Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1919-10-23
COMMISSION IS OF
BELIEF NEz PERCES
ARE SCHOOLED IN
WHITE MANS WAYS
Wise Enough Not to BE De
frauded Out of Possessions
in Idaho by Crafty Yankees
Know That Quarter Section Of
Land Is Worth Far More
Than a Bottle Of Whisley

AT least half and perhaps 60 percent
of the Indians on the Nezperce reser-
walton i'll central Idaho know better
than TO trade a quarter section of land
for a bottle of bootleg whiskey, judg
ing from the report of the special
commission which n few weeks ago was
sent TO Idaho by the U. S. government
to investigate conditions on the Nez
Perez reservation a large part of which
is in Idaho county. The commission
was TO determine whether the Indians
are enough familiar with modern bust
Hess methods to Justify the government
in granting to them title in fee simple
to the lands now held in trust for them.
The 25-year treaty, under which land
is allotted to individual Indians by the
government, expires next summer. The
Indians, under this treaty, cannot sell
their lands, nor are the lands subject to
taxation Instead of farming their al
lotments themselves, the Indians for
the most part have leased their allot-
ments to white farmers, while the In
dams live in villages from the income
from their lands.
UNJUST BURDEN OF TAXES
Road and other improvements in dis
tricts where Indian lands form large
part of the area, are impossible ex-
cept by heavy taxation on lands owned
by white men, who are obliged to bear
more than their just portion of the taxes
for both roads and schools.
While no official statement has been
given out of the detailed findings of
the commission Investigating the In
dams conditions, it is asserted that the
commissioners will recommend that at
least half and perhaps 60 percent of the
Indians be released from government
control and permitted to manage their
own affairs after next summer.
Hearings have been held at KoOskia.
Kamiah, Lapwai and Ahsahka, when
testimony was brought out showing
that the older members of the tribe
have become sufficiently accustomed to
the ways of the white man and edu-
Gated in business deals to make it
safe for the Indiansafor the govern
ment to throw them upon their own re-
sponsibility. This means that they will
be citizens instead of wards of tie gov
their property viii be subject
to taxation in 1921, they can sell their
lands at will, giving deeds that win be
legal, and can transact business like
any other citizen Of the United States.
COULDN'T SELL LANDS
The treaty with the Nezperce In
dams, under the 25-year agreement,
allo, ed lands to individuals upon which
they were expected to make living
with the assistance and guidance of the
Indian agent. They could not sell
their lands The members of the tribe
received no allotment in money from
the government. A large area of tim
Der land is held in common by the
tribe, which will probably be sold and
the money allotted to the members in
severalty.
Examination of the Indians was
one Each Indian was seen
and given personal exam
nation and an opportunity to show
hat he or she is capable of managing
his or her own business All seemed
anxious to prove this ability but many
members of the tribe failed to satisfy
he commissioners. The middle aged
Indians made far the best showing,
many of them having attended shcools
md received fair education. The old
members of the tribe who were too old
to attend school when their affairs
we're taken over by the government,
md the young Indians who have not
completed their education, were not so
fortunate.