The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1953-10-09
ANOTHER "GRAB" In The 0FFlNG?

According to the Great Falls Tribune, House subcommit-
tee on Indian Affairs will hold series of hearings in Montana
the proposed Withdrawal OF federal supervision
over Indians and related matters
The subcommittee of which Cong DEwart is member, is
headed up bv Cong of Wyoming Other committee
members are Cong Berry d. Aspna (Coo) and Haley
la members of the subcommittee are also members of
the House reclamation subcommittee
Agitation for removing federal supervision Indian
affairs is not something Nor Cong DEwart, who
has plugged for number of year. the originator OF the
proposal It's been going on for long time and there more
little for conjecturlng that freedom Tor the
Indian real objective Of this continuing campaign
selfish urk in the background for all this
concern the Indians welfare.
What is at stake supervision of Indians and
their property removed is proposed in legislation pend
ing Congress- Is not conceivable that this free
the Indian proposal only another manifestation of the all
drive currently being staged by predatory interests TO
unto what of the nations natural resources
Indians although long since settled reservations by
sacred treaty own huge blocks land particularly in the West
They own countless millions dollars worth of valuable timber
sumpage They sites They own lands underan
with rich deposits of oil and minerals
One the principal they continue to own such
potential that federal supervision has provided AMI
effective roadbock to those who would pron away from
ANY person who any considerable length of time
has witnessed repeated attempts by the
scrupuIous the red anything that not
covered by federal supervision well recall the Prohoon
days and the booegger the Flahead reservation who
preyed upon Indians love of liquor at yearly semi
yearly Indian day when they received their ndVdua a
from land rentals etc. But few dol
of rotgut whisky then of nothing compared
the stakes involved should federal supervision OF indian al
fairs be removed.
have long coveted Indian grazing lands
their making just they today through
the D'Ewart and Hope land grab" proposals. covet
dominion national forest lands
Montana oil is fast becoming the center of at
Indians much land in oil Oil
this land free federal could result
favorable leasing arrangements for oil companies
The for Indian TIMBER agricultural lands minerals
etc.
in northwestern Montana the drive to give the In
dams Freedom successful could we'll find the Fatheads
whizzered of priced
developments and SITES Kerr Dam today many thou
sands of dollars into Indian Golfers each year. by Of
the site Montana Power Company In originally
drafting the lease about quarter of century
federal authorities did pretty fair job of looking after the
financial interests of the people comprising the Fathead tribe
Had there been federal supervision the Flahead
general lack Of knowledge financial matters would have
undoubtedly let the site for little nothing This
opinion One need only recall the infamous 80 treaty.
whereby the Chippewa tribe become todays andess
for the rfng Of 10 cents acredu largely lack
of information of the tribal members and the chcaney of
or more of their leaders. y
Today there is another site the Fathead river
being sought for development by the power This
Buffalo Rapids site for which Montana Power has applied to
he Federal Power Commission for permit to construct
head dam (and thus forever forecose the possibility of build
Paradise DAM and it's 100000 XIV. potential compared
with Buffalo Rapids $4,000 kw Under federal supervision
with knOW-al available