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Show COMMISSIONER OF INDIAN @PAIRS. 6J provisions of sections 2140 and 2141 of ,the Revised Statutes to beer andother classes of intodcatiig liquors not heretofore covered by ,that.statute. This legislation has been greatly needed, and particularly so in Oklahoma and Minnesota. In the former State the many decisions of the circuit court of appeals, holding that possession by a aefendant within certain portions of the State of intoxicating liquor which had been brought into the State from without is not sufficient to warrant conviction under a statute for introducing liquor into the Indian country or the old Indian Territory, have made it difficult to obtain convictions. . ~ In Minnesota within the area ceded by the treaty of February 22, 1855, there was a large number of saloons, breweries, etc., and liquor , was transported from one point to ansother within the territory as legislation has heretofore only prohibited distilleries of ,ardent spirits and authorized the destruction of ardent spirits or wine fonnd in the Indian country. This legislation remedies these condi- .~ .lions. - The' decisions of the Supreme Court of the United States have , been farorablc to the contention of the Government, and several important decisions were rendered. The action of the court in upholding the provisions of the treaty of February 22, 1855, with the Chippewa Indians in Minnesota enabled us to extend our opera-tions in behalf of a large number of Indians and to close the saloons within the area in Minnesota ceded by this band. However, the case of most importance is that of United States v. Nice, in which this tribunal overruled the-Heff case and held that the power of Congress to regulate or prohibit the sale of intoxicating liquors to , . allottees under the general-allotment act is not debatable. Other cases of importance have been disposed of in the Supreme Court and other Federal courts. Likewise, several importank decisions have been rendered by State courts bearing on thisphase of our work which will prove beneficial to the Indian. Our work in Minnesota has been carried on successfully and with no feeling of resentment on the part of large majority of citizens, . .although I regret that one person was killed in connection with . these gperations. That sentiment has been favorable is evidenced . by the fact that many of the counties within the treaty territory have . . , recently voted for county option and against the liquor interests. During the course of the year all saloons remaining within the treaty. . . territory were closed and drunkenness among the Indians practically eliminated. Our work has resulted in a very large number of cases on the charge of introducing, and many automobiles, teams, and conveyances were seized and libeled, in accordance with the provi-sions of law: The State authorities have,cooperated with us, and 65333-4-5 |