Albuquerque morning journal., 1922-12-05

the mouse to return the bill. 1t
is not, therefore, subject TO hear
ings before the house committee
on Indian affairs at this time.
Sincerely yours,
CHAS. II. BURKE,
Commissioner
Claims Settlement Necessary
Following is a copy Of the let
ter from Commissioner Burke to
George Vaux, chairman Of the
board of Indian commissioners. in
which is explained the steps lead
ing to the framing OF the Bursum
bill;
November IS, 1922.
Mr.. George Vaux,
Chairman, Board of Indian Com
mlssioners,
1906 Morris Bldg,
Philadelphia, Pa.
My Dear Mr.. VauX:
am in receipt of your letter of
tho ISth, and note your board is
taking an interest in senate bill
SS55, known as the Bursum bill,
ana that II seems to you as il there
arc q good many points in the pro-
posed legislation which are most
obnoxious. There is no subject
that | have considered as of greater
Importance than that there be
something done at an early date
to settle the question affecting the
Pueblo Indians in New Mexico so
that there may be a final determi-
.nation OF their rights. Unless
methtng is done soon, ! very
much fear that there will be seri-
rious trouble, and it was by the
merest circumstance that there
was not bloodshed during the pres
ent year. A purchaser OF land,
who had been in fact deceived,
.supposing that he had a title to
"a large area, erected a fence
which unquestionably was upon In
dlan land, and the Indians by force
removed the fence, and, as before
stated, had 1t not been for the action
Of those who KEEP. their heads,
there would undoubtedly have been
blOodshed.
When I became commissioner
one of the first things that the sec
retary brought to my attention was
the necessity for some action look
ing towards a settlement OF the
controversies between the Pueblo
Indians and those claiming title
to lands claimed by the Indians
lie informed me that he had Sc
cured the appointment of Col. r,
E. Twitchell, of Santa Fe, as an
assistant attorney general, with the
understanding that he was to be
assigned to the exclusive work OF
studying the Pueblo question with
a view to working out a solution
of the problem. Col. Dorrington
an inspector, was directed to co,
operate with Col. Twitchell, and
render him as much assistance al
/ he could, When / visited the Pu.
eblos In May of this year. / held
a council at Santa Clara with the
| governors and ex-governors Of al
| the northern pueblos, and they
were very solicitous that some.
thing be done towards a determi,
nation Of their titles, and they ex,
pressed apprehension and fear thai
1t would be the old story and nothint
would be accomplished, after I ex.
( planned that we were endeavorinf
to do ana gave them an assur.
| ance that both the secretary anC
| the commissioner were very deem.
ly and seriously concerned to assist
them.
Claimants Have Attorney.
! found that those who are In.
terested by being in possession Of
or claiming title to some Of the
lands in the pueblos had EN-,
ployed Mr.. Renehan, lawyer o.
Santa Fe, N. NJ. l also understood
that Mr.. Renehan had been re,
! quested on the occasion Of tn,
visit of the COMMITTEES on Indiar
affairs to New Mexico, a couple
of years ago, to prepare a bill Il
be submitted to the committee fol
consideration. / ascertained tha'
! Mr.. Renehan is a lawyer of reput,
and ability. ] conferred with him
and found that he was expectins
to come to Washington within {
short time for the purpose Of ap
pearing before the Indian affair!
committee to present his views OF
the subject, which were expressed
in a bill which he had prepared
and which was then pending.
also had a conference with Col
Twitohell. I conceived the idea
that it would be very helpful IL Il
could be brought about so that {
bill could be drafted that would b,
reasonably acceptable to Col
Twltchell, renresentlng the govern,
nent and the Indians and Mr.
Renehan, representing those tina
have claims. As the result Of my
/ 80 40 raf u.
ized to come to Washington at tht
time Mr.. Renehan came. and they
were both here. We had numerous
conferences in the bureau, at which
both Of the attorneys named were
present, and. to make long story
short. a bill was finally drafted
that was acceptable to the bureau
the solicitor for the department
and Secretary gall. who went over
il very carefully and endorsed it