OCR Text |
Show " , 'PO UNITED STATES INDIAS AGESTS: Doubtless many Indian tribes will be aolioited by attorneys to enter into contra,cts with them for their employment as counsel to defend them in Indian depredation claims. Already some of the tribes have been communicated with by attorney8 with that object in view, ant1 in some instnnoes faeta have been so cliatorted and misrepresented as to rive rise to the anapioion that their pnrpose mas to create undue alarm in the mFnds of the Indian8 or miatrust respecting the safety of their trust funds or other moneys held by the Government, hoping thereby to atrengthen their chsnoes for employment by the Indians at a good annualsalary to defmdthem in depredation suits. Some of the tribea might he benefited bg- the employment of competent separate counsel in depredation aults, but there are many other Lrihes in whose oases there seema to be no necessity for the employment of such oolmsel. I t ia the opinion of this offiae (in which the Seoretsry of the Interior ooncura) that the Indims would be saved much annojance and that their interests iu depre-dation matters would mare sorely receive the protection to whioh, as wtrds of the nation, they are entitled if they would refer to this office, throogl~t heir agent, all correspondence received from attorneys or claim agents on the anb,jeot of the defense of depredation snits for information and advice as to the liability of their funds for the payment of depredation judgments and the advisability of the employment of separate counsel for their defense in such cases. It is my desire, t:herefure, that you talre early ocossion to oommnnioata personillly to the lesdlng Indiana of your agency the views of this office es stated above, m d advise them agreeebly therewith. Very respeatf~~lly. D. M. BROU'NIAG, Commissioner. -~ ~ .- * This letter is referred to on page 72. 473 |