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Show HLII REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF INDlAN AFFAIRS. whites, aocl stubbornly refuse to abandon their Indian traditions an11 customs. It is to be regretted t.hat they will uot conseut to receipt properly for their au~ulities,a s many of them are in want, and I am perwaded almost all would make a good nse of the money. It mig11t be wise and humane, now that they are perma~neutly located in Iowa, with the approral of the State, anel. oo land bought nit11 their own money, to malie. if posuible, a satisfactory arrangement betweell them anc1 that part of the tribe now in Indian Territory, so that the census jnst t.ake.11, or one more eomplete, if obtainable, may be agreed npon as %basis for a permanent division of their annuities, and a eomplia~~ce with the law, which says, tLTlley (the whole tribe) shall be pa,iclpro rata, according to theirnambers?" 1Vyandottes.-By an act to supply deficiencies iu ill?propriations, arrd for other pnrposes, approved March 3, 1881, the sum of $28,109.51 was appropriaked to pay the Wyanclottes their claim nt~der treaty of Februarx 23,1869. Soon after the passage of this act the United States Indian ageut at Qaal~awA gency, 111diau Territory, was instructed to take a ceusus of the VTyaildott.e8. distinguishing between those who are citizens and those who are ]lot, t.hat trite payment might be made per cnuita, and as direeted. Since that tin* he has referret1 to this office, nncler different dbtes, the names of a mm~ber of clainia~lts for enrollment, whose rights to sllare in this fnnd are disputed by menibeis of t,hc council of the t.ribe on various grotulds, an11m any comm~~nic:ttiouhsa ve been received from WTj-a,~~dottw.ehso became citizeus unller t.he treat.y of Ja,nna,ry3 1, 18.55, asserting their right to participate in this fi~ndc, laiming that it appropriated in lnusnance of the findings of a commission appointed in accor(Iance With au amendment to the treaty of 1867. 111 order to determine the rights of the uarions claimants in the premiseu, a thor-ongh e~a~~rlinetoifo nth e report of that commission became necr,saar~-, as well as a oarefnl aud impartial oousic1era.tion of a11 evidence and proofs snblnitted by olairna.ut,s,p articularly by tl~osew hose claims are eo~~tested. A clai~n lias also been filed by Isaiah Walker to a Ferry fmllcllise pnrchwed of the Wyandottes, 1111der treaty of 1855, a~notulting to $17,930, which, in view of ststementu made bg his attorneys, requires exa~ni~ratioanu d final decision, before these fuuds can be paid to the Wyanclottes. A conclusion has not as yet been reached iu the matt'ers above set fort.lr, and therefore t.he payment has bee11 withheld. Poncns.-The same act contains a provisiou for the purllose of ill-tlemnifying the Ponca Indians for losses sustained iu eonsequence of their removal to the Indian Territory, and directs that $20,000 of the money thereby appropriated be paid to them, in cash, the stun df -- '3iuce rbe allore wan nrittau sdelagatioo of these lodiaus ha8 visitad Was1,iugton aocl coonr~utedo n behalf of their people to the signing of the new roll. The lnouey due them will therefore soon be paid. |
