Dodge City times., 1885-09-03
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
OFFICE OF INDIAN AFFAIRS,

WASHINGTON, August ~, 1853.
Hon. 8. j. Crawford, Washington, ID. c.:
SIR: / am in receipt by your reference of
letter dated 18th ultimo, from Governor
Martin of Kansas, making inquiries regard
count of depredations alleged to have been
committed by hostile Indians, and in reply
thereto l have to inform you that four
hundred and fifty claims on account of dep
relations by Kiowa, Comanche, Cheyenne
and other Indians, committed upon citizens
of Kansas between the years 1860 and 1871,
which we're examined and reported upon by
Commission authorized by an act of the
q, 1872, were transmitted to the Honorable
Secretary of the Interior under date March
1, 1874, by Hon. d. w. Wilder, State Auditor
of Kansas, said claims aggregating the sum
of $428, ,G21.S. At the request of Hon: J. NJ.
Bright, Chairman of Committee of Claims,
House of Representatives, said claims were
without any action taken by this Office.
Under Senate Joint Resolution No. l, of the
laws of 1872 State of Kansas) Commission
was appointed by the Governor to examine
and audit claims for losses sustained by citi-
Zens of Kansas by reason of the invasiOns OF
Indians during the year 1878. Said Commits
sion reported upon one hundred and sixteen
claims, recommending an allowance of $lOl,-
1850, and disallowed twenty-six claims .'for
want of evidence or because not provided
for by the act creating the Commission" ag.
gregating the sum of SIS, ,488. A number of
those allowed have been examined and re-
ported to Congress, recommending allow
ances, which have been made and paid TO
claimants.
In the act making appropriations for the
current and contingent expenses of the In
dian Department, ETC., for the year ending
June 30, 1885, $4,000 was appropriated for the
investigation of uncertain Indian depreda-
ton claims; and in expending such sum the
Secretary of the Interior shall cause
. complete list of all claims hereto
fore filed in the Interior Department and
which: have been approved in whole orlin
part, and now remain unpaid, and also all
such claims as are pending and not yet ex-
amined, on behalf of the citizens of the
committed, chargeable against any tribe of
Indians by reason of any treaty between
such tribe and the United States, including
the name and address OF the claimants, the
tribe committed, the date of examination
and approval, with a reference to the date
and clause of the treaty creating the obliga-
ton for payment, to be made and presented
to Congress at its next regular session; and
the Secretary is authorized and empowered,
before making such report, to cause such ad-
ditional Investigation to DO made and such
deem necessary to enable him to determine
the kind and value of all property damaged
or destroyed by reason Of the depredatiOns
aforesaid, and by what tribe such depreda-
tions we're committed; and his report shall
include his determination upon each claim,
together with the name &nd residences OF
witnesses and the testimony of each, and
also what funds are now existing or to be de-
rived by reason of treaty or other obligation
out Of which the same should be paid"
All claims heretofore reported to Congress
and not acted upon by that hOdy, have been
returned to this office for re examination III
accordance with said law. cursory exam
ination OF number of the four hundred and
fifty claims referred to has been made, and
it is found that the declarations in a majority
of the claims are not prepared in accordance
with GO rules and regulations of the De
partment, approved July IL, 1872, copy here
with), nor is the evidence in support thereof
in accordance Herewith. II claimants will
place themselves in communication with
this Office, instructions will be furnished to
enable them to prepare their claims in ac'
cordance with said rules. in order that
they may be acted upon without unnecessary
delay. The Governors letter is herewith re-
turned. Very respectfully,
A. B. UPSHAw, Acting Commissioner.