The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-07-25
TRADERS
ARE TO BE
PAID OFF
Government viii Have to Set-
tie indians Debts.
FIGHT WAS LONG ONE
Licensed Traders Are Owed
Half a Million.
FIGHT WAS LONG ONE

Washington. July 24-The claims Of II
censed traders against the Usage Indians
in Oklahoma Territory viii be examined
shortly and at least partial liquidation
Of the Indebtedness Of the Indians to the
traders made within the next six weeks.
For months the Usage traders have been
permitting accounts TO run on with indi-
vidual Indians until the total indebted
ness, as claimed by the traders, has
reached the enormous figure OF more than
half million dollars. Fer three years
past the traders have endeavored TO in
duce congress to make an appropriation
out Of the trust funds Of the Indians to
settle the Indebtedness. This attempt was
opposed by the Indians through their at
torney. A compromise was finally agreed
to last winter. which was inserted IN
the Indian appropriation bill That act
authorized the secretary OF the interior
70 examine the accounts OF the Indian
traders Of the Usage tribe and TO deter
mine the sum equitably due the traders
and to adjust their accounts upon the ba-
sis Of q fair prifit on the goods which
have been sold by such traders TO tho
Indians. When the amounts due have
been determined and adjusted by the sec
retary OF the interior the latter oficer
is authorized to pay 10 the Usage Indians
per capita the amount which has been
collected as rent for pasture lands, and
any accumulated interest other than
their regular annuities which has not
been heretofore paid to them.
Immediately after the adjournment OF
congress Secretary Hitchcock notified the
traders to send in their claims. They have
been -practic&ny all received at the de-
partment and VIII be takn UP and KAN
ined ass soon as Special Agent McComas,
who last fall conducted an Investigation
of this same subject returns 20 wash
ingtOn. Last Aall Mr.. McCOmas, after
thoroug't, investigation Of the books OF
the traders. recommended the payment Of
three hundred thousand dollars Of grass
claims Of the traders. This was only
about one-haif Of the Indebtedness Of the
Indians as shown by the traders books.
The Usage Indians now have on deposit
in the United States treasury over three
hundred thousand dollars Of grass money.
which can be applied to the payment OF
the claims of the traders. AS the law
provides for a per capita payment to all
the Indians. IL IS estimated that It viii re-
quire at least ten years 20 settle with the
traders in full. Many Of the Indians are
indebted to those traders in large
amounts. while the traders are not IN
debted at all. With the money distriout-
ed per capita among the Indians the trs-
ders would only receive payments from
those Indians who are actually Indebted
to them. It is estimated at the depsrt-
ment that Of the three hundred thousand
dollars which viii be distributed. only
about one hundred and seventy-five thous-
and dollars Wa be paid 10 the traders.
The secretary VIII order the disburse-
ment of the honey now on hand as soon
as the accounts are examined and ap-
proved by the officers OF the interior de-
partment-