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Show REPORT OF THE CO~T~MISS~ONOEPR INDIAN AFFAIRS. 71 Agency, except $3,416.61 which had been paid on time checks issued under the Maggie A. Seelye contract, and $4,463.88, which had been paid on time checks issued under the Ella M. Seelye contract. April 25, 1899, Porter prepared statements to be filed in the ofice at the White Earth Agency relative to the settlement of this con-tract, which statements showed that there.was due Donglass $57.11; that there was due Maggie A. Seelye, 81,664.19, and that $818.39 was due Ella M. Seelye. A controversy arose relative to settling this matter, and after much correspondence, on January 2, 1900, the office instructed the White Earth agent to order a further hearing, and to direct it personally and to endeavor to ascertain whether or not Porter entered into a contrwt with the Indian loggers to haul their logs for them at $4 per thousand; what would be a fair and reasonable price for such services; what sup-plies were furnished the camps of these loggers, and what was the ordinary price of the same at the time they were furnished. February 19,1900, the agent of the White Earth Agency had a hearing at which both parties were present. October 19, 1900, after considering all of the records pertaining to this controversy, which had been forwarded by the agent of the White Earth Agency, the office reached thecouclnsion that both Porter and Seelye were trespassers upon the timber, and that the money derived from the sale of the timber, except what it actually cost to cut and deliver the logs, should be retained for the benefit of the Indians. The agent of the White Earth Agency was so advised and was directed to state an account. Subsequently Mr. Porter's attorney filed a motion for a review of this decision and for a rehearing. As the agent had not yet stated an account, this motion could not be passed upon, but the agent has recently forwarded an account stated, and the o5ce will soon dispose of the matter. La Pointe Agency, Wig.-September 28,1892, the President approved rules and regulations to govern the sale of timber on the allotted lands of the Lac du Flambeau Reservation, that had been conveyed by patent from the United States to the Indian allottees under the provisions of the treaty of September 30, 1854. J. H. Cushway & Co. were the successful bidders for the timber to be sold under the provisions of these regulations. Thirty-five contracts for the sale of timber on this reservation have been approved dpring the year. December 6,1893, the President approved the rules and regulations authorizing the allottees of the Bad River Reservation, in Wisconsin, to sell on stumpage all of the timber standing or fallen on their respective allotments to Justus S. Stearns, of Ludington, Mich. This authority was also granted under the provisions of the treaty of September 30, 1854. Five contracts for the sale of timber on allot-ments on that reservation have been approved this year. |