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Show REPORT OF THE OOMMSSIONER OF INDIAN AFFAES. 75 March 13, that the act of.August 15, 1894, was still applicable. This correspondence was forwarded by the Senator to the Department, and by the Department to this Office March 17. March 22 the OfFce reported that it had no objection to the enactment of legislation looking 1 to the sale of timber on the Jicarilla Apache Reservation, provided such legislation was along the lines suggested in it9 reports of February 1, 1894, and December 24, 1900. March 24 the Department referred to the Office a report made by Spccial Agent Frank C. Armstrong on March 8, 1902, in which he strongly recommended the enactment of legislation that would permit r the Indians of the Jicarilla Apache Reservation to dispose of the tim-ber thereon. March 29 the O5ce submitted the following draft of a bill, which the Department forwarded to Congress 'April 4: A BILL Authoricmg the sale of timber on the Jiesrilla Apache Reservation for the benefit of the Indians belonging thereto. Be 3 mded by iheSena(e and &use ofRepr+vmta&tlv of fJu Unifed Staies of America k Congress assembled, That the Secretary of the Interior be,and he hereby ia, author-ized under wch rules and regulations as he may prescribe, to sell or otherwise dispuae of any or all of the timber on the Jicarilla Apache Indian Reservation in New Mexico, whether 'allotted or nnallotted, if allotted, with the conaent of the dlottee, the pro-ceeds to be used by the Secretary of the Interior in the purchase of stock for the benefit of a11 of said Indians, or for such other purpose ,as in his judgment will tend to promote their -welfare and, advance them in civilization. It was not introduced as a bill, bat is published in House Doc. No. 531, Fifty-seventh Congress, first session. I LEASING OF lNDLAN LANDS. I I ALLOTTED LANDS. The terms for which Indian allotments may be leased were given in the annual reports of this office for the years 1900 and 1901. The maximum varies from three to ten years according to circumstances, and where only a money consideration is given the lease is usually limited to one year. All approved g~azingle ases for terms in excess of one year provide, in addition to the cash rental, for fencing the lands, and all approved farming and grazing leases for terms in excess of two years have provision either for placing some substantial improvements on the premises or for breaking new land, or for both. The amended rules governing the leasing of allotted lands, approved March 21, 1902, provide that- Every adult, male, able-bodied Indian not engaged in some permanent business ; or ompatian by which he is gaining a livelihood for himaelf and family will he j required to reserve not less than 40 acres of oultivable land from his own allotment I for occupancy and cultivation by himaelf, which shall always be exempt from 1 leaeing. I |