The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1893-09-16
Col. sellers Kings latest sc1,enne

Hldue IeleIeuce W Il Speclal from WASH
ington in relation to a letter from a
claimant to the commissioner of Indian
affairs inquiring il it was necessary to
employ Goodykoontz & King as attorneys
for the collection OF claims by the
original Grow Creek settlers. The fol-
lowing is the commissioners reply in
full, and it's interesting reading:
Department of the Interior,
Washington, Sept. !, 1893.
John I. Hoover, Bijou Hills. 8. D..
Sir:-l am in receipt, BY reference from the
Department, of your letter dated Augusta, 1893.
enclosing u circular letter dated July IL, 1855, by
Goodykoontz and King, attorneys of this city,
addressed to Mrs. James (Jano) Gcnderson, one
OK the lnimant for damage rs "A settler on the
Grow Creek and Winnebago reservations in
South Dakota, between the dates Of February 81
1885, and April II, 1855, soliciting her to sign tho
Contract and Power OF Attorney accompany.
ing said circular letter, engaging the said law
firm of this city, to represent her in the prosecute
ion of her said claim for damages, the fees to be
paid said attorneys to be fifteen per centum of
the amount recovered. Said circular letter urges
as reasons for the employment of said attorneys
to prosecute the clnims Ct sucll settlers that the
unsettled state Of political and financial affairs
makes it much harder to secure ut present the
payment of these claims; that there is great
danger of Congress referring them to tho Court
Of Clnims for adjustment; aud that the settlers
must have some one to look after their clains in
Washington, rs even after allowance by the
Court Of Claims and in Congress they must be
followed through the various departments for
final purFnauf. u,akipu ~ ,va1I worth tho mount
asked.
You state that your county is being flooded
with the documents above referred to, and
that the attorneys. where they can, are getting
pny in advance, which you say you believe 10 be
wrong, and request to be informed whether it is
necessary or advisable for Mrs. Gundersou and
otlier clalmnnt to employ these attorneys in
order t. enable them to secure their rights il the
government honestly owes them anything.
In reply l havs to inform you that tho act of
October J, 1850 Vol. II U. s. S!ateg., y. $500,
authorizing the Secretary o. he Interior to Irs-
ignite Il rEecial agent fer tie purpose of
ascsrtnining the losses sustained by the settlers
mentioned, provided that such ugent's report
should be submitted to the Secretary of the In
terror. and be by him .transmitted to Congress
with his recommendations thereon.
Tho report of the Special Agent. II. X. Pense,
embracing BIS claims, WIS submitted to this De-
partment under date of December IS, 1892.
These claims are now being examined by this
office for the purpose of determining whether the
Same are just and proper and should be allowed.
IL the claims arc shortly to BIO sent to the Sec
rotary of the Interior, with recommendations us
10 the validity of eacl,, for transmission by him
with his recommendations to Congress, ms pro-
vided in the act above mentioned.
such is the status OF these claims ut the present
time. Until Congress las first had un oppor-
tunity to net upon the same and to make the
necessary appropriation for raying such claims,
or parts thereof, as are just and proper upon the
recommendations of this Department, this Office
sees no reason or necessity for employing any
attorney or agent for tho purpose OF prosecuting
such claims. The necessity for such agent or
attorney after the claims are nllowed by Congress,
orthe Court Of Claims should they be referred
there, in order to- follow them through the
variors departments for final payment is less
apparent still, and seems ID he wholly unncses-
sars. Very Sespec,falis,
n 1NEs ~ NJ nsnvustSE l>a-nptisaipu sr II