The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1922-10-20
INDIAN COMMISSIONER CHAS.
H. BURKE VISITS ROSEBUD

tion met him at the Rosebud Agency
on Wednesday and councilled with
him. One of the principal reasons for
the Commissioner visit at this time
was to get the matter of employing at
torneys for the Indians to prosecute
their $5O,0O0,OOO Black Hills claim
before the Court of Claims. A con
tract has been tentatively drawn, en-
plovin~ Palph H. Case, c. c. Calhoune
and V. j. Evan, three very prOmin-
ent Washington, d. c., attorneys, to
take this case, and on next Mon
day the duly elected delegates of the
various reservations from this state
will meet at Pierre to sign and ratify
this agreement and contract between
themselves and the attorneys. Collice
Gallincaux Of this place has been
chosen 10 represent the Rosebud In
dianS at this conference, and he will
join Supt. McGregor and Commission
or Burke at White River next Mon
day morning and go to Pierre with
them.
At the conference at Rosebud the
Indians presented set of nine res
olutions for the Commissioner con
sidcration. The first one asked that
the Rosebud General Council be rec
ocn2ed as the official body of the
Rosebud Sioux The Commissioner
was favorably impressed with this re-
quest and complimented the Indians
on their ability and the organization
that is to represent them in official
business.
The second resolution complained
that the Tripp county million dollar
fund had not been handled in accord
ance with the agreed stipulations.
The Commissioner stated that tins
was true, but that he had acted under
orders of the Secretary Of the Inter
ior, and he believed the Indians had
a good and valid claim.
The third resolution complained
of the lease system as now IN force
on this reservation. The Commission
er stated the Department was work
ing on a plan that would gradually
improve conditions and that he hoped
to have system in working order
that would prove satisfactory to both
the Indian and the white man.
The fourth resolution was with
reference to the Indian Day schools.
The Commissioner said that it was
the policy of the Indian Department
to have Indian children attend the
public schools as much as possible,
and to have all Indian children attend
school, either public OF day schools,
regularly.
The fifth resolution called the at
tention Of the Commissioner to the
100000 revolving fund, for the rellef
of indigcnt members of the tribe.
This bill became law September 80,
last. and the Commissioner said that
it would soon be in working order.
Resolution six complained OF the
very poor and inadequate telephone
system on the reservation. The Com
mi a oner said he heartily favored
the betterment of the system at the
earliest date possible, and favored the
installation of an adequate central
station at the Agency, or the leasing
of the system to the Northwestern
Bell Company. At any rate, he want
cd to see the reservation connected up
with all the various farmer stations.
The seventh resolution suggested
that the Government provide contract
doctors for each of the issue stations
on the reservation. The Commissioner
stated that he would favor this but
that he doubted whether this could
be done at this time. He stated that
he was having q survey made OF the
reservations BY two Red Cross nurses,
and when they made their reports he
thought it more than likely that Red
Cross nurses would replace the present
field matrons.
Resolution number eight asked for
an appropriation of $1,000 annually
from the tribal funds to support the
Rosebud General Council. The Com
missioner said he favored this pr"oo-
sition and would recommend the APP
preparation be made.
The ninth resolution asked that per
capita payments be made from the
fund provided from the sale OF Mel
,ette county lands. The Commissioners
stated that he rather favored tins
fund being set aside, and each Indian
he;ne credited with his per capita
share. all patent in fee Indians to re,
ce;ve their full share OF this fand at
once. and those not patent IN fees TO
~, account at the AgencN