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Show DHPAP.TMENT OF THE INTERIOR, UNITED STATES INDIAN SERVICE, Uintah &C Agency, T.hiterocks, Utah, E ft o F .mb i ;• r Hon. Commissioner of Indian Affairs, V.ashington, D. C. i-' -i -v. I nave tho honor to report that yesterday c held a council with the Uintah and 7/hite River Ute Indians. The co'inci! was full and complete as nearly all the leading men were present. At the council thay made a request which they wished me to submit to you. It was as 'follows They are desirous of having a conference with the Secretary of the Interior and yourself before their surplus land is leased and want me to request that they be authorized to go to Washington with a delegation of two Uintahs and two V/hite Rivers and one interpreter for that purpose, ?r.d they agreed in council that the expenses of the trip should be ta.--.er. out of what they call their Grass Money, which means the money they have to their credit as trespass foes and leasing money. At the seme time they want to talk to the Department about getting an Attorney to represent them before Congress so that th>.y can get pay for their land in Colorado. on this last proposition the uncompahgre Utes would 1 Ike to have two o.f their number go to Washington with this delegation as the;/ are very much interested in this Juohey-due the tribe for the land that the Government has placed in a forest reserve^ which is supposed to belong to the Indians and which has never been paid for. They are Trilling to pay the expenses of their two men out of their annuity money. Although this has not been positively agreed to in council, if you authorize two of their number to go with this party, I.am sure they will agree to such a proposition in council. These Indians have this money to spare and I recommend that their request be granted, as there are- many matters that theywa-.t to talk to the Department ahrout. C believe if a delegation of then were to f,o to ".'ash ington it would heir; us in the school question very much. This is a question tlrat I am having considerable trouble with right now. Very respectful: JvP U.S.Indian Agent. |