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Show 32 COMMISSIONER OF INDIAN AFFAIRS. to investigate thoroughly all Pueblo Indian titles, including the original grants, surveys, histor of individual holdings, dispates concerning water rights, and in 9 act to make a comprehensive report upon which can be based a request for legislation, if the same is deemed necessary, which will give justice to the Indians or the settlers. INDIAN CLAIMS. Congress has enacted legislation providing for certain Indian tribes to take alleged valuable claims against the Government to the Court of Claims for adjudication. Under the jurisdictional act of May' 26, 1920 (41 Stat. L., 623), the Indians of the Klamath Reservation, Oreg., have had several councils, hut the matter of selecting a suitable tribal .attorney or firm of attorneys to present their claims to the court has not as yet , , been definitely settled. ~ Under.the act of June 3, 1920 (41 Stat. L.! 623), authorizing the Sioux tribes to have their claims heard by the Court of Claims, a council of delegates from each of the hands of the Sioux was held December 15-17, 1920, at Fort Thompson, S. Dak., on the Crow Creek Reservation, which submitted the names of several attorneys. The firm of Messrs. Hughes, Rounds, Schurman & Dwight, of New York City, was authorized to enter into contract with these Indians, ,, which contract was approved. February 25,1921. Subse uently Hon. Charles E. Hughes, who had become Secre-tarB of ita te, withdrew from the firm, which was then reorganized nn er the name of Rounds. Schurman & Dwight. At a conference held with the Sioux tribal delegates June 22,1921, at Omaha, Nebr., the representatives of the law firm mentioned notified the Indians that they desired to withdraw from the case and have their contract canceled. Considerable work has already been accomplished toward ob-taining evidence on behalf of the Indians', and upon the selection of other attorneys and the completion of .a new contract with these tribes the work of formally presenting their claims tothe Court of Claims will be pushed. SUPPRESSKON OF LIQUOR TRAFFIC. The national prohibition act has made it more difficult for In-dians to obtain intoxicating liquor, and the resulting benefit to them will no doubt be augmented as the enforcing machinery of the gen-eral prohibitory legislation becomes more effective. As yet, how-ever, the protection of the Indians from intoxicants is largely a problem distinct from national prohihit.ion .and is in need of direct ' i . t,. . attention from this service. Such attention has been- given to the fullest extent practicable under appropriations by Congress for that purpose, which for some time past have been materially reduced each year. The appropriation for the fiscal gear 1919 was $150,000, for the current year $35,000. Such special officers and facilities as , . can be provided are distributed in localities where violations o,f law are most persistent, and prosecutions are €ound to be principally necessary against bootleggers and moonshine. stills. This work is always more successful where full support is given to the Indian Service by the local end State officials. |