Browning chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1941-1953, 1950-09-22
Fickinger Answers
Mcdonald Letter
Billings Area Office
804 North Goth St.
Billings Mont.

Browning, Montana
Dear Mr.. Mcdonald:
I have read your letter to Dan
Milestone and published in the
July 2lst issue of his Cut Bank
Pioneer Press, relative to the vio-
lations of the liquor laws on the
Blackfeet Reservation.
l am in absolute accord with
your desires to clean up the Town
of Browning and also to eliminate
liquor violations from the reserva-
ton. 1t is my desire to cooperate
to the limit of my ability with the
good citizens of Browning in eff
forts to this end. This office,
through such officers as are avail
able to it, has given such aid as
is possible in that direction, adj
mittedly with but little improve
ment in the situation. Perhaps if
we work together rather than by
pointing out the errors and delin-
quencies of each other, better pro-
.gress will be made.
1t is true that the Act of June
30, 1919 al Stat. ~ provides that
the townsites of Browning and
,Babb, established within the
lBlackfeet Agency under the Act
of March /, 1907, are subject to
the Federal laws prohibiting the
introduction of intoxicants. 1t
would therefore seem simple to
enforce these laws through the
combined efforts of the United
States Attorney, the Indian Office
Special Officers, the County At
;torney and Sheriff, the Town
Judge or justice of the peace, and
the city and tribal police officers.
Perhaps a conference attended
by representatives Of all of these
law enforcement agencies would
solve the problem. AS it is now,
the United States Attorney seems
to be i'm doubt as to his juriSdic-
ton ees.ar liquor offenses commit
ted on public highways or even
on tribal roads and trails. The
deputy of the County Sheriff, an
Indian, has never, so am inform
ed, made an arrest for a liquor
violation and in fact performs little
if any service at Browning. The
City Police are equally inactive
and such remedial action as is
taken is confined to the Tribal
police and Tribal Court.
It is true that the Tribe main
tains a Jail. On election day, June
20, 1850, twelve violators of the
liquor laws, through the efforts of
the Tribal police and the Indian
Special Officer, were confined in
the Jail and were sentenced to
Jail terms and fines ranging from
SIS to SIS. Browning was reason
ably clear of DRINKS and bootleg
gers on election night.
l think you are in error in feel
ing that the Indian Service does
not intend to do anything about
these violations. With its limited
facilities it does keep its Jail reas-
onably filled with minor violators
OF course, it costs money to board
prisoners, and the Agency Jail has
at all times been open to the Town
of Browning upon the payment of
the board bill.
Our records show that when the
Town reached arrears of sizeable
amount in this respect, it was i'm
possible to continue the service.
appreciate the fact that the Town
income is negligible and that with
O, 1t sufficient income from fines,
its court is unable to function, but
our experience is that a diligent
pros ecution of the DRINKS and
boot eggers will supply the requir-
ed re 1enue. Whether it will deter
Indian : from getting drunk. 1 am
not Or, pared to say, but it will,
if persis. ed in, eliminate all known
bootleggt rs from your midst.
u
Most ce, 'tainly, the Indian Ser
vice is in nc way denying the Town
of Brownin g the privilege of en-
forcing the laws. and it would be
only too hap py to receive inform
alton that tn e Town of Browning
is assuming. with real vigor, its
responsibility Of enforcing the
laws. I admit that it is dangerous
to shoot at 9th, RS when the bullet
is liable to rice chet. We have a
problem that tn. good citizens OF
Browning as we II as the Indian
Service is deeply concerned about
and if our combin, I'd efforts can be
consolidated and the situation is
attacked with un tied front from
the United States A, torney and the
County Sheriff. dow. to the Tribal
and Town police, a, n certain tina,
the conditions compl aimed OF can
be materially improI ed. | shall