The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1917-05-11
NEW POLICY IN INDIAN DEPART
MENT.

| LhLINAs
Rosebud, South Dakota, May =. 1871
To WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:
The Commissioner of Indian Affair!
has, on April II, issued circular
which states that 1.-THE time has come
for disseminating guardianship OF al
competent Indians and giving ever
closer attention to the incompeten,
that they may more speedily achieve
competency. Pursuant to this policy
the following rules shall be observed
l. PATENTS IN FEE: To all able
bodied adult Indians Of less than one
half Indian blood, there will be given
as far as may be under the law full
and complete control of all their pro.
perty. Patents in fee shall be issued
to all adult Indians of one-half Ur
more Indian blood who may, after
careful investigation, be found com.
petent, provided, that where deemed
advisable patents in fee Shall be WIN
held for not to exceed 40 acres as a
home.
Indian students. when they are
twenty-one years Of age, or over, who
complete the full course Of instruc-
tion in the Government schools, re-
ceive diplomas and have demonstrate
ed competency will be so declared.
.. SALE OF LANDS: A liberal rule
will be adopted in the matter of pass
ing upon the sale Of inherited Indian
'lands where the applicants retain
other lands and the proceeds are to
be used to improve homesteads or
other equally good purposes. A more
liberal ruling than has heretofore pre-
vailed will hereafter be followed with
regard to the applications of non-com
petent Indians for the sale OF their
lands where they are old and feeble
and need the proceeds for their sup
port.
3 CERTIFICATES OF COMPETENCY
The rules which are made to apply in
the granting Of patents in fee and the
sale of lands will be made equally APP
plicable in the matter of issuing GER
tificates of competency.
4. INDIVIDUAL INDIAN MONEYS:
Indians will be given unrestricted con
troll of all their individual Indian
moneys upon issuance of patents in
fee or certificates of competency
Strict limitation will not be placed
upon the use of funds of the old, the
INDECENT, and the invalid.
5. PRO RATA SHARES - TRuST
FUNDS: AS speedily as possible their
pro rata shares i'm tribal trust or other
funds shall be paid to all Indians who
have been declared competent, unless
the legal status of such funds pre-
vents. Where practicable the pro
rata shares Of incompetent Indians
will be withdrawn from the treasury
and placed in banks to their indiyidu
al credit.
6. ELIMINATION OF INELIGIBLE
PUPILS FROM THE GOVERNMENT lN-
DIAN SCHOOLS: In many of our board
ing schools Indian children are being
educated at Government expense
whose parents are amply able to pay
for their education and have public
school facilities at or near their home
Such children shall not hereafter he
enrolled in Government Indian schools
supported by gratuity appropriations
except on payment of actual per capi
ia cost and transportation
In view Of the above declaration o
policy, all persons Interested are here
by notified that the plans therein in
dicated will be carried out as speedil!
as possible. Copies Of the regulation
with necessary blanks and iniorma
tion. will be furnished the farmers IL
charge Of the various districts OF thi
reservation, and Indians desiring L
make applications for patents in ie'
or pro rata shares of trust fund
should either call on these farmers o
address letter TO the Superintendent
at Rosebud, South Dakota.
Owing to the fact that our countr.
is now at war the Indian department
has been urged to devote every ounc
of energy to the seeding and Guilty.
tion of larger crop this year thai
ever before. All persons who ma
come under the provisions Of this cii
cular are urged 10 defer their appii
cations until after the crops are plan
ed, as we do not want anything t
interfere with our efforts along thi
line.
The applications received viii /
given as prompt attention rs ou
clearical force will admit. and person
who may experience some delay j
hearing from their requests are urge
, to be patient, as their cases will II
ceiye attention just as rapidly as po'
sible. (Signed) CLAUDIO. CoVAY,
superintendent