The morning call., 1894-09-18
INDIAN CLAIMS.
A Federal Agent Here to
Investigate.
Assistant Acknowledgement Howry
Comes to California and Will Ex-
anime Into Many Cases.

Charles B. Howry, Assistant United
States Attorney-General, arrived in this
city last night from the Northwest and
registered at the Palace from Washington,
d. c.
Mr.. Howry's visit is official, and will be
extended for at least three weeks in Cali
fOrnia, during which time an investigation
into various claims against the Govern
ment for Indian depredations will
be held. Il is his special duty
to examine and pass upon all In
dian treaties and claims. His home is
Oxford, Mas, where be has lived most of
his life. 4he territory over which his
jurisdiction extends lies between the Mis-
sissippi and the Pacific. Canada and Mex
leo, but it was never before explored by
Mr.. ROwry.
81 came here from Washington State, !"
said he last night. "My secretary and
stenographer remained up there taking
evidence and will be down tomorrow. ]
spent three weeks in Montana, Oregon
and Washington investigating Indian
claims. The total amount of these claims
is $44. 100000, and the number II, 900. Judg-
ment has been rendered in 400 cases, about
half or which were paid, representing $780,
600 disbursed by the Government. There
still remain 200 cases, aggregating $500. 600
In round numbers. Congress apprO priated
S175, 600 to pay Indian claims, but all GER
titicates signed by me are to be taken up
and specially provided for by the next
Congress. There are six or eight large
claims amounting to about 81, 000, 900. one
Of which is the claim OF Ex-Governor
Downie's estate against the Government.
Il am investigating the judgments made
under the last administration, over which
some difficulty arose. The Government
was not quite satisfied with Gene raj
COIby'S rulings, which were made the
subject of inve- tigatiOn by committee of
the United States Senate. And now. be-
fore any money is paid out, / have To look
into the claims in dispute. This work is
necessarily slow. but [ am endeavoring TO
pay of claims as speedily rs possible con-
slstent with safety. In this department Of
the Government there should be a staff Of
at least FIFTY attorneys, while only few
men are given me. And then again, Con-
gTess is so slow in taking any steps to
provide for proper Office facilities that it
is next to impossible TO make any progress.
''There is an immense lot of work to be
done, but expect TO get through with
much of it this year and then be able TO
take up Californian claims. / will go to
San JnSe, San Jacinto and other parts of
the State to investigate specially under the
act of Congress by which l u III proceeding"
Mr.. Howry Is of the opinion that losses
suffered through Indians going Cd maraud-
ing expeditions and stealing or destroying
property cannot be included in claims
against the Government, as il is similar to
one while man stealing from another. In
case of an Indian war, however, ii is alto
gether different. JUST claims are treated
with utter indifference, and the poor set
tiers " no carried the vanguard of civiliza-
ton into the primeval forests and unten-
aned plains get no recompense for their
losSps