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Show sioners recommended that one-fourth of that amount be paid to the Indians, per capita, for the purchase of cattle, wagons, and mowing machines, and that the remaining portion be hPY in trust for them by the United States, for such period as Congress might prohibit the dis-posal of the lands which were then being allotted to them, the interest to be paid annually to the Indians per capita. In its report of Jauuary 25,1897, this office recommended that the sum of $350,000 be placed in the Treasury of the United States to the credit of these Indians, to draw interest at the rate of 5 per cent per anuum, such interest to be paid to them annually per capita, the remainder of the $533,270, after the payment of the legal fees of attor-neys, to be expended in the drainage and irrigation of lands, the erec- I tion of houses, and in the purchase of cattle, wagons, moving machines and agricultural implements, and for similar purposes. The draft of an item embodying these suggestions was prepared for insertion in the Indian appropriation bill, and the Department recommended that the matter receive early and favorable consideration by Congress; but no action was taken. These Indians are nndoubtedly entitled to compensation for the lands erroneously excluded from their reservation, and the amount proposed is reasonable and just. As they are now taking allotments and preparing for citizenship, the money will be of greater benefit to them now than at any future time. I trust the matter willreceive favorable consideration at the coming session of Congress. \ UNOOMPAHGRE RESERVATION, UTAH. 1 The act of June 7, 1897 (30 Stat., 62), contains the following provi-sions: The Secretrrry of the Interior is hereby directed to allot agrioultnral lands in severalty to the Uncompahgre Ute Indians non located npon or belonging to the Unoompahgre Indian Reservation in the State of Utah, said allotment8 to be npon the Ummpahgre and Uintah r m e n a t i m or elsewhere in said State. And all the lmds of said Uncompahgre Reservation not theretofore allotted in severalty to said Uncompahgre Utes shall, on end after the fmt day of April, eighteen hnndred and ninety-eight, be open for looation and entry under all the land laws of the United States; excepting, howsver, therefrom all lands containing gilsonits, asphalt, elate-rite, or other like substances, and the title to all of the said lands containing gilsanite, asphaltum, elaterite, or other like substances i8 reserved to the United States. June 18,1897, this office recommended to the 1)epartmetlt that the President be asked to authorize the allotments thus provided for, to he made under the act of February 8,1887 (24 Stat., 388), as amended by the act of February 28, 1891 (26 Stat., 794). August 7 the Depart. ment decided that the allotments to the Uncompahgres should be made under the acts of June 18,1880, August 15, 1894, and June 7, 1897, giving oontrollingforoe to the lattcr act where there is any differ-ence; also that the Uncompahgres are required to pay for their allot. |
