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Show REPORT OF THE 00~1SSIONER OF INDIAN AFFAXRS. 178 NEW YORK INDIANS. The claim of the New York Indians for conlpensation for lands in Kansas, growing out of the treaty concluded at Buffalo Creek on Jan-uary 15, 1838, having been finally adjudicated before the Court of Claims, it was referred to Congress at its last session for an appro-priation. Instead of providing specific legislation for the payment to the beneficiaries of the amount of the judgment, as was proposed by this o5ce in a bill formulated for that purpose, Congress, by the act of February 9,1900, simply appropriated the amount of the judgment of the Court of Claims, rendered November 23,1898, with interest from that date to the date of the mandate of the Supreme Court, April 19, 1899, viz, $1,998,744.46. It is presumed that following the pre-cedents of the "Old Settler" Cherokee and similar cases, special legislation will be provided to enable the Department of the Interior to make the distribution of the judgment. This was provided for in the bill proposed by this office. ABOLISHMENT OF THE OSAGE TRIBAL GOVERNMENT. A crisis in Osage governmental affairs was reached in the election of tribal officers in 1898. After a bitter factional controversy, and after an investigation had been conducted by Inspector McLaughlin, the Department, on February 21, 1899, decided the contest in favor of Black Dog, representing the full-blood element, as principal chief, and Ma shah ke tah, the candidate of the progressive or mixed-blood party, as assistant principal chief. The Osages, however, became involved in another dispute over the election of members of the national council, which was only settled by the Department order of January 18,1900, recognizing twelve members as having been duly elected and constituting a quorum of the council, leaving three vacancies to be filled by that body. These and other considerations impelled the ogce, on February 21, 1900, to recommend the issuance of a Departmental order abolishing the Osage national government, excepting the national council and the offices of principal chief and assistant principal chief. Such an order was issued March 30. May 19 the o5ce recommended the abolishment of the national councilwhich was ordered by the Department May 21, 1900. The principal causes that led to the abolition of the Osage tribal government were: (1) Acrimonious disputes between the two factions over elections; (2) entire absence of harmony between the Osage tribal o5cers and the Indian agent in the administration of tribal affairs; (3) the selection of ignorant men as officeholders, and (4) the profligate use of moneys received from permit taxes. |
