The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-01-19
NELSON FRIEND OF
! NATIVE ALASKANS
Minnesota Senator Wants Law
for Protection Of Their Rights
in Lands.
BY w. w. Jermane.

Washington, Jan. Ex-senator Nell
son of Minnesota can be given the
name Of champion for Alaska in the
upper branch Of congress. There is
no member in that body who has made
a deeper study Of the needs of the dis
trict and its people and who has intro
duced and passed more bills relating to
that part of our non-contiguous terri
tory. He Is the author of bill for
the election of delegate in congress,
which will probably become law in
this congress, and has also recently in
troduced a bill for the appointment of
an additional judge in the Valdez dis
trict, which embraces greater area
than either of the other two judicial
divisions. Recently Senator Nelson
took up with the interior department
the question of the rights of the Alas
kan natives with regard to their lands,
and at his suggestion Secretary Hitch.
cock has submitted a draft of a bill to
accomplish this object.
In his letter to the secretary. Senator
Nelson says:
81 wish to call your attention to the
| report of Lieutenant G.. T. Emmons,
United states navy, touching the con-
! ditions and needs of the natives of
Alaska. 1 think a code of laws should
be prepared for their relief, and espe-
ciallly. for the purpose of making some
| provision for their securing allotments
| of title to the small tracts of land
which they occupy and need"
| Hitchcock Endorses Plan.
| In his reply, Secretary Hitchcock In
| dorses Senator Nelson IS suggestion, and
submits a draft of bill extending to
leges and benefits conferred by the pub
| lie land laws upon citizens of the
United States. Explaining the need
for this enactment, the secretary says:
"While the law at present secures
to these natives the exclusive posses
sion of lands occupied by them. that
right is one which is protected and en-
forced only thru civil actions in the
courts which are at towns located at
considerable distance, and in view of
| the fact that from lack of knowledge
or procedure in our courts, and for
other reasons, these natives appear to
be rather slow to assert their rights as
against a white trespasser, it is be-
ieved that trespass upon their rights
should be protected by penal statute,
and it's enforcement should be added
to the duties of those officers charged
with the enforcement Of the criminal
laws in their respective districts. This
would relieve the natives of many en-
DdIIdSsucuLS anu tue tApeuse Ol HUI
eating their rights, which is often far
greater than they can meet. The pres
emit relief offered by our laws amounts,
in many instances, thru distance from
, the courts and the poverty of the ma
, tives, to no relief whatever, and If 1t
is made the duty of the officers
t charged with the enforcement of the
; criminal laws to see that trespassers
are punished, the natives will be af.
7 forded a much greater measure of re.
; lief than is now available to them.
: Law Is Comprehensive.
"In view of the fact that these ma
tives live very generally in villages
; and can now secure title thru the town.
site laws, and of the fact that the
} homestead laws and the law giving
title for trade and other industrial pur.
poses, if extended to them, will, in a
) great measure, meet their needs. ]
, think the enactment Of the laws here
recommended will meet Senator Mel
son IS suggestions.