THE CHEMAWA AMERICAN.
DETRIMENT TO INDIANS.
A Washington press dispatch to
the Oregonian says that the poor
Puyallup Indians, living on the out
skirts of the City of Tacoma, seem un
able, after years ' of association
with their white neighbors, to look
after their property, now that title
vests in themselves. Up to March .
of the present year, these Indians
were under control of the Puyallup
Commission, and could not sell or
lease their lands, except by authority
of that commission. Since that time,
however, the Indians have enjoyed
the same right to dispose of t heir land
as is enjoyed by any citizen of the
State of Washington. And the old
story is apparently repeated.
In a report to the Indian Office,
Puyallup Commissioner Snowden last
June stated the removal of the re
strictive clause upon the sale of the
Puyallup lands under the laws above
cited has. been a detriment to the In
Ylians, and will result disastrously to
them. As was to be expected, the
more worthless of the Indians were
ready to sell their land for less than
! it is worth as soon as permitted to do
so. Some of them did this promptly.
One family, for instance, sold 40 acres
for $300 that was easily worth $2000.
Two others traded their half-interest
in a 40-acre tract worth at least $100
per acre for a saloon, ran the saloon
one nignt, were arrested by the police
at midnight, and next day what was
left of their stock of liquors was seized
' by the Sheriff. There is no law to
prevent an Indian or white man from
throwing 'his property away if he de
sires to do so.
Several things have occurred which
embarrass the Indians in the sale and
lease of their lands, preventing them
from getting full value, and some
times from making any sales or leases.
Titles to their lands are clouded, and
the groundwork for much litigation is -being
laid. Such things give design
ing people increased means of taking
advantage of them.
The case of the Puyallup Indians
illustrates the fact that it is bad pol
icy to remove the restrictive clause
from the sale of Indian lands and
permit allottees and owners to sell
them without any Government sup
ervision. These Indians are" disposing
of their lands for an inadequate con
sideration, and are being defrauded
and swindled. I am of the opinion
that Indians in all cases should be
aided and protected by the Govern
ment in making land sales.
MUST NOT USE LIQUOR.
One of the new reforms which will be
inaugurated by the Northern Pacific
on the beginning of the new year is
the requirement that all enployes of
that road abstain entirely from the
use of intoxicating liquors. This
.means that after January 1, 1904,
not only is drinking to excess forbid
den, but that the seductive social
glass either on or off duty is denied
the company's men. The violation
of this rule will be followed by im
mediate discharge. The 'prohibition
of the use of liquor is in effect on
some of the big Eastern systems,
and is said to be salutary.
First Boy We had a minister" for
dinner yesterday.
Second Roy We had turkey. Ex.