The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1906-04-21
our RED WARDS
System BY Which Govern
ment Protects the Remain
ing Indian Population
RIGHTS WELL GUARDED
EVERY EFFORT IS MADE TO
COMPLETELY CIyILIzE THEM
AND TEACH THEM BUSINESS
METHODS


Probably the most efficient system in
the world of protecting the Indian in
his rights is maintained by the Union
Indian agency at Muskogee, which adj
ministers the laws of Congress and the
regulations Of the Secretary Of the In
terror for the purpose Of keeping the full
blood in possession of his worldly goods,
says the Kansas City Journal" Every
foot of land the fullblood sells must. be
alienated with the consent of the Inte-
rior Department. either through the re-
moval of his restrictions or the posting
of his land to be sold TO the highest bid
der through the Creek land sales division
of the agency.
The fulIblood cannot sell nor incumber
his homestead for a period of twenty-one
years, and can only ALLEVIATE the other
portion of his allotment with the consent
and under the supervision of the govern
for agricultural purposes for a period Of
over five years, and he cannot lease it
for mineral purposes except with the APP
proyal of the Interior Department and
upon proof being submitted that he is
receiving adequate compensation for the
lease
At present the only fullbloods who can
sell their land at all are citizens of the
Greek Nation. In the Cherokee, Choctaw
and Chickasaw nations the delivery Of
deeds to allottees has not been completed
and therefore Indian lands there are not
vet alienable.
If the section of the Curtis bill relat-
ing to restrictions is allowed to pass as
it went to conference, fullbloods of the
other Indian nations besides the. Creeks
can sell their lands through the sales de-
partment of the Union Indian agency at
Muskogee under the regulations prescrib-
ed by the Secretary, and this department
will be greatly enlarged and the amount
Of land sold greatly increased. At pres
ent from. 5000 to 5000 acres of land a
month are sold through the Greek land
Il of Tr;n r
prices ranging from $12 to sos an acre
for raw upland farms.
By. this system the fullblood Indian
get sthe greatest possible protection. He
must first file petition with the Indian
agent for the sale of his land. He must
stipulate how much land he desires to
sell, and what he intends to do with the
money. He is also asked about his age,
physical and financial condition and all
of these things are taken into considera-
ton by the government before action is
taken upon his petition. If the govern
ment believes it is to the best interest of
the Indian to sell portion of his sur
plus holdings, his land is posted for sale
and sealed bids are received upon it. IA
the expiration of sixty days these bids
are opened and the land is sold to the
highest bidder If, however, the Secre-
tary @ fthe Interior believes that the COM
pensation is not large enough, the bids
are rejected and the land readyertised.
1t would naturally be supposed the pro-
lection to the fullblood would stop here,
but it has only just begun. The govern
ment next ascertains through the Indian
agency how much money the Indian
owes, if any, and how much of the money
he receives from the sale of the land it
i snecessary for him to have Immediately.
e hisis paid over to him in cash. usually
a small sum, and the rest Of it is held in
trust for him at the local United States
depository in Muskogee According to the
rules of the Secretary, he is allowed to
draw upon this sum at the rate of $50
month
The fullblood, before he is allowed to
sell his land. is usually compelled to
promise that he will use NOSE of the
money in building improvements upon
his homestead. As soon as he receives
his first payment he is instructed to go
ahead and have the improvements made.
He secures carpenters and has buildings
erected, and sometimes has few acres
of his homestead broken for cultivation.
When it is all done government inspec-
tor gies to the place and inspects the
improvements and ascertains if they We're
properly made The fullblood is then re-
quired TO send the bills submitted by the
contractors and others who have done the
work, as well as the bills for material,
to the Union agency, where they are re
viewed. and ifs the Indian has been over-
charged they are cut down. They are