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Show 1 REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF INDIAN AFFAIRS. 37 scenery is magnificent abont the springs, and about 6 miles up the Big Horn River is a wonderfully interesting canyon, many hundred feat deep. Cmw, Plathead, Northem Cheyenne, Fort Hall, Uintah, and Y&kima reser vations.-The Crow, Flathead, etc., Commission, appointed on Angust 31, 1896, by the Secretary of the Interior under authority contained in s provision of the Indian appropriation act for the fiscal year ending June 30,1897, has consumed the greater portion of the year conducting negotiations with the Indians of the Fort Hall Reservation, Idaho, and of tho Yakima Reservation, Wash. One or two members of the wm-mission have made short visits to the Flathead Reservation, but no wnsiderable amount of work has been done there. No agreement haa yet been negotiated by them. By telegram dated April 20,1897, John B. Goodwin, the chairman of the commission, tendered his resignatton, and on May 13,1897, James H. McNeely, of Evansville, Iud., was appoinhd in his place. By appointment dated Jnly 21, 1897, Samuel L. Taggart, of D~ibuque, Iowa, replaced Charles G. Hoyt as a member of the commission. The Indian appropriation act for the ourrent fiscal year makes a further appropriation of $10,000 for the purpose of wntinning the work of the commission, and it is still in the field. I COMMISSIONS. Pnyallnp Commission.-The Indian appropriation act, approved June 7, 1897 (30 Stats., 62), contains the following elrtuse relative to the Pnyallup Commission: For oommissioner, tobe appointed by the Prenident, by and with the advice and con-sent of the Senate, to superintend the sale of lands, ascertain who are the owners of I the dlotted 1snds;heve guardians sppointedfor any minor heirs of deceasedallottees, make deeds of thelands to the pmoheaers thereof, subject to the approval of the Searetaw of the Interior, which deeds shall operate as a complete conveyance of the land upon payment of the purchase money therefor, and to carry out tha provisions of the aot approved March third, eighteen hundred snd ninety-three, relative to lands of the Puyallup Indian Reservation, Washington, as set forth on pages six hundred and thirty-three and six hundred and thirty-fanr of volume twenty-seven of the Reviaed Statutes, two thonsand dollars. The former Puyallnp commissioners were relieved from duty on December 1 last and all the official papers, documents, etc., in their hands were turned over to the superintendent of the Puyallnp Indian school who was actiug Indian agent. He has made collections of some deferred payments doe on certain lands sold, both allotted lands and also agency tract lots and blocks, and has reported the same to this office for distribntion among the parties entitled. Clinton A. Snowden, of Tacoma, Wash., has been appointed Pnyal-lap 'wmmissioner. Instructions for his guidance, prepared by this offlce and approved by the Department, were transmitted to him on the 27th of July lest. |
