Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1905, 1904-02-05

allotnients to the Indians to open up
the -surplu. lands to homestead set
tiers by proclamation Of the president.
the homesteaders to pay the following.
prices for the lands, viz:
For ali lands entered the fret six
months after the opening, $3.50 per
AGRA; dnring the second six months,
So. 80 per acre, and thereafter So so per
acre The residue, if any, remaining
after five years shall BIZ sold for cash
under rule; and regulations prescribed
by the secretary Of the interior. The
bill provides that 81 per acre must be
paid at the date Of entry. and the re-
mainder in annual installments of 30
cent? per acre until wholly paid.
It is believed by the department.
and by our committee that the prices
named are very liberal to the Indians,
and will result in giving them even a
greater sum than was contemplated
by the original agreement.
The bill provides that the modified
and amended agreement shall take
effect when accepted and ratified by
congress, and does not provide for the
consent Of the Indians. The question
as to whether congress has the right
to modify and amend an agreement
without the consent of the Indians
was gone into fully by our committee,
who arrived at the conclusion that
cong1 ess has the unquestion able right
and lower to so legislate. II.
The Fifty sixth congress, first ses-
sion, did pass bill "a. B. s42)
amending an agreement without
the consent of the Indians involved.
which law was fully sustained OF the
decision Of the supeme court Of the
United States in the case Of Lone
Wolf VS.. Hitchcock, Jan. 5, 1908.
(187. U. S., SOY. The deci,ion went
even further, and held that the rela-
tion of congress to the Indians is that
of guardian to ward, and as sucn
guardian has full admin istrative
power over tribal property.
The honorable commissioner of In
dian affairs not only recognizes that
the law empowers congress to so leg.
islate, but he believes that such
method Of procedure is altogether
best fol the Indins, of course, on the
assumption that congress will have due
regard to the welfare OF the Indians.
The honorable commissioner 30 ex
pressed himself before our committee.
Our committee believes it is very
desirable to- pa ss this bill making it
possible to open up the surplus lands
to actual settlers, as it is thought that
by breaking up the reservation, the
Inians having taken their allotments
it will result in great good to the In
dians through the intermingling of
the ra, es, and that substantial bene-
fits to the Indians will result.
1 The Fort Totten Indian reservation
is the most delightful and picturesque
portion Of North Dakota. The land
is extremely fertile and we'll watered
by the Sheyenne river, fresh water
lakes and over 800 living springs Of
the purest water in the world. Now
that the Pelican Point bridge ia COM
pleted, Devils Lake is the nearest
important town to the reservation and
will be the main trading point for.
the new settlers locating on the gov
eminent lands. People from all over
the Omitted States have been watching
closely tho progress Of legislation n,
the opening Of this land to settle
ment, and there is every indication
that the rush to secure piece Of this
rich land will be imp :ecedented in
the history Of the opening Of small
reservations. ss5 L
Devils Lake will be prepared to
take care Of all who may come.
For sale---25 prize winning barred