Omaha daily bee., 1910-01-03
ON INDIAN AFFAIRS
Continued from First Page.)


tablished by executive order. There are
several such reservations rich in minerals,
and one in particular in Arizona contain
Ing large deposits of tufa stone, which it
is hoped congress will by appropriate leg
islation enable the Indians to make bene-
fetal use Of.
Under existing law neither the depart
ment nor the president can authorize the
sale Of mature green timber on Indian res
ervations or allotments, except In a few
cases under special laws. The waste in
overripe timber on Indian reservations is
estimated to be 81, 00O,00 annually. General
authority for the sale OF this class Of tim
Der should be granted by congress by APP
p%ropriate amendment of the act Of Febru-
airy 16, 1889 (25 Stat, L., 67S).
In order to conserve the resources of the
Indian reservations, a bill such as that
which passed the senate on March 30, 1908
IS. 56oE, should be reintroduced, uthoriz-
Ing the secretary Of the interior to reserve
all reservoir sites on Indian reservations
and all lands adjacent to falls and rapids
for power sites before the surplus lands
on such reservations are opened to settle
ment.
Heretofore special acts of congress have
been necessary to secure payment to allot-
N0 ~ 80 ONA Po'o hAtC NhS NANoohAS
on account of sale, cutting or removal of
timber from or damage to allotted lands,
with the result that long delays have oc-
CURED and injustice has been lone before
Indians entitled to receive money from dep
relations committed upon their lands have
been paid. General legislation should be
enacted authorizing the United States
treasurer to place to the credit of the al
~lottees the amounts due them subject to
withdrawal under the direction Of the sec
rotary Of the interior.
Indians in Civil Service.
In regard TO the employment of the In
dian in the government service and by
private corporations and individuals the
commission says:
Indians are given the preference OF APP
pointment to all positions in the Indian
service which they are competent to fill.
Graduates Of the larger Indian schools are
not iDfrequently, on successful noncom-
petitive examinations for various positions,
such as teacher, clerk, seamstress. farmer.
ETC., given suitable appointments. Some
have risen to be superintendent and have
been successful. Many of those in sub
ordinate positions have gained for them
selves the commentator OF their superior
officers; others have merited and received
promotion. The majority of minor POSI-
lions at schools and agencies are excepted
from examination and many are filled by
Indians. It is while serving in such ca
pacities that some OF the Indians acquire
the experience and skill which fit them for
mere responsible places. OF the b.0o1 EN-
ployes Of the Indian service 1,662 are IN
diaEs.
IAN unexpected development growing out
Of fha aaaartinp % thaf, un..vrv.g.- l..
Utah by a baEd Of the Utes and their going
to South Dakota was that, after they left
the tract Of land on which they were tenn
pora-ily located in South Dakota, they
were induced by Mr.. Dagenett to go TO
work on the Burlington railroad in South
Dakota. Contrary to expectations, they
proved TO be very satisfactory laborera,
quiet. tractable and for some time wen
satisfied with the work. They earned a
considerable sum Of money and the training
they received had a very s~alutary effect.
Farming Among sioux.
THE results in inducing the Sioux 10
cultivate their lands are as great as could
be expected among a class OF indian who
have never engaged in regular labor" the
report says. Continuing, the commissioner
has this to report regarding efforts TO
urge the Sioux to farm;
The results in inducing the Sioux to
cultivate their lands are as great as could
DO expected among a class Of Indians who
have never engaged in regular labor. I'm
der the plans OF the commercial agent 1855
Indians started in to raise crops. OF
these 26 were guaranteed a market at
good prices for whatever they raised. The
rest were excluded from the guarantee
provision on account OF being self-support-
ing otherwise. One hundred and four Of
the 22s' through lack Of energy in the care
OF their crops, produced practically moth
ing. The area put In cultivation by the