The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-01-15
SIOUX LAND LEASING
This the Cause of Wrath at the
Secretary Of the Interior.
HE SHOWED ERROR OF JUDGMENT
Probability of Small Standing Rock
Ranchmen Being Frozen Out
by a Large Corporation

IlremenJ from the CABINET. Within the
past three days, half a dozen well-known
western senators have called on the pres
ident to recommend that the next change
in the cabinet be in the interior depart
ment. The president has not said what
he will do, but his thorough understand
ing OF the Indian question will enable
him quickly to know whether Hitchcock's
Standing Rock policy is as great mis-
take as western members are saying it is.
Nobody imputes unworthy motives to
Hitchcock. He is the soul of honor and
integrity But he is not good admin
1strative officer and his Judgment is fire. !
quently at fault. In the Standing Rock
case, for instance, he did not confer with
a. single member of the north or south
delegation in either house and the first
those members knew leases Of grazing
lands was proposed was when they be-
gan to get letters by the dozen from small
grazers all over those states protesting
against the Hitchcock policy Of leasing the
entire Standing Rock trail, some 2O0O, 900
acres, IN one lump. This will mean that
the land will fall into the hands of some
large corporation of ranchmen, freezing
out the small ones who are citizens of
these states.
Representative Burke to-day had inter-
views with President Roosevelt and Sec
rotary Hitchcock about the proposed leas-
Ing OF lands in Standing Rock and
:. - io AtYeA RESERVATION IN North and
South Dakota. The secretary had talked
about these leases to the president and
cabinet yesterday and Mr.. Burke simply
called TO explain how the people in South
Dakota viewed the question. The presi-
dent was inclined to approve the action
OF, the interior department but now will
wait until the facts are laid before con-
gress before he interferes
To Secretary Hitchcock the South :Da-
kota representative pointed out the fact
that the advertisement calling for pro-
posals to lease Standing Rock lands was
dated Dec. 23 and the bids were opened in
Washington Jan. 1. 1t takes five days
each way for mail to get to and from
Washington and Standing Rock and he
contended that only those will be prepared
10 make bids and knew of the Depart
5mep4 Int enH ipn st0s lease thes lands could,
have presented them in ti1ae. Tilis
barred small eattlemen who might want
to lease the lands and in whose interest
ne appeared. If they failed after oppor-
tunity was afforded to present bids to out
bid others then they must take their med
lclne. Burke Is opposed to leasing In
dian lands as it might prevent their ces-
sion to the governm ent and thus retard
the growth of the state. The question
Will come up at to-morrow's meeting of
the senate committee on Indian affairs and
Burke will go before that committee if
requested
limitations have reached Washington
from South Dakota that persons outside
OF the state were Informed about these
proposed leases and that a combination
was formed to secure control of the entire
area to be leased. The secretary will
not approve leases Until further evidence
is placed before him.
NELSON Senator Nelson's position
on the subsidy bill beforN
AND the senate commerce COM
mittee has been misrepre-
SUBSIDY. Sented in the northwest.
L He says he will not oppose
in committee favorable report on the
bill, nor oppose it openly on the floor when
1t comes up for final passage. Whether he
will himself vote on it, or not, he is not
yet entirely clear. AS the northwest may
know, Senator Nelson has number of
important matters of state interest in the
commerce committee, and, while he does
not say so, it is evident that he would
have nothing to gain by trying to stir up
a row over the subsidy bill, even if he
were disposed to do SO, which is not Ger
tain
| SUGAR A petition is being crcu-
lated in the house by lead
kick" Ing members of the Michi-
gan and Wisconsin delega-
| lions, asking members not to vote for the
Philippine tariff bill, should it be re-
turned from the senate with amend
lments granting tariff concessions to Cuban
| sugar. The New England members are
signing the petition because they will not
support the bill, should it contain Cuban
tobacco concessions. Altogether, the pros
poets for house ratification are not good,
| If the senate makes concessions to Cuba
for either of these commodities
Twin city tobacco and
| REIMBURS- cigar dealers are to be re-
| imbursed for excess of tax
| ING TOBAC- paid on cigars and tobacco
in their shops when the
| co MEN. amended war revenue act
| went into effect last July.
This matter was called to the attention
! of Commissioner Yerkes a short time ago
4 and he Investigated it. He found $4,000
claims, aggregating $3.25o,oO0 on file and
recommended an appropriation Of that
amount to liquidate the claims. The COM
/ mittee on appropriations to-day decided
! to include the item in the urgency de-
| ficiency bill
There is no truth in the
DANISH story that the Danish gov
eminent has withdrawn or
ISLANDS. is contemplating the with
! drawal Of its offer to sell
j It's west INDIA ISLANDS to the United
4 States. On the highest authority 1t may
! be stated that this government has had
no intention of such proceeding and
/ that when the Denish authorities were
last heard from last week, the negotia-
/ tons were following the course they have
/! followed for months. A much more likely
! story is that the Danish government,
4 which is as anxious to sell as we are to
buy, is sounding ointment at home and
will not act finally until this sentiment
/ is crystalized.
SIOUX Representative Burk to-
day asked Secretary Hitch
/ ACCOUNTS. cock to expedite settle
i ment of the account of
l Sioux Indians, for lands undisposed of
February 10, 1900. The treaty of cession
4 Of the Great Sioux reservation provided
i for payment for lands vacant on the date
named at the rate of fifty cents an acre.
/ The South Dakota delegation tried to have
this account adjusted last session, but
there has been some hitch in getting at
the records in the Indian and land of
i fees. The secretary says he would call on
Commissioners Herman and Jones for a
report.
l w. w. Jermane.