THE LAKE TRAVERSE INDIAN RESERVATION. To the Senate and House of Representatives: I transmit herewith a communication of the 8th instant from the Secretary of the Interior, submitting a report of the Commissioner of Indian Affairs and accompanying agreement made with the Sisseton and Wahpeton bands of Dakota or Sioux Indians for the purchase and release of the surplus lands in the Lake Traverse Indian Reservation in the States of North and South Dakota; the negotiations for said purchase and release having been conducted under the authority contained in the fifth section of the general allotment act of February 8, 1887 (24 Stats., 388), which provides among other things that the "purchase shall not be complete until ratified by Congress, and the form and manner of executing such release shall also be prescribed by Congress. This agreement involves a departure from the terms of the general allotment act in at least one important particular. It gives to each member of the tribe 160 acres of land without regard to age or sex, while the general law gives this allotment only to heads of families. There are, I think, serious objections to the basis adopted in the general law, especially in its application to married women; but if the basis of the agreement herewith submitted is accepted, it would, I think, result in some cases where there are large families of minor children, in excessive allotments to a single family. Whatever is done in this case will of course become in some sense a precedent in the cases yet to be dealt with. Perhaps the question of the payment by the United States of the annuities which were forfeited by the act of February 16, 1863 (12 Stats., 652), should not have been considered in connection with this negotiation for the cession of these lands. But it appears that a refusal to consider this claim would have terminated the negotiation, and if the claim is just its allowance has already been too long delayed. The forfeiture declared by the act of 1863 unjustly included the annuities of certain Indians of these bands who were not only guilty of no fault, but who rendered meritorious services in the armies of the United States in the suppression of the Sioux outbreak and in the war of the rebellion. The agreement submitted, as I understand, provides for the payment of the annuities justly due to these friendly Indians to all the members of the two bands per capita. This is said to be the unanimous wish of the Indians, and a distribution to the friendly Indians and their descendants only would now be very difficult if not impossible. The agreement is respectfully submitted for the consideration of Congress. EXECUTIVE MANSION, February 18, 1890. BENJ. HARRISON. CHIPPEWA INDIANS OF MINNESOTA. To the Senate and House of Representatives: In pursuance of the authority and direction contained in the act of Congress approved January 14, 1889, entitled "An act for the relief and civilization of the Chippewa Indians in the State of Minnesota," three Commissioners were appointed by the President on February 26, 1889, as therein authorized and directed, namely, Henry M. Rice, of Minnesota, Martin Marty, of Dakota, and Joseph B. Whiting, of Wisconsin, to negotiate with said Indians. The Commissioners have submitted their final report, with accompanying papers, showing the results of the negotiations conducted by them, and the same has been carefully reviewed by the Secretary of the Interior in his report to me thereon. Being satisfied from an examination of the papers submitted that the cession and relinquishment by said Chippewa Indians of their title and interest in the lands specified and described in the agreement with the different bands or tribes of Chippewa Indians in the State of Minnesota was obtained in the manner prescribed in the first section of said act, and that more than the requisite number have signed said agreement, I have, as provided by said act, approved the said instruments in writing, constituting the agreement entered into by the Commissioners with said Indians. The Commissioners did not escape the embarrassment which unfortunately too often attends our negotiations with the Indians, namely, an indisposition to treat with the Government for further concessions while its obligations incurred under former agreements are unkept. I am sure it will be the disposition of Congress to consider promptly and in a just and friendly spirit the claims presented by these Indians through our Commissioners which have been formulated in the draught of a bill prepared by the Secretary of the Interior and submitted herewith. The act of January 14, 1889 (25 U. S. Stat., 642), evidently contemplated the voluntary removal of the body of all these bands of 15151-11 Indians to the White Earth and Red Lake reservations, but a proviso in section 3 of the act authorized any Indian to take his allotment upon the reservation where he now resides. The Commissioners report that quite a general desire was expressed by the Indians to avail themselves of this option. The result of this is that the ceded land can not be ascertained and brought to sale under the act until all of the allotments are made. I recommend that the necessary appropriations to complete the surveys and allotments be made at once available, so that the work may be begun and completed at the earliest possible day. A copy of the report made by the Commissioners, with copies of all the papers submitted therewith, except the census rolls, is herewith presented for the information of the Congress. EXECUTIVE MANSION, March 4, 1890. BENJ. HARRISON. AN INTERNATIONAL RAILWAY LINE. To the Senate and House of Representatives: I transmit herewith a report of the International American Conference, recently in session at this capital, recommending a survey of a route for an intercontinental line of railroad to connect the systems of North America with those of the Southern Continent, and to be conducted under the direction of a board of commissioners representing the several American Republics. Public attention has chiefly been attracted to the subject of improved water communication between the ports of the United States and those of Central and South America. The creation of new and improved steamship lines undoubtedly furnishes the readiest means of developing an increased trade with the Latin-American nations. But it should not be forgotten that it is possible to travel by land from Washington to the southernmost capital of South America, and that the opening of railroad communication with these friendly states will give to them and to us facilities for intercourse and the exchanges of trade that are of special value. The work contemplated is vast, but entirely practicable. It will be interesting to all and perhaps surprising to most of us to notice how much has already been done in the way of railroad construction in Mexico and South America that can be utilized as part of an intercontinental line. I do not hesitate to recommend that Congress make the very moderate appropriation for surveys suggested by the conference, and authorize the appointment of commissioners and the detail of engineer officers to direct and conduct the necessary preliminary surveys. EXECUTIVE MANSION, May 19, 1890. BENJ. HARRISON. AN INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN BANK. To the Senate and House of Representatives: I transmit herewith a letter from the Secretary of State, inclosing a report adopted by the International American Conference, recently in session at this capital, recommending the establishment of an international American bank, with its principal offices in the city of New York and branches in the commercial centers of the several other American Republics. The advantages, of such an institution to the merchants of the United States engaged in trade with Central and South America and the purposes intended to be accomplished are fully set forth in the letter of the Secretary of State and the accompanying report. It is not proposed to involve the United States in any financial responsibility, but only to give to the proposed bank a corporate franchise and to promote public confidence by requiring that its condition and transactions shall be submitted to a scrutiny similar to that which is now exercised over our domestic banking system. The subject is submitted for the consideration of Congress in the belief that it will be found possible to promote the end desired by legislation so guarded as to avoid all just criticism. EXECUTIVE MANSION, May 27, 1890. BENJ. HARRISON. THE INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE. To the Senate and House of Representatives: The International American Conference, recently in session at this capital, recommended for adoption by the several American Republics : (1) A uniform system of customs regulations for the classification and valuation of imported merchandise; (2) A uniform nomenclature for the description of articles of merchandise imported and exported; and (3) The establishment at Washington of an international bureau of information. The conference also, at its final session, decided to establish in the city of Washington, as a fitting memorial of its meeting, a Latin-American library, to be formed by contributions from the several nations of historical, geographical, and literary works, maps, manuscripts, and official documents relating to the history and civilization of America, and expressed a desire that the Government of the United States should provide a suitable building for the shelter of such a library, to be solemnly dedicated upon the fourhundredth anniversary of the discovery of America. The importance of these suggestions is fully set forth in the letter of the Secretary of State, and the accompanying documents herewith transmitted, to which I invite your attention. EXECUTIVE MANSION, June 2, 1890. BENJ. HARRISON. RECIPROCAL COMMERCIAL TREATIES. To the Senate and House of Representatives: I transmit herewith, for your information, a letter from the Secretary of State, inclosing a report of the International American Conference, which recommends that reciprocal commercial treaties be entered into between the United States and the several other Republics of this hemisphere. It has been so often and so persistently stated that our tariff laws offered an insurmountable barrier to a large exchange of products with the Latin-American nations, that I deem it proper to call especial attention to the fact that more than 87 per cent of the products of those nations sent to our ports are now admitted free. If sugar is placed upon the free list, practically every important article exported from those States will be given untaxed access to our markets, except wool. The real difficulty in the way of negotiating profitable reciprocity treaties is, that we have given freely so much that would have had value in the mutual concessions which such treaties imply. I can not doubt, however, that the present advantages which the products of these near and friendly States enjoy in our markets-though they are not by law exclusive-will, with other considerations, favorably dispose them to adopt such measures, |