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Show REPORT OF THE OOMMISSIONER OF INDIAN AFFAIRS. 109 A petition hm been filed in the Court of Claims, styled "Joseph's Band of Nez Per06 Indians u. The United States? containing certain ailegations founded on the bill. This petition was referred on June 30, 1903, to this O5ce for report. Office reply of August 13 gives a full history of Joseph's band and the alleged claims, and expresses the opinion that the Government does not owe them anything, and that the ends of justice would be met should the Court of Claims so find. PUYALLUP LANDS, WASHINGTON. The Indian appropriation act of March 3, 1893, provided that for ten yeirs from that date the Puyallup Indians should not have the power to alienate their allotments except under the superintendence of the Puyallup commission. February 14, 1903, the Department decided that under this act and an act of the legislature of the State of Washington dated March 22,1870, the Puyallup allottees, at the expira-tion of the ten years, would have power to lease, encumber, grant, and &enate their lauds without restriction, as any other peraon might do under the laws of the State of Washingbn. Clinton A. Snowdeu, Puyallup Indian commissioner, was advised of this decision on Febru-ary 20, and given instructions accordingly. His report of the 20th 01 last June shows that the removal of the restrictive clause upon the sale of the Puyallup lands usder the laws above cited has been a detriment to the Indians and will result disas-trously to them. As was to be expected the more worthless of the Indians were ready to sell their land for less than it is worth as soon as permitted to do so. Some of themdid this promptly. One family, for instance, sold 40 acres for $300 thatwas easily worth $2,000. Two others traded their half interest in a 40-acre tract worth at least $100 per acre for asaloon, ran the saloon one night, were arrested by the police at midnight, and next day what was left of their stock of liquors was seized by the sheriff. There is no law to prevent an Indian or a white man from throwing his property away if he desires to do so. I Several things have occurred which embarrass the Indians in the ; sale and lease of their lands, preventing them from getting full value and sometimes from making any sales or leases. Titles to their lands are clouded and the groundwork for much litigation is being laid. ! Such things give designing people increased means of taking advantage of them. One Prank Ros, who made contracts with many of the Puyallup Indians in 1889 for the purchase of part of their allotments, has now brought suit in the superior court against the Indians; and white peo-ple to whom parts of these allotments have since been sold by the Pnyallup commission have asked the court to determine to whom the balance of the purchase money due on contract shall be paid. These |