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Show REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF INDIAN AFFAIRS. XXXV for the different bands of Sioux occupying the reservation, and in-structed them to ascertain and report the sentiments of the Indians on the subject. Partial and deferred legislatiom.-At the last session of Congress the followipg bills were passed by the Senate, bnt failed to receive action in the House, v i :~ A bill (8.1056) granting the right of way to the Carson and Colorado Railroad Company through the Walker River Reserve, Nevada. A bill (8.1057) granting the right of way to the Jamestown and Northern Railroad Company through the Devil's Lake Reservation, in Dakot,a. A bill (S. 1211) granting the right of way to the Northern Pacific Railroad Company through the Yakama Reservation, in Washington Territory. The agreements made with the Sioux Indians in 1880-'81 for a right of wit^' through the Sioux Reservation, in Dakota, to the Chicago, Mil-waukee and Saint Paul Railway Company and the Dakota Central Railway Company, respeet,ively, still remain unconfirmed hy Congress. COMMISSION TO 'NEGOTIATE WITH VARIOUS TRIBES OF INDIANS. By an item in the Indian appropriation act approved May 15,1886 (Public No. 49, p. 17), provision was made- To enable the Seoretary of the Interior to negotiate with the several tribes and hands of Chippewa Indiana in the Stste of Minnesota for such modification of cxist-ing treaties with said Indians snd nuoh change of their reservations as may be deemed desirable by said Indisns and the horetsry of the Interior, and ea to what sum ahall be a just and equitable liqaidation of 811 ~Iaimswhich any of said tribes now Lave upon the Government ; and also to enable said Secretary to negotiate with the varioas ban* or tribes of Indiana in Northern Montaua, and at Fort Berthold, in Dakota,, for s. reduotion of their respective reservations, or for removal therefrom to other reser-vations; and also to enable said Saoretsry to neqotiate with the Upper and Middle bands of Spokane Indians and Pend dlOreillea Indians, in Washington and Idaho Territories, for their removal to the Colville, Jooko, or Cmnr d1A1bne Resermt,ions, with the consent of the Indians on said reservstians; and also to enable said Seore-tary to negotiate with said Indiana for the cession of their landa to the United States; and abo to enable said Secretary to negotiate with the Cmnr d1Al8na Indiana for the cesaion of their lands outaide the limita of the present Caaor d'Albne Reservation to the United States, $15,000, or so much thereof a8 may be necessary, to be immsdi-ate17 available; hot no agreement shall take effect till ratified by Congreas. With a view to carrying out the provisions of this a t , a commission composed of Hon. John V. Wright, Rt. Rev. H.B. Whipple, and Charles F. Larrabee, esq., was appointed to negotiate with the several bands and tribes named in the act; they are now in the field, nuder instructions dated July 27,1886. It is confidently hoped that the labors of this commission will result in settling all matters of dispute between the various tribes and bands and the Government, and in the adoption of measures that will go far towards their civilization, education, and general advancement and welfare. |