The Committee on Indian Affairs reported legislation concerning: 1882 1888 Bills for the payment of Indian depredation claims out of Indian fun should go to the Committee on Indian Affairs and not to the Committ on Claims. Resolutions distributing the President's message used this languag relating to the jurisdiction of the Committee on Indian Affairs, givin to that committee so much as relates to the care, education, an management of the Indians." This language had been used for a lon time in these resolutions; and the committee has exercised a broad jurisdiction as to the care of Indians on the reservations, and in Indian Territory while that reserve existed as a separate territory, and also as to the care and preservation of Indian lands and the allotment in severalty. 1908 Providing regulations pertaining to homestead entries on Indian lands. Authorizing the issuance of a patent in fee for certain Indian lands situated in the State of Idaho was taken from the Committee on Public Lands and given to the Committee on Indian Affairs. 1910 To authorize the cutting, sale, and manufacture of lumber and the preservation of forests on certain lands reserved for Indian reservations. Bills authorizing Indian tribes to submit to the Court of Claims, various claims against the United States, were taken from the Committee on Claims and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs. 1911 the bill (H. R. 20825) to amend an act providing for the adjudication of claims arising out of Indian depredations, and the bill was referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs, not the Committee on Claims. To provide water for the irrigable lands of the Yakima Indian Reservation, and the same was referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs. 1914 1916 Providing for the taxation of lands of the Winnebago Indians and the Omaha Indians in the State of Nebraska. 1919 To provide for the distribution of tribal funds of the Crow tribe, and for other purposes. 1920 Authorizing the court of Claims to hear, determine, and render 1923 Authorizing Indian tribes and individual Indians to submit to the Court 1925 To provide for expenditures of tribal funds of Indians for construction, 1926 Setting aside Rice Lake and contiguous lands in Minnesota for the To provide for allotting in severalty agricultural lands within the Authorize the leasing of unallotted irrigable land on Indian Completion of a road from Tucson to Ajo via Indian Oasis, and for the construction of an irrigation dam on Walker River, Nevada. Authorizing the use of the funds of any tribe of Indians for payments of Authorizing the payment of tuition of Crow Indian children attending 1929 Appropriating tribal funds of Indians residing on the Klamath Reservation to pay expenses of the general council and business committee of the tribe was transferred from the Committee on Appropriations to the Committee on Indian Affairs. Committee on Territories (1825 - 1946) 19th-79nd Congresses History and Jurisdiction The Committee on Territories was established on December 13, 1825 to deal with issues relating to "Territorial legislation, the revision thereof, and affecting Territories to the admission of States".2 As a result of the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946, the Committee on Territories was abolished and its jurisdiction was included into the Committee 2 Journal of the House of Representatives of the United States, 19th on Public Lands.3 Issues Discussed by the Committee The committee reported legislation concerning the structure, status, and power of the Territorial governments; statehood; powers of municipalities; boundary disputes; and on matters relating to public lands and homesteading, railroads, public works, public buildings, highways, taxation, bond issues, education, Indians, prohibition, and wildlife. The Committee also dealt with issues relating to the boundaries of Territories and States. Various issues captured the nation's attention on issues within the jurisdiction of the Committee on Territories. People argued wether or not a Territory should become a State for one reason or another. Prominent issues included: polygamy in Utah; Indian rights and homesteading with Oklahoma; woman's suffrage; prohibition in the Territories; conservation of wildlife, particularly in Alaska and Hawaii; and issues relating to the creation and establishment of roads, trails, and railroads, and the availability of public lands for homesteading. In relation to the Indian Territory, the Committee maintained an active oversight over issues including settlement by non-Indians, the Dawes Commission, boundaries, and treaties. Issues within the jurisdiction of the Committee on Territories include: the general affairs of the Territories. the Territory of Alaska. Alaska both before and since the creation of the Territorial government for that region. the Territory of Hawaii. the disposition of Government-owned land in Alaska. medical treatment of persons in the Territory of Hawaii the general affairs of the Territories, and has even reported bills 3 U.S. Congress, Constitution, Jefferson's Manual, and the Rules of the House of e Committee on Territories reported legislation concerning: 4 36 37 87 00 00 01 02 204 906 908 1910 1913 1917 1919 Jurisdiction of the Territorial courts. Relating to jurisdiction of justices of the peace, and also as to courts and judicial proceedings. Relating to the sale of intoxicating liquors within the territories. Fees of marshals and attorneys, and even as to the creation of an additional justice for a Territorial supreme court, although in general this jurisdiction belongs to the Judiciary Committee. Representation in Congress by a Delegate. Laws of the Territory. Construction and maintenance of roads within a Territory. Municipal corporations. Sale of intoxicating liquors in a Territory. Care of the insane within the Territories. Relating to the power of Territorial legislatures to create corporations. Reserving public lands in Oahu, Hawaiian Islands, which were a part of the Subports of entry and delivery in Hawaii. Salmon fisheries in Alaska. Amend the organic act of the Territory of Hawaii and confirming acts of the A bill relating to the Arizona Asylum for the Insane. Establishing a legislative assembly in the Territory of Oklahoma. To ratify and confirm the act of the legislative assembly of the Territory of Oklahoma, passed in the year 1901, authorizing the board of county commissioners of Kay County, OK, to change the course of Spring Creek; and similar bills. Fisheries in Alaska. Prohibiting aliens from taking fish in the waters of Alaska. Relating to the location, construction, operation, and relief of Alaskan railways. For the protection of game in Alaska. Amend the organic act of the Territory of Hawaii and confirming acts of the To modify and amend the mining laws in relation to the Territory of Alaska. Ratifying an act of the Legislature of Hawaii. To open lands in Hawaii to homestead entry, was changed from the Committee Exchange of Government-owned lands for privately owned lands in the 1920 1921 1922 1924 1926 1932 Exchange of Government lands for privately owned lands in the Territor Hawaii, and the bill was referred to the Committee on the Territories. Authorizing an incorporated town in Alaska to issue bonds for the construct of a municipal light and power plant and the erection of a public sch building. Granting a franchise for the purpose of manufacturing and supplying gas a electric current in certain districts in the Territory of Hawaii. Authorizing the construction of roads, bridges, and trails in Alaska. The establishment of industrial schools for Alaskan native children. Relating to the location, construction, operation, and relief of Alaskan railway Authorizing the construction of government docks, and wharves at Alaska ports. To authorize the Surgeon General of the United States Public Health Servic to make a survey as to the existing facilities for the protection of the publi health in the care and treatment of leperous persons in the Territory of Hawaii from the Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce to the Committee or Territories. Committee on Pacific Railroads (1865-1911) 37th-61nd Congresses History and Jurisdiction The Committee on Pacific Railroads was created as a permanent Committee on March 2, 1865, although it was a Select Committee prior to 1865. The jurisdiction of the Committee was not focused solely on railroads, rather the jurisdiction was listed as relating "to the railroads and telegraph lines between the Mississippi River and the Pacific coast."4 4 Journal of the House of Representatives of the United States, 38th |