Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1890-07-03
NUMBER 40.
Depreciation Claims

Much has been said and written CON-
corning Indian depreciation clalms:
The government has been for num-
ber Of years engaged, by various ways,
In arriving at the settlement Of these
contests and rights, and it seems to the
contestants that they are no nearer
settlement than when first presented.
Mr.. Dubois in a letter to US this week
presents the latest action regarding
these claims. He says:
II am in receipt Of letters, frequently,
In regard to Indian depreciation claims,
and would be pleased If you would
make the contents Of the enclosed let
ter known, as many Of my constitu-
ents, in North Idaho, are deeply inter-
ested in this 81 bject. 1 wish to add
that for the first time there is Senate
and House Committee on Indian De-
probation Claims. Mr.. Hermann, OF
Oregon, is Chairman of the COMMITTEES
in the House. A united effort has
been made, by those interested In this
subject, to have law passed by Con-
gress to establish Court which will
pass on the merits of these claims, and
the judgment, which the Court finds,
shall be final SO that Congress will ap-
propriate the money without any
further testimony. 1t is quite probable
that such a law will be enacted. It
may not come at this session, but the
opinion is that it will soon become .
law. The outlook for these claimants
getting their just dues is brighter, It
seems to me, than 1t has ever been."
The following Is the communication
to which Mr.. Dubois refers. lis
letter to him from r. w. Belt, acting
commissioner Of Indian department.
Mr.. Belt replies thus to certain in
quiries made:
"Under the Act of March 3, 1885,
% Stat. 376), 1t is made the duty Of the
Secretary Of the Interior to investigate
and report to Congress upon the merits
Of all depreciation claims, in behalf Of
citizens of the United States, which
were on file at that date, and Of such
as may have been subsequently hled.
provided the injuries complained Of
were committed after the repeal,
December l, 1873, Of the limitation
clause of the Act Of June so, 1884, 18th
Stat. 7al). Uuder this law, Special
Agents have been employed and sent
to the localities where the depredations
are alleged to have occurred, and have
taken testimony, upon notice to and In
the presence of the claimants, and par
ties in interest whenever they desired
to be present, and all the claims 20 In
vestigated and reported by them have
been and are being closely examined
in this Office, the evidence carefully
weighed and such recommendations
formulated as 1t Is believed are war.
ranted by the proof, and the claims
submitted to the Honorable Secretary
for his approval and transmlttal to
Congress, as required by the law above
referred to. With the limited force Of
clerks and Special Agents which the
present appropriation Of $4,000 pro
vides for, not as rapid progress y being
made in the settlement Of these cases
as might be with larger fund ct com-
mand, but nevertheless, In view Of the
circumstances, very gratifying results
are being obtained. None Of theoo
claims are now paid by order of thu
Secretary Of the Interior, for the reason
that under the law Of May -, ls72,
III Stat. 1907, 1t was provided that no
payment on account Of any depEsda-
ton claims should be made without :
specific appropriation therefor BY Con-
gress, thus taking the matter Of pay
ment entirely out Of the hands o( tn
Department, and vesting It In
; Congress"
II those interested can succeed In
having the court Of claims established,
!. as Mr.. Dubois suggests, the buaineas a
settlement will no doubt be gzenkly
facilitated. A smaller body havin1
: that for special business will aCt mcfl
quickly. The delays have been ocCAe
| ioned, 1t seems, ffom the fhct thal
after all investigation Congress has II
sole power to take decaave action,
, which has never been done. The IT
! ters show that our representative NJ
] been doing all he could to pFen the y
cognition Of these claims.
II Potlatch Fanny still fingers ID u
! confines OF the new jail. She = q