The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-10
CLAIMS OF INDIANS.
Representatives Of the Pottnwatomie
Nation Mt the Capitol.

Representatives of the Pottswatomie Ma
tion were at the Capitol yesterday in the
interest OF their~claim TO certain lands in
Michigan, on part of which, it is said.
the city of Chicago is built.
A bill has been introduced In the House
of Representatives granting Jurisdiction
and authority to the Court of Claims in
the claim of the Pottawatomie tribe of In
dams in and to unceded lands in Illinois
and elsewhere, and also TO hunting and
fishing privileges reserved to said Indians
under treaty stipulations.''
This bill was submitted to the Commits
sioner OF Indian Affairs, and that official
has rendered report to the Committee On
Indian Affairs, in part. as follows:
From correspondence on file in this Of
fee, II appears that the Pc ka gon band Of
Pottawatomie Indians, residing in southern
Michigan and Indiana, claim right in and
to certain lands, as follows: Fractional
sections 3, 10, Is, %. q, "a, and So, and
fractional township 81 north. range II east,
of the third principal meridian. and other
lands in and around Lake Michigan; TO ISL
ands and submerged lands in said lake, and
to lands in and around Lake Superior, TO
which. it is claimed, the Indian title has
not been eXtinguisbed and also the right to
hunt and FISH in and about the waters and
shores OF Lake Michigan, under the treaty
OF 1876"
The Commissioner OF Indian Affairs pre-
sents extracts from the several treaties In
which are indicated the interests of the
Pottawetomie Indians in and to the coun
try around the southern end of Lake
Michigan Among the treaties referred to
are those of August "a, 1876; August 20,
1921; August 10, 1929; July 49, 1929; Octo-
Der &c 1926; September 20. 1S2S, and June
and II, 1916
In conclusion the Commissioner says:
From careful examination of the trea-
ties referred to-especially that of 1916
this Office is of the opinion that the Potta-
watomie Nation has ceded TO the United
States all territory east OF the Mississippi
River to which 1t ever had any right. title,
or claim of any kind whatsoever. and
therefore cannot recommend the passage
of House bill S349."
This bill provides:
That as certain Indians. members Of
Pc ka CONS band of Pottawatomie Indians,
with other members of the Chippewa, OF
tawa. and Pottawatomie tribes of Indians,
consolidated in 1876, and known as the Pot
tawatomie Nation claim to have some right,
title. and interest in and to certain islands
in the southern part of Lake Michigan anc
ether lands in Illinois and elsewhere, al
legged not to have been ceded by any treaty
with said Indians, or any portion of them.
and to certain hunting camping. and fish
ing privileges reserved by treaty stipuia-
lions. which claim is controverted or not
recognized by the United States. jurisdic-
tion be- and is hereby, conferred upon the
Court of Claims to hear and determine the
said claim of the Pottawatomie Nation OF
Indians, and to render judgment thereon,
it being the intention of this act to allow
said Court of Claims jurisdiction so that
the rights, legal and equitable. of the
United States. and the Pottawatomie Ma
ton and the Pc ka gon band in the prem
ises shall be fully considered and deter
mined. and to try and determine all ques-
tions that may arise on behalf Of either
party in the hearing Of said claim; and the
Attorney General is hereby directed to ap-
pear in behalf of the Government OF the
United States, and either Of the parties to
said action shall have the right OF appeal
to the Supreme Court of the United States.
Provided. That such appeal shall be
taken within sixty days after the rendition
of the judgment objected TO, and that the
said court shall give such causes prece-
dence: And provided further, That nothing
in this act shall be accepted or construed
as A confession that the United States adj
nit that the Pottawatomie Nation or any
other tribe of Indians have any claim TO or
interest in such lands or any part thereof,
or to any hunting. camping, or fishing
privileges set forth in any treaty with said
Indians"