OCR Text |
Show to, He Must He Protected. Washington, September 23. The Pueblo Indian delegation called again upon the Commissioner of Indian Affairs yesterday morning, and left for their home in New Mexico last night. They have been paftially successful in their mission, for the Commissioner Commis-sioner will request the authorities of New Mexico to suspend the tax levy until the exact legal status of these Indians can be determined. The Commissioner seems to be of the opinion that these Indians should not be taxed. He admits that they were properly regarded as citizens under the treaty by which New Mexico was ceded to the United States, but says they have never been allowed to exercise the'rights of citizenship. citi-zenship. The New Mexican authorities have not allowed them to vote except upon some petty question of ditching affecting their own'community. Their lands were granted to the tribe by Mexico,and the United States is paying them money which the authorities of New Mexico seem to be endeavoring to acquire by taxation. The Commissioner believes be-lieves that the Pueblos, who are poor ignorant ignor-ant Indians, should be protected as wards of the nation. - . . |