Show washington D C dec 23 1915 non hon william oneil roosevelt utah sly MY dear mr oneil 1 I 1 have your letter of the ginst with reference to legislation which is desired in the interest of your section of the country I 1 shall be very glad to operate cooperate co with the other representatives in Con congress gres from utah in the endeavor to bring about the things you desire I 1 am very much afraid however that it will be ba impossible to put through a bill providing for free home homesteading on the reservation much as I 1 should like to see sea it done because there will be vigorous opposition upon two grounds first thatis th atit would be making an exception in favor of a particular locality and second because the indians still have a tight right to the proceeds proceed 3 arising from the sale of lands in the former reservation however I 1 will discuss the matter with my colleagues with a view to seeing what can be done senator smoot informs me that he has already prepared a bill to turn over to utah the lands and buildings at fort duchesne cli esne I 1 do not think a petition from the settlers would at present advance the matter the wishes vis hes of the people we can make known to members of Corr congress gress from obrown knowledge of what they desire I 1 shall be glad to hear from you at it any time with further reference to the matter very sincerely yours GEO sutherland |