Evening star., 1941-07-06
Charles J. Happier Is Authority
On Indian Laws and Treaties
His Fifth Volume
On Subject Is
Off Press
BY JESSIE FAINT EVANS.

has just been printed by the Govern
ment Printing Office, is an acknowl-
4 edged authority in this field.
A resident of 1902 Klingle road
NV. he is native Washingtonian
and has always lived here.
At the suggestion of various con-
gressional leaders and the Commits
sioner of Indian Affairs, Mr.. Happier
began the work IS years ago, which
today makes possible convenient and
expeditions reference to any ques-
ton concerning United States In
dian laws and treaties.
In the case of each of his five
volumes Senate resolution has
been necessary to authorizing publi-
cation.
This series is considered authori-
/ tative by the highest courts of this
country, Federal and State, including
the United States Supreme Court,
and by committees of Congress. va
rious Federal departments, Indian
tribal councils, superintendent of
Indian agencies and other interested
in Indian affairs.
Worked for Senator Stewart.
Mr.. Kappler'S interest in the sub
ject dates back to his employment
as a secretary by William NJ Stewart,
Nevada Senator. who became chair
man of the Senate Committee on
Indian Affairs Previously, Mr. Kap-
YNln,. nod haoy, RI tpI from
rochial and public schools of the
District and had studied stenography
and typing under Theodore Shuey,
an official reporter of the Senate
With Senator Stewards designa-
ton as chairman of the Senate's first
special Committee on Irrigation. his
young secretary accompanied this
committee on tWo-month tour of
the West to investigate irrigation
needs. The testimony Mr.. Happier
Transcribed as secretary to this COM
mittee subsequently was published
in six volumes. 1t was during this
tour that Mr.. Happier became SYM
pathetic to the Indians and opposed
to the exploitation which many of
them were receiving at the hands Of
unscrupulous traders and some In
dian agents and superintendents.
Subsequently. Senator Stewart
was made chairman of the Senate
Committee on Indian affairs and
Mr. Happier was secretary to it.
To his already busy schedule he
added the study of law at George
town University, from which he was
graduated in 1897.
Material Hard to Compile.
II was while serving as clerk to
this committee that MI Happier
gained flrst-hand knowledge of the
difficulty of running down infor-
nation concerning Indian laws and
treaties. The material was not only
in manuscript form, often widely
scattered through many different |.
Government departments, but in
volved deciphering reports of In
dian agents and superintendents,
Indian chiefs and Indian treaties
dating back in many instances to
the earliest days of our Nations
history. His stenographic notes
upon certain of these researches,
chronologically compiled, constitut-
ed the basis of a request by the
commissioner of Indian affairs in
1902, that Congress authorize him
to compile, annotate and edit the
laws and treaties concerning Amer
lean Indians.
This he undertook after Senator
Stewart was defeated for reelection
to the Senate in 1905. and he had
begun the practice of law here, spe-
clalizing in Indian cases before the
Court of Claims. Government de-
partments and congressional COM
mittees.
From the earliest laws and trea-
ties concerning the Indians. Mr..
Happier points out, it is generally
accepted that the white people had
TO recognize the Indians as the own
ers OF their lands. but every deci-
sion of the United States Supreme
Court has held that the Indians
could not sell them without the con-
sent of the Government.
Volume I of Mr.. Kapplers COM
pilation has to do with early laws
governing the Indians and Volume
II with about $50 early treaties made
with the Indians. The first of the