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Show remaining on the west side of the Mancos, that it seems almost useless to talk to them about land in severalty now, though I have observed my instructions, by urging them, and shall continue to do so. 12 The document was then signed by those Utes who agreed to the act and by those who wanted the allotments. Of the 301 male adults eligible to vote only 153 supported the Hunter Bill. The vote against the proposal was 148.13 The margin of difference was only five votes, but the Secretary of the Interior decided the tribe truly favored the allotment act and gave his approval to proceed with the enrolling of the Utes. 14 To handle the allotment a new commission of three people was named. It included Major Kidd and Agent Day of the enrolling committee, and Julius Schutze of Texas. 15 Schutze was named chairman. By September 15, 1895, this commission had given out a number of allotments, most located along the Pine River, but a few located along the San Juan and Piedra rivers. 16 The comments of the Agent, David Day, on the allotment proceedings elucidate the unusual problems the committee faced during this phase of gaining support for the Hunter Bill: The work of allotting lands in accord with the provisions of the act of February 20, 1895, has been progressing since the early part of August; 356 have expressed desire and been enrolled for allotment, and, notwithstanding the declaration of Commissioner Meredith H. Kidd that ' allotment rolls are closed' more will be added. So far the work has been confined to those who have farms on Pine River north and south of the agency. All allotments have been made in accord with section and subdivision lines, with two exceptions - cases where both the parties had erected houses on the same 40- acre tract. There were some objections at the start, but when it was shown that those nearest the agency had acquired large tracts of agency land by survey they readily consented to give and take. The allotments are compact and there will be no room for whites on either side of Pine River. Similar conditions will prevail on the San Juan and Piedra rivers, where lands are easily irrigated and the flow of water ample for all purposes. Commissioner Kidd has, as is evidenced by the commission's journal, protested against the Indians selecting their allotments and rendered himself very general repulsive to his colleagues, antagonistic to instructions, and adverse to treating the Indians with that spirit of honor and fairness they are entitled to and have every right to expect from those to whom the honorable Secretary of the Interior has delegated power to carry out the provisions of the enactment providing for allotment. However, Hon. Julius Schutze, chairman of the commission, is honest, patient, and fair in all things, and as the agent constitutes the balance of power those Indians of an age competent to select for themselves will get just what thev desire, while the agent, who is guardian for the orphans, 12. Mererith Kidd to D. W. Browning, Commissioner of Indian Affairs. May 23. 1895, National Archives, Indian Records, Record Group 75, Washington, D. C. 13. Leupp, op. cit., p. 18. 14. U. S., Congress, House, Report of the Secretary of the Interior, Vol. II, Report of the Commissioner of Indian Affairs, Report of the Board of Indian Commissioners, " The Southern Utes" by Francis E. Leupp, House of Representatives, Ex. Doc. 5, 54th Cong., 1st Sess., Ser. No. 3382, 1895, p. 1003. 15. Ibid. 16. Ibid., " Reports of the Agents," p. 140. - 54- |
