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Show 88 REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF INDIAN AFFAIRS belong the Colnmissioner of the Geueral LsoJ Office, who is required to perform, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, dl executive duties "in any . : wisa respecting " the public lands (R. S., sew. 453). Indeed, Congress has removed all , doubt on the aobjeor by repeatedly recognizing the authority of the Secretary of the Interior, through the General Laud OWce, to seize timber unlawfully cut on the public lands, by appropriations to pay the agents employe;l lram time to time to make such seiznres (Wells 0. Nickies, 104 U. 9. R., 147). .r It aufiiciently appears, therefore, that the Indians have no interest in this timber, sud thotit in no may appertains to the Iudian Bureau or its agouts to asaurne charge of the same. Tile second question is ansnered already; it being clear, if the above reasoning is sound, that the proaoeds of the timber, when sold, will baloug to tho Govarnlneot absolutely. This, I think, diaposes of both questions. Uuder this opinion this office has no anthority to take steps to recover the timber unlawfully cut on the Fond dn Lac'Reservation ~Inriogth e two seasons, 1889-'91, or its value, but the whole matter comes uocler . . the jurisdictiou of the General Laud Office. The office therefore rccom-mended, July 30, 1891, that the Commissiouer of the Geueri~l Land Office be instructed to dispose of the timber now within the reserva. tion, which has been unlawfully cut; to institute suits fbr therecoveryof that which l ~ a sb een removed, or of its value, and to prosecute those parties who are responsible for the trespasses. Department letter of Angust 8, lj91, to this office states that, the Commissioner of the General Land Office has sent two special agents to Fond du La,c to protect the ii~terests of the Gover~unetit. Since that date this office has transmitted to the General Land Offlce all papers bearing on the case. MENOMONICE LUGGING. The Nenomooee Indians in Wisconsin have long urged that some action be talccu Oy Congress which would allow them to market their gree6 standir~gti mber. Their logging operations had been restricted by law to the dispovi~~ofg dead and down timber, and of suoh green tim-ber o~i lya sw as cut to clear land for cultivation. Among severpl bills which have bee11 presented and considered, the following wiln fiually passed by Cougress, and approved June 12, lb90 (26 Stats., 146). viz : Be it enacted h q rice Surate and House of Rei)rese,~latioesof the Ur~itedS tale8 of .lotarica in Congress assernbkd. That the Seorot&ry of the Interior is hereby euipoxversd to authorize the an-e nt of the Menomoxlee tribe of Iodinus in Wisconsin to emolov at n " rearronable cornpensation said Indians to cnt all, or any portion of the timbor on the lands reserved for the nse of ssid Indians iu that State, into logs, and haul tho same to the bsoka of tlla rivers; sod ssid logs siiall be soiled andaivertised, and after due notice all or any part thereof soid to the highest bidder or bidders for oaah, in suoh manner and at anah time and place as the Secretary of the Interior may direct; no sale to be "did llutil approved by said Sscretnry. In case said logs ann not be sold where landed on the river at what the Secretary of the Interior ooosidera a ree-sonabla price, he shall anuse azid loge to be run down the river to market, to be sold |
