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Show EEPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF INDIAN AFFAIRS 33 Mefisrs. S. 5. Scott, Uchee, Ala., Timothy A. Brynes, Atlantic City, N. J., and William 8. Davis, Little Rock, Ark., were appointed oom-missioners under the above legislation Novembe.r 28,1894, and eutered upon their duties under instructions approved by you December 8,1894. January 8,1895, the commissioners submitted a report in which they referred to the provisions in the act of June 5,1880 (21 Stats., 199), ratifying the agreement with the Utes, which require that the Uncom-pahgre Indians shall pay $1.26 per acre for the lands allotted them, And stated that these Iddians were unable to see why they should be required to pay for the lands to be allotted them while the Uintahs, living alongside, were not required to make such payments. The com-mission anticipated great difficulty in satisfactorily explaining this matter to the Indians and suggested whether it would not be best for the Government to relieve the Indians of this payment. January 26, 1895, I recommended that a section be added to the then pending Indian appropriation bill relieving the Uncompahgre Indians of the payment required by the act of June 5,1880, but favorable action was not taken by Congress. I am still of the opinion that such legislation is desirable and that justice to the Indians requires it. May 6,1895, the commission submitted a report relative to the landa which might be immediately opened to settlement, being unsuited and not needed for allotment, which report was submitted to you June 3, 1895, with the recommendation that certain described lands be opened to settlement under the provisions of the act of August 5,1894. I am not advised that any action has been taken thereon. The sum of $16,000 was appropriated for salaries and expenses of this commission. According to the books of this office it has already expended, including advances for the first quarter of 1896, some $12,100. It is therefore evident that if its work is to be continued a further appropriation will be necessary. Mr. Davis, one of the oommissioners, died on the 19th of August, 1895. LEASING INDIAN LANDS. Section 3 of the act of Congress approved February 28, 1891 (26 Stats., 794), authorizes the leasing of both allotted and unallotted or tribal Indian lands. The Indian appropriation act of August 15, 1894 (28 Stats., 305), contains an item which modifies the previous law, without any refer-ence to that law, however. These items, as well as the rules and regu-lations to be observed in the execution of leases of allotments, have 1 been quoted in previous annual reports, but for the benefit of such as have not ready access to the United States Statutes they are quoted again. The law of February 28,1891, is as follows: That whenever it shall be made to appear to the Peeretary of the Interior that, br reaaon of age or other disability, any ellottee nuder the provisions of said act, or any other act or treaty, can not personally and with benefit to himself oconpy or 6069 I 11-3 |