The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-09-01
OSAGES WILL
HAVE TO PAY
JUST CLAIMS
But Post Traders Must Prove
That They Are Correct
LAND LEASING MONEY
viii Be Used Soley to Liqui-
date Indebtedness.

Washington. Aug Heterogeneous
are being completed at the Indian once
Tor a nnal adjudication and settlement
Of the accounts OF the post traders OF tha
Usage nation. Oklahoma. The total
amount cs this Indebtedness. as claimed
by the post traders. aggregates nearly
Ss50.oo9 but 1t Is doubtful whether more
than two-thirds OF this amount viii be
allowed
Special Ascent McComas viii rcSuTa 20
Washington the nrst Of September and.
WIKI Mr. shaw. chief Of the misccliane-
Gus division of the Indian onice viii pass
upon the accounts OF each trader and
submit a recommeudation 70 Commission
er Jones Tor the payment Of each claim.
Practically all zhe accounts OF the traa-
ers have been received 90 ths onscs.
Many OK them are IN excellent shape and
VIII doubtless De allowed in fgIl Others
are ia very unsatisfactory condition
and viii probably be rejected hy the of-
fee and a recommendation made 20
congress at the coming session for TIE
passage OF a bill permitting these traders
10 50 into the court OF claims against the
Indians.
The trouble arises over the failure q
the traders 70 keep their accounts With
the Indians In conformity with the rules
% the Indian Office. Post traders on In
dian reservations are compelled 20 Keep
an itemized account og al sales Macy
Of the traders ia the Osage nation have.
until recently. failed 70 observe this rtige.
merely noting upon their books Che
amount OF the DAYS purchases by the
Indians without any reference To the aI-
ticles. By this method IL IS asserted
that the post traders have been able 20
charge ext0rtionate prices.
The act OF congress passed last winter
making provision or the liquidation ~
this Indebtedness provides that the money
due the Indians shall be paid from the iu-
terest and grazing moneys of the tribe
now being held by the government but
that no portion GA the trust funds SHAH
he used. There il now on deposit az the
treasury 20 the credit OF the Indians a liz
tie over $500 60 derived from the grazing
lands This Is an that can be applied 90
the liquidation OF this Indebtedness now.
it is the intention OF the commissions
70 pay those accounts which are regular
and which have been kept tn conformity
with the regulations OF the department
Immediately. Those which have been FRI
regularly kept and which are so dispute
VIII be reported 20 congress at the cor
vening Of Tire next session. with rec
ommcndauou that they bo referred 70
the court OF claims for a judicial adjudl-
cation. Cimmissioner Jone stakes the po-
sltion that the Indians should Be con-
ness. but that the government should
protect them n the post traders have
either duplicated their accounts or have
charged ext0rtionste prices Tie be-
Hevcs. therefore that an questions ia
dispute should BE- referred 90 the court
OF claims So that the post traders vii be-
compelled te prove the accuracy OF their
accounts To the satisfaction of the court
The system inaugurated by Commits
sioner Jones more than year aaa.
whereby the post traders fn the OraFe -
ton are prohibited from allowing tha
members % the tribe 20 purchase moys
than the amount ~ their quarterly annu-
files in order % prevent the mourning q
indebteiuess. has proved so satisfactoFY
that requests are coming IN from other
agencies Tor the extension ~ the sys
tern 10 the entire Indian service. Undes
the regulations 81 the department. now
BE- force in the Usage nation each mcmhsr
NJ the Tribe is given card BY fhs
agent and she post traders are compelled
70 stamp upon the card every purchana
made by tho Indian. f1 fhfs way tbs
amount IL the indebtedness ~ each menl-
Der ~ the tribe is known 20 ali fhe trad
ers. who are forbidden e. extend cresit
O. the Indian beyond the amount - RS
quarterly annuitlea The system has
worked admirably. protecting ere rlEhtB
~ the Indians ard poet traeers alike.
and % b. probable chat % wlu be extend
ed % au ~ the Indian reaervafioa9
throughout the country ln a short time