Omaha daily bee., 1907-12-22
LEUPP ANSWERS OMAHA INDIANS
Some of Their Requests Can Be Com
piled with by Department.
NEW LAWS NEEDED FOR OTHERS
MOndeII of wyoming Has n Bill for
sale of Government Grazing
Lands within Railroad Land
Grant Limits.
CFrom a STAFF Corrcspoudent)

his bill providing Tor the control OF grazing
upon private lands In the arid states and
territories. The bill which the senator in
troduced provides that no control shall
interfere with the small homesteader who
wants to raise stock for domestic purposes.
It also provides that all persons shall have
the right to move live stock from one To-
cality to another under such restrictions as
are necessary to protect the users of the
land which will be crossed in the drive.
Senator Burkett said today that he pro-
posed to put forth every effort TO pass the
bill at this session of congress. In speak
ing generally CT the merits of his bill he
said he did not believe the government
should have the land without netting the
state some return. He pointed to the fact
that as the laws are now relative to public
lands, they placed a premium on outlawry,
in other words to use the public domain
surreptitiously, and made criminals out of
decent citizens. This bill" said Senator
Burkett, "sims to do with the government
land what the states are trying to do
through their laws with state land. Most
OF the states have a provisional law where
by most of their land is leased. The state
by this means gets something out of the
land while the man who occupies It gets
more than he otherwise would under a no
leasing proposition. Nebraska leases its
state lands and secures a good revenue
from these leases. Wyoming also leases
its state land as does Texas and a number
of other states. 1t therefore appears to me
that II we can get a grazing bill that will
not only be satisfactory to the states, but
satisfactory to the users as well we have
taken a great step forward
The Burkett bill makes provisions that
the management of the land in the particu-
lar state rest in the hands of some one
designated by the Department of Agricul-
ture and four other persons to be appointed
by the governor and which is to be known
as an executive board. Another new pro-
vision OF the Burkett bill is that homestead
or other settlement. location and patent
under tho present land laws shall be in
no wise restricted and It also specifically
declares that bona hde settlers and resi-
dents win have the right to Craze their
stock for domestic purposes on the public
grazing district.
Parker Speaks for Grlgsby.
Colonel Parker of the Black Hills dis
trict, South Dakota, today had a confer
ence with the president and requested the
appointment of George d. Grigsby, son of
Colonel Grigsby of the Grigsby Rough
Riders as United States attorney for the
Nome Alaska, district. Mr.. Grigsby was
born in South Dakota and was first lieu
tenant in his fathers regiment, where he
made an excellent record.
President Roosevelt spoke highly of Mr..
Grigsby's record as assistant United States
attorney in Alaska and told the congress-
man that his recommendation would be
given careful consideration.
Leupp Answers OmahRs.
Commissioner of Indian Affairs Leupp
has addressed letter to the delegation of
Omaha Indians in answer to sundry ques-
tions. The Omahas had two conferences
with Commissioner Leupp during their visit
to Washington. The first question sub
mitted by the Omaha delegates was a re-
guest that agency school lands held in
reserve be divided into tracts of one or
more acres and conveyed to the members
of the tribe who desire to build homes at
the old agency.
The law governing lands of the Omahas,
Mr.. Leupp says, I'm reply, will not permit
the allotment of lands for school or agency
purposes, except by special congressional
action Mr.. Leupp would favor such
bill.
They ask I'm question two that some pro-
vision be made to extending the trust
period for the older people of the tribe
II.
this point that the president has the power
to extend the trust period for any Indian
allottee who applies to have it done and
Mr.. Leupp stands ready to recommend this
action in the cases of Indians who are old
and more or less helpless
The third question asks that the remain
ing unalloted lands be allotted to minor
children having no allotments. Commis-
sioner Beupps conclusion on this point is
that he does not see how this could be done
with strict justice to all the interests in
volved.
They ask that when a young Indian
couple gets married, even though still min
ors. they be given their retained annuities
rents and trust funds, that they may have
means to fix up their homes and prepare
for farming. The present law requires re-
tention I'm the treasury OF trust funds of
minors until they become of age, but the
secretary of the interior has discretionary
power to pay these minors shares to their
parents or legal guardians.
They ask to be furnished with reports as
to the condition of the trust fund. etc. On
November 3O 1907, the trust fund of the
omshas showed ? balance of $3e,774 and
interest thereon balance of s27,296.
They inquired as to the right Of those
who are of Omaha and Usage Indian blood
holding sllotments on two reservations and
| from different tribes. There has been a
very active controversy over what is known
as the Omaha case in connection with the
Usage allotment now i'm progress
Agent is POWeFIess.
| They ask In question seven that more
care be exercised in the selection of renters
| brought among the Indians by leasing their
lands. They are advised ON this point that
| Il is upon them to decide TO whom they
shall rent or lease, and not the business
OF the superintendent OF the agency TO say
who shall secure rental or lease.
Several other questions have been sub
mitted, but of comparatively trivial char
acter Commissioner Leupp. in concluding
his letter to the Omahas. practically says
4 Continued On Second PaEe.l