The act of January 14, 1889 (25 U.S.Stat. 652) evidently contemplated the voluntary removal of the body of all these bands of Indians to the White Earth and Red Lake Reservations, but a proviso in section 3 of the act authorized any Indian to take his allotment upon the reservation where he now resides.  The commissioners report that quite a general desire was expressed by the Indians to avail themselves of this option.  The result of this is that the ceded land cannot be ascertained and brought to sale under the act until all of the allotments are made.
            I recommend that the necessary appropriations to complete the surveys and allotments be made at once available, so that the work may be begun and completed at the earliest possible day.
            A copy of the report made by the commissioners, with copies of all of the papers submitted therewith except the census rolls, is herewith presented for the information of the Congress.

                        Benj. Harrison
                        Executive Mansion
                        March 4, 1890
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                                    Department of the Interior,
                                                Washington, January 30, 1890
The President:
            There has been filed in this Department the report of the Chippewa Commission, one copy of whereof is herewith transmitted for your consideration and action.
            The Commission was formed under an act entitled "An act for the relief and civilization of the Chippewa Indians in the state of Minnesota," being chapter 24, United States Statutes at Large, volume 25, page 642, approved January 14, 1889.
            The first section of the act authorizes the creation of the Commission, designates its purposes, provides for certain conditions precedent as to a census to be taken, and declares in what manner the cession and relinquishment of the lands therein sought to be obtained by the Government shall be effected.  The section is as follows:
            That the President of the United States is hereby authorized and directed, within sixty days after the passage of this act, to designate and appoint three commissioners, one of whom shall be a citizen of Minnesota, whose duty it shall be, as soon as practicable after their appointment, to negotiate with all the different tribes or bands of Chippewa Indians in the State of Minnesota for the complete cession and relinquishment in writing of all their title and interest in and to all the Reservations of said Indians in the State of Minnesota, except the White Earth and Red Lake Reservations, and to all and so much of those two reservations as in the judgment of said commission is not required to make and fill the allotments required by this and existing acts, and shall not have been reserved by the commissioners for said purposes, for the purpose and upon the terms hereinafter stated; and such cession and relinquishment shall be deemed sufficient as to each of said reservations, except as to the Red Lake Reservation, if made and assented to in writing by two-thirds of the male adults over eighteen years of age of the band or tribe of Indians occupying and belong to such reservations; and as to the Red Lake Reservation the cession and relinquishment shall be deemed sufficient if made and assented to in like manner by two-thirds of the made adults of all the Chippewa Indians in Minnesota; and provided that all agreements therefore approved by the President of the United States before taking effect: Provided further, That in any case where an allotment in severalty has heretofore been made to any Indian of land upon any of said reservations, he shall not be deprived thereof or disturbed therein except by his own individual consent separately and previously given, in such form and manner as may be prescribed by the Secretary of the Interior.  And for the purpose of ascertaining whether the proper number of Indians yield and give their assent as afore-