF the lands in question com
prsing about sixty thousand acres but also to the
effect such legislation would have on the condlt"n
OF their present owners who are descendants OF
the warriors who made the name lroquois 10 De
respected and feared. These Indians of Western
New-Yogk have been peaceablo. and in the main
orderly residents among tne whites since the set
Element Of this region began, century ago. man!
OF them fought bravtly IN the war for the preser-
walton Of the Union. and they have good reason 10
claim fair and just treatment at the hands OF the
whites There IS a strong feeling that their rights
should be safeEuarded in every possible way Inc
Indians affected 10y the provisions of this bill are
Senecas and Tuscaroras. These tribes with the
Onondagas. Mohawks. CaEugas and Onetdas. com
prised the Six Nations Of the famous lroquois
League. There are about six thousand Of the Iro-
quois IN New ork State and somewhat larger
number in Canada. The Nreeand bill affects the
Alegany and Cattaraugus reservations, inhabited
by Senecas and part Of the Tuscarors Reserva-
ton. which is Niagara Falls The Allegany
Reservation, the Alegauy River, has an area
OF forty-four square miles. and the Cattaraugus
Reservation. CaItarauEus Creek and in Erie,
Chautauqua and Cattaraugus counties. forty-two
the so-called ogden Land Company alleges that
It possesses pre-emption rights
The VreeIand bill Is described in its title as "a
bin 10 provide for the allotment of lands in sew
crafty TO Indians in the State of New-York and
extend the protection Of the laws of the United
States and Of the State of NeW-Nork over such
Indians and for other purposes"
To extinguish the claim Of the inheTitors OF the
ogden lien the Vreeland bin proposes to pay over
10 them S2eo0e1 taking this from fund
amounting y - owed 10 these Indians
by the United States and resulting from the sale
of Kansas lands formerly owned hy them. The
opponents Of the bin dispute the validity OF the
Ogden claim and oppose taking any money TO eN-
tingush # from the fund mentioned. But. in add-
to this and Of greater importance they oppose
other provisions Of the bin unwfse and calcu-
lated result iH5uriousy 70 the Indians. They
DO not oppose ultimate citizenship for the Iroquos.
but they dsapprCye the manner IN which Il Is pro
posed TO bring # about
There Is special pressure in behalf Of the bill
from residents Of Salamanca and several other
towns on the Pennsylvania border OF New-Yor
State. where the residents live land leased
from the Indians Salamanca in particular, Is
growing and enterprising town, and II IS natural
that the residents should wish 10 have absolute
title 10 their lands instead Of ninety-nne year
leases. On the other hand. the opponents Of the
bill say that according 10 IFS provisions. the lease
holders In these villages would be able to get their
lands from the Indians at much less than their
real value.
The measure is drawn on the general lines Of the
Dawes act. by which many Indians in the West
have been admitted to citizenship. It provides
that the lands now held in common be allotted
severalty that the United States shall hold in
trust for each Indian who shares IN the allotment
the lands so allotted for a period Of twenty-five
years the end Of which time the title IS vested
in him by conveyance from the United States. The
allotment is to be made the basis of an equal
portion to each Indian Of the age Of eighteen. and
to each minor one-haf as much. 1t is TO be made
on the value Of Tie lands, including buildings and
other improvements
Though the bill provides in general fer the land
allotted TO he held in trust fer the Indians by
the United States for period Of twenty-five years
after the completion of the allotment there is a
clause which reads follows
Provided That az any time after the expiration
Of year after such alotments have been made
the Secretary of the Interior may, upon good rea-
son being shown therefor, cause such patent to
issue TO such allotteC
This the opponents Of the bill saw is the point
OF special danger to the future of the red men.
They contend thet this provision opens the way
for the improvident ignorant members of the
tribe to ALLEVIATE their lands once: that under
its provisions they would speedily become the prey
of designing whites. and that. their lands being
sold. they would soon lose what little money they
had received for them and become charges upon
the public inmates CT almshouses, penitentiaries
and insane asylums.
It must be remembered that in spite Of the
progress these Indians have made n industry and
civilization most e them have little comprehension
OF business OF the value Of property. of the
wisdom OF looking afead and making provision
1or tomorrow. next year and the year after that
With their little farms in their possession. they
can least produce enough for the necessities Of
existence. With these lost, many would become
stranded upon the community. without knowledge
Of any trades 20 enable them earn support for
themselves and their families Bishop w d.
Walker. of Western New-York. in whose diocese
these lie. opposes the bill its present
form. and urges thai shorter period than five
years should be allowed IN which the IrCian could
ALLEVIATE his land. This would lessen the danger
OF land sharks and oil companies getting posses
sion of such lanes at insufficient consideration and
the detrimeut OF tn Indians
A good deal is said rowadays about putting the
red man on his own resources. removing him IN
treIy from a position % dependence upon the
government and leaving him work out his own
salvation Many who oppose the EreeIand bIll ac-
knowledge the force Of this argument but thav
urge that the process Of putting these Indians Of
the Six Nations upon their own resources should
be q gradual one. and that the plan for doing so
should receive such careful consideration that the
progress these people making would be
accelerated rather than retarded. They do not
oppose ultimate citizenship for the Iroquois but
they plead that more time be allowed for the on
Grafton OF the compulsory education laws recently
put IN force for the children and youth Of the
rising generation to receive Industrial training and
learn trades and for those vino hereafter will re-
oeive citizenship become better Informed about
its responsibilities. and instructed In the
the property upon which they viii then be com
PEELED TO pay taxes
To understand the situation az far as allotment
IN severalty Of these lands concerned. idea
as 10 the present conditions under which the land
IS owned end worked is necessary. It is true, the
reservation lands are held in common by the ma