Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1904-02-04
TRUSTEE AND WARD.
Federal Supreme Court Defines Relation
of White Man to Indian

from the Feb. number of "AnpaO
kim which also prints with it a
into the Indian Ian
guage for the benefit o f
it's Indian readers. 1t is ex-
pected TO give another new and
fresh impetus to the settlement of
the west. Forest City is deeply
in the new ruling, being
on the border of the Cheyenne
River Reservation, one of the
richest and largest of the tracts to
be opened. which are as large as
more than one of the eastern
states.
Washington, Jan. 10. The de-
cision of the supreme court that
the government stands in relation
to the Indian as a trustee stands
to his ward, has brought about
a great change in the minds OF
the secretary of the Interior and
the commissioner of Indian At
fairs Heretofore the commits
sioncr of Indian Affairs has held
that the Indian must be consult
ed as to changes contemplated in
treaties or in making of new
treaties, throwing Indian reser
vations open to settlement. The
opinion of the supreme court.
however, holding that the gov
ernment stands to the Indian as
u trustee and is therefore i'm Il po-
sition tc do that which is best foi
the Inlian without the ward be-
ing considered, makes contem-
plated legislation looking to the
opening of Indian lands to set
tlement much easier than hereto
fore.
This practically applies to the
Rosebud reservation, in Gregory
county, South Dakota. Here is
a body of land 416,OOO acres in
extent, which~ the south Dakota
and the Nebraska delegations in
congress have been endeavorine
to throw open to settlement for
a number of years. The Indian
Office has held that the consent OF
the Indians must be first obtain
ed before any action could be
taken segregating this land from,
other portions of thereservation.
Then again the Indian Office has
been of the opinion that the land
should bring IS an acre, which.
according to the best judges, was
out of all reason. In fact, it was
prohibitive in character and the
treaty which an agent of the In
terror department sought tc
make with the Indians failed be-
cause the Indian Office had held
out the wards of the government
II hope which is not to be realized
The bill which Congressman
Burke of South Dakota introduc
ed and which has been reported
favorably from the Indian affair.
committee of the house provides
that the lands in the Rosebud
reservation shall be sold for 81.
80 per acre. 30 cents per acre te
be paid when entry is made, 81
cents within two years after en-
try. so cents within three years
after entry, 80 cents within fou
years after entry and so cent.
within six months after expira
ton of five years after entry
The settler may commute his en-
try by paying the full price ane
receive patent as provided for al
homestead entries. These land
are to be disposed of under th'
general provisions of the home
stead and townsite laws of th,
United States and shall be open
ed to settlement by proclamation
of the president. Union soldier
and sailors of the civil and Span
ish wars are to have the sam,
preference as prescribed in til,
general homestead laws. Sec
tions rs and 36 of each township
are ceded TO South Dakota fol
school purposes The land is said
by those who have been oyer it
to be very good for Homestead
purposes and is surrounded OF
all sides by splendid farms ant
good towns. 1t is purely al
agricultural proposition. but ON
that holds out strong inducement
to those who till the soil and VIII,
are looking for homes in tn,
| great northwest.
! Some of our exchanges are say
inr 1haf 4hora ic an n or;taf;On IN %h