Omaha daily bee., 1909-12-16
AFFAIRS OF OMAHA INDIANS


CONTINUED from First Page.)
committee which was heard today that
there are LEO Indians about whom there can
be no doubt as to their competency to hold
lands in fee and IL patents were issued to
these 150 Omahas, $500 in taxes could be
collected making it possible for the county
to begin road-maklng and bridge-building
which everybody, both on and contiguous,
to the reservation. SO badly needs.
The COMMITTEES also presented to the COM
missioner the need OF an investigation with
the view Of determining heirships and to
help heirs consolidate their Ian into
WORKABLE quantities. Illustrations were
cited where some Indian heirs had half a
dozen pieces of land in different parts Of
the reservation, none of which exceeded
sixteen acres In size. But by the system
Of mutual exchange, these lands could be
consolidated and each heir have about sew
enty acres.
Little Incentive TO work.
They pointed out that as long as these
lands were widely acattered there was no
incentive on the part Of the Indians to
work their holdings or make homes for
themselves, whereas If holdings were con-
solidated home building would result and
lluldllS DSCOHl6 SClA-buppOl ihBs
Among Indians or squaw men cited as
eminently capable of holding their lands In
severalty and managing, their own affairs
was Thomas H. Tibbles, erstwhile eandi-
date for the vice presidency and Bryan's
companion, philosopher and friend, who,
through his marriage to Bright Eyes is en-
Toying Increment from a quarter section
OF as magnificent land as in all outdoors,
but upon which not one cent of taxes Is
paid. Hiram Chase, we'll known attorney,
was another case cited as being wholly
capable of managing his own affairs and
to whom patent should issue at once.
District Attorney Charles A. Goss ar
rived in Washington today for the purpose
OF looking after his fences to see whether
they are hog tight and horse tight. ="
Being a candidate for reappointment he
naturally wants to find out how senator's
stand toward him and his ambition.
Representative Haugen today introduced
bills appropriating slOO, 1000 for sites and
erection OF public buildings at Oelwine and
Charles City, la.
Representative Hinshaw today introduced
a bill providing hat any child OF a sol
die dor sailor who was regularly enlisted
in the army or navy during the late war
of the rebellion, which child was blind al
the time OF said enlistment or has since be-
come blind before attaining the age of
sixteen years and has now reached the
age OF fifty years shall have a pension OF
500 per month.
Fees for Customs Officers.
Representative Gordon Of Tennessee to-
day introduced a bill providing an amend
ment to the existing law regarding payment
for services OF surveyors of ports in various
localities throughout the United States. The
bill provides that they shall receive a
salary OF $3.50 per annum in addition to fees
which they now receive. This bill, should
1t become a law, would affect surveyors OF
ports At Omaha. Burlington. Keokuk and
Dubuque.
Bids were opened today at the Treasury
department for the construction Of al ex-
tension 70 the public building At Daven-
port, la, The bidders we're as follows:
Hannah Bros. OF WiliRmsport. Pa. 80. 26S
Hazelton a Walin OF Chicago, 1900.
General Continuation company Of NIL
waukee, N.5lO.