The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1908-08-12

kinds of information in reference to
the opening of the Yakima Indian
reservation and many seem to have
the opinion from misinformation OBJ
tanned from some local paper or pa
pers that the government is going to
take the allotments away from the
Indians and permit white settlers TO
homestead them, and other ideas
which many of them hold are equal
ly ridiculous. 1t is evident that there
is a misapprehension and confusion
by the public not having knowledge
or understanding OF the several diff
ferent acts of congress and it.appears
to me that If the papers desire TO
publish anything in reference to the
opening of this reservation that they
should publish the full text of the
various acts of congress in reference
to reservation matters.
If the papers in any manner desire
to criticize the laws they have the
privilege of doing so, but they should
bear in mind in doing this that the
officers of the government in the
field have nothing whatever to do
with the making of the laws; they
only execute as directed by their sew
eral departments.
In answer to the many letters re-
ceive in reference to this matter I can
only say that I do not know when
the reservation will be opened and
forward them copy of the latest cir
cular issued by the department In
reference to the matter, which is all
the information 7 have
The Indian office has complied
with all renuirements under the law
and it is now I'm to the general land
office to appraise and classify the
tribal lands.
IT also appears there is a suit nend-
ing between the government and the
RAILWAY comnanv in reference to the
title to considerable land within the
boundary of the reservation, and 1t Is
possible that this suit may have
sometime 70 do with the delav Of
classification and appraisement of the
lands.
I do not believe. and in fact am
quite sure. there is no unnecessary
delay in any of the departments Of
the government. I am in hopes the
local newspapers can be induced to
publish the full text of the several
acts of congress in reference to reser-
walton matters that the public may be
informed as to conditions and not be
misled by papers desiring to boom
some townsite and who do not seem
to care how much the public may be
misled or deceived as to the true con-
ditions, as was done in recent issue
of the Tonpenish Review in which it
was stated in glaring headlines that
1000 families and 10000 people We're
kept from building homes on the
reservation: that Yakima county was
loser s2S. 900, 900 and other rot along
the same lines. II the Toppenish Re
view. or any other paper, desires to
learn the facts for publication, or TO
secure copies of my reports in any
matter pertaining to reservation mat
tiers they can no doubt secure them
from the department. but it appears
that facts are not wanted.
To this it may be added that the
general land office has repeatedly
sent out circulars and stated through
the press, and published in every pos
sible way that it was impossible 20
approximately fix date when the
reservation would be opened. but
when instructions are issued to the
local land office at North Yakima due
notice will be given to the public
through the press. The circular also
states and the law provides that no
person will be permitted to settle
upon. occupy or enter any of said
lands except as prescribed in the
proclamation TO be issued by the
president.