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Show YXX ItEPOR'P OF 'CHE CO&l&lISSIONER OF INDIAN AFFAIRS. PAYXENTS OF CASH ANNUITIES. ~Nianziesof I%diulzfl..-The payment of tho principal sum, $221,257.86, which became due to these Indians, under the trea,ty of 1854, on the 1st day of July, 1880, and which was provided for by act of March 3,1881, as noted in my report for last year, where I expressed the hope that hut a short time longer would be necessary to complete it, has been somewhat delayed. As the work progressed various questions presented them-selvas, some of which could not have been foreseen, such as doubtful claims, the right of members of this branch of the tribe who had been drawing moneys with the Western Miamies to share with both tribes, and as to who were the proper parties to receive the shares of deceased beneficiaries. The procuring of properlj--qualified guardians for minors, the security required by the act being so large, was attended with much difficulty and delar; and the claim of Vaneeventer & McDowell, which this act also provided shol~ldb e adjusted and paid, demanded time and attention beyond what was at first anticipated. Thus, much unavoid-able delay had to be submitted to, as no step could he taken until this office was assured beyond reasonable doubt that the law was being strictly complied with. Therefore it was not until the 31st of January, 1882, that the first payment m7as effected, and on the 5th of the follow-ing July, the date of last report from Hon. Calvin Cowgill, who has charge of' this payment, some twenty claims still remained to be paid to the heirs or legal representatives of persons deceased. These, re-quiring the aci,ion of the courts, took more time, but I am now per-suaded tha.t all will be completed in a few days. I may here call atten-tion to the faithful manner in which Agent Cowgill has discharged this arduous and responsible duty. Notwithstmanding the numerous per-plexin\ g qncstions involved, and the well-known readiness of designing whites to take advantage of any oversight or flaw in t,l~ed ealings of the agents of the government with the Indians, whereby they might hope to reap some adva~ltageto themselves, no expression of dissatis-faction has reached this office from any of the Miamies, and I believe. strict justice has been done. Although this money mas due to theMialnies b~ treaty on the 1st dal-of July, 1880, no action was taken toward providing for its payment until March 3,1881. The interest, however, for the year 1881, although not provided for in the treaty, mas paid to them, and this was satisfac-. tory; but as the payment of the principal waa still deferred for at least six months, during the fiscal year 1882, witholtt fault of theirs, they consider themselves, through the precedent of having been paid for 1881, and in equity, entitted to additional interest. This they are the rather disposed to expeot as they appear to have hewd of the appro-priation made for paying them for the full fiscal year I&%$ which still remains on the books in this office. It therefore seems necessary that some further aotion he taken in the case to finally settle it, either by |
