The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1885-09-04
KANSAS CLAIMANTS.

KANSAS CLAIMANTS.
Correspondence Relating to the AdJuss
memt of Claims for Losses by Indian Dep
dations.
Topeka. KAN, August 27.-The follow
Ing correspondence. concerning the claims
of citizens of Kansas for losses occasonet
BY Indian invasiOns explains itself and viii
be of interest to many of the people O
this State. 1t will be seen that, under dat
OF July IL, 1885, Governor Martin addressed
letter to Hon. S. j. Crawford, the State's
agent at Washington, calling attention Il
these claims, and asking him to ascertain
what steps had been taken to secure theil
adjustment and payment The Governor.
letter was referred to the Commissioner OF
Indian Affairs, who, under date of August
/ 20. 1855, replies. The letter of the Com
missioner and that of Ex-Governor Craw
/ ford furnish information TO claimants as tC
the steps necessary to secure the adjust
ment and payment of their Claims. The
correspondence is. therefore, of public in
terest and is furnished for publication. Tit
letters are as follows:
STATE OF KANSAS, EXECUTIVE DEp'T,l
TOPEKA, July Is, 1855. (
I Hon. s. j. Crdufotd. Topeka. Kan:
DEAR SIR: Under chapter H. Session
Laws of 1872 Commission was appointed 1,
invest gate certain losses sustained by the
citizens of Kansas, by reason of an invasion
/ of the Cheyenucs in ISIS This COMMISSION
made its report under the law and the
/ claims allowed and audited by it were trans
united TO the proper authorities in Washing
ton.
Recently have had several letters max n.
/ inqulr es concerning these ella ms, but have
been unnhie TO inform the persons max ms
such inquiries what progress had been made
towafus an adjustment and payment of sait
CLAIMS by the General Government. Will you
please inform me what steps have beer
taken IN TN matter toward securing an nj
iowanee of these claims. and what prospcc
tnefe rs OF their ultimate payment. Yours
very respectfully. JOHN A. MARTIN.
WASHINGTON, August u, 1855.
Hon. John A. Mditin, Topeka, Kan:
DEAR SIR: Your letter of the 18th ultimc
was received in due time and referred TO the
Commissioner of indian Affairs, whose re
ply herewith inc1ose
As will be observed from the Commission
err s letter, Congress, at its last session
passed an act providing for an investigation
of Indian depreciation claims, and directing
the Secretary of the Interior TO cause lis!
of the same which may be approved" etc
to he made and presented to Congress. Tins
Will doubtless be followed ut the proper time
by an appropriation for the payment of such
as may be approved by the Secretary and
commissioner.
Many of the claims on file were doubtless
established to the satisfaction of the State
Board, but whether the evidence submitted
Ihere will be seo cien: TO satisfy United
States author ties is a matter of some doubt
The probabilities are that unless further
proof is submitted, some of the claims vii!
be reduced in amount and Others disa,lOwed
I entirely. 1t is therefore important that al
claimants should put themselves i'm com,
municaton either with the Commissioner OF
some attorney here who will attend to the
matter for them. Truly yours,
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
OFFICE OF INDIAN AFFAIRS.
WASHINGTON, August 20, 1885.
Hon. S. J. Crd,cfOrd, Washington, ID. c.:
SIR: am in receipt by your reference oil
Martin, of Kansas. making inquiries regard.
ing claims of citizens of sad State. on ac
count of deprcdat Ons alleged to have been
committed by hostile Indians, and in reply
thereto | have to inform You that fcui
hundred and fifty claims on account of dep
relations by kiowa, COmanchc, Cheverne
and other Indians. committed upon citizens
of Kansas between the years lSsl and 1871
which were examined and reported upon by
Commission authorized by an act of the
Legislature of Kansas. approved February
2, 1872, were transmitted to the Honorable
Secretary of the Interior under date March
I. 1874. by Hon. ID. W. Wilder. State Auditor
IF Kansas. said claims aggregating the sum
Of s4sGsl8 he request of don }. NJ
Br ght, Chairnf of Committee of Claims
House of Representatives,. said CLAIMS were
transmitted 10 Congress January u. 1876
without any action taken by this Office.
Under Senate Joint Resolution No. l. of the
laws of 1872, State of Kansas, a Commission
was appointed by the Governor to examine
and audit claims for losses sustained by citt
zens of Kansas by reason of the invasiOrs of
Indians during the year ISIS. Said Commits.
sion reported upon one hundred and sixteen
claims. recommending an allowance of sl0l,.
iG5. 50 and disaliOwed twenty-siy claims for
want of evidence or because not provided
tor by the act creating the Commission" ag.
Tregat,ng the sum of Hess. \ 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 Che In
dian Department, etc. for the year ending
June 20, So Sl9,NN was appropriated for tine
investigation of uncertain indisn dcpreda-
ton claims; and in eXpcnding such sum the
Secretary of the Interior shall cause
complete list of all claims hereto
tore filed in the Interior Department and
which have been approved in whole or in
part, and now remain unpaid. and also nil
such claims as are pending ami not yet ex.
mined, on behalf of the citizens of the
United States, on account of dcpre'iat ;Ons
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
date of the alleged depredaronS by what
tribe committed, the date of examination
ana approval, with \ 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 aud empowered,
before making such report, TO cause such ad-
dir OnH investigation to be made and such
further testimony to he taken he may
deem necessary to enable him to determine
the kind and value of all property damaged
or destroyed 10y reason of the depredations
aforesaid, and by what tribe such dcpTeda-
tons were committed; and his report shall
inclu de his determination upon each claim.
together with the name and 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 body. have been
returned to this Office for re EXAMINATION IN
accordance with said law. A cursOry exam.
ination of a number of the four hundred and
fifty claims referred to has ee-ca made. and
it is found that the declarations in major ty
with the rules and regulations of the De
partment, approved July II. lS.2 copy here.
with, nor is the evidence in support thereof
in accordance Herewith. III claimants will
place themselves in communication tn
this Office, Instructions will be furnished tc
enable them to prepare their claims in ac
cordance with said rules, in order that
they may he acted upon without unnecessary
delay. The Governors letter is herewith re-
turned. Very respectfully.
A. b. UPSHAw. Acting Commissioner.
Montana Cattle Interests.
HELENA, Mont, August ga conven
ton of the stock growers of Montana
ononpd here to-day There is larva ~.