Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1906-01-06
COMPEL INDIANS
To OBSERVE LAWS
Game Warden P. B.
Otero Means
Business.
TROUBLE AHEAD FOR REDS
Government Office in Charge
of Their Affairs Unwil.
ling to Interfere.

AhS So,OOV 1uuldAS 4NtW MCAlCO
are not Of much benefit to the COM
monwealth except as an attraction for
tourists and as an excuse for the
maintenance by the federal govern.
ment of number of schools and the
employment of officials, the conse-
quent expenditures adding consider
ably to the coin of the realm that is
kept in circulation In the Southwest,
and these officials making very desir-
able residents.
However, there is promise of i'm.
provement In this respect since the
federal courts have declared that the
Pueblo Indians are full-fedged clti.
zens and are subject to the burdens
and duties as we'll as entitled to the
privileges Of citizenship. This means
that sooner or later they will ALLEVIATE
their lands, which cover almost mil
lion acres, In addition to about 4,000..
600 acres in reservations, located in
some of the most fertile and best wat.
cred valleys of the Territory; that
they will pay taxes and become good.
intelligent citizens.
The first step toward that end is to
teach them proper respect for the Ter
ritorial laws. Most of them have an
idea because they are Indians and pro-
teges of the federal government, that
Nour Mnv{r0 {c fhajy. no oortioulor HINT.
Ing ground, where they can disregard
law and conventionalities whenever 1t
suits their particular convenience or
desire.
Game Warden Page B. Otero is hav-
Ing considerable difficulty in teaching
the Indians to observe the game laws
and incidentally not molest the set
tiers, especially in western New Mex
leo. He has sought to interest the In
dian Office at Washington, but the Of
ficials simply flare up" whenever
aught Is said against their proteges.
They have told the Territorial off,
cials that the Indians have as much
right on the public domain Of the Ter
rltory as have the white settlers, thus
evadlng the points at Issue, which are
that the Territorial game laws are be-
Ing infringed upon, not only In few
instances, but by wholesale by the
Reservation Indians, as we'll as the
Pueblos; that the stock OF settlers Is
being driven off and killed by the red
skins; that deputy game wardens have
been placed In jeopardy of life by rov-
ing bands, and that the Territory has
thus far refrained from taking sum-
mary steps because of the desire to
avoid bloodshed and trouble of seri-
GUS nature with the noble red men.
In letter to Game Warden Page B.
Otero, Superintendent Allen says:
(Under date of December 16, 1905).
81 am in receipt of your letter of the
14th inst. relative to the violation Of
the game laws of New Mexico by the
Isleta and San Felipe Indians under
my supervision, and in which letter
you mildly reprimanded me for issu-
ing the passes
1T has been my custom. in fact, 1t
Is custom of Indian agents. to Issue
these permits for Indians to leave the
Reservation; but In so doing I have
always lectured the Indians upon the
violation of the Territorial laws, which
Is evidenced by the clause at the end
of such permits. At the time they
were given, believed that the Indians
would not violate the game laws, and
therefore made the statement did as
to their being law-abiding. Hereafter
I will not grant permits to the In
dians for the purpose of hunting. l
further assure you that you will have
my heartiest support in controlling
the Indians under my supervision, IN
this regard. AS matter of fact, !
have made one trip to San Felipe to
see the governor and the party to
whom the permit was given, and the
interview am sure will result In
good. gave him to understand that
his violation Of the law was contrary
to my desire.
"I agree with you that they have
rights to leave the Reservation, and |
may in future grant them that privll-
ege, but not for the purpose OF hunt
ing"
Andrews Acts.
The following letter from Delegate
Andrews to Game Warden Page B..
Otero, while 1t shows that he is, doing
all In his power to adjust the difficult
ties, also indicates that he Is not re
ceiving much satisfaction from the De-
partment Of the Interior. He states:
I'm furtherance to my letter Of the
goth ultimo. inclose you letters from
the Hon. E. A. Hitchcock and the Com
Continued on Page Thrce.)