The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1903-09-29
CONGRESSMAN DIXON coNFERs
WITH BILLINGS PEOPLE.
AS REGARDS GROW RESERVE
Matter Discussed at Meeting and Popu-
lar Wish Expressed-Hearty
Cooperation Assured.

V Last Saturday the Honorable Joseph
M. Dixon, Montana's representative in
the lower house OF congress, arrived
in the city, on his way east, accom-
panied by Mrs. Dixon and their chill
dren. #
He spent the day here for the pur-
pose of meeting the people OF this
part of the state and ascertaining their
views regarding the proposed opening
of part of the Grow reservation. AS
soon as it was learned what the OBJ
ject of his visit was steps were taken
to pass Ahe word around and it was
suggested that a meeting be held in
the evening at the rooms of the Bill
ings club. The response was general
and many Of the business men and
others gathered there and the subject
was discussed in thorough, but in
formal manner.
In view of the stand taken by con-
gress at it's last session as regards I
the cession of Indian lands it was
agreed that it would be hopeless to
expect purchase of the lands by the
government as heretofore has been
done in such cases and their opening
for settlement. Knowing that the
only way the lands would be added to
the public domain was by appraise-
ment and their sale to settlers at the
appraised values, discussion was linn
| tied I'd that phase.
Mr.. Dixon was given to understand
| that in case congress decided to avail
/ itself of the recent decision of the
| United States supreme court, in which
/ it is held that the consent of the
Indians is not necessary whenever it
1 is decided to open reservation or
part thereof to settlement, and choose
to open tract larger than the one
negotiated for with the Crows few
years ago, that the people of this To-
cality would not object. The main
idea, he was told, was to have the
4 reserve, or at least portion of it
opened to settlement, as long as the
ceded land was made subject to entry
; under the homestead law only. The
latter fact was impressed upon him
with particular emphasis, as it is the
desire that only actual settlers shall
have the benefit of the contemplated
addition to the public domain, so that
it may not fall into the hands of spec
ulators or large concerns who would
hold it to the manifest detriment OF
the people.
: To this Mr.. Dixon was heartily
: agreed and promised to do all he
could to that end.
AS to the discussion Of possible
enlargement of the territory to bt
> opened, reference was had to the prob
ability of wish on the part OF some
: of the eastern members of congress
!. and others of influence to extend the
= lines so as to include in the cedet
portion all of the reservation wes
of the Big Horn to the western boun
Diary, north to the Yellowstone AM
east on the line already agreed, upol
to the eastern limit. This would leav
y to the Indians all of the present reser
walton east of the Big Horn and soutl
m of a line a few miles north of For
8, Custer.
,e AS before stated, Mr.. Dixon was toll
+. that no objection would be made t
,e this, provided it would not endange
,r cession of the territory which tn
,e Indians have already signified thei
willingness to part with. When
+. matter of Importance, such as thi!
ID arises in congress it is hard to te
atI where discussion may end and SOM
q times projects of real merit are d.
ST. feated. It was knowledge OF thi
te that caused those who were at tn
he] meeting to take the stand they dl'
IL. The matter was gone over tho
si. oughly and Mr. Dixon left with cor
at plete understanding of the situatio
GO as regards the desires of the people I
he these parts. In whatever he ma
Un do he will have the undoubted G
90 operation of the two senators OF II
av state, who gave evidence of the
friendliness to the project at the la