The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-06-17
MORE RURAL ROUTES
Representative Stevens Busies Him
self With Postal Affairs in
Chisago County.
Hitchcock Will Ask Congress to
Draft New Treaty With Rose
bud Indians.
From The Journal Bureau, Room Is, Post Build.

From The Journal Bureau, Room IS, Post Build.
ing, Washington.
Washington, D. c., June 17.-Represen-
tatfve Stevens spent some time at the
postoffice department to-day in confer
enoe with Inspector Fosness, acting SUI
perintendent Of the free delivery, relative
to rural service In Chicago county, in
which full county service is to be estab-
lished. Stevens wanted to have some
minor changes made in routes and they
will be attended to by a special agent
who will be sent there soon.
While he did not discuss the future
course Of the department relative to ru-
raj delivery, Mr.. Stevens got the impress
sion that there will be no curtailment Of
the extension of the service wherever it
is needed and where conditions warrant
the establishment Of routes. Former SUI
perintendent Machen drew up set Of
rules requiring a. certain number Of per-
sons to be on each route and providing
that all routes should be of a certain min
imum length, with other requirements:
but In some sections Of the country these
rules were honored more In the breach
than in the observance.
These abuses will not be permitted in
future, but the rules must be observed.
The northwest will be little affected, be-
cause the required conditions as to pop
ulation along the proposed routes of min
imum length obtain, but the south will
feel the enforcement Of the rules.
The new rule that the present admins
tration Of the division has laid down is
that petitions for the establishment Of
routes will be taken up In the order in
which they are filed, and there will be no
expedition Of establishment Of routes for
one congressman to the detriment Of the
interests Of another.
Stevens also talked with Supervising
Architect Taylor about fitting up the old
custom house at st. Paul, for which bids
were opened some time ago. Fifty thou
sand dollars is available for the work and
the lowest bid exceeded this figure. The
plans will be modified and bidders will be
requested to modify their proposals in ac-
cordance with the new requirements, but
this will be done by private negotiations,
and not by advertisement.
Secretary Hitchcock has decided he will
postpone the submission of another treaty
Indian reservation in South Dakota until
after congress has had chance to act
on the bill introduced last session by SEN
ator Gamble and Representative Burke.
Original treaty, negotiated last sum-
mer, provided for the payment of a lump
sum to the Indians, but there was SO
much opposition to 1t in the house that
a modified bin provided for the sale Of
lands to settlers and the payment to the
Indians, upon receipt Of the money col
| lected from the homesteaders.
The South Dakota delegation asked the
secretary to send an inspector to the res
ervat1om to negotiate a treaty on the lines
of the new bill, but this will not be done
| Congress will be asked to act first.
The president has practically decided
not to make any further move in the case
OF Matte Scott, agent at Leech Lake
until Senator Clapp comes here at the
opening Of congress. It was supposed
that Senator Clapp would make some
move when the Red Lake treaty was re-
1ected by the Indians, but he has not done
So, and the president is willing to let the
matter rest during the hot weather
Clerks in the land office are preparing
a. list Of agricultural lands on the Winni-
bfgoshish, Leech Lake and Chippewa res
ervations for submission to the secretary
with view to having them thrown open
( to settlement early next fall.
J. ~, w. w. Jermane.