The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1923-01-15

Feather decked PuebIos APP
peal to Congress Against
Bursum Bill.

In full native regalia which for
centuries mas been worn by their
ancestors of the ancient Magyar
and Aztec civilizations of Mexico
and Central America, twelve dele
gates representing twenty Indian
Pueblos in New Mexico appeared
before the Senate Public Lands
Subcommittee today, opposing the
Bursum bill, which would validate
claims of white settlers on terri
tory granted the Indians by act
of Congress in 1863.
The delegation, composed entirely
of governors and former governors
of the Pueblo republics-said to be
the Oldest in the world-created an
interesting and colorful spectacle
in the Senate Office building. It
was the first time since LincoIn's
day an all-Pueblo delegation had
invaded the Capital.
Canes insignia Of Office.
Each Indian. with multi-colored
blankets flung loosely around broad
but slightly dropping shoulders.
! and with a brilliant headpiece of
feathers crowning a head held
haughtily high, carried silver-headed
canes given to the governors of
Pueblo's' by President Lincoln, at
the time he handed them patents
to the land, approximately 10000
acres in New Mexico These canes,
passed down from generation to
generation, are the insignia of
office.
Though stopped with age, the In
dams inspired reverence and keen
attention when they appeared to
the committee to save their homes
and lands which we have held for,
5000 years"
Declaring I'VE must choose be-
| tween death and exile IL the Bursum
bin is enacted" Sotero Ortez, gov.
/ ernor Of the Puebla Of San Juan, a
living Remington Indian chief
pleaded for the Jones-Leatherneck
bill which will secure for the In
dams sufficient property to main
tain them as self-supporting farm.
| ers.
Ask Irrigation Fund.
1t was said white settlers-the
Indians called them squatters-now
have possession of all but 457 acres
of the 1000 irrigated acres in the
San Juan Pueblo. THAT leaves us
only one and one-haIf acres apiece -
| said Ortez., The Indians did not
ask for eviction of all the 10000
white settlers. But they did plead
for an appropriation of $685. 900 to
| irrigate enough arabic land to sup
port both whites and Indians.
Furthermore, the chiefs sought
more Governmental aid to combat
tuberculosis and ravaging diseases.
Practically 5000 Indians con-
tributed to the fund to send the
delegation to Washington, many of
the donations being only and
| cents.
Tells of PitifuI Poverty.
Mrs. II. A. Atwood, Riverside,
Cal, chairman, Indian welfare com.
mittee of the General Federation
Of Women's Clubs, supported the
| Indians appeals. She told of the
"deplorable and pitiful poverty" OF
| the Indians as result of the in.
vasions of the whites on their an
cestral territory, specifically set
| aside and protected for them by
| Congressional action.
Charles Fl. Burke, Commissioner
of Indian Affairs, told the commit.
tee" somebody apparently has been
/ buncoed in regard to the Pueblo
situation, possibly the commissioner,
or the Senate, or the instigators
of the publicity campaign in behalf
of the Indians" and that he was
extremely anxious for a careful and
borough investigation, especially
/ IF the merits of the Bursum bill.