Durant weekly news. (Durant, Choctaw Nation, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 190?-1944, 1914-08-07
new LAW HELPS
THE INDIANS
Measure Carries S11 ,S00,0OO for In
dian Education. Commissioner
Cato Sells Explains II.

Ohto sells BAuiaiua u
Cato Sells, commissioner Of In
dian affairs has made the following
statement concerning the Indian ap-
preparation bill which has just becr
passed by Congress, which carriers
an appropriation N the amorht of
sj1,SO0.O00. s1.500.0oO OF this sam
being appropriated from the Indian
funds.
THE Indian Committee in Con-
gitss, with the so,i Grafton of III,
'ndian Bureau, have In this bill
worked out constructive legislation
for the Indians of the country along
progressive lines For example, for
the first time in the history OF the
government there has been appro-
priated large amount for the Inn
provement Of the health conditions
of the Indians and providing hospit-
al facilities for them Three hundred
thousand dollars is necessary for
purpose, 100 thousand dollars Of
which will be used for the construc-
tion OF hospitals at cost not to
exceed Is thousand dollars each. In
additio nto this, three hospitals for
the Sioux Indians, to cost approxi-
mately 25 thousand dollars each. on
the Rosebud, Pine Ridge and Chey-
enne Reservations.
"An appropriation Is also made
in the Indian Bill for hospital in
the Chippewa country in Minnesota
and so thousand dollars appropriate
ed therefor out Of the Indian funds.
The health conditions Of the Indians
have been found to be deplorable and
but little attention has been given
heretofore to the correction Of this
condition. The appropriation in the
current Indian bill will be a long
step forward in solving this import
ant problem.
The appropriation for the educa-
tional purposes Of the Indian is con-
siderable increased and special pro-
vision is made for the education OF
the deaf. dumb and blind Indians.
who have heretofore been uunpro-
vided for. There is also a specific
appropriation for educational pur-
poses among the Papago and Navajo
Indians. These Indians have hereto
fore been neglected and several thou
san dIndian children are without
school facilities.
"On the recommendation of the
Indian Bureau, large, reimbursable
appropriations have been provided
for industrial work among the In
.dians These reimbursable appro-
priations will amount to more that
: 100000. The Indians have hereto
fore been allotted lands but they
have not been provided with tools
and general farm implements. The
appropriation will. enable the Com
missioner OF Indian Affairs to inn
prove stock conditions and place
herds of cattle on number OF the
Indian reservations. 1t is expected
that this appropriation will aid very
materially in the Industrial activities
among the Indians of the country
and go far toward the developing of
their self-support.
-This bill carries a somewhat re-
duced amount for irrigation work on
Indian reservations and contains a
clause which will require detailed in
formation in regard TO each of these
projects to be furnished Congress at
the next. session The Indian irriga-
tion project shave heretofore been
appropriated for and constructed
largely without adequate detailed in
formation and 1t is expected that at
the next session of Congress the In
dian Office will furnish detailed in
formation regarding each of these
projects so that Congress may have
thorough understanding of the con
ditions on each of the reservations
where irrigation projects are being
constructed. 1t is also expected that
information obtained from these re-
ports will result in the procuring ad-
mintstrative and legislative action
which will protect more securely the
water rights of the Indians OF the
country.
There is included in the bill an
appropriation of S5 thousand dollars
to pay the salaries and expenses OF
the probate attorneys under the di-
rection Of the Commissioners In the
working out the probable reforms
for the protectio nof the property
of the Indian children in Oklahoma.
which will be done In harmony with
the rules of the probate procedure
adopted at conference Of the county
judges with the commissioner OF In
dian affairs held in January and re-
Gently adopted and promulgated by
the Justices of the Supreme Court.