New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-09-23
SENATORS HEAR INDIANS.
FOUR TRIBES WANT THE COURTS TO DE
eide THEIR RIGHTS TO LAND

Four tribes Of Indians were represented at a
hearing before subcommittee Of the United
States Senate, comprising Senators PIatt Of Con-
necucut, and Thurstou, Of Nebraska, held at the
Fifth Avenue Hotel yesterday. The tribes we're the
MontaUk and Shinnecock. who have q Joint claim
70 1000 acres Of land Montauk Point the Nara
ganset-s, who demand piece OF land eight miles
square half e mile back from Narragansett BAY
and the Mohesans who say they are entitled 10 the
reservation four miles from Montville near Nor
wieA, Conn. and including about sixteen acres IN
the heart Of Norwich.
The civilized names Of the Indians present are
the Rev. Z. \. johnson, Nathan J. Cuffe. Dr. W H
Johnson and James Louis CUTIE. Of the Montauk
Council; John Noka, Donald Seketer and Joshua.
Moka- Of the Narragansetr Council; David KeIIIs
Of the Shinnecocks, and LemueI Fielding, Of the
Mohegan Council Mrs Maria Cropper Of the
Montauks. was the only woman at the hearing. She
was present as spectator only. F. NJ Morrison
and L p Tredweu represented them as counsel.
Mr.. Morrison said all that the Indians asked was
authority 70 have the justice OF their claims de-
ternined by E court. They had appealed TO the
Supreme courts OF the various States and had been
met with the ruling that a Indians are non-citi-
zens they had no standing IN court. He told OF the
recognition and ownership OF the land claimed by
the M0Etauks and Shiunecocks, and OF the arrival
OF white sQuatters. In time the squatters claimed
the land and IN 1878, after a suit in partition the
land sold TO Arthur Benson auction for s151,-
COZ Benson gave something less $500 the ten
Indians n control Of the tribe who gave him deeds
conveying 10 him ali their rights 10 the reservation
A clause in the agreement made provided that
the houses Of the Indians should be removed. at
M Bens0n's cost, 70 EasthamptOu. IN 1887 Mr..
Benson sold 10 Austin Corbin. for the Long Island
Railroad Company. 500 acres Of the old reserva-
ton for 100000,
The claim Of the Indians is that the original sale
q the land was Illegal, despite the order Of the
court authorizing the sale al auction, because
Indians. wards Of the State and of the Federal
Government. may not sell land without special
legislative enactment.
The first witness was Nathaniel Dorniuey, asses
Of the district in 1873 who told in detail Of the
negotiations between the Indians and Benson.
The Rev Z. A Johnson, pastor Of the Presby-
terrain Church il Harrisburg, who lived the Mon
tauk reservation at the time OF the sale, testified
that the Indians VINO sold their rights TO Benson
we're not officers Of the tribe. He estimated the
value Of the property in dispute at 10000, at
least.
David KelIis testified that the Indians were not
allowed cut wood on the reservation any longer.
His brother was fined 800 for cutting wood on mis-
land. and his aunt was beaten for picking
sen 80 - I FOR t5rf 70 coU nj the SHiR
Indian signatures, The others being forged.
James Lewis Cune. descendant Of Preach
Paul Cuffe the first Indian missionary. gave
the Commission a history Of the Shlnnecock res
ervation since the time Of Punkhanchise, king
and chief OF The shnnee2oks in lloS re tod OF the
by little until there is nothing left to them Of
the old Shinnecock reservation, and how, IL the
Christian Indians Of the Montauks, shlnnecocks,
Nara gauseIIs and Mohegans settled the Brother
town reservation in Oneida County.
Nathan J. Cuffe. cousin OF the last witness and
one OF the council of the Montauk tribe, declared
that the tribe, a tribe had never received any
compensation for the occupation OF its land by the
Long Island Railroad.
MI Morrison called Joshua Noka, Of the Nara
sansett Indians explain the position Of his tribe
Nr &oka is eighty-dve years old and set IN his
opinions. and objected 10 the Senator's interrupt
Ing him with questions. The Indian Commission IN
1880 he said, disregarded the wishes Of the tribe,
and as a consequence Of ITS report the Legislature
dissolved the tribal relations, which was Unconst
rlrionaI All efforts OF the Indians 10 secure
reversal OF that ruling have been futile
Donald Seketer told Of the meeting Of the Nara
srsetr Indians protest against the action Of the
Rhode Island LEGISLATURE 1850 The OF 5000
us paid by the State for a plot of thousand
acres on the decision OF the Indian Commission,
but the Indians did not understand that they were
parting with their rights Of fishing In the bay. and
ne sale was never formally ratified by the tribe
aTr Seketer did not know what had become of the
e 90 He never got any Of H.
John 7 NoIa- president OF the Narragansett /
Council said a majority ot the tribe objected to
the sale Of the land he received $l5 43 his share
Of TIE s. 600 although from first TO last he opposed
the sale he believed the ruling in the Commission
% be illegal and the action Of the Legislature IN
constitutional
The plea OF the Mohegans IS 10 be presented later
n the form Of af1davts. The subcommittee Of the
Senate viii report 10 the full committee in time /
for some action be taken az the next session Of
Congress