The Tomahawk., 1919-03-13
The Facts are Brought to Light by the Legislative
Committee Of the General Council in a Com
p|ete Statement to the Committees Of
Congress.
Shows that the Agreement Made by the Chippewa indians
With the United States in 1889 has been Treated by
the Indian Bureau as "SCRAP OF PAPER"
Bureau Endeavorng Destroy The General Council
!. Destroying It, Its Misdee3s Will Remain Concealed.


purposes paid out of the appro.
priation last year was care and
maintenance of the pupils in mis-
sion schools, $6, 1888" While
the record conclusively shows that
only Sc, 1877 So of the appropriation
of SITS, 900 made last year was
used IN connection with the schools,
Mr. Merritt told the Senate Com
mittee when Senator Nelson was
before it, that $4,000 of the ap.
preparation thus year would be
necessary in connection with the
maintenance of the Schools. The
statement of Mr.. Merit is absolu
tely at variance with the record
facts. The Department has an
abundant school fund, arising from
on9-fourth of the int rest annually
accruing on the principal fund,
which does rot have to be aprro
priated by Congress to meet all
necessary expenses in connection
with the schools.
BY reference to page 40 of the
House Hearings it will be observed
that there was expended last year
from the trust funds $5O3, 1872: "a.
On p. 418 it is shown that there
was expended from public and
other funds $275, 426.47, or a. total
expenditure last year of over
$4,000. BY reference to p. 169
blouse Hearings) it will be ob
served that the total enrolled mem
bership of the Chippewa Tribe of
Minnesota is II, 839. That does not
represent Indians living on their
allo:ments or reservations, but
represents all persons having any
interest in the tribal property. At
least one-third of the 1889 thus
enrolled reside away from the
Chippewa country. At least 80 per
cent of those residing in the Indian
country are competent Indians or
are the children of competent In
dams, the great majority of whom
have received patents 10 fee to
their lands. Without this appro-
priation there will be available to
the Department over $175,00O for
general agency purposes, suffici
ent amount to care for the less than
1900 Indians who need any super
vision or protection.
The enormous sums heretofore
expended for support and civiliza
ton have t,een wasted and have
resulted in the maintenance of a
hord of useless employees of no
benefit to the Indians. This has
continued for years and those EN-
ployees have become so obnoxious
that the Chippewx people are un-
willing longer to submit to it.
The general council wants every
incompetent Indian protected, bu:
insists that the competent Indian
shall be liberated, and that it is a
useless waste of money to supervise
competent people which the Indian
Bureau is doing with these appro
priations.
The general council has, by
proper resolution, protested against
the appropriation being made.
The Minnesota Delegation in the
House, irrespective of party, is
unanimous in their opposition to
the appropriation. (See Cong. Rec.
Jan. "a, 1919.
The county officials of every
county in the Safe of Minnesota
in which the Chippewas live have
petitioned Congress to stop the
appropriations (See Cong. Rec.
Jan. "a, 1919, p. 2087-8).
The Bus of the counties in which
the CNppewas live have petitioned
Congress to stop the appropria-
lions. (d).