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Show REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF INDIAN AFFAIRS. 35 f was in most cases wisely used by them for the benefit of themselves and their families, and that he was able to discover only a few cases in which the Indians had squandered or misused any part of the money received by them in this payment. PAYMENTS TO COLVILLE INDIANS. By the act approved June 21, 1906 (34 Stat. L., 377), Congress directed that the sum of $1,500,000 be placed in the Treasury to the credit of the Indians of the Colville Reservgtion in Washington in payment for the lands ceded by them to the United States by their agreement of May 9, 1891, the said sum to be subject at all times to appropriation by Congress and payment to the Indian.. Three installments of this money, of $300,000 each, have been appropriated by Congress, and out of the money appropriated there - has been paid to certain attorneys for services rendered the Indians the sum of $60,000, as provided in the act. There is, therefore, now available for payment to the Indians, or expenditure for their benefit as may be decided, the sum of $840,000. For handling this money so as to insure to each participant the greatest possible benefit from its use a general plan has been formu-lated which it is believed will tend greatly to improve the condition of these Indian citizens. The plan in brief is as follows: To withdraw the money from the Treasury, where it now stands to the credit of the tribe, and place it in bonded depositaries in the State of Washington to the credit of the individual members. The bank accounts will then be turned over to the owners, or drawn upon for their benefit, as may prove best in each cwe. The roll of Indians entitled to share in these funds is now being made. PAYMENT OF INDIANS' SHARES OF TRIBAL TRUST FUNDS. The act of March 2, 1907 (34 Stat. L., 1221)., authorizes the Secre-tary of the Interior, in his discretion, from time to time, to designate any individual Indian belonging to any tribe or tribes whom he may deem capable of managing his or her affairs, and to cause to be appor-tioned and allotted to such Indian his or her pro rata share of any tribal or trust funds on deposit in the Treasury of the United States to the credit of the tribe or tribes of which such Indian is a member; the amount so allotted and apportioned to be placed to the credit of such Indian upon the books of the Treasury and to be thereafter subject to the order of such Indian; no apportionment or allotment, however, to be made to any Indian until he shall have fist made an application therefor. |
