with tuberculosis. The Commissioner is also directed to take action looking to the suppression of the traffic among Indians of intoxicating liquors, for which $10,000 is appropriated.

It has been represented to the committee that there are large tracts of Indian land in Minnesota that need draining simply to make them valuable and salable; that the State of Minnesota has pursued this policy with State lands effectively and profitably, and that the same policy could be pursued by the Government with reference to the lands of the Indians, and therefore $15,000 is appropriated that the Secretary of the Interior may make the necessary survey, and that the Government shall be reimbursed for its expenditures in this direction from the sale of the lands so improved. There are other new minor provisions which will explain themselves.

NATIONAL SOCIETY OF THE SONS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION.

FEBRUARY 21, 1906. -Referred to the House Calendar and ordered to be printed.

Mr. OLCOTT, from the Committee on the District of Columbia, submitted the following

REPORT.

[To accompany H. R. 15332.]

The Committee on the District of Columbia, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. 13192) to incorporate the National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution, having had the same under consideration report herewith a substitute bill (H. R. 15332) in lieu of the same and recommend that it do pass.

The substitute bill differs only from H. R. 13192 in that it omits section 3, which in substance required this organization to report annually to the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution concerning its proceedings and requiring said secretary to communicate the same to Congress, and in its other sections defines more in detail the corporate power of the society and the method of its charter organization. The substitute has the entire approval of the officers of the society who desire this legislation.

The society is thoroughly national in its organization and in its objects, and seeks incorporation from Congress in order that its legal status and its national work may be more broadly defined than has been found possible under the necessary limitations of the corporation laws of individual States or of the District of Columbia.

The proposed legislation constitutes a body corporate and politic in the city of Washington, D. C., by the name of the National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution. The United States is involved in no liability whatever by this incorporation. The power of the corporation is by the bill limited to such acts as are necessary for its lawful purposes, and its constitution, by-laws, rules, and regulations must be consistent with the laws of the United States or any of the States thereof.

The National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution is composed of lineal descendants of soldiers, sailors, and civil patriots of the

war of the American revolution. It was founded in 1889 and its present membership, numbering 12,000, is organized into thirty-nine coor dinate State societies throughout the United States, besides a society in Hawaii and one in France.

This society is established for patriotic, historic, and educational purposes; to inspire its members and the community at large with a profound reverence for the principles of the Government founded by our forefathers; to encourage research in relation to the American revolution; to acquire and preserve records of the patriots and events of the war; and to mark the scenes of the revolution by appropriate memorials.

This society has recently brought about the publication by the Government of France of a roll of over 40,000 of our French allies in the American revolution; and, through the personal efforts of the president of its society in France, discovered in Paris the remains of Admiral John Paul Jones, now brought to America for permanent burial. It has built monuments on many historic spots in our country, has erected statues in memory of some of the great heroes of the revolution, and has marked the almost forgotten graves of thousands of active participants of the struggle for American independence.

This measure has the approval of the Commissioners of the District of Columbia, as will be seen by their following communication:

OFFICE COMMISSIONERS OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA,

Washington, February 6, 1906.

SIR: The Commissioners of the District of Columbia have the honor to recommend favorable action on H. R. bill 13192, Fifty-ninth Congress, first session, "To incorporate the National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution," which was referred to them at your instance for examination and report.

Very respectfully,

Hon. J. W. BABCOCK,

HENRY B. F. MACFARLAND, President Board of Commissioners District of Columbia.

Chairman of Committee on District of Columbia, House of Representatives.

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SALE OF CERTAIN LAND TO THE STATE OF MINNESOTA.

FEBRUARY 21, 1906.-Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union and ordered to be printed.

Mr. VOLSTEAD, from the Committee on the Public Lands, submitted the following

REPORT.

[To accompany H. R. 10101.]

The Committee on the Public Lands, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. 10101) to authorize the sale and conveyance of certain land to the State of Minnesota, having had the same under consideration beg leave to suggest that it be amended by adding after the word "direct, in the fifth line, the words "and for such compensation as he may deem adequate," and recommend that the bill so amended do pass.

This land belongs to the United States. It was at one time intended that it should be allotted to certain Indians, but it has never been so allotted. This land adjoins the grounds of the Hastings State Asylum, an institution in which the State has invested a great deal of money, and it is greatly needed by that institution.

The Commissioner of Indian Affairs and the Secretary of the Interior recommend this legislation. Their letters and that of the Commissioner of the General Land Office follow:

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
Washington, February 6, 1906.

SIR: In a letter of the 18th ultimo to the Department you inclosed a copy of H. R. 10101, entitled "A bill authorizing and directing the Secretary of the Interior to sell and convey to the State of Minnesota a certain tract of land situated in the county of Dakota, State of Minnesota," and asked to be furnished with such information or suggestions as it may be thought proper to supply to aid the committee in the further consideration of the measure.

In answer to the request I have the honor to inclose copies of the reports of the Commissioner of the General Land Office and of the Acting Commissioner of Indian Affairs, dated the 24th and 30th ultimo, respectively.

These reports supply you with complete record information with respect to the tract of land proposed to be conveyed by the bill, and in his report the Acting Commissioner of Indian Affairs has suggested that the bill be amended so that the land may be sold for such compensation as the Secretary of the Interior may deem adequate.

I concur in these reports, and recommend the passage of the bill provided it be amended as suggested by the Acting Commissioner of Indian Affairs.

Very respectfully,

The CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMITTEE ON THE PUBLIC LANDS,

THOS. RYAN,
Acting Secretary.

House of Representatives.

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIor, General Land Office,
Washington, D. C., January 24, 1906.

SIR: I am in receipt, by your reference of January 20, 1906, for early report in duplicate, with recommendation and return of papers, of a letter from Hon. John F. Lacey, chairman of the Committee on the Public Lands in the House of Representatives, with which he transmits, with the request for such information and suggestions as you may deem proper in the matter, H. R. bill No. 10101, entitled: "A bill authorizing and directing the Secretary of the Interior to sell and convey to the State of Minnesota a certain tract of land situated in the county of Dakota, State of Minnesota." The first section of this bill authorizes and directs the Secretary of the Interior to sell and convey to the State of Minnesota, under such provision as he may direct, the SE. of SE., Sec. 27, T. 115 N., R. 17 W., which had been heretofore purchased by the United States for the purpose of allotting the same to certain Sioux Indians residing in the State of Minnesota.

The second section of the bill provides that the proceeds arising from the sale of the land in question should, if the Secretary of the Interior so elects, be paid to the proposed allottees or their representatives, or that lieu lands be purchased elsewhere. I find that Charles P. Adams made preemption cash entry No. 618, October 19, 1855, for the land in question, and patent was issued to him April 2, 1857. The patent in question is now with the case in the files of this Office.

I do not find that there is anything in this Office relative to the repurchase of this land by the United States for the purpose of allotting the same to certain Sioux Indians, as stated in the proposed bill. It is understood, however, that there is a full record of this matter in the office of the Commissioner of Indian Affairs.

I have therefore to recommend that the Commissioner of Indian Affairs be called upon for further report on the matter in the light of records regarding the same on file in his office.

I return the papers transmitted by you with this report in duplicate.
Very respectfully,

The SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR.

W. A. RICHARDS,

Commissioner.

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, OFFICE OF INDIAN AFFAIRS,
Washington, January 30, 1906.

SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt, by your reference for report, of House bill No. 10101, entitled "A bill authorizing and directing the Secretary of the Interior to sell and convey to the State of Minnesota a certain tract of land situated in the county of Dakota, State of Minnesota."

In compliance with said reference I have the honor to report that by an act of Congress approved June 29, 1888 (25 Stats., 228), $10,000 was appropriated for those of the Mdewakanton Sioux who had resided in Minnesota since the 20th of May, 1886, and had severed their tribal relations, to be expended under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior for agricultural implements, cattle, horses, and land; and by the act of March 2, 1889 (25 Stats., 992), the further sum of $10,000 was appropriated for the support of the above-named Indians and those who were engaged on the 20th of May, 1886, in removing to Minnesota and had since resided there and had severed their tribal relations, to be expended in the purchase of lands and for other purposes.

Robert B. Henton, of Morton, Minn., was appointed with full instructions to make purchase of these lands. Among other lands, Mr. Henton purchased from Maria Latto and Rudolph, her husband, the SE. of the SE. of sec. 27, T. 115 N., R. 17 W., in Dakota County, Minn., for $670. The deed for the land was executed May 29, 1889, and was duly recorded in the register of deeds' office for Dakota County, Minn., in