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Show REPORT OF COMMISSIONFZ OF INDIAN AFFAIRS 1.1 reserved for the sole use and benefit,of the Indians of the San Ilde-fonso Pueblo. RIGHTS OF WAY The act of March 6 9 1 5 (38 Stat. L. 1188), authoriz' ' the opeu-ing of public highways over Indian lands'in Montana a9n Nebraska in accordance with the laws of the respective States, upon condition that maps of location must first be approved by the superintendent in charge of the lauds involved, is in hue mth the present policy of transferring jurisdiction over Indian affairs to the several States. Recently, numerous protests from taxpayers, as well as opllers of i the restricted Indian lands involved, were received agmnst the issuance to the Montana State HfghwaB Commission of permission to proceed with the construction of Fe era1 State Highway Project No. 253-A, between the town of Wolf Point and the bridge, a few miles southeast thereof, over the Missourj River. The Bureau of Public Roads, after full consideration, decided there was no reason to withhold the extension of Federal aid to this project, and sufficient guarantees being secured that the Inman owners would be fairly co.mpensated for the dama e done, the superintendent of the Fort Peck Agency was authorize 8 to permit construction wprk to proceed. It hassince been reported that the Indians are'determmed to prevent work on this location,,and have' actually resisted the entry of the State highway commission upon the land. This department is with-out jurisdiction to interfere, and responsibility for proceeding with the work rests with the State highway commission. -All parties in interest have been so advised, and the Indians have been counseled to refrain from the exercise of personal violence and to seek their remedy, if any, through the courts. It will be of exceeding Interest to note the manner in which the State of Montana meets ,and dis-charges the responsibilities arising in connection with.this situation. INDIAN SUITS' AND JUDGMENTS , The United States Court of Claims, on May 6, 1929, handed down a judgment in the case of the Iowa Tribe of Indians (Oklahoma) pi. The United State$, No. 34677, awarding this branch of the Iowa Tribe the sum of $256,850. The Iowas of Kansas and Nebraska are not entitled to participate in the 'udgment mentioned, as they were not parties to the sut, which re 1 ated solely to lands of the Iowas who removed from Kansas and Nebraska to Oklahoma .many years before the transactions occurred which resulted in the sult cited. Suits not mentioned in the report for the year 1928 have been entered in the United States Court of Claims against the United States as follows: Kisqually Tribeof Indiansof Washington, petition filed Dccember31, 1928. Steilsroom Trihe of Indians of Washington, petition filed April 2. 1929. Ksw Trihe of I~tdianso f Okhhoma, amended perition filed April 15, 1929. INDIAN CLAIMS The act of May 3, 192% (45 Stat. 484), directed'the Secretarp of the Interior to investigate and determine claims, of individual Sioux Indians enrolled at the various Sioux agencies m North and South |