The Tomahawk., 1919-04-24

a. Total. .................l,O S9,6S1
e There is not now and never has
been. any authority of law for main.
!. tanning the following reservations:
nj Fond du Lac, ~ 90. .
Grand Portage, 49,
! Leech Lake, and
Nett Lake.
Nor has there ever been any author
ity of law for maintaining agencies at
Fond du Lac, Grand Portage and Nett
Lake. For thirty years agencies at
these places have been maintained by
the Department without authority of
law and the expenses incident thereto
have all been paid out of the trust
funds of the Chippewa Indians in vio'
lation of law. The land embraced
within the Fond du Lac, Grand Port
age, Leech Lake and Nett Lake reser-
vations has not been sold as the act
of January IA, 1889, and the agree
ments entered into hereunder direct
ed that it should be, resulting in great
loss to the Indians.
Fir. The Remedy.
The unallotted land contained in the
Fond du Lac, Grand Portage, Leech
Lake and Nett Lake reservations
should be, as soon as practically, dis
posed of and the proceeds placed in
the Treasury of the United States in
the interest bearing fund. The. In
dams are entitled to interest on the
value of the land thus reserveh from
sale for thirty years in violation of
the agreements of 1889 at the rate of
I'VE per centum per annum. The
amount expended in the maintenance
of the agencies at Fond du Lac, Grand
Portage and Nett Lake and taken
from the funds of the Indians should
be ascertained and the total amount,
plus five per cent interest from the
date OF the diversion of the interest
bearing trust fund should be deposited
in the Treasury of the United States
to the credit of all the Chippewa In
dams of Minnesota. The agencies
now being illegally maintained should
be forthwith abolished.
~ The Improper Use Of the Trust
Funds to Defray Departmental Elk
penses Among the Chippewas.
For thirty years the Indian Bureau
has enormously used the trust funds
of the Chippewa Indians of Minnesota
in defraying the expenses of main
tanning the departmental agencies In
Minnesota. In order to intelligently
understand this matter a review of
what has occurred becomes necessary.
Since about the year 1900 the United
States has maintained agents and
f, agencies among the Chippewa Indi-
ans, the same as 1t has maintained
agents and agencies among all the
other Indian tribes. The maintenance
of these agencies was In pursuance
{ of a governmental policy adopted for
it's own protection and was forced
upon the Indians. Prior to 1889 and
for years thereafter the expenses Of
these agencies were paid out of the
public funds of the United. States.
Section Z of the act of January IA,
1889, as ratified by the Indians, pro-
vided:
"That all money accruing from the
disposal Of said lands in conformity
with the provisions of this act shalt,
after. deducting all the expenses of
making the census, of obtaining the
cessiOn and REIMBURSEMENT, OF max.
ing the removal and allotments, and
of completing the surveys and ap-
praisals, In this act provided, be placed
IN the Treasury Of the United States
to the credit Of al the Chippewa In
dams In the State of Minnesota as a
permanent fund, which shall draw
interest at the rate of five per centum
per annum. payable annually for the
period of fifty years, after the allot-
ments provided for In this act have
been made, and which interest and
permanent fund shall be expended for
the benefit of said Indians in manner
following: One-half of said interest
shall. during the said period Of fifty
years, except in cases hereinafter
h otherwise provided, be annually paid
in cash In equal shares to the heads
of families and guardians of orphan
/. minors for their use, and one-fourth
OF said interest shall, during the same
period and with like exception, be
annually paid in cash in equal shares
per capita to all other classes OF said
i Indians; and the remaining one-fourth
oe said interest shall, during the said
I period Of fifty years, under the direc'
4 ton Of the Secretary Of the Interior,
- devoted exclusively to the estab
4 iSAHent and maintenance of sys.
- sof free schools among said In.
onD in their midst and for their
hn01t; and at the expiration Of the
49, my years, the said permanent
sfuad shall BE- divided and paid to all
u Said Chippewa Indians and their
sisSne tier living, In cash. in equal
6nas1e: Provided, That Congress
10y. q ~ discretion. from time to
I go dus4ng the said period of fifty