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Show 172 REPORT OF THE COX~SSIONER OF INDIAN AFFAIRS. the Pueblo agency was instructed to see that the rights of the Indians under the decree were full^ protected. Thelands of severalof thepueblos in BernalilloCounty, N. Mex., were assessed for taxation by the o5cials of that county and were included in the published delinquent tax list for 1898 and prior years. Notice was given that the tax collector would, on December 26, 1899, apply to the district court of Bernalillo County for judgment and for an order of sale to satisfy the same. As the payment by the Pueblos of these taxes, even for one year, would be to them a very serious matter and unexpected burden, since they have never before been compelled to pay taxes upon their lands, the special attorney for the Pueblo Indians suggested that Congress be asked to exempt them from taxation for a certain period, or until Congress shall have declared them citizens sub-ject to taxation. The matter was submitted to the Department by this office onNovember 29,1899, and on December 23 the Department issued instructions direct to the special attorney to present every reasonable defense against the proposed tax sale. April '7,1900, the Department was informed by the o5ce that Judge Crumpacker of the district court of Bernalillo County had held that the property of the Pueblo Indians was not taxable. Although expressing himself as somewhat in doubt as to the oorrectness of the position taken by him in the matter,, the judge thought that the Ter-ritorial authorities were better able to carry the case to the supreme court of New Mexico. The matter is now pending on appeal to the latter court. Should the Territorial authorities obtain a reversal of Judge Crumpacker's decision by the higher court, the ofice proposes to suggest to the Department the propriety of obtainingFedera1 legis-lation exempting the Pueblos from taxation. Congress having made no appropriation for the salary of a special attorney for the Pueblos for the current fiscal year, the Indians have been without the aid of legal counsel since June 30 last. ZUNI PUEBLO GRANT. A bill (H. R. 8635) was introduced in the House of Representatives, February 16, 1900, ''To confirm title to certaiu land to the Indians of the pueblo of Zuni in the Territory of New Mexico," and was favor-ably reported (Report 1571) without amendment from the Committee on Indian Affairs, May 17, 1900. It is respectfully urged that the title in and to their land be con-firmed to these Indians at the coming session of Congress, as all the title papers held by these Indians, for land occupied by them for over two hundred years, were a few years ago accidentally destroyed by fire. |