Omaha daily bee., 1899-10-10
CASH FOR THE ABORlGlNES
semi.Annual Payment Will Be Made to the
omahaS and Winnebagoes.
MONEY WILL BE PAID TO THEM At ONCE
Cubnns mt the Greater America Ex.
position win BE Allowed To Re-
turn to Their Homes Mt
Government Expense.


gram.)-For years past the Indians of the
Omaha and Winnebago agency have asked
for n semi-annual payment of certain money
growing out of the lease of tribal lands and
also payment of interest, but the authorities
here have universally decided against such
an innovation on the ground that 1t would
open up the whole subject of annuities as
well as many minor matters which are now
well in hand Today, however, Commits
sioner Jones of the Indian Office indicated
that the Omahas and Winnebagoes would re-
ceive portion of the moneys due them now
held by Agent Mathewson, although not
| legally payable before spring. This action
was taken on the ground that the Indians
might need the money to tide them over
tho winter and that the spring payment
would accordingly be made divisible to meet
! eXigencies while an exception is made in
| the case of the Omahas and Winnebagoes
| Commissioner Jones stated that the case of
| the Thurston county Indians was peculiar
! and as the agent had a major portion Of the
money to be paid out he saw no good reason
| why the payment should not be anticipated.
| Assistant Secretary Meiklejohn today made
an order permitting Cubans employed at the
| Greater America Exposition to return to
| their homes at the expense of the govern
ment with embarkation at New York. 1t
will be recalled that the Cubans were brought
! from Havana to New York on government
! transports free of transportation, on the
ground that they came to the United States
| to study our institutions. They have now
about completed their inquiries into the af-
fairs of the worlds leading republic and de-
| sire to return home at government expense,
which is sanctioned by the War department
operating a steamship between New York
and Havana.
Secretary Meiklejohn said today that bal
looms stored in Omaha, the property of the
| War department, which were desired for
| exhibition by the Greater America Expos-
ton, were not available because Of a lack
| of officers belonging to the signal service on
duty at Washington. He stated that he
would gladly issue an order for their exhi-
btion, but on inquiry of the chief signal
officer ascertained that there was no one
to be had to take charge of their manage
ment, nor was there any one available tc
meet the requests of the exposition man
agement.
Sensible Ruling by Root.
Secretary Root of the War department has
made a ruling that all vacancies occurrlns
among commissioned officers of the new
volunteer regiments, which at this date
have not been filed, shall be filled from
the ranks of the missioned officer!
and enlisted men.
This ruling" said all official OF tie We
department tonight, ais based upon equity
and justice 1t lays down rule that should
have been made long ago. There are man!
no1commissioned officers who can handle
a regiment as well as colonel and whC
! can give points to many of the officers ap
pointed to fat positions By governors o
| I..at In
aspirants for positions in the voluntee
service hereafter to enlist and secure place
as lnoncommissoned officers before the!
' can hope for bars or stars"
The report of Supervising Architect Tay
lor, made public today, shows that so ia
as the public building in Omaha is con
cerned there was actually available Jun
80 Of this year $211269, which includes tn
appropriation of $150,000 for the Seven
! teenth street extension. He further say
Il that working sketches have been prepare
and that proposals will be asked for at a
> early day for the work. AS to the Sout
Omaha public building, its occupancy wa
$ predicted within thirty days from the tim
| of submitting the report to the secretar
of the treasury and shows that all of tn
appropriation for the building of the post
e Office there, 100000, had been contracte
= for, except 1857 In the case of Norfolk
> Blair and Hastings progress is reporte
S toward selection of sites
: Final settlement of the government /
u connection with the Transmississippi Ex
position is indicated in the report shown
= that of $62,5OO appropriated for buildin
,. and exhibit, all has been accounted fc
u and checked but $267.17. This amount wa
= available June 80.
n Army News.
: Second Lieutenant Joseph c. Brady, rt