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Show REPORT OF THE COXMSSIONER OF INDIAN AFFAIRS. 181 This matter was submitted to the Department April 6, 1900, and it was recommended that the findings of Mr. Barnard, at least to the extent of the tract claimed by the Indians-293,837 acres-be approved, and that action b~ taken to secure reimbursement to the Indians for the lands of which they have thus been deprived. In a reply, dated April 7, the Department approved of Mr. Barnard's findings to the extent indicated, and directed the ofice to prepare a draft of an item for submission to Congress granting authority for the detail by the Secretary of the Interior of an Indian inspector to negotiate an agree-ment with the Yakima Indians for the adjustment of their claim to the lands in question. Such item was prepared and submitted by the office to the Department, together with copies of all the reports, papers, and maps, April 16,1900, and on April 20 the Department transmitted the same to Congress. (See House Doc. No. 621, Fifty-sixth Congress, 1st session.) Congress, however, did not enact the desired legislation authorizing negotiations, but'it made provision in the deficiency act approved June 6,1900, for the continuation of the Crow, Flathead, etc., commission. This commission is authorized by the act originally providing for its appointment to negotiate an agreement with the Yakima Indians for the cession of a portion of their surplus lands. In instructing this commission, July 6, 1900, this claim of the Yakima Indians for lands excluded from the western portion of their reservation was referred to, and the commissioners were directed to adjust the matter, if pos-sible, by inserting in any agreement negotiated a provision for the payment to the Indians of such sum as they could agree upon as com-pensation for the excluded lands,.the terms to be just both to the Indians and to the United States. It is to be hoped that if an agree-ment is concluded with the Yakima Indians, as indicated, an amicable adjustment of this claim may be arranged and the same ratified by Congress. STOCKBRIDGE AND MUNSEE INDIANS. On account of the very small quantity of land owned by the~e Indians, action looking to the allotment of their reservation in sever-alty has been deferred. Because of the insu5ciency of land, allot-ments can not be made under the treaty of February 5,1856 (11 Stats., 663), and should allotments be made under tbe provisions of the gen-eral allotment act of February 8, 1887 (24 Stats., 388), each Indian would receive only about 19 or 20 acres. For a year or more the office has been considering the feasibility of giving to those Indians living off the reservation, and to those residing outside of the reservation in lieu of allotments therein, so that a su5- with the Seneca and Onondaga tribes in the State of New York, land , |
