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Show REPORT OF THE COXMISSIOBZR. OF INDUN AFFAIRS. 89 CHIPPEWA AND MT3NSEE INDIANS IN KANSAS. There was given, at some length, in the annual report of this ofRce for the year 1891 the status of these Indians and of their lands. The recommendations then made, and renewed in the annual reports for 1892 and 1893, meet my approval, and I respectfully renew the request that Congress be asked to enact the necessary legislation for their relief, as was then recommended, yiz: In view of the condition of the affairs of these Indians and the fact that nuder the general allotment act of February 8, 1887, they were made citizens of the United States, I respectfully recommend that Congress be asked to grant authority to issue patents in fee to the allottees of the several tracts, or to those assigns whose conveyances have been approved by the Department; and that such lands as are vacant or abandoned: including their school and mission lands and the tract on which the schoolhouse was located, be appraised and sold by the Commissioner of the General Land Office, the net proceeds arising from the sale to be funded for the use and benefit of those members of said tribe born since the allotments were made, or who have never received an allotment. CLAIMS OF SETTLERS ON CROW CREEK AND WINNEBAGO RESERVATIONS, S. DAK. Nearly all the claims of settlers who located in the spring of 1885 on the Crow Creek and Winnebago reservations, in what was then Dakota Territory, which were investigated in accordance with the provisions of the act approved October 1,1890 (26 Stat., 659), and found to be just and proper, have been settled since my last annual report was sub-mitted. The claims remaining unpaid are those of settlers who have not, as yet, made application for the amounts found respectively due them, or who have failed to submit the required proofs as to their identity. After the investigat,iou authorized by the act of October 1, 1890, had been concluded and the special agent had submitted bia report thereon, this office received several inquiries from settlers, residing generally at remote points, who had not learned of the investigation until too late, if at all, and whose claims werenot therefore in a position to be considered and settled with the others under said act. Congress, however, provided for the relief of this class of ela,imants by inserting a clause in the Indian appropriation act of March 2,1895 (28 Stats., 899), which authorized the reimbursement of such settlers for the actual and necessary losses which upon investigatbn they might he found to have sustained. Blank forms for use in presenting these claims, with necessary proofs, were sent to the several claimants or their agents, and the investigation has thus far been conducted by correspondence. |