East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1917-04-28
new POLICY IN
INDIAN AFFAIRS
IS WORKED OUT
Is Far Reaching In Effects and
Means Practically the Dawn of q
New EE1 i'm Indian Administration.

New EE0 in Indian Accommodation.
| Through a Declaration OF policy in
| the administration of Indian affairs
! just issued by Cato Sells. commission
er of Indian affairs. some plans of
interest TO local people are made
| known. The following is the state
ment in detail as sent from Washing
ton on April II, a copy having been
received by Major f. L. Swartzlander;
During the past four years the ef-
/ forts of the administration of Indi-
Ian affairs have been largely concen-
trated on the following fundamental
! activfties-the hetterment of health
conditions of Indians. the suppression
of the liquor traffic among them, the
| Improvement of their industrial con-
| dstions. the further development of
vocational training in their schools,
and the protection of the Indians
poperty Rapid progress has been
made along all these lines. and the
work thus reorganized and revitalized
| will go on with increased energy. With
these activities and accomplishment
! well under way. We are now ready to
! take the next step in our administra-
tive program.
| The time has come for discontinu-
! ing guardianship of all competent In
clans and giving even closer attention
to the Incompetent that they may
more speedily achieve competency.
Broadly speaking. a policy Of great
er liberalism will henceforth prevail
| in Indian administration to the end
that every Indian, as soon as he has
been determined to be rs competent
to transact his own business as the
average white man. shall be given full
control of his property and have all
his lands and moneys turned over to
him, after which he Will no longer be
a ward of the government
Pursuant 10 this policy. the follow
| ing rules shall be observed:
] 1. 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 fun
and complete control of all their pro
perty Patents in fee shall be issued
to all adult Indians of one-half or
more Indian blood who may, after
careful investigation. be found com
petent, provided. that where deemed
advisable patents in fee shall be with
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 fun course of instruc-
tion in the government schools. re-
ceive diplomas and have demonstrat-
ed competency will be so declared.
2 Sale Of Lands: a liberal ruling
will be adopted in the matter Of pass
/ ing upon applications for the sale of
| Inherited Indian lands where the ap-
pIicants retain other lands and the
proceeds are to be used to improve
the hoemsteads or for other equally
good purposes. A more liberal ruling
than has hitherto prevailed will here
after be followed with regard to the
applications of noncompetent Indians
| for the sale of their lands where they
are old and feeble and need the pro-
ceeds for their support.
g. 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 appli-
cable in the matter of issuing certi-
f.cates Of competency.
Z. Individual Indian Moneys: In
dians will be given unrestricted con-
troll OF all their indiyidual Indian
moneys upon issuance of patents in
fee or certificates of competency.
strict limitations 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 in tribal trust or other funds
shall be paid TO all Indians who have
been declared competent. unless the
legal status OF such funds prevents.
II H,Fa I1a Ia ah rQe
Of incompetent Indians will be with
drawn from the Treasury and placed
ia banks to their individual credit.
s. Elimination Of Ineligible Pupils
From the Government Indian Schools:
In many of our boarding schools In
dian children are being educated at
government expense whose parents
are amply able to pay for their edu-
cation and have public school facili-
ties at or near their homes. Such
children shall not hereafter be en-
rolled in government Indian schools
supported by gratuity appropriations.
except on payment of actual per capi-
T.. cost and transportation.
These rules are hereby made effec-
tive. and all Indian bureau admins
trative officers at Washington and in
the field will be governed accordingly
This is a new and far reaching de-
claration Of policy. II means the
dawn Of a new era in Indian adminis-
tration. Il means that the competent
Indian will no longer be treated a.
Lalf ward and half citizen. u means
reduced appropriations by the gov
srnment and more self respect and
I Independence for the Indian. II
means the ultimate absorption Of the
Indian race into body polite Of the
nation. II means. I'm short. the be-
ginning OF the end OF the Indian prob
lem.
In carrying out this policy. cher
iah the hope that all real friends OF
the Indian race will lend their aid
and hearty cooperation
CATn gETIa