OCR Text |
Show SOUTHERN UTES, OOLOK.AL~0. The general situation of these Indians is auythi.ng but encouraging. In my last annual report I mentioned the unfavorable effwt upou the Indians of the failnre of Congress to take definite action upou the agreement coucluded with them November 13,1888. Such action is still wanting and bills introduaed into Oougress at its'last session have tended to further embarrassmatters. Senate bill No. 1532 for the rati-fication of the agreement was reported upon to the Department on Masch 14 last. As the bill differed materially from the draft originally submitted for ratifying the agreement, certain 'amendments were recommended. The bill,howeves, failed to become alaw. A subsequent bill (H. R. 0792) provided for the disapproval of the agreement, for allotments iu severalty on a portion of the present reserve and for the sale of the remainder. This, too, failed to become a law, and the uuoer-tainty as to the future home of the Indians isnot only seriously retard-ing their advancetne~lbt y keeping them in a state of anxiet,y and dis-quietude, but has delayed action with respect to the clefiuiteascertain-meut of the bouud;~rieso f their present reserve and the settlement of difficulties arising from the presence of supposed trespassers. It is earnestly hoped that prompt and final action will be had up011 this matter i t the next sessio~of~ Congress. UPPER AND MIDDLE BANDS OF SPOKANE INDIANS. The business of removing the Upper and Middle bauds of Spokane Indians to the Caur d'Al6ne Reservation, in Idaho, the Colville Reser-vation, in Washington, aurl the Flatheail Reservation, in Montana, has been under temporary suspension for certain reasons stated iu my last annual report. March 10, 1894, George H. Newman, of Tennessee, was appointed, as the successor of Montgomery Hardman, to complete the work of removing these Indians t,o the reservations where they elect and are entitled to go. He was instructed as to this unfinished business April 24,1894, and is now engaged in the prosecution of the work. Prior to the ratification of the agreement with these Indians (act of July 13,1892, 27 Stats., 120). maay of them had gone to the Spokane Reservation, Wash., regarding that reservation as forming a part of the Colville L<eservation, and believiug that by so doing they were act-ing in conformity mith the provisions of the agreemc~~ant d would be entitled to all its b e ~ ~ e f i tI~n. t his belief they were in error; hut Con-gress, by act of August 15,1894, provided '.that any moneys heretofore or hereafter appropriated for the removal of said Spokane Indians to the Cmur d'Al6ne Reservation shall be extended to or expended for suclh members of the tribe who have removed or shall remove ton the Spokane, as well as the Colville or Jocko (Flathead) reservations. |