| OCR Text |
Show are probably inspired by influences not calculated to bo beneficial to the Indians in interest. The spirit of both those Acts clearly intends that patents in feo shall be issued to any Indian competent to care for his own affairs, and that such action shall bo taken without imposing any cost or unnecessary burden on the applicant. In view of tho fact that this does not seem to be clearly understood, you will cause it to be made known to all persons interested, that any applicant's employment of an attorney or agent to procure a patent in fee, or to help in procuring it, will be considered presumptive proof of his incompetency to care for his Gwn affairs, because he is incurring a wholly unnecessary expense, which an intelligent and prudent man would not incur'. His application will therefore be laid aside till the Department has abundant tims to make an investigation into the oaija, satisfactory to itsolf. Make it clear to everybody concerned that all any Indian needs to do, if he wishes a patent in dec, is to make his wants known to you or to the Commissioner of Indian Affairs, after which every step necessary will be attended to by tho proper officers of the Indian Service without any avoidable trouble to the applicant and without its costing him anything. You will consider this letter as being an addition to the instructions approved Juno 13, 1906. Vory respectfully, i/LG:"B. (Signed) P. E. Leupp. Commissioner. JCC win? Approved September 17, 1906. Ihos. Ryan, Acting Secretary. |
