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Form 3547
Rtqueittd
Chlloquln, Orvgon
Ptrmit No. 2
VOL 2 NO. 4
KLAMATH INFORMATION AND EDUCATION PROGRAM
APRIL, 1957
II' ' U":rZ -Lli
J T ;- i f ;
ALTON THOMPSON SOON TO COMPLETE
DIESEL MECH. COURSE AT OTI
Soon to wind up his diesel
mechanics course at O.T.I, is
Alton Thompson. Alton began
his studies in March, 1955, shortly
after having consummated a tour
of duty with the army and before
the Klamath Education Program
had begun operations. He enrolled
in the program in Sept., 1955, and
is scheduled to graduate in June
of this year.
Alton thinks the program is a
good one, pointing out : "This pro
gram is pretty doggoned good.
It just can't l;e beat. It gives
you pretty good security while
you're going and it helps you in
the knowledge of the trade you're
taking."
As far as the diesel mechanics
course is concerned, Alton thinks
that he is getting a lot out of it.
Some of the courses he studies
include diesel tech., where all
types of diesel engines and re
lated parts arc taken up, as well
as procedures in overhaul and
assembly, and cooling and oiling
systems. In diesel electric tech.
students get theory of electric
circuits, starters, generators, vol
tage regulators and magneto. In
pump room, Alton has learned
how to recondition nozzles, gover
nors, and fuel pumps. He also
spends a good deal of time in
diesel lab. getting practical engine
work. In addition Alton and other
diesel mechanics students have
the choice of a number of elcc
tives, such as English composi
tion, chemistry, mathematics,
physics, and drafting and blue
print reading.
As for plans after graduation
from O.T.I. Alton thinks he may
top his diesel studies off with a
course in the operation of heavy
equipment. He is thinking of
taking this either under the relo
cation program or at Northwest
Tech. Institute in Portland under
the Klamath Education Program.
He then wants to line up a com
bination job in diesel mechanics
and heavy equipment operation.
All is not work at O.T.I, for
Alton, however. He is also a
member of the school boxing
team, fighting in the heavyweight
class, and has been participating
in intercollegiate matches with
Shasta Junior College in Redding,
(Continued on Pag 2)
TRIBAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE REQUESTS
TRESPASS, INHERITANCE LAWS;
ELECTION INFORMATION DISCUSSED
Executive Committee Urges
State Legislation
On March 7, 1957, members of
the Klamath Tribal Executive
Committee met with State Legis
lators from Klamath County to
request enactment of state laws
on matters important to the
Klamath Tribe.
Senator Boivin and Representa
tive Carl Yancey, both of Klam
ath Falls, will sponsor the pro
posed laws. It will be necessary
to have permission from the Rules
Committee before the bills can
be introduced, since 35 legislative
days have elapsed.
Would Extend Trespass Laws
Two of the four prepared bills
dealt with trespass. One would
amend the game code to define
"enclosed land" to include land
within the boundaries of any
Indian Reservation. The other
would make a similar definition
apply to the criminal trespass
laws. In the past it has been im
possible to prosecute in state
courts persons who hunted and
trespassed on tribal land because
the reservation is not fenced or
otherwise enclosed. Under exist-
Housc Committee
Approves Amendment
To P.L. 587
A stop-gap bill that would de
lay final termination of federal
supervision over the Klamath
Reservation and make other
changes in the Klamath Termi
nation Act (P. L. 587) has been
reported out of the main com
mittee of the House of Repre
sentatives. However a minority report op
posing the amendment has been
submitted. It is expected that the
matter will be debated in the
House of Representatives. It is
not possible at this time to tell
when or what kind of changes
will be made by Congress.
If P. L. 587 it amended, the
changes in the law will be printed
in a special issue of the Klamath
Tribune.
ing state laws it is not a crime to
hunt or trespass upon land unless
the laud is either cultivated, or
enclosed by some barrier which
will turn cattle.
If the state laws of trespass
are changed as recommended by
the Executive Committee, it will
no longer be necessary to rely
on federal law to discourage tres
pass on the Reservation. How
ever, it will still be necessary for
the tribe to hire watchmen to
apprehend and bring complaints
against trespassers and illegal
hunters.
Inheritance Laws
The remaining two bills would
make it easier fnr heirs' of Indian
estates to acquire a part of the
property of the estates.
One proposed bill would require
the heirs to put up a bond equal
to the value of property to be
distributed to the heir prior to
the formal closing of the estate.
Under present law, it is necessary
to put up a double bond before
receiving any of the property ex
cept upon closing of the estate.
(According to certain attorneys,
it is impossible to close estates of
Klamath Indians until the interest
in tribal property is received. The
solicitor disagrees with this posi
tion, however, and declares in a
recent opinion that it is unneces
sary to keep the estates open.
Ijtirther information regarding
this question will be provided in
the next issue of the Tribune.)
Another estate law change sug
gested by the Executive Com
mittee would exempt from inheri
tance taxes propertv of deceased
tribal members which is held in
trust by the federal government.
Prior to passage of Public Law
587 the State of Oregon did not
tax such trust property, and the
state inheritance tax division's
director, J. J. Ferder, has said
that he is not opposed to the
exemption for Indian estates.
Executive Committee members
Dibbon Cook, Ted Crume, Iioyd
Jackson, and J. L. Kirk, and tribal
(Continued on Vgm 4)