Omaha daily bee., 1909-12-30

nave no discretionary powers, everything
has to be referred to the superintendent
and he has not enough discretionary power.
For Instance an old Indian drove sixteen
miles to ask II ! would write to the super
intendent that he wanted to buy a wheel
barrow and a new stove out Of his money
In the office. Two or three weeks later he
drove another sixteen miles TO ask me re-
suits. The superintendent wrote that he
had written to the authorities at wash
ington to ask that the request be granted.
Three weeks later the Indian drove here
to walthill, sixteen miles. for further in
formation. the authority had not yet ar
rived. Latest reports have not arrived up
to date. IN Indian had to be operated on
for appendicitis one fall. Authority to take
him to a hospital was telegraphed for to
the Department and arrived the next May.
could cite more ridiculous instances.
Reason for Restrictions.
Why these restrictions? At the begin
ming of the trust period Of twenty-five
years, they were found necessary to protect
the Indian from his white brother. Later
on the politician at election time told the
Indian, now he had all the rights Of the
white man, he could drink all the whisky
he wanted to. It did not take any more
argument to convince the Indian than it
does the white men. There were eighteen
years Of blackness on the reservation as a
result, but now for the last three years the
Omaha Indians have made a most COM
mendable record in temperance and the
majority of them are climbing steadily up
ward where they will soon be beyond the
restrictions and red tape.
A new order is being enforced by the
department. An Indian can trade at a GER
tain store to be designated by himself to
a certain amount; the superintendent in
spects the bill and II the department APP
proves the number and size Of prunes
bought and the color Of the bananas, the
government pays the bill out of the In
dams money In the office. Shades Of our
ancestors! This is a distinct step back
ward even from what you knew for you
could trade your furs yourself for what you
wanted. However loyal to our government
oh Nebraska, would you stand it?
Delay I'm the Department.
The Omahas have a trust fund from the
sale Of some reservation land, each share
amounting to $3.50, In signing the appllca-
ton blank, the Indian had to secure the
signatures Of two witnesses as to his com
potency. At some expense and great delay,
half Of the Omahas secured their shares;
the other half had their APPLICATIONS re-
turned from Washington to be passed on
by the competency commission. When the
VIII be paid is not known, not for months
probably, In the meanwhile the sick have
begged me to write and get this money for
them, because they needed 1t for necessl-
ties, nourishment, medicines, etc. 1 have
watched them dies without 1t. The money
that should have been and Is morally and
legally their share is turned back to the
tribe and the heirs have to stand the
funeral expenses. One young woman who
had tuberculosis asked for her share-it.
was badly needed; the superintendent
asked to have it made special" An order
from the department came back saying she
should sign blanks to have the money de-
posted in a bank under the care of the
superintendent. He wrote back that she
needed the money for immediate necessi-
ties, They replied by sending a new form
Of blank to be signed by the applicant. In
the meantime the applicant died and was
buried leaving her poo. old mother to bear
the expenses Of sickness and funeral.
Omahas object to Plan.
The Omahas want a whole live superin-
tendent. The one they have now is busy
all the time and can't fulfill all the de-
mands made upon MIN. They know it will
be far worse when they have one super
intendent for both tribes.
The white people on both reservations are
wondering what has come over the depart
ment to mediate such a plan-distances
are too great-roads are usually bad-the
weather cannot be depended upon-besides
the immense bulk of business to be trans
acted at both agencies, and the clerks have
no discretionary power, and in order to
have 1t must give high bonds.
The year 1910 Is a year of crisis for the
Omahas. We who are deeply interested
wished to make the new hard road to be
Travelled as easy as possible, for some are
going to stumble and fall by the wayside.
Instead, the department is going to make
1t as hard as possible.
The Omahas have paid a high tribute to
A. G. Pollock. For the first time in the
history of the tribe they were all harmon
lied on one thing. fractional fights were
stopped. old feuds were forgotten. They
were unanimous in their desire that he be
retained. They have expressed their per-
feet confidence in him, They told him they
had found the man they were looking for,
and they wished him to lead them out of
their troubles.
Resentment is Deep.
However much good the department may
want to do the Omahas they have been
put into an antagonistic attitude. Those of
us who are working for their welfare de-
plore and regret this. Their resentment is
well founded; the majority Of the Omahas
are as competent as the same number of
white people. They are independent and
self-reliant. and their wishes have always
been respected by past administratlons-this
Is new treatment.
The Winnebagoes and the Omahas are
very different. and the department will find
II has made a big mistake IL It thinks It
can govern both tribes alike. You can
never push an Omaha down or pass a
thing over his head he win light on his
feet facing you.
The Omahas have made fine use of their
money. Almost every quarter section of
land has a good home on it. They have
good horses, good barns and improvements
and machinery to work with.
Means More Complications.
Those Of us who arc in a position to
know realize that the same policy cannot
govern both, and II 1t does It win be a
policy that is detrimental to the Omahas.
On account Of their antagonistlc attitude
toward the department they are not very
appreciative Of model farms lust now. You