Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1885-08-28
concERNrNo INDIAN CLAIMS.
Corrospondonce Between the Com
missioner OF indian Affairs and
the State Agent

at Washington, calling attention to
these claims, and asking him to asccr-
tain what steps had been taken to
secure their adjustment and payment.
The governors letter was referred to
the commissioner of Indian affairs,
who, under date of August 20, 1885,
replies. The letter of the commits
sioner and that of Ex-Governor Craw-
ford furnish information to claimants
as to the steps necessary to secure the
adjustment and payment of their
claims. The correspondence is. there
fore, of public interest and is furnish
ed for publication. The letters are as
follows.
STATE OF KANSAS,
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT,
TOPEKA, July 10, 1885.
Hon. S. j. Crawford, Topeka, Kas.:
DEAR SIR: Under chapter liz, scs-
sion laws of 1879, commission was
appointed 10 investigate certain losses
sustained by citizens of Kansas, by
reason of an invasion of Cheyennes in
1878. This commission made its re-
port under the law, and the claims al
I lowed and audited by were trans
mitted to the proper authorities in
Washington.
Recently | have received several
letters making inquiries concerning
these claims, but have been unable TO
inform the persons making such ln-
quiries what progress had been made
toward an adjustment and payment
OF said claims by the general govern
ment. Will you please inform me
what steps have been token, in this
matter, towards securing an allow
). ance of these claims, aud what pros
pect there is of their ultimate pay
ment. Yours Very Respectfully,
JOHN A. MARTIN.
To this letter Gov. Crawford replied
as follows:
WASHINGTON, ID C.. Aug q, 1885.
Hon. John A. Martin, Topeka, Has:
DEAR SIR: Your letter of the 18th
ultimo was received in due time, and
referred TO the commissioner of Indian
affairs, whose reply l herewith en-
close.
As will be observed from the COIN
missioner's letter. congress, al its last
session, passed al act providing for an
investigation of Indian depreciation
claims, and directing the secretary of
the interior TO cause a list of the same,
(which may he approved" etc, 10 be
made and pre- sen'ed TO congress. This
will doubtless be followed NJ the
proper time by an appropriation for
the payment of such as may be ap-
proved by the secretary and commits
sioner.
Many of the claims on file were
doubtless established TO the satisfac-
ton of the state board, but whether
the evidence submitted there will be
sufficient TO satisfy United States
authorities is a matter of some doubt.
The probabilities are that unless fur
Their proof is submitted, some of the
claims will be reduced in amount, and
others disallowed entirely. 1t is there
fore important that all claimants
should put themselves ia communica-
ton with the commissioner or some
attorney here, who will attend to the
matter for them. Truly Yours,
s. j. CRAWFORD.
The reply of the commissioner OF
indian affairs above referred to is as
follows:
i DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
OFFICE OF E!DIAN AFFAIRS,
WASHINGTON, Aug. Goth, 1885.
Hon. 5. j. Crawford, Washington, ID.
C.:
SIR: am in receipt ofyour refer
ence of letter dated the 18th ultimo,
from Gov. Martin, of Kansas, making
inquiries regarding claims of citizens
of said state. on account of depreda-
1 tons alleged TO have been committed
by hostile Indians, aud in reply there
to, have TO inform you that $50
claims ON account of depredations by
Kiowa, Comanche, Cheyenne, and
other Indians, committed upon citi-
zens of Kansas between the years 1860
and 1871, which were examined and
reported upon by commission
authorized by an act of the legisla-
ture of Kansas, approved February
9th. 1872, were transmitted to the
/ honorable secretary OF the interior
under date of March 4th, 1874, by
Hon. ID. w. Wilder, state auditor of
Kansas, said claims aggregating the
sum of $42S, 02l ami S26,100. At the
request of Hon. j. NJ. Bright, chair
man of the committee of claims, house
of representatives, said claims were
transmitted 10 congress January 2lst.
1876. without any action taken by this
office.
Under senate joint resolution No.
of the laws of 1879, state of Kansas)
commission was appointed by the
governor 10 examine and audit claims
for losses sustained BY citizens of
Kansas by reason of the invasions of
Indians during the year 1873, said
commission reported upon lie claims,
recommending an allowance of 101,-
766 aud $1,000 dollars, and disable " ed
twenty-six claims "for want of evil
dence or because not provided for by
Tie act creating the commission" ag-
gregating the sum of 15,4SS dollars. |
A number OF those allowed have been
examined and reported 10 congress
recommending allowances hich have |
been made and paid to claimants.
In the act making appropriations |
for the current and contingent ex-
penses of the Indian department, etc,
TOR the year ending June 80, 1886,
$4,000 was appropriated "for the in
vestigatIon OF uncertain Indian depre-
dation claims; and in expanding said !,
sum the secretary of the interior shall |
cause a complete list of all claims here
tofore flied in the interior department
and which have been approved in
whole or in part and now remain un-
paid, aud also all such claims as are
pending and not yet examined, gu
States, on account of depreda-
tons committed, chargeable against
any tribe of Indians by
reason of any treaty between
such tribe and the United States, it,
Guiding the name and address of the
claimants, the date of the alleged de-
predatiops, by what tribe committed.
the date of examination aud approval,
with a reference TO the date and clause
OF the treaty creating the obligation
for payment, to be made and present.
ed TO congress at its next regular SEES
sion; and the secretary is authorized
and empowered, before making such
report, 10 cause such additional inves- !
tigation to be made and such further
testimony to be taken as he may deem {
necessary TO enable him to determine !
he kind aud value of all property J
damaged or destroyed by reason of !
he depredations aforesaid, and by z
what tribe such depredations were
and his report shall in
dude his determination upon each 8
;laim, together with the names and !