The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1901-03-24
INDIAN DEPRECIATION CLAIMS.
Obligations Assumed by Government
Interesting indian History.

OuhEhiloUs RsSuUlCu DN boNtTuU1Snl
Interesting indian History.
Special to the Ardmoreite.
Washington, d. & March 23,-
Under the treaty with the Kiowa,
Comanche and Apache Indians, pro-
viding for the allotment OF the lands
in severalty to the Indians and the
opening of the residue to homestead
entry, the government of the United
States has assumed obligations which
will amount in the aggregate TO
nearly $40 900 600. These obligations
are in the nature OF claims for deprs-
dations committed by the Kiowas,
Comanches and Apaches, covering a
period Of nearly sixty years. Until
the treaty was ratified by congress,
no attempt was made by the claim
ants to collect the amounts due them
from the tribes, the Kiowas
Comanche and Apache Indians are
included in the list of bankrupt In.
dians in the United States. But
under the terms of the treaty pro-
viding for the opening of the reser-
walton to settlement, the govern
ment meets all the obligations Of the
Indians, and now the claimants are
coming forward demanding a settle
ment in full.
About 600 600 of the claims against
the kiowas, Comanches and Apach hes
are held by members OF the five civ.
ilized tribes in Indian Territory. The
majority of these are in the Chicka.
saw nation. These claims are now
being pressed for settlement. One
OF them has been paid, that OF over.
ton Love, one of the wealthy mem.
bers of the Chicknsaw nation. While
the amount he received in settle.
ment of his claim was only $500, ii
was looked upon as an opening
through which the remainder oi
these claims can be drawn.
Mr.. VIM. Q. Shelley, a prominent
attorney Of this city, has had these
| claims in charge for number OF
years. Realizing the imposslbility
of collecting them from the Indians
even if Judgments were secured, he
allowed them to remain in statu quo
until after the acceptance of the
treaty by congress. Then the claims
were brought TO the front, Oyerto1
Loves case was the first urged for
consideration, After a long wrangle
| between the secretary of the inte'
rior and the Comptroller OF the treas
ury, the claim was finally allowed
and an appropriation made during
the closing hour of the last congress
Having established a precedent il
will not be difficult to secure the
payment of the remainder of the
claims, and for years to come each
congress will be called upon to ap.
propriate money in cor. yensation
for damages sustained from raids
made by members OF the hostile
NaA@n W ANACNhnf CChAhAANhNo AAAA
Apaches in the early SOS, CO.'S and 7O's
The slO,OOO,O 900 worth of claims
arising from depradations committed
by the Indians are held by people
living in Arkansas, Texas, Indian
Territory, Southern Kansas and
Southwestern Missouri. They arise
from the seizure of live stock, per
sonal effects, moneys and slaves, and
property destroyed.
One case is particularly interesting
and raises a unique question. In
1850, shortly before the breaking out
of the civil war, a band of ComRnchet
made a raid upon a wealthy slave
owner in Arkansas and took from
him forty slaves, who were valued
at that time from 81 900 to 81, SCI
each. The Indians took the negroe,
into Mississippi and there sold them
1t is now a question as to whether oil
not the slaves constituted property