The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1919-10-16
Looking TO Expiration Of Mex
Perce Treaty.

dSdlllot Tie lIluldll ldnd rentals sc
that such lands can assist in high.
way improvements in the districts
in which they are located and
thus experience the increase in
valuation incident to better high
ways. 1t is proposed to have the
citizens of Idaho, Lewis, Clear
water and Nez Perce counties join
in the movement and early action
will be taken so that proper repre-
sentation may be made coincident
with the action by the department
to extend the trust period for the
Nez Perces.
The plan has been under discus
sion for some time and was
brought to the attention of Miles
Cannon, state commissioner of ag-
riculture, at the meeting held in
Grangeville Tuesday evening. The
state department has been asked
to cooperate with the people of
the four counties in making prop
er presentations to the Indian de-
parthent and members Of con-
gress.
Mr.. Cannon returned from
the prairie country Wednesday
and left yesterday for the north
ern part Of the state. He is much
interested in the movement start
ed by farmers Of Idaho county
and believes the plan will be en-
dorsed by the Indian department
when the situation is fully under
stood. He explained the Idaho
county people firmly believe the
trust period should be extended
for such Indians as are not quail
fled to handle their own business
affairs and said emphasis was
placed on the statement that there
was no thought Of levying taxes
upon the homes of the incompe-
tent Indians or on such lands as
do not return revenues but plan
is favored by which a certain per
cent of the money derived from
the rental of Indian lands to white
farmers shall be set aside by the
Indian agent for highway i'm
provements in the district in
which the land is located.
The present treaty with the
Nez Perce Indians will expire in
June of next year and under the
terms of the treaty all Indians
shall receive their patents in fee,
become full citizens and have
their lands placed on the assess
ment rolls. 1t is generally real
lied, however, that quite a~num-
Der of the Indians are not quail
fled to take charge Of their own
affairs and if the government
supervision was entirely with
drawn, such Indians would be-
come public charges within a few
years and a heavy tax for their
support would devolve upon the
tax payers Of the four central
Idaho counties. AS a result OF this
condition, government commits
sion is now engaged in conducting
Investigations on the Nez Perce
reservation, the purpose being to
each individual case
so that report can be made to- the
commissioner of Indian affairs as
to the Indians who are competent
and to whom patents in fee shall
be issued and also as to such In
dams who are incompetent and
over whom the trusteeship should
continue to be exercised.
The four central Idaho counties
are equally interested in the dis
position of the Indian question
and each Of the counties expert
enced the difficulty Of highway
improvements in those sections
where lie extensive Indian hold
ings Much of the best farm land
of the four counties is held by
the Indians and for many years
high rentals have been paid by the
white settlers. The developmnt
of these communities has been re-
tarded because Of the small
amount of money available for
improvements. The val
uation of the Indian lands has not
in the same proportion
as have the valuations in like dis
tricts where good highways have
been provided.
With the time now at hand for
the new arrangement with the IN
dams. the view is held that action
should be taken to get some reve-
nue. for highway improvements
from such lands as are rented to
the white farmers and it is propos-
ed to bring the matter to the at
tention Of all citizens Of the four
counties in order that concerted
action may result and the plan
be presented comprehensively to
the members Of congress and the
Indian department.
It is explained that the Indians
TO whom patents are issued will
become taxpayers and their lands