, 1890-05-29
THE PIVOTAL POINT.
Had Enoch Abandoned His Tribal
Relations?

hao Enoch Abandoned MS iriDhh
Reiations2
| WAsurYaros May 24.-The hearing on
questions involving 100000 worth OF
real estate IN Spokane Falls was held at
tho interior department this morning
before Assistant Secretary Chandler and
George Shields, attorney general of the
department. James Mcknight, of st.
Paul represented the Northern Pacific
railroad, and u. +, Rice and l.. ii.
Prather presented the case OF Mr.. Spicer
and the other claimants who want to
enter the land, and Messrs. Phillips,
Iachery aud Mckenna represented the
settlers who claim the land under pur-
chase from the Northern Pacific.
The case came be fore the department
to-day on motion 10 review the de-
partmcnts decision Of several weeks
ago. which ordered hearing to deter
mine the status of the lands occupied by
Indian Enoch at the date on which the
Northern Pacific filed its nap OF definite
location. All the parties to-day were
opposed to having the case sent to spo-
kane Falls for hearing.
Considerable new evidence was sub
n,itted by Mr.. McKenna as to Enoch's
standing at the time he sold his i'm
proyements to the Northern Pacific.
| Among the other documents submit
ted was an affidavit from Enoch, dated
May o, 1890, in which ho swore that at
the time he abandoned the land ne had
given up his tribal relations.
Another affidavit was submitted from
Agent Sims. Of the Colville reservation,
that Enoch had been treated since his
settlement there as an Indian, of the
Spokane tribe. Other evidence was sub
mitted to show that Enoch had drawn
money from the govern ment, as chief OF
n band since his removal from the now
valuable property.
Mr.. Prether, in his argument, hinted
that the evidence submitted by the
claimants under the Northern Pacific
rights had been manufactured for the
occasion. He held that an Indian
might abandon his tribal relations and
then renew them. so that the present
condition of the Indian had little to do
with the case. He was in favor of an
immediate settlement of the case and
survey of the properly.
On behalf of Messrs. Glover, Newbery,
Taylor, Hyde and others, of Spokane
Falls, 1t was claimed that an immediate
settlement was demanded, as the recent
order for hearing had unsettled the
titles to such an extent as to paralyze
business, and prevent the loaning com
panies from advancing cash to carry on
the improvements already begun. The
case was taken under adyisement, and
will receive the early attention OF the
department.
Senators SQUIRE and Allen and Repre-
sentative Wilson, OF Washington, are
deeply interested In the case, and all
were present at the hearing, for part of
the day, OF least.
| -.
TIL. Drydock Question.
When Senator Aliens amendment to
the naval appropriation bin came up for
consideration to-day. Il caused some.
| thing of a fight between the Washington
and Oregon senator's The amendment
provides for a commission to select a
| a. r.. . a...I..t- =. ..,,a .,as,. o.,
| p,,,.a, .,u.J Sa,,,,- yi,oha Ill ,ua.od
an anomerdnp,t which ,rovided that Tho
corn r,ission should selact tho drvdock
ON the vyntors Of tho pocl6c ocean north
of the California limo Including the Co..
inmbia river puget sonnd and Lake.
Union and Washington in Washing.
! -. S, ,rI.atu ,,-...,,, 20,
hi. nmondment Inv saving that
the commission which selected
the navy ward had tho same
territory to select from, as provided in
his amendment. Senator Dolph sup
| -a...I ,!.,,,,. Nti,sh.,tts ,r,n...;,;o,,