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Show . . . . ~ ~~ .. . . .~ , \ .. ' . , ' . , . . . . . L1 . . . 54 REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER b~ INDIAN AFFAIRS. It is therefore probable that, as soon as the requirements of the act will permit, the second installment will be paid to the Omahas. The annuity payments of $400 to the Pottawatomie Indians of Huron, nuder second article of the treaty of November 17,1807 (7 Stat., 106), and of $1,100 to the Eel River Baud of Miamis, under treaties with them of August 3$1795, August 23,1805, and Beptember 30,1809 (7 Stat., 61,91,114), have been made from year to year at expense dis- , proportionate ,te the sums disbursed, while theIndians could derivebut slight benefit from the small amounts received per capita. Therefore, in the Indian appropriation act for the current fiscal year, Congress ap-propriated $22,000 for the Miamis, and $8,000 for the Pottawatomies, to pay in full all indebtedness of the Government to them under said' treaties. The Department instructed this oEce that this money should be paid only to adults, and to guardians of minors and incompetents, appointed by a court having jurisdiction of their persons and property, and it directed that persons receiving.and receipting for their own shares, and guardians actipg for others, must be required to sign an agreement accepting said payments as a full discharge of all demands existing at that time, or that might hereafter exist, under and by virtue of any of the treaties above specified. Theseinstructions were strictly complied with and all the payments made, except the shares of three minor Miami children living in the Indian Territory over whom no court had probate jurisdiction. Their shares were consequently returned to the United States Treasury, to' , remain there until the children shall attain their majority, or until some o t h e ~le gal means shall be found by whiah the Government may secure a release from liability to them. During the summer of 1888 the Western Miami and the Easkaskia, Peoria, and Piankeshaw Indians petitioned Congress to give them part of certain funds and stocks which the Qovernment held in trust for them, this special payment being needed to avert suffering during the winter threatened by reason of the failure of crops. In compliince with their wishes, by aot approved October 2, 1888 (25 Stat., 538). $25,000 was provided forthe Miamis and $40,000 for the Easkaskias, I'eorias, and Piankeshaws, to be paid to them per capita "under such regula-tions for the protection of minors as mw be prescribed by the Secretary Interior." The only plan for securing to miuors the benefits of this money was believed to be the appointment, by a competent court, of properly pro-vided guardians ; but as there was no court having probate jurisdiction over thk persons andproperty of minors in the Indian Territory, where these people are located, payment was delayed until more specific legis-lation could be had. The attention of Congress having been called to the matter, an act was passed and approved March 2,1889 (25 Stat., 993), which modified the act of October 2, 1888, by authorizing the / shares of miror children to be paid to the parents, when said parent,s |