Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1884-1886, 1885-08-27

session, passed an act providing for an
investigation of Indian depreciation
claims, and directing the secretary OF
the interior to cause list Of the same,
(which NAV be approved" etc, 10 be
made and presented to congress. This
will doubtless be followed at 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 10 satisfy. United States
authorities is 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. Ii is there
fore important: that all claimants
should put themselves in communica-
| ton with the commissioner or some
attorney here. who will attend TO the
matter for them. Truly Yours,
> J. CRAWFORD.
The reply OF the commissioner of
Indian affairs above referred TO is as
follows:
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
OFFICE OF I.;DIAN AFFAIRS,
WASHINGTON, Aug. Goth, 1885.
Hon. S. J. Crawford, Washington, ID.
c.:
SIR: | am in receipt of your refer
ence of a letter dated the 18th ultimo,
from Gov. Martin, of Kansas, making
inquiries regarding claims of citizens
of said state, on account of depreda-
iions alleged to have been committed
by hostile Indians, and in reply there
to, | have to inform you that 450
claims on account of dcpredations by
kiowa, 1Comanche, Cheyenne, and
other Indians, committed upon citi-
zens OF Kansas between the years 1860
and 1871, " ich were examined and
| reported upon by commission
authorized by an act of the legisla-
turc 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 tie
sum of 1928 ,02I and $26, 100 At the
request of Hon. j. NJ Bright, chair
man of the committee of claims, house
| of representatives, said claims were
transmitted to congress January 2lst.
1876. without any action taken by tins
office.
| Under senate joint resolution No.
of the laws of 1879, Estate of Kansas
commission was appointed by the
governor to examine and audit claims
for losses sustained by citizens OF
Kansas by reason of the invasions OF
Indians during the year 1873. said
commits lion reported upon ll6 claims,
recommending an allowance of lOl,
766 and S0-100 dollars, and disallowed
twcuty-siX claims ''fOr want of evil
Gencc or because not provided for by
the act creating the commission" az
gregating the sum of l5,4SS dollars
\ number of those ALLOW have been
examined and reported"o congress
recommending allowances which hav,
been made and paid TO claimants.
!. In the act making appropriation:
for the current and contingent cx
penses of the Indian department, etc.
| Tor the year ending June 30, 1856
$4,000 was appropriated ''for the in
vcstigatIon of uncertain Indian depre
dation claims: and in expanding sait
sum the secretary of the interior shal
cause complete list of all claims here.
tofore flied in the interior department
and which have been approved il
whole or in part and now remain un
paid. and also all such claims "a are
pending and not yet examined, OF
behalf of the citizens OF the United
States, on account of depreda
tions committed, chargeable agains
any tribe of Indians by
reason of any treaty between
such tribe and the United States, il
GLIDING the name and address of thu
claimants, the date of the alleged de
predations. by what tribe committed
the date of examination and approval
with a reference to the date and claue'
of the treaty creating the obligation
for payment, TO be made and present
ed to congress at its next regular scS
sion; and the secretary is authorized
and empowered, before making sucl
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 10 determin,
the kind and value Of all property
damaged or destroyed by reason o
the depre,lations aforesaid, and by
what tribe such depredations wer,
committed; and his report shall Ill
clude his determination upon eaci
claim, together with the names ano
residences of witnesses, and the test
mony of each, and also what funds are
now existing or to be derived by rea
son OF treaty or other obligation on
of which the same should be paid"
All claims heretofore reported tt
congress and not acted upon by tina
body have been returned To this off C,
for re-eXaminatiOn in accordance will
said law. A cursory examination of I:
number of the $50 claims referred to
has been made and it is found that tn,
declarations in majority of the claim,
are not prepared in accordance Will
the rules and regulations of the de-
partment, approved July Is. 1872
(copy herewith) nor is the evidence in
support thereof in accordance there
with. If claimants will place them
selves in communication with this of
flee instructions will be furnished Il
enable them to prepare their claims il
accordance with said rules, IN order
that they may be acted upon without
unnecessary delay.
The governors letter is herewith re
turned.
I
Very respectfully.
A. b. UPsHAw,
Acting Commissioner.