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Show - . . . . . . ~\ . - EEP0ltT OP -THE OOMMISSION~R OF .INDIAN AFFAIREL, LEASING WDIAN LANDS. ~ . - . . . In the imt annual report a full history of the grazing eontracts : force on the Crow Ibeservation, Mont., was given. I therefore de it unnecessary to repeat the history her. Theae grazing lcases or , tracts will not expire until June 30,1894. .. 3 . . - .,I . ~. The third section of the act of Congress approved February 28,1891 -. ~~~ . ~~~ (26 Stabs., 7941, authorizes the leasing of both -allotted and unallotted ..' ' . :.-~~ or tribal Indian lands. Said:section is as follows: < . . ., .. ., . . That whenevsr it shall be made to appear to the Secretary of the Interior thzt; by : .A . . :. - reason ofage or other disability, any allatteeunder the provisions of said-act or any. .. - '. \ other act or treaty i an not personally andwith benefit to himself ocol~pyo r improve ; :, his slbtment or any part thereof the same may be leased uppn such terma,.regula-, .. -. '' - tiona, and oonditio,ns as shall be prescribed by snob Secretary for a term not exceed- . ' : .<-s . ingthrea gears for farming or grazing, or ten years for nliuing purposes: Proni&d, ~ ' , .. .~. That where l s n a are ooccnpied by Indims who have bought and paid for thssame, - .. ,. . .. . m d whioh lands are not need& for farming and agricultural purposes anfi are not -. .:.~. ? .. . *sired foq individual allotments, the same may be leased by anthority of the oouu- . ,. - . cii apeaking for such Indims for s, period not to exceed 6ve ye&rs far grazing ortsn :' ~. years for mining purposes, in such quantities and upon such terms and connlitions ~... , , . , ,1 as the agent in charge of such reaervstion niay reoommand, snbjeot to the approvel . . . . . . of the Secretary of the Interior. . , ..~~ .. . ' , " ~ ALLOTTED LANDS. . ' .. ..~, . .~ . . , > .. , . - This office holds that the policy of the Government in the general . . . ' -' ~. allotment act mas to give the Indian a piece of land that he could call , .~ , . ,: . ~ . his own, in which he would feel a personal interest, and *om the cniti- ~ . ; .. .. vation of which by the labor of his own hands he might gain a sub- ' .; . : ~ .: : sfsten& and at the seme time acquire the art.8 of civilization and learn . ~: tbemeans of self-support. To permit theindiscriminateleasing of these . --. ~ " :. . \ - alletnlents would defeat these purposes, and the law provides, that be- ' :'., ': fore an allottee can be entitled to lease his land it must be made to ap. . . -. ;: " pear to the Secretary of the Interior that, '4 by reason of age or other : - .:. ' - ' disability," the. allottee cap not persm+lly and with benefit to himself . : . occupy or improve his allotment or any part of it. There are cases, ~~ : . - . ~. ., . however, in which the dlottee, "by reason of age or other disability," . , . . should be permitted to lease his allotment, and to meet these exeep- ' . . .- ..%~ tional cases the. amendment to the general allotment i t anihorizing . . . such leases was had% - . . . Each application is considered individnany,.and it must be deter- ~.. ,.. - . . mined that th~ea ppliiant ele%rlyc omes within the provisions of the law . .' - : before authority will. be granted him to lease his allotment. Agenta . . - :' are expre~slyd irected that it is not intended to authorize the making . : ;: of any lease by an, dlottee who possesses the. necessary physical and ~ ., ~. , mental qualifieritions to enable him to cultivate his allotment, either , . :. ~~ 5. personally or by hired help. An allottee is held to be one who hasl a . ,- ... ~ ! t?mt patent for his lands,or one whose allotment has been approved . " .,; , I by thg Secrete of the Interior. The leases under the above law must ~. - . ,. ~. . ~ . .... . . C . . ..~ .. - .ti d . . . ~? . . . . .. .~ . , . . ~. . |