Evening star., 1934-04-29
URGES
LAW FOR INDIANS
Congress Action Spurred by
Letters to Chairmen
Wheeler and Howard.
BY the Associated Press.


President Roosevelt spoke emphat-
ically yesterday for political liberty
and local self government for the
American Indians and move prompt
ly was started to carry out his wishes.
In a letter to Senator Wheeler and
Representative Howard, chairmen OF
the Senate and House Indian Com
mittees. the President urged enact
ment of legislation introduced by
them early this session, saying it en-
bodied the basic and broad princi-
Piles of the administration for new
standard of dealing between the Fed
eral Government and its Indian
wards"
The Wheeler Howard bill was draft
ed by the Interior Department and
Indian Bureau, which it administers.
Howard announced yesterday hearings
would be resumed by his committee
Tuesday.
Passage This Session.
IT have no doubt" he said, that
the bill will go through this session.
1t may be changed in some particu-
lars, but am sure it will be adopted
in principle, particularly under the
amendment I have proposed providing
that no tribe shall be forced to come
under the new plan if it does not
want to do So.''
The Presidents letter follows:
THE Wheeler Howard bill en-
bodies the basic and broad principles
of the administration for a new
standard of dealing between the Fed
eral Government and its Indian
wards.
1T is, in the main, a measure of
justice that is long overdue.
I'VE can and should, without fur
ther delay, extend to the Indian the
fundamental rights of political liberty
and local self government and the
opportunities of education and eco
nomic assistance that they require
in order to attain wholesome Amer
ican life. This is but the obligation
of honor OF a powerful Nation to-
ward a people living among us and
dependent upon our protection.
Certainly the continuance of auto
cratic rule by a Federal department
over the lives of more than 200 600
citizens of this Nation is incompatible
with American ideals of liberty. 1t
also is destructive of the character
and self-respect Of great race.
Allotment Laws.
THE continued application of the
allotment laws, under which Indian
wards have lost more than two-thirds
of their reservation lands, while the
costs of Federal administration of
these lands have steadily mounted,
must be terminated.
Indians throughout the country
have been stirred to new hope. They
say they stand at the end of the old
trail. Certainly, the figures Of i'm
poverishment and disease point to
their impending extinction, as a race,
unless basic changes in their condi-
tions of life are effected.
Il do not think such changes can
be devised and carried out without
the active cooperation of the Indians
themselves.
'The Wheeler Howard bill offers
the basis for such cooperation. It
allows the Indian people to take an
active and responsible part in the
solutions Of their own problems
Il hope the principles enunciated
by the Wheeler Howard bill will be
approved by the present session of
the Congress"
Plan of Communities.
The Wheeler Howard measure would
permit the different tribes, upon a
vote of their membership and approval
Of the Secretary Of Interior, to organ
ize as Indian communities" some