Albuquerque evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1911-1914, 1913-12-31
Government Agents Meet at
Denver to Better 0rganiza-
tiOn for Putting Stop to
Traffic.
FIRE WATER MAKES
10 AN EASY VICTIM
DemOralizing and Ruinous to
Red Man; Commissioner to
Probe Alleged Oklahoma
Abuses.

my Leased Wire 10 Evening Herald.
Denver, Dec 3l.--1rhe more per-
feet organiretlon OF government scr-
vice for the suppression OF the liquor
tmffic among the Indians. IS The OBJ
ject Of the conference Of government
agents here today The conferences
was attended by Cato Sells. commits
sloner Of the United states Indian bu-
reau.
In formal statement Mr. Sells out
lined the organization work and OBJ
iects Of this government service us
follows.
The service for the suppression of
the liquor traffic among the Indians
Is composed OF ono chief special Of
ficer one assistant chief special offl-
Ger and fifteen assistant special of-
ficcts whose work Is supplemented by
l5t deputies consisting OF service en-
ployes, United states deputy marshals
and other individuals assigned to par
ticular cases OF localities.
There are now more than 800. 600
Indians distributed throughout twon-
sy-four states of the union. Where
ever Indians are located upon rcser-
vations which have not been opened
TO settlement the Jurisdiction OF the
federal government IL complete, Upon
orhers. which have been opened 20
settlement tite Uoeetnisent contiHrer
limited authority by reason Of provi-
aln ~ fV.au Nfs.tr - mr.
through special acts of congress This
service commenced In 1897 with an
appropriation OF $4,000; since that
time the beneficial effects OF this
work has become 80 apparent that
100000 was appropriated for the
last fiscal year
The liquor evii Is recognized as
one OF the greatest confronting the
indian today, not only because of it's
dcmoralizing influence, but for the
further and very important reason
that Il makes him an easy prey 60 tho
interruptions There are many in
stances where. when under the in
fluence OF liquor the ~ nllan has been
induced To convey his property With
out consideration. My coming to
Denver Tor this conference ia that we
may more perfectly organize and sys-
temntizo this work. FOR Il is my firm
purpose. with the use Of good iudg-
ment, 10 aggrossively undertake 10
carry out in good faith treaty rela-
tionships in this respect, ana 80 ef-
fcctively use the funds appropriated
by congress as to insure the best re-
suits obtninable. II r. my desire 20
cooperate with ,he state and local au-
thorlties. am sure that the own
results Of TIE liquor traffic among
the Indians ~ matter Of grave con-
corn TO the white citizens of the
country. both for the reason that they
are properly interested IN tho uplift
OF the red men. ana for the further
reason that the unprecedented Of
the Indian means that he WIN ulti-
mately become q charge upon the tax
payers Of the several statee"
Mr.. Sells stated that he viii leave
tomorrow for Muskogee, where he has
arranged conference with tribal at
tornoys. probate attorneys. field clerks
and county Judges 10 consider probate
matters affecting the minors of the
Five Civilized tribes Of conditions
affecting the Indians IN oklahoma, ne
snid:
~ have recently discovered that Il
costs about . per cent 20 settle "a
white chlld's estate. and that Il costs
more than 90 per cent % settle the
estate OF am Indian boy or girl ID is
my determined intention TO reform
this indefenslble condition. To this
end 7 have recently appointed a num-
her of probate attorneys who win give
their whole time to This work, ! am
now submitting number of cases To-
the grand iuFlos in oklahoma look
Ing towards the Indictment and crim-
inal prosecution of those who have
Iemhczzled their funds.
Mr. Sells expressed interest IN tho
proposed Indian pageant IN Denver
Iin 1915.