99 
 
 N3 
 
 U<> 
 
BANCROFT 
 LIBRARY 
 
 o 
 
 THE LIBRARY 
 
 OF 
 
 THE UNIVERSITY 
 OF CALIFORNIA 
 
=1 I'S 
 
 56TH CONGRESS, ) HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, j DOCUMENT^ 
 
 1st Session. [ -j No. 357. 
 
 - v- J 
 
 SETTLERS ON THE NAVAJO INDIAN RESERVATION. 
 
 MESSAGE 
 
 FROM THE 
 
 PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, 
 
 RETURNING, 
 
 WITHOUT APPROVAL, H. R. 4001, ENTITLED "AN ACT AUTHOR 
 IZING THE ADJUSTMENT OF RIGHTS OF SETTLERS ON THE 
 NAVAJO INDIAN RESERVATION, TERRITORY OF ARIZONA." 
 
 MAY 4, 1900. Referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs and ordered to be printed. 
 
 To the House of Representatives : 
 
 I herewith return without approval H. R. 4001, entitled "An act 
 authorizing the adjustment of rights of settlers on the Navajo Indian 
 Reservation, Territory of Arizona." My objections to the bill are 
 embodied in the following statement: 
 
 This tribe has a population of about 20,500 souls, of whom 1,000 
 dress in the manner of white men, 250 can read, and 500 use enough 
 English for ordinary conversation. Last year they cultivated 8,000 
 acres, and possessed, approximately, 1,000,000 sheep, 250,000 goats, 
 100,500 cattle, 1,200 swine, and very considerable herds of horses and 
 ponies. Prior to January last the reservation, which is in the extreme 
 northeastern portion of the Territory of Arizona, consisted of lands 
 set apart for the use of these Indians under the treaty of June 1, 1863 
 (15 Stat., 667), and subsequent Executive orders. On account of the 
 conditions naturally prevailing in that section the reservation as then 
 constituted was altogether inadequate for the purposes for which it 
 was set apart. There was not a sufficient supply of grass or water 
 within its borders for the flocks and herds of the tribe, and in conse 
 quence more than one-third of the Indians were habitually off the res 
 ervation with their flocks and herds, and were in frequent contention 
 and strife with whites over pasturage and water. After most careful 
 inquiry and inspection of the reservation as it then existed, arid of 
 adjacent lands, by efficient officers in the Indian service, the Commis 
 sioner of Indian Affairs, with the concurrence of the Secretary of the 
 Interior, recommended that the limits of the reservation be extended 
 westward so as to embrace the lands lying between the Navajo and 
 Moqui Indian reservations on the east and the Colorado and Little 
 

 2 SETTLERS ON THE NAVAJO INDIAN RESERVATION. 
 
 Colorado rivers and the Grand Can von Forest Reserve on tlio wost. 
 This recommendation was supported by a very numerously signed 
 petition from the white residents of that section, and also by a letter 
 From the governor of the Territory of Arizona, in which it was said : 
 
 1 understand that a petition has been forwarded asking that the western limit be 
 fixed at the Little Colorado River as being better for all concerned and less liable to 
 cause friction between the Indians and the whites. I earnestly hope that the prayer 
 of the petitioners be granted, for the reason that the Little Colorado could be made 
 a natural dividing line, distinct and well defined, and would extend the grazing ter 
 ritory of the Navajoes to a very considerable extent without seriously encroaching 
 upon the interests of white settlers who have their property in that neighborhood. 
 
 I think great care should be exercised in questions of ttiis nature, because of pos 
 sible serious friction which may occur if the interests of all concerned ar not care 
 fully protected. 
 
 The investigation which preceded this recommendation, and upon 
 which it was in part based, showed that with the boundaries of the 
 reservation thus extended the Indians would be able to obtain within 
 the limits of the reservation sufficient grass and water for their flocks 
 and herds, and the Government would therefore be justified in confin 
 ing them to the reservation, thus avoiding the prior contention and 
 f notion between them and the whites. 
 
 It appearing that but little aid had been extended to these Indians 
 by the Government for many years, that they had taken on habits of 
 industry and husbandry which entitled them to encouragement, and 
 that it was neither just nor possible to confine them to the limits of a 
 reservation which would not sustain their flocks and herds, an order 
 was issued by me January 8 last extending the reservation boundaries 
 as recommended. The Indians have accepted this as an evidence of 
 the good faith of the Government toward them, and it is now the 
 belief of those charged with the administration of Indian affairs that 
 further contention and friction between the Indians and whites will be 
 avoided if this arrangement is not disturbed. 
 
 The present bill proposes to open to miners and prospectors and to 
 the operation of the mining laws a substantial portion of this reserva 
 tion, including a part of the lands covered by the recent order. There 
 has been no effort to obtain from the Indians a concession of this 
 character, nor has any reason been presented why, if these lands are 
 to be taken from them for that will practically result from this bill 
 if it becomes a law, even though not so intended it should not be 
 done in pursuance of negotiations had with the Indians as in other 
 instances. The Indians could not understand how lands given to them 
 in January as necessary for their use should be taken away without 
 previous notice in May of the same year. While the Indians are the 
 wards of the Government, and must submit to that which is deemed 
 for their best interests by the sovereign guardian, they should, never 
 theless, be dealt with in a manner calculated to give them confidence 
 in the Government and to assist them in passing through the inevita 
 ble transition to a state of civilization and full citizenship. Believing 
 that due consideration has not been given to the status and interests 
 of the Indians, I withhold my approval from the bill. 
 
 WILLIAM McKlNLEY. 
 
 EXECUTIVE MANSION, May 3, 1900.