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Show freedmen of the Cherokee Nation then entitled to shme in the distribu-tion of a certain sum amounting to $903,365. One commissioner was to be nominated by the freedmen, one by the Cherokees, and one to be selected by the Secretary. This commission, consisting of William Clifton, of Georgia, R. El. Kern, of Missouri, and W. P. Thompson, of the Cherokee Nation, pro-ceeded to Indian Territory, under instructions from this office, approved by the Department April 23,1806, and on conclusiou of their labors in the field submitted a schedule of the names of all freedmenwbo in their opinion were entitled, May 3,1894, to citizexiship in the Cherokee Nation and to participate in the distribution of said fund. This schedule, after a clerical examination by this office, was sub-mitted on January 16,1897, to the Secretary of the Interior for his cou-sideration and approval. It was returned on the 18th of January, duly approved, and on Bebruary 8, Mr. James G. Dickson, apecial United States Indian agent, was desipuated by the Secretary of the Interior as a special disbursing agent todistributethe said fund, under instructions prepared February 10,1897. Mr. Dickson paid out to the said Cherokee freedmen the sum of $596,621.13, when circumstances arose which rendered it necessary to stop the payment and relieve him from duty. Subsequently, June 8, 1897, Mr. D. M. Wisdom, United States Indian agent, Union Agency, Ind. T., was designated to complete the work. He disbursed the sum of $228,763.17, completing the pay-ment so far as it was possible at that time, making a total disbursement of $825,384.30, leaving nnexpended and subject to claims the sum of $33,596.70. Of the sum disbursed $44,384 was paid to attorneys and for incidental expenses incurred in making the payment. INTRUDERS IN THE INDIAN TERRITORY. In the last annual report of this office a detailed statement was made of the status of the question of intruders in the Cherokee Nation, and explanation was given why removals of these trespassers, which had been urged by the Cherokee authorities, had not been accomplished. The commission to negotiate with the Five Civilized Tribes, otherwise known as the "Dawes Commission,'l was then engaged in the Indian Territory in the adjudication of claims to citizenship in the mveral nations, under a provision contained in the act of June 10, 1896 (29 Stat., 339), and while they were thus employed no steps were taken looking to the removal of intruders from that Territory. Under that act applicants who were denied citizenship by the conlmission had the right of appeal to the United States courts for the Indian Territory within sixty days after the denial of their applications. January 12,1897, that commission advised the Department through this office that on December 6,1896, it had completed its work of pass-ing upon applications for citizenship in the five tribes; but that many of those to whom it had denied citizenship, and who had not appealed |
