the Department is coutemplating compelling" them to leave it and go to the reservation in Idaho. There were stormy scenes there also during this year. Suits were brought against all the employés of the Lapwai Ageney, and a claim set up for all the lands of the agency, and for many of the Indian farms, by one to whom a large tract of ground had been ceded some thirty ycars before. IHe attempted to take forcible possession of the place, and was ejected finally by military force, after the de cision of the Atlorney-general had been given that his elaim Langford, representing the old clainu of the issionaries, was invalid.

The Indian Bureau recommended a revocation of the execu tive order giving the Wallowa Valley to Joseph and his band In June of this year President Grant revoked the order, and in the autumn a commission was sent out "to visit these In dians, with a view to secure their permanoent settlement on the reservation, their early entrance on a civilized life, and to adjust the difficulties then existing between them and the settlers."

It is worth while to study with some care the reasons which this coinmission gave to Chief Joseph why the Wallowa Valley, whie had been given to him by Exceutive order in 1878, must be taken away from him by Executive order in 1875:

"Owing to the coldness of the climate, it is not a suitable loeation for an Indian reservation. It is now in part set- tled by white squatters for grazing purposes. The President claimed that he extinguished the Indian title to it by the trcaty of 1863. It is embraced within the limits of the State of Oregon.

ably be induced to cede the jurisdiction of the vallcy to the United States for an Tndian reservation. * In the confliets which might arise in the future, as in the past, between him and the whites, the President might not be able to defend im. A part of the valley had already been sur veyed and opened to settlement: * * if, by some arrange The State of Oregon could not prob-

justify or