The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1920-06-26
Fastening to Acquire Citizenship
as Soon as Competent,
Says Cato Sells.
GREAT PROGRESS IN 7 YEARS
Not Only Numerically and in Wealth,
but Also in Education and In.
oustry-individuai Deposits
Show Big increase.

WashingtOn.-AnSwering q criticism
On the legal status of the American
Indian as contained in resolutions re
Gently adopted by the WOmen's Civil,
center of San Diego. CAL, Cato Sells
commissioner of Indian affairs, In &
lengthy letter sets forth the genera
progress of the American Indians I'M
der his administration. Mr.. Sells Is
decidedly opposed to the withdrawal
of federal supervision over all Indians
st this time. The result of such q step
he points out, would be that large
number of old or incompetent Indians
would soon be- fleeced Of their prop.
erty and thrown upon the states as
paufers and mendicants, and public
protest against neglected conditions
would surely follow. Confusion as
10 the legal status OF the Indian" says
Mr. Sells, "rests largely with those
who have not studied the subject. The
general allotment act of 1887, proyid-
Ing for the allotment of lands In sew
crafty. with the amending provisions
OF the Burke act Of 1906. made the is
suance OF d fee-simple patent the pri-
mary legal requirement for citizenship
Of Indians, but also provided for the
citizenship Of any Indian by his vol
aatary separation from tribal rela-
sions and the adoption of the habits
Of civilized. life. The later act of
June Is, 1910, also provides for the
allotment Of lands to Indians from
the public domain with the issuance
OF fee patent as provided for In the
case of reservation allOtments.
Become Citizens.
Under my administration the In
dian bureau has made special effort
to extend citizenship to the Indians
and prepare them for it's duties and
responsibilities. In the declaration of
policy issued April II, 1917, an
n"unced that every Indian as soon as
found to be competent to transact his
avn business affairs would be given
full! control of his property and have
all his land and moneys turned over
10 him. after which he would no long
er lee ward of the government. In
furtherance of this movement in
structed the superintendent of the
various reservations az follows: You
are requested to submit to this office |
q list Of all Indians Of One-half or
less Indian blood. who are able-bodied |
and mentally competent. twenty-on. |
years of age or over. together with a |
description Of the land allotted to said |
Indians. and the number of the allot-
meht. 1t is intended to issue patents
In fee simple to such Indians
Under this broadened policy IT.
dams, both mixed and full bloods, are
being released from government su-
pervision as rapidly as their condition
Whenever an Indian is
found to be as competent as the av-
erage white man 10 transact the usual
yOcatioBs of life, he Is given a patent
fee. full control of his lands and mon.
eys, and made citizen of the United
states. About 225,OOO allotments of
.asd have been made to Indians, and
during the last three years 1886 fee
simpie patents have been issued, or
!, .0S2 more than in the ten years pre-
seding."
Mr.. Sells has gone further In this +
Erection and has taken the position
hat the citizenship of Indians should
rot be based upon their ownership of
ands,' tribal or In severalty, in trust
pr i'm fee. but upon the fact that they
ire real Americans. Favorable report
las been made on bill introduced In
congress- having for its purpose the
.snferring of citizenship on all Indians
,ut retaining control of the estates Of
Saws Restriction Is Wise.
u am fully convinced of the wis