OCR Text |
Show to t3e their claims and evidence up to and including October 31,1900. It was afterwards discovered that the six months provided for in the act did not expire until November 30,1900. The time was extended accordingly. Two hundred and forty-three claims for a right to participate in this fund, amounting in the aggregate to over $175,000, were filed with the agent for the Union Agency. These claims, with the evidence sub-mitted, were forwarded by him to this office with recommendation that all the claims be disallowed. Most of these cases have been for-warded to the Department, and with but one exception this office has concurred in the agent's recommendation. So far as the Department has taken action the claims have been disallowed; the claim which this office recommended be allowed has not yet been acted upon. ' The ninth section of the Indian appropriation act, approved June 7, 1897 (30 Stab., p. 92), provided for the disposition of the lands and the capitalization of the funds of the small band of Chippewa and Munsee or Christian Indians in Franlclin County, Kans. Patents have been issued and been delivered to those allottees or their representa-tives who retained ownership of their allotments, and receipts therefor have been filed. The 24 allotments which could not bepartitioned among the heirs of deceased allottees were sold by the Commissioner of the General Land Office March 13, 1901, and a schedule has been prepared showing the proposed distribution of the amount which each allotment brought, less the cost of sale. This schedule, which is given on page -, has been approved by the Department, and steps are being taken to pay over the proceeds to the heirs or parties entitled. At the same time last March the lands held by the tribe in common, as well as such allotments as had been abandoned or the whereabouts of the allottee were unknown, were sold by the General Land Office, the net price received being $4,544.46, which sum is to be distributed per capita between 54 claimants, who are members of the tribe but have never received an allotment of land. This sum of money has been deposited in theTreasury of the United States, and each claimant is to receive his share when he shall have arrived at the age of 21 years. The tribal fund, with the interest thereon, has been disbursed bythe United States Indian agent to the members of the tribe except the share due one member, who was unknown to the Indian agent or to the members of the council. It remains in possession of the Govern-ment for further consideration as to its distribution. |