The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-04-17
INDIAN "RATI0N"
FOR ALL SCHOOLS 0 )
H& n
- - '''H z
Important Amendment Urged to
Bill Covering Diversion of
Reservation Funds.
BY w. w, Jermane,

washington. April l7.-The question
of diversion of Indian. funds, or it's
equivalent in rations to mission
schools ON the Sioux reservation, is
likely to be discussed at length and
with some heat during the consideration
Of an amendment put into the Indian
bill by the senate committee. It is
couched in simple language and does
not require any legal knowledge for
Eits Interpretation. 1t reads las follows:
emission schools ION an Indian reser-
walton may, under rules and regula
lions prescribed by the commissioner of
Indian affairs, receive for such chill
dren duly enrolled therein, the rations
of food and clothing to which said
children would be entitled under
treaty stipulat ton if such children were
living with their parents.'
The paragraph replaces the present
law, which was inserted in this year s
bill, in the house, as 1t has been for
the past few years, and reads:
"That no part of the provisions here
in appropriated for fulfilling treaty
stipulations shall be available or ex-
pended unless expended without regard
| to the. attendance of any beneficiary at
any school other than q government
school, ....s+ ..
> Leupp Recommended Change. ;,
j Indian Commissioner Eeupp is respon
sible for the proposed change. :. He@sug
! gested it because of the obscure word
sectarian schools are drawing the "a
tions of Indian children attending them
but which has been the object of at
tack since it's enactment. It will b'
recalled that only last year charge
were made that the Catholic schools OF
the Sioux reservation were getting tn
best of the distribution.
Commissioner Leupp, discussing tn
proposed change in the law, said today
NThis whole question Of using tn
children's share Of the treaty RATIO
affects the Sioux mostly, as they hav
agreements under which the government
IS bound to give the younger childre
ration of food and clothing until the
reach an age where they are able t
take care Of themselves. Under it,
an Indian family consists Of q man, hi
wife and four children, he draws tn
rations Of the entire family.
-. Where Rations Go.
s'Supposing three of the children al
of school age, and they are attendln
1.-THE government school, their ratlons al
turned over to the school authoritie
a ! suppose, however, GAd1 Cuo o.hooi via
I dren did not want to attend the go
eminent school, or their parents wante
to send them to mission school. ft
many years the law was construed
mean that the rations Of children a
tending mission school could be turne
: over to such schools to help pay II
Y their education. Then a ruling W.
/ made by some legal officer that no pa
/ ment Of this kind could be made to ar
: other than the government schools.
lofher words, the sectarian schools -cou
}, draw nothing for educating India
Y children, To relieve the situation, tt
Q present obscurely worded law W
d nassed. in 1904. Under it, the India
Office has been allotting the rations
Indian children to- sectarian schools q
tended by Indians.
"The working Of the law has be-
y unsatisfactory, however, and to n
~ mind the proposed change will be.
Is the interest of a better underestimate
g of what should be done under the a
" thority of congress. 1t will at lea
: sanction the attendance of Indi
IS children at sectarian schools. Most i
,r portant of all, however, it will give t
IS Indian children chances for getting
education. + want to see them Civ
- an education, and don't care wheth
. they get it in the government scho'
Or in mission schools, altho, of course
would rather see the Indian pare1
take advantage Of the facilities offer
by the government in the schools
which large sums have been expended