The Tomahawk., 1919-04-24

OF the general laws OF congress-, ana
which forms an integral part of the
Indian Bureau, on the theory that the
maintenance of such force is in aid
of their civilization and self-support,
then the funds could likewise be used
to defray the expenses of the Interior
Indians. and likewise used to pay the
salary of the President Of the United
States and the expenses of the general
government on the theory that the
maintenance Of the general govern
ment is in aid of their support and
civilization. To take from the prin-
cipal trust fund 100000 to- $2O5, 900
per annum will soon exhaust the fund
and will leave nothing to distribute.
The interest payments will grow less
annually and the entire trust fund will
be consumed BY the Bureau Of Indian
Affairs in defraying the regular ex-
penses of that bureau. This is so
flagrantly in violation of the terms
and conditions of the trust that argu-
ment is superfiuous. .r
''a, The Remedy. .
That the trust funds arising under
the act of January IA. 1889, could not
lawfully be used in defraying the ex.
penses of q service established and
maintained by the United States in
pursuance Of its own policies. would
seem to be so plain that argument Is
unnecessary. The Chippewa Indians
insist that every dollar of their trust
funds so used and expended should
be reimbursed together with interest
thereon at the rate of 5 per centum
per annum from the date of the diver
sion. If any doubt exists as to their
right to the return of these funds they
ask that the matter be referred to the
Court of Claims as provided in 8. Bill
1915, 65th Cong, I'd Ses., copy of which
is hereto attached. .
Cd The Maintenance Of the School
System Has Not Been in Conformity
With the Agreement Of 1889. ..
The act of January IA, 1889, in ex-
press language provided for an equal
division of the tribal property. Sec
ton Z, after making provision for the
annual distribution Of three-fourths of
the interest arising from the princi-
pal fund among the members of tho
tribe, provided as follows;
land the remaining one-fourth Of said
interest shall, during the said period
of fifty years, under the direction OF
the Secretary of the Interior, be de-
voted exclusively to the establishment
and maintenance of system of free
schools among said Indians, in their
midst and for their benefit"
The establishment and maintenance
of the free schools contemplated
and provided for the establishment of
schools holding forth equal opportun.
tiles and benefits to all members of
the tribe, namely, system Of day
schools, suitably located and Access
sible to, all of the children of school
age of the tribe. Instead of estab
fishing and maintaining such q sys-
tenn the Department, under the direc.
ton Of the Indian Bureau, established
a few day schools and number of
boarding schools. At that time, to-wit,
in 1889, the free school system Of the
State of Minnesota had not been ex-
tended to the Chippewa reservations.
The Indian children were dependent
upon school facilities furnished by the
United States, charitable organize.
lions, or provided for by their parents
at their own expense. Instead of es-
tablishing and maintaining a system
of day schools to be taken over and
asupplanted by the free school system
OF the State when the reservations
were abolished, the Department estab-
lished few day schools and num-
Der of boarding schools. In these
boarding schools the children were
fed, clothed and maintained during
the school year. The funds available
were largely consumed in the main
tenance of these boarding schools,
which afforded school facilities to
only limited number of the Chippe-
wa children of school age, and thus
practically the entire school fund was
used, not for the education of all the
Chippewa children, but for the ex-
elusive benefit of a limited few.
In 1910 when the agencies were
abolished and the entire service placed
under the control Of the Superinten-
dents of the Training Schools there
was practically a complete merger Of
the agency and school expenses. The
Superintendent of the Training
Schools, who devote but a limited
amount Of their time to the schools
aad practically all of. their time to
the work formerly performed by the
agents, swere paid from the school
fund, notwithstanding the act Of 1889
as ratified by the Indians provided
that this fund should be devoted ex-
clusively to- the establishment and
maintenance of q system Of free
schools" Other agency employees,
only remotely connected with the
school system have been paid out of
the school funds. In short the school
funds have never, particularly since
1910, been used exclusively for the
maintenance of the schools.
By reference to pages 1921 of the