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Show REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF INDIAN AFFAIRS. CXV occupancy or cultivation, by which the property eau be made to contribute to bin aupport l This question is purely abstract and hypotbetioal, and does not arise out of any aatual ccase calling for oBeial action. It ia, therefore, beyond my competency tagive an opinion on aucb a qnestion, under Section 356, Revised Statutes. See also, I1 Opinionq p. 189. I here the honor to be, yours, very respectfully, W. H. H. MILLER, Alorwy-Genml. The SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR. 1 UASH PAYMENTS TO INDIANS. I During the last fiscal year there was paid per capita to Indians (other than the five civilized tribes) the sum of $774,268, being regular annui-ties due in fulfillment of treaty stipulations, or interest on funds held in trust by the Government-a sum nearly $130,000 greater than the amouut paid during the previous year. This is accounted for by a special payment made to the Pottawatomie Nation (viz: the Citizen and Prairie Bands of Pottawatomies, and the Pottawatomies of Huron), in pursuance of the act of March 2,1889 (25 Stats., 988), which appro-priated for that purpose the sum of $178,953.43 with interest at the rate of 5 per cent. from the date on which it was decided by the com-missioners appointed for that purpose that said sum was still due to the Pottawatomie Nation from the Government. The interest amounted to $182,728.61, making a total of $361,682.04. The Pottawatomies of Euron, who reside in the vicinity of Athens, Mich., were paid first, a special agent being sent for the parpose, with instrt~ctionsto make a careful enrollment of the names of all who were living on the 1st of Jnly, 1859, the day up to which the interest was computed, and on which the funds became available. This was done, the list was submitted to the scrutiuy of the chiefs and head men, who, after examining it, certified that it was correct and complete, and the agent was dircctcd to pay under the following rules : Each persou of age to receive and receipt for his own share. This included married women. The father (or mother, if father is not living) to receive and receipt for the shares of the minor children of the family, provided the parent was competent aud properly qualified to act for the children, and that there was no reasonable doubt of the children receiving the full benefit of their mouey. In case the parents were dead or incompetent, or in any manner not properly qualified to act for the children, then their shares were to be returned to the United States Treasury to await the children's corning of age. The shares of all who had died since July 1, 1889, to he returned to the United States Treasury uuless legal representatives of the estates of the deceased were appointed br the proper wart. |