The Tomahawk., 1920-10-07

SA0
tee on Indian Affairs the other day.
These people have about SO, 900, 900
to their credit in the Treasury, if
I remember correctly. We have
appropriated out of their funds for
1917 $4,000 and an analysis of
the expenditures shows the follow
ing:
Salaries and wages $l9,3l4.lo
TRAVELLING exnenses 268. 20
Transportation ofsupplies 56.34
Heat, light and power service o45. 80
Telegraph and telephone service 34o.So
Subsistence SUPPLIES 1886
Senator Thomas. Let me under
stand the Senator. Does he mean
by that statement that out of an
appropriation of $4,000 for these
Indians only 1886 was expended
for subsistence!
Senator johnson. That is &C.
cording to this report.
Senator Thomas. Then the In
dams did get something out Ut the
1926, O00; they got So 36.
Senator Hughes. How did it
happen? (Laughter.) 49,.
Senator johnson. 1 do not know.
1t must have been a mistake. The
Indian appropriation bills have al
ways been bad. They are made for
politicians and for the convenience
and up building of the whites; os-
rensibly for the benefit of the In
dams, brit in reality for no such
purpose" (From speech of Edwin
IS. johnson, U. S. Senate.)
Out of the appropriation of $780,
900 of Indian money, money which
was the proceeds of the sale Of In
| dian lands, that was made for the
support and civilization Of the In
dams, they received in supplies
$8.36. This is a fair illustration OF
Indian Bureau guardianship OF In
dian funds. But another 'llustra
ton from the same speech is avail
able; =:
And again, while ! am on this
subject, Mr.. President, permit me
to say on investigation, l find that
on June 80, 1916. the Indians of
South Dakota had over $1,000, 900
of tribal and individual funds held
in trust for them by the Govern
ment. The Government on the
same day had over $6Q,000,0o0 OF
tribal and Individual funds belong
| ing to all Indians within the Unit
ed States on deposit in the Treas
ury and in banks throughout the
country, S11,o0o,000 Of which, l
am most reliably informed, is not
drawing interest.
Tin this connection we must not
lose sight of tbe-fact that many OF
these Indians are actually suffering
on account Of the lack of the com
mon necessities of Life; while all
these millions belonging to them
are piled up in the Treasury and
held by the Government.
II want to warn you now that
the treatment of these Indians by
this Government is degrading,
| rather than ,upbuilding, and any
sensible man who is posted, knows
1 it. The treatment they are receiv'
ling will never help to make good
!. citizens of>them. On the contrary,
it will drive them further and
further away from any inclination
for good or respect for the Coy
|ernment of the United States.
.Mr. President, when you come
to analyze exactly what rights the
/ Indian has, they are very few IN
deed. Congress does not give him
| the tight to sue for personal prop
erty rights in courts of justice, as
l understand it, unless he gets per-
| mission from Congress to sue IN
the Court Of Claims by special
/ Legislation. He cannot select and
employ attorneys to conduct bis
own business affairs, without tn.
approval of the Indian Bureau.
LET me tell you, fellow Sen
ators. that the Indian Bureau today
1 - go nk.oo,lo Ibid ,pon tho Tn,