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THE DAILY ENTERPRISE

A NEWSPAPER FOR RIVERSIDE COUNTY

DESERT AND PASS NEWS 

RIVERSIDE, CALIF.  PAGE 22  THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 1955


PS Assured on Indian Land Law

PALM SPRINGS, Nov. 9-- Congressman John Phillips assured the City Council here today that its views concerning taxation of leased Indian lands will be given consideration before any rules governing 25-year leases go into effect.

"I give you my firm assurance," he said, "that nothing will be done without your knowing about it and without your having plenty of opportunity to present your tax case."

Phillips warned the Council, however, against getting itself "in a bind" by appearing to oppose the 25-year leases after previously favoring long-term leases of Indian land.

"I wouldn't like to see Palm Springs come out against 25-year leases without any explanations, because you've reversed your position," he told the Council.

At a recent special meeting, Council members indicated concern about a recent-passed federal law granting Indians the right to lease their land for 25 years (the previous limit was five years), with provision for 25-year renewals, because it made no provision for taxing Indian lands.

Interested in Taxes

City Manager Robert Peterson said the Council doesn't wish to oppose the 25-year leases, which are viewed here as a means of encouraging development of Agua Caliente Indian lands, but it is interested in exploring the possibility of getting some tax revenue from the land.

Mrs. Ruth Hardy said the Council's idea would be to impose a tax on the lessees of Indian-owned land, not on unoccupied Indian land.

Councilman Jerry Nathanson expressed opposition to any delay of the 25-year leases.

He said that while the Indians are exempt from paying property taxes, they do pay taxes on personal property, gasoline and retail purchases.

Lucrative Business

Phillips also assured the Council that the government is "moving toward some action on the subject of getting the Indians out of this paternalistic control."

He indicated that one reason termination of federal jurisdiction over Indian lands is delayed is because of the lucrative business lawyers make of handling Indain affairs. 

"I never could understand what this tremendous appeal is to represent Indians," he said. "They're like flies around honey."

He said he finally learned from one attorney that the fees come not from the Indians, but "from these people whose hearts are bleeding for the Indians."

Congressman Phillips said he feels the Indians can "pretty well manage themselves."

He added: "The idea of keeping them as wards forever and ever and ever will produce no strength in them or future generations."

About half of the land in Palm Springs is Indian-owned. Much of it is undeveloped, however, because of the reluctance of businessmen to invest where they could only get five-year leases.

Transcription Notes:
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