Arizona weekly citizen., 1890-05-31
iNDIAN DEPRECIATION CLAIMS.

iNDIAN DEPRECIATION CLAIMS. The following is synopsis of the h. d ID depreciation bill reported by the sen l ste committee to whom such claims were referred. As many or our citizens are deeply interested in the passage of the bill we publish in full its most import ant provisions:
 The Court of Claims will be em- p Eered to adiudicate all claims for property of citizens of the United States, destroyed by peaceable Indians, without just cause or provocation on the part of ,e owner, also. all claims by Indians under treaty protection, whose property as been unlawfully destroyed by white len or by Indians of another tribe, in tmity with the United States; also, all fsets or counter claims to any claim of ,ither of the preceding classes.
 Saction2 provides for concurrent juris- siiction of United States District Courts >vith Court of Claims to the amount of S2,G00, and United States Circuit Court concurrent jurisdiction where the amount exceeds 5000, and does not ex- ceed SlG,00o. Such cases to be tried by court without jury.
 Section provides that no claim re- ferred to the subdivision of section l. shali be allowed unless proved by tes- timOny of witness not of the Indian race.
 Section f provides that all questions of limitation are waived and no claim shall be excluded because not hereto fore presented to the secretary of the interior or other officers of department of the government, provided that no claim accruIng prior to January l, 1sS7, shsll be considered, unless the claim has been aliowsaor is spending prior to the passage of this act, before the secretary of the interlor or congress, but no case shall be considered pending unless evidence has been presented therein. All claims ex- isting at the time of taking effect of this act must be presented within three years after the passage of the act and no suit shall be allowed after the passage of this act.
 Section 3 provides that the jurisdic- diction of U. s. courts under this act shall be governed by the law now in force.
 Section $ provides that claims shall be presented to the court by petition, in concise and definite language, the peti- ton to he verified by the affidavit of claimant, his agent, etc,
 Section provides for serving copy of petition upon U. s. Attorney and U. s. Attorney General, and agent of Indian tribe, party to suit, and other details of legal procedure. Indians interested may appear by attorney, with the sp- proval cf the commissioner of Indian af- fairs. In considering evidence, affidavits, reports of special agents, etc, shall be considered competent, and approved un- paid claims shall have priority of con- sideration, and be regarded as prima facie correct unless claimant or the United States elects to reopen the case.
 Section establishes rules for taking testimony.
 Section g provides that judgments against tribes shall be charged against the tribe. and shall be paid, first by de- duction from annuities, and if no annu ities due or available, then from other funds due said tribe from sale of lands or appropriations for current support. Otherwise from the U. s. Treasury.
 Section 10, provides that judgments against white men shall be collected by ordinary process of la Y, and if their prop erty is not sufficient the government will pay such judgments.
 Section II provides that such judg- ment shall be final.
 Section 12 provides for transmission of lists of such final judgments to con gress.
 Section 13 provides that all sales. transfers or assignments of claims here tofore or hereafter made, except m course of administration of ofdescendent'sIestates, are void.
 Section IA provides for right of ap- peal as prescribed by statues of the United States.
 Section 15 provides that all papers and records now on file relating to said claims shall be furnished to the proper court upon its order at the request of the attorney general
 Section 16 provides that the investi gations and examinations under the acts of congress heretofore in force, of Indian depreciation claims, shall cease upon the taking effect of this act.