Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1913-02-02
VIII Urge Secretary of Interior
to Accept Deeds TO Their
Lands as Trustee to Avoid
Payment of Taxes,
THIRTEEN RED MEN AND
ATTORNEY IN THE PARTY
Recent Decision Of United
States Judge Pope Relative
to Citizenship, Causes Them
Grave Concern

Estate Capital iiureau Of Morning journal. !
Santa Fe. Feb. indians from
nearly all OF the pneblos Of the state
of New Mexico. gathered here today
to go to Washington on one OF the
most important missions upon which
their people have ever felt II neccs-
sary To visit the national capital They
are going to confer with the secre-
tary Of the Interior, relative 10 the
deciding Of their lands back to the gov
ernment that they may not have to
pay taxes. So far AS IL known. noth-
ing of exactly this nature has ever
been presented to the courts or 20 the
government for consideration.
There IS somewhat analogous case
in legal annals. that Of the deciding
back TO the government Of the allot-
ments held by the Usage Indians, but
the present case involves lands held
In Zee simple hx the Indians them
selves as community
There are thirteen Indians la the
party which left tonight for Wash
ington They represent ten OF the
larger and more influential puehlos,
Some men represent more than one
pueblo not an Indian pueblos wish
ing TO bear the expense Of sending a
delegate alone. The lands they rep-
resent total about 100000 acres.
They are accompanied on the trip
to the national capital hy Francis G..
Wilson. attorney for the pueblo In
dians of the state ana viii cali upon
the secretary " the interior and dis
cuss with hl.h u IL plan. che secre-
tary hats not signifled his willingness
to accept the deeds or te take over
the lands from the Indians even
though they plan q revcrsionary
clause in the deeds which VIII take
effect twenty-five years hence but he
has telegraphed them to come to
To- confer with him
The entire case grows out Of de-
cision By Judge william H. Pope Of
the federal district court for New
Mexico, who held that the lands of
the Puebos We're subject to taxation
by the counties in which they lie. This
led 70 several complications The In
dans do not make any great amount
of actual cash, in many instances, and
they would be very apt to lose their
lands, which include some of the best
to be had IN the state through nom
payment of taxes. 10 avoid this, they
want the federal government to hold
them in trust until they are able to
pay taxes ana thus retain their titles.
The decision by Judee pope had
led many to believe that the Pueblo
indians were held by It to be actual
citizens and 60 have the right to vote
One Of them tried It in Gallup not
very long ago and the election board
refused his ballot. Tie has since sued
For damages. This suit viii 20 far to-
ward determining whether or not the
indians are actual citizens.
It is said, though, that no matter
what arrangements may be made re-
yardng the deeds. the Indians will
'etain the rights which Judge Pope's
lecision implies they have.
A portion Of the business Of their
rip to Washington viii be 10 stir up
sentiment among congressman to
ward the passage Of an act introduced
asst year, the purpose Of which Is to
tllow the secretary to accept the deeds
hey wish to deliver.
Three pueblos, Cochiti, Santa Clara |
md Taos have already executed deeds
II their property. which have not yet
,een accepted.