Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1902-07-28
RULE FAVORS SPECTATORS
Men Of Moderate Means Shut Out from
Buying Indian Lands.
CHANGE WOULD BENEFIT INDIANS, ALSO
COnEresSmRn Robinson Writes
Pertinent Letter to the Com
missioner of Indian
Affairs.
: Sian Correspondent.N

Affairs.
q STAFF Correspondent)
Wa = July 27.-(Special.)-
The com. her of Indian affairs has
received Ie.ter from Congressman Rob-
inson of Nebraska relative to the sale of
the lands Of deceased Indian allottees on
the Omaha and Winnebsgo Indian reserva-
tions In Thurston county. Mr. Robinson
suggests that the department so amend the
rules recently promulgated as to allow
these lands to be purchased upon the
payment of one-fourth of the purchase
price in cash al the time Of sale and the
balance to be paid in annual installments,
bearing Interest at the rate Of per cent
per annum. The congressman claims that
the men in the vicinity OF the Omaha and
Winnebago reservations who desire to pur-
chase some Of these lands as homesteads
are deprived of the privilege on account
OF not being able to raise money enough
to pay the full amount of the lands in
cash, and that for this reason the large
real estate syndicates in the vicinity of
these reservations are securing all the
valuable lands for speculative purposes,
much to the detriment of the men of mod
crate means who desire to- become actual
occupants upon the lands.
1t is not known what disposition will be
made by the department of Mr.. Robin
sons suggestion aud none of the officials
here would express themselves on the
subject. His letter to the commissioner
is as follows:
shut Out HOmesteaders.
MADISON, Neb., July 25 19O2-Hon w.
a Jones, Commissioner of Indian Affairs,
Washington: Sir-I received copies of the
rules Issued by the Department of the In
terror for the conveyance of inherited. In
dlan lands. note by these rules that 1t
Is necessary for the purchaser of these
lands to pay the entire amount of the
purchase price in cash.
In the vicinity of the Omaha and Win
Thurston county, Nebraska, there are a
large number of farmers who desire to
purchase some of these lands for home
full market value therefor. AS these
lands are now quite valuable, IT is diff
cult for the ordinary buyer of moderate
means to raise the full amount of money
IN cash necessary to complete the pur-
chase under the rules of the department.
Would 1t be possible for the department
TO amend rule g. so as to permit the pur-
chase of the land upon the payment of
one-fourth of the money down and the
by mortgage on the land bearing inter-
num2
ment to the rule would be of benefit to
the Indians, as they would obtain higher
price for their lands, and in event the
the loan secured by mortgage upon the
land, there is at present such a demand
for Investment In frst-class securities that
no difficulty would be encountered in SELL
ing the mortgage.
Another strong point in favor Of, this
for these lands-is that it has proven to
be somewhat difficult to obtain the names
of all the heirs but IL the land could be
| letter. the payments to run from one to
three years, bearing interest, ample time
would be given to ascertain all the heirs
before the full amount OF the purchase
price was paid, and In this way any heirs
left out on the first contract could be Sc
cured in their share of the price obtained
for the land and much litigation in this
way would be avoided.
Lands Are Valuable.
ditions will apply to other sections of the
United States where there may be in
herited Indian lands, but in this section,
lands, where they now command high
| price for agricultural purposes. 1t would
certainly be of advantage to the Indians
and would give greater satisfaction to
those who desire to purchase the land and
would result in obtaining much higher
see its way clear to amend rule 8, as
| above indicated.
AS the matter now stands, the large syn
Winnebago reservations, who are able to
pay the full amount OF the purchase price
cash down, are securing all the valuable
land for speculative purposes and shut
| ting out those men of moderate means
| who desire to purchase the land for actual
occupancy as homesteads for themselves
AS these lands are situated in the Third
congressional district OF Nebraska, being
! the district which l now have the honor
to represent, have taken the liberty OF
| calling these matters to your attention and
ask that they receive your careful con-
| JOHN s. ROBINSON.
Get Ready for Campaign.
September and October will be exceedingly
busy months for the spellbinders of the
cabinet The president. it is understood,
has quietly intimated to his oficial family
| that he would like to have all the speech
makers of the cabient appear on the hust-
ings during the months indicated. Two OF
the members OF the cabinet. however will
be excused from making any speeches for
the very good and sufhcient reason that
they cannot 1ll the hill. Reference is made
to Postmaster General Payne and seere-
tary Hitchcock. Unlike his predecessor in
the Postofice department, Mr.. Payne has
never attempted to make a speech Of any
great length. He has been willing to allow
the spellbinding TO fall upon other shouI-
ders while he looked after the more prac-
tical work Of organization, in which he Is a
past master. Secretary Hitchcock, too, Is
not gifted with the speech making habit
and consequently he VIII be exempt from
appearing on the lecture platform Seere-
tary Shaw. whose ability as an orator Is
country wide and whose quaint stories and
the manner Of their telling has made him a
much sought-after speaker. will begin his
work in the Maine campaign. He has re-
ceiyed several very pressing invitations
from friends to speak in the Pine Tree
state and has consented to appear in two
OF three OF the important cities Of Maine
Later he will Join the president on his
western trip and divide time with the chief
executive.
Attorney General Knox has never made a
political speech, but at the personal re-
quest OF the president he is to break his
record. He will select some appropriate
occasion for his debut on the hustings and
II is expected will talk largely about the
| trusts His speech upon this very vital