Albuquerque morning journal., 1922-11-26
PABLO ABEITA AND F. c. WILSON
DISCUSS BURSUM'S INDIAN BILL

called 10 statement of Senator
Bursum appearing in your columns
concerning the so-called bursum
Indian bill.
In his statement the senator sees
fit to attempt to make 1t appear
that the attack upon his measure
has been the result Of paid efforts
on the part Of Mr.. John Collier
and myself. The inference which
he intends to convey Is that the
attack, therefore, has its origin in
mercenary motives and is not
based upon the provisions in the
measure because of their inherent
evil and pernicious results upon
the Indians. His information upon
this point is as unreliable as his
statements in vindication Of the
bill itself.
The writer had just returned
from O three months absence in
the east at the time that the bill
passed the sepat, and his attention
was first drawn to it. Without the
Intervention of anyone he COM
menced an examination OF the
measure and arrived at conclusions
concerning it which he has found
no occasion to alter from that date
to this. During this period he dis
covered that powerful influences
had commenced to work against
the bill and that the General Fed
Grafton Of Women's Clubs of the
United States had by its protest to
the chairman of the house corn
inittee on Indian affairs prevented
the reporting out of the bill from
Int TNfft
with Mr.. John Collier. represent
ing the general federation. and
with Father Shuster. Franciscan
missionary for Laguna and Acoma.
and the formation of the New Mex
leo Association on Indian Affairs at
Santa Fe, resulted in the prepara-
tion of what is generally known
as the "Blue Book" which is an
attempt to analyze critically the
Bursum bill. Up to that time no
definite compensation arrange
ments had been made and it can
be said that the work which had
been done by me was a voluntary
contribution to the cause, but in
view OF the fact that my services
were requested to a far greater eX-
tent than l could afford to give
ment was made with the general
federation by virtue of which ]
shall be paid for such services. No
secret has been made OF that fact
However, no definite amount has
been fixed such as was stated by
Senator Bursum and as yet no final
figure arrived at. The point is that
up to the present date / do not ex-
i,
Of the work which I have done,
and. in fact, do not suppose there
is In the treasury Of the organiza-
ton fighting the bill sufficient
fund at the present time to any
thing like eomper ate me for prac-
tically two months almost entirely
devoted to the cause.
Senator 3ursums statement in
this connection. therefore, is on a
par with the statement which he
made on tie floor Of the senate
concerning the bill itself He was
asked certain questions by Senator
Borah and gave certain answers -
foliG.,J:
MIR. Borah: Does this bill con-
template suit to quiet title after
the measure shall have passed?
Mr. Eursum: After the bill shall
have been passed, suit must be
brought by the settlers to cuiet
title.
Mr.. Borah: Then no title will be
quieted by virtue OF the passage OF
the bill?
Mr.. Bursum: No; no title will be
quieted by virtue Of the passage Of
the bill, 1t will merely afford the
nh faL
titles may be quieted.
Mr.. Borah: 1t is merely. then,
an act to enable the parties inter-
ested to bring suit?
Mr.. Bursum: Exactly so.
Senator Borah's question as to
whether by virtue of the provisions
OF the bill any title would be quiet
ed against tho Indians was an
sWered by Senator Bursum in the
negative. His answer was contrary
to the facts because Section 8 of
the bill does the very thing which
he denied it did. 1t confirms and
validates against the Indians three
classes of lands claimed adversely
to them as follows:
l. Those held without color OF
title by any person or corporation
Tor more than ten years prior to
June 20. 1910.
grants in conflict with Indian
lands.
3. The lands of any person or
corporation held under any grant,
act or confirmation of patent of
the United States of America in
conflict with Indian lands.
The hill cna0i flo iIxy e+oton a
the claimants under any one of the
three classes "Shall be entitled to
q decree in their favor respectively
for the whole of the lands SO
claimed and the district court shall
in its decree segregate the said land
from the said Pueblo grant and
shall ascertain and adjudicate the
area thereof and the value Of the
said lands without improvement if
any there shall be thereon as of
the date of the decree" The lam
guage is mandatory and requires
the court to enter the decree upon
proof under the first class of pos
session for the period stated, under
the second class of valid Spanish
or Mexican grant, and under the
third class of grant, act or con-
firmation of patent of the United
States of America. 1t can be stated
that in practically every instance
the Indians would have a defense
against the whole or some part of
such adverse claims, but the bill
deprives them of the benefit of
any defense and denies them their
day in court.
Section Is which appears to be
innocuous carries deadly load.
1t does not name the Joy survey
but the authors of the bill must
have known about it and must
have been aware Of the effect of
this provision upon the Indians.
This survey was made at an ex-
pense of something over thirty
thousand dollars to assist the gov
ernment in preparing a defense
against Illegal and fraudulent
claims and the bill turns this sur
vey against the government and
the Indians. Furthermore taken in
4s.. - -..gA Il