mittee of the Business Council and special assistant thereof to attend the hearings on proposed termination when conducted. The joint legislative committee is comprised of eight council members; namely: George Snider, Oliver Pooler, Roy Seyler, Shirley Palmer, Barney Richard, Pat Nugent, Mary Nicholson, Thelma Marchand and Mrs. Ruby Babcock, special assistant. Out of the aforementioned nine delegates one testified in opposition of S. 1413 and the other eight in favor of the bill. The enclosed resolution also confirms payments of expenses of six additional delegates made up of minority groups which enabled them to appear and testify at the hearings. We wish to take this opportunity to thank you, your committee and staff members and other individuals who made it possible for our delegates to appear and testify and also the cooperative and cordial attitude extended the Colville delegates during the entire hearing. Tribal members have been advised that they have 10 days within which to register their testimony for or against S. 1413. Respectfully yours, HARRY OWHI, Executive Secretary, Colville Business Council. RESOLUTION, 1965-90 Whereas the Senate Subcommittee on Interior and Insular Affairs conducted hearings on S. 1413, pending termination of Federal supervision over the property and affairs of the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, at the New Senate Building, Washington, D.C. on April 5–6, 1965; and Whereas the joint legislative committee and assistant thereof of the Business Council, comprised of 8 councilmen and assistants were authorized and on delegation standby status to attend the said hearings on S. 1413 as evidenced by enactment of resolution 1965-41; and Whereas due to the immediate time element involved and absence of prior authorization, it was deemed appropriate and fair to authorize the disbursement of tribal funds to insure the representation of tribal minority groups opposed to the passage of S. 1413 at the said hearings; and Whereas it is therefore the recommandation of the finance and legislative committee of the Business Council that the advancement of necessary tribal funds disbursement and first-class roundtrip plane fare to attend the hearings at Washington, D.C., on April 5–6, 1965, be confirmed and approved: Now, therefore, be it hereby Resolved, That we, the Colville Business Council, meeting in regular session at the Colville Indian Subagency, Nespelem, Wash., acting for and in behalf of the Colville Confederated Tribes this 8th day of April, 1965, do hereby confirm and approve, in pursuance to Colville Business Council scale, the advancement of wages, per diem, mileage reimbursement and first-class roundtrip airplane fare from Spokane, Wash., to Washington, D.C., made to the following-named individuals to attend the hearings at Washington, D.C., on April 5-6, 1965, on S. 1413 (comparison bill H.R. 5925) now pending before the 89th Congress, 1st session: Minority Group of the Colville Business Council: Mr. Joseph P. Boyd and Mrs. Lucy F. Covington. Colville Indian Association: Mr. Thomas Edwards and Mrs. Alice Hallenius. Resolved, That the total costs to attend the said hearings on S. 1413, as authorized hereunder and Colville resolution 1965-41 shall be, and hereby is considered required costs in compliance with the provisions set forth under Public Law 84-772, 84th Congress, 2d session, and shall be reimbursed in full to Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, Wash. The foregoing was duly enacted by the Colville Business Council by a vote of 11 for; 0 against, under authority contained in article V, section 1(a) of the constitution of the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, ratified by the Colville Indians on February 26, 1938, and approved by the Commissioner of Indian Affairs on April 19, 1938. REPUBLIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, Hon. HENRY M. JACKSON, U.S. Senator, Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C. DEAR SENATOR JACKSON: The Republic Chamber of Commerce, at its regular meeting last Wednesday, went on record of being in favor of the bill you introduced pertaining to termination of the Federal supervision of the Colville Confederated Tribes, S. 1413, and urge your continued support. We also solicit your support on the early completion of the "North Cross State Highway," as we feel our area will greatly benefit from it. Sincerely, FRED W. BREMNER, Secretary. COEUR D'ALENE, IDAHO, April 8, 1965. SENATE INTERIOR COMMITTEE, (Attention: James Gamble). DEAR Mr. GAMBLE: We the undersigned members of the Colville Confederated Tribes enrolled at Nespelem, Wash., are definitely in favor of complete termination bill. We are for all people to be equal and ourselves are educated as follows: I, Mrs. Genevieve Marchand Nichols, 28 years old, am a graduate of the Coeur d'Alene High School and Mrs. Karen Marchand Mills, 22 years old, a graduate of Immaculate Heart of Mary Academy and attended 1 year at North Idaho Junior College. I, Mrs. Alice Marchand Boyer, 48 years old, a college graduate of Spokane Community College of Nursing. Mrs. Sophie McDonald, 73 years of age. I think we are fully qualified and competent to handle our own affairs. We further feel other tribes should have no opinion in our tribal affairs. SENATE SUBCOMMITTEE ON INDIAN AFFAIRS, New Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C. Mrs. GENEVIEVE M. NICHOLS. Mrs. ALICE M. BOYER. OMAK, WASH., April 10, 1965. DEAR SIR: I am an enrolled member of the Colville Indian Tribe. As an adult member, I am for the termination, legislation bills, S. 1413 and H.R. 5925. Sincerely, ROBERT L. FRY. OROVILLE, WASH., April 14, 1965. SENATE INTERIOR COMMITTEE, New Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C. (Attention of James Gamble). DEAR SIR: I have lived close to the Colville Indian Reservation for the past 35 years. I feel that I know Indians quite well, and although I do not consider myself an authority on Indians, others do. I have read various pros and cons in regard to ending Federal supervision of the Colvilles. It is my personal opinion that continuance of Federal supervision is doing the majority of the members of this tribe a grave injustice, and depriving the State and Nation of many worthwhile citizens. We have many Indians in our community that are responsible citizens and are equal to and treated as are those of non-Indian blood. In our schools and community there is no discrimination as regards Indians, except by a few narrowminded individuals. There are many Colvilles that would take their place in society as one of us, were it not for the fact that the reservation is holding them back. There is a small hard-core group on the reservation that is fighting termination, because they have been getting a good living from the reservation as agents for the rest of the tribe. George, who testified before your committee being one of them. The George family for years has made an extremely good living as employees of the reservation. It is, also, my opinion that the Indian agents of the Federal Government from Nash on down are quietly throwing obstacles in the path of termination in order to safeguard their present jobs. I operate a 250-acre orchard. I have employed a great many Indians and at present about one-third my crew are Indians. They are generally dependable, conscientious workers, much more so than some of the white and black transients we have employed. I have found the Indians to be much superior to the Negros. I will admit that there are some Indians that are irresponsible. These are the ones, and most of them live on the reservation, that are cited as shining examples of why the Colvilles should not be released from Government supervision. In Okanogan County, white citizens in this class probably outnumber the Indians 2 to 1. Myself, and practically all responsible citizens of this county think that Nash's idea of starting a mill on the reservation, to employ 600 people, is asinine. It is my considered opinion that with the prop of Government supervision removed most of the Colvilles will immediately take their place in our society as fine, responsible citizens. Sincerely, GEO. G. OGLE. SPOKANE, WASH., April 14, 1965. Mr. JAMES GAMBLE, Senate Interior Committee, New Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C. DEAR MR. GAMBLE: As a member of the Colville Confederated Tribes I wish to go on record as being very much in favor of the bill, S. 1413, which was introduced by Senator Jackson. This bill is a combination of several bills which were proposed at one time or another, and it incorporates the better sections of each. It is my personal feeling that this is a very fair and complete bill which offers a choice to each member remaining in the tribal entity status or of accepting his fair share. The charges that were made at the Senate hearing concerning the illiteracy of the tribal members is very unjust and biased. The majority of those who testified against the bill have interests of their own which would best be served by having the reservation remain as it is. Under the Senate bill S. 1413, there is a referendum vote provided for the enrolled members of the tribe to determine the wishes of the majority. This is the only fair way to settle this issue for once and all. Very truly yours, JACK E. BIERCE. SPOKANE, WASH., April 12, 1965. Hon. LEE METCALF, Washington, D.C. DEAR SIR: I am an enrolled member of the Colville Confederated Tribes. I have just read an account of a statement made before your committee on termination proceedings claiming that the intelligence level of the Colvilles is so low that we could not make a proper judgment between terminating or remaining under the "care" of the Bureau. This is a very serious charge. Personally, I find it very offensive. The statement does, however, raise some equally serious questions that I think you should consider: 1. Upon what factual data was this statement based? Was it merely another wild opinion brandished for ulterior purposes or did the gentleman have valid statistical evidence to support his statement? If the statement be true, why did not some one in a position of responsibility or accountability make it? I seriously doubt such a preposterous statement, and I hope your committee weighs the statement in terms of its credibility. Also of importance in terms of the hearings, Senator, are these questions: 2. What has been the effectiveness of the Bureau in meeting its assigned responsibilities? What is the Bureau costing the taxpayer each year? Is this the most efficient use of these moneys? Moreover, is anyone naive enough to believe that, after X number of years of bungling, the Bureau, if given further control, will be any more efficient? 3. Mr. Nash apparently believes a lumber mill is the primary need of the tribal members. Would a mill be economically feasible? Could it compete with the other mills already operating in the area? Is there a need for another mill? I believe any qualified study would determine that another mill is not needed and would not be a wise economic undertaking. I have a degree in economics and am employed as a labor market analyst for the eastern part of the State by the Washington State Employment Security Department. This is my casual observation. Nevertheless, I believe the proposal foolhardy and at a minimum in need of study with private lumbermen participating in any feasibility study. Yet, according to Mr. Nash, the mill would yield a dividend of approximately $700 per person, per year. I presume this was a maximum estimate. Other reports indicate that liquidation, by sale to the Government,would yield at least $20,000 per person; $20,000 at 5 percent interest is $1,000 per year, $300 more than the dividend from the operation of the mill. If necessary, to counter the charges of irresponsibility, Congress could appoint a commission to determine the competency of all tribal members, with the right of appeal to the court. A trusteeship could be set up for those not capable of handling their own affairs. 3. Lastly, but most important, if we live in a democracy and subscribe to democratic principles, should not the tribal members be given the right to decide for themselves the question of termination? I believe the most equitable plan would be a supervised election, thus avoiding the voting irregularities of the past, with a simple majority of those voting determining the outcome. In the final analysis, Senator, there is no valid reason for denying the right of choice to the adult members of the tribe. May I hear from you in regards to this matter? SENATE SUBCOMMITTEE ON INDIAN AFFAIRS, Washington, D.C. JERRY NEAL, THE AMERICAN LEGION, MR. CHAIRMAN: At the regular American Legion meeting held on April 13, 1965, the termination bill, S. 1413, was discussed. A motion was properly made and seconded that the adjutant be authorized to write a letter in behalf of Leo K. McCormack Post No. 80, stating that the post favors the passage of bill, S. 1413. The termination of Federal supervision over the Colville Confederated Tribes. Sincerely yours, RALPH G. BREMNER, Adjutant. Mr. JAMES GAMBLE, Senate Interior Committee. DEAR SIR: I am a member of the Colville Confederated Tribe and writing to you in regard to S. 1413, termination bill. I am in favor of this bill without any amendments. We have been under the BIA for over a hundred years, and in which time, a lot of our Indians died in poverty. And our reservation is one of the richest timber reservations in the Northwest. Therefore, if given a chance and terminate we could all make use of our moneys to develop and buy homes so that we may be independent. The BIA has had a chance to help develop our resources but have been dragging their feet until now S. 1413 has come up to terminate, the BIA wants to loan us money to buy a mill. But all they want is a perpetual hold over the Indians, and to hang on to their thrones to dictate to the Indians for another hundred years, 46-705--65-14 Therefore, I am in favor of S. 1413 and do not want a long period of termination. A referendum vote should be called and be determined by the actual adult voters who vote in this referendum. Sincerely yours, MELVIN LA COURSE. Senator LEE METCALF, Chairman, Subcommittee on Indian Affairs, TACOMA, WASH., April 15, 1965. DEAR SENATOR METCALF: I am a U.S. citizen and a member of the Colville Confederated Tribes in the State of Washington. I would like to tell the Subcommittee on Indian Affairs that I am not against the enactment of proper legislation for the termination of Federal supervision over the property of the Confederated tribes of the Colville Indians located in the State of Washington and the individual members. It is just the way in which the termination of a tribal entity is brought into law. I am against the enactment of S. 1413 as it is now written. I have read the statement which Mr. Thomas Edwards, president of the Colville Indian Association delivered at the Senate Subcommittee on Indian Affairs in the New Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C., on April 5, 1965. I support all the proposed amendments which Mr. Thomas Edwards gave to the Subcommittee on Indian Affairs in his statment. Sincerely yours, SENATE INTERIOR COMMITTEE, FRANK EDGAR EDWARDS. New Senate Office Building, (Attention of James Gamble). GENTLEMEN: As an enrolled member of the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Indian Reservation, I urge immediate passage of bill S. 1413. (Letters identical to the above were received from :) Arlene B. Cox, Clotilda H. Black, Myrtle B. Ort, William G. Black, Rosalie Black Greene, Kenneth R. Gorr, Joy Dean Gorr Prescott, Emily S. Grant, Mrs. Constance Lloyd, Elizabeth J. Landreth, Jimmie A. C. Smith, Emily Smith, John Smith, and Leona S. Baker. Re S. 1413 termination bill (Colville Tribes). SENATE INTERIOR COMMITTEE, New Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C. (Attention of Mr. James Gamble). MARCH 29, 1965. GENTLEMEN: I am one of the members of the Colville Tribes who favors passage of the above-mentioned bill. It appears to be a fair bill which would accomplish the greatest good for the greatest number. The money would be a big help to the young people in financing an education, learning a trade, and establishing their own homes. It would give the older Indian a nest egg for his old age and perhaps enjoy some of the comforts to which most Americans have long been accustomed. I intend to use part of whatever I might get for further education (business college) and to buy an annuity for retirement years. Yours very truly, Thank you for your assistance in this matter. (Mrs.) LORETTA C. GALIK. TACOMA, WASH., March 29, 1965. SENATE INTERIOR COMMITTEE: I, a member of the Colville Tribe am in favor of the termination bill S. 1413. I believe it will be beneficial to the majority of those enrolled. Sincerely, ANNIE O. ROWLS. |