The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-03-02
THE INDIANS.
Frauds Upou the 4borlgines and the Remed,

We make tie following extract from the
recent report of the Congressional committee,
and append the remedial measures that passed
the Senate and House of Representatives yes
terday;-
1t will thus be seen that out Of the payment OF
sl26,OOO to the Chickasaws, General Blunt received
s62 5O0 out of ss4 600 to the Choctaws he received
s83 600 and ont OF 10000 to the Quapaws, $4,000;
in the aggregate sl96 100, out OF payments amount
ing TO S2a9 000 AS 10 was not believed TO be OF suf
ncient Importance delay the presentation OF this
report the committee did not attempt TO ascertain
how much was paid to the traders, which could only
from distance at great expense; and as neither
General Bunts conduct, nor that OF the agents now
out OF the employ OF the United States, nor OF the
traders, be investigated by Congress for any
other purpose except to prevent the repetition OF
such extorton and misconduct in the future, the
committee think they have performed their duty by
calling attention to tho facts and the existing laws
and by suggesting such legislation as win prevent
repetition OF these things, as it is fair to presume
the cases to which the attention of the committee
have been directed are only specimens OF the whole
The following are the provisions of the act
referred to-
Section A. And be It further enacted That here
after no contract agreement of any kind shall be
made by any person with any tribe OF Indians, or
Unittd States, for the payment OF any money
or other things of value to him, or any other
Indians relative to their lands, or to
any claims growing out OF or IA reference to annui-
ties IrOm treaties WITH the United States unless
such contract or agreement be in writing and ap-
proved by the Commissioner OF indian Anairs aud
Ine secretary OF Lne bucu
or agreements hereafter made in violation OF the
provisions OF this section are hereby declared
null and void, and all money other thing OF
value paid to any person by any Indian
or tribe or any else, for on his their behalf
on account such services in excess of the amount
approved by the said Commissioner or Secretary
for such services may be recovered by suit In the
name Of the United States in court OF the United
States, regardless Of the amount in controversy
one-haf Of which shall be paid TO the person sueine
for the same and the other half shall be paid into
the Treasury OF the United States for the OF the
Indian or tribe by or for WHOM
it was paid; aud the person Sc
receiving said money, and his aders and abettors
shall in addition 10 the forfeiture of said sum- bt
subject TO prosecution for msdemeanOr in any cour
of the United States, and on conviction shall bs
fined not less than one thousand dollars and imprt
soned not less than six months; and it shall be th
duty OF all district attorneys OF the United
states 70 prosecute such cases when applied
10 10 do so, ana their failure and refusa
shall be grOund for their removal fron
ONCE. And any Indian agent, or other person Il
the employment OF the United States, shall, in VIC
latiOn Of the provisions of this section advise
sanction, or In any way aid in the making OF sucl
contracts or agreements, or In making such pay
ments as are here prohibited, shall, Ia addition
the punishment hereby imposed on the persO
making said contract, or receiving said money, be
Cn conviction, dismissed from the service OF N
United States, and be forever disqualified frou
holding any once Of pro1t 0T trust under Ehe same