The Western news., 1903-07-08
MONEY FOR INDIANS.
Government to Pay for Kansas Land
Granted to Settlers.
Nearly Two Million Dollars to BE Di-
yided Among 5000 Red Men of
the Six Nations in New
York state.

The interior department, through
sndian Commissioner Jones. is making
preparations to pay $1,99S,744 to the
Six Nations Indians of New York state,
awarded to them by congress three
years ago. as the result of their ia
Inuus Kansas land claim against the
omitted States government. The In
dians who will receive the money num-
Der about 5000 and are included in the
Onondagas, Oneidas. Cayugas, Senecas,
st. Regis, Tuscaroras. Stock bridges,
Musees and Brothertowns tribes.
Each individual will receive approx
lma1eI y $500, and the money will be
paid by check to prevent frauds, says
Washington report.
The history of the Six Nations claim
against the government is interesting
and shows another attempt of the
white man to cheat the redskin out of
what was rightfully his. Several his
torical documents of almost priceless
value figure in the case.
One Of the documents is a sheepskin
parchment, dated 1898. and signed
KNOX, Secretary Of War" This paper
was is>u'G during Washingt on's ad-
min '>t:.s1n Tn, paper is addressed
TO tEt s'arIlems Chiefs and Warriors
of thu siN Nations" and is a request
from ths government for the Indians
10 hold convention and sign treaty
with tile newly established common
wealth Wrrsted from Great Britain.
AS a result Of this the treaty with the
New York Indians of 1894 was signed.
which brought peace to the western
boundaries "l the infant republic.
The second document is dated WAR
Department, May IA 17oS," and is
signed Joseph w. Henry. Secretary
of War 1t is statement from Jrnela
Sam. showing that the sum of Sloo,aoo
had been received on deposit from the
DIX Nations at the United States treas
nfS, 10th of these papers are orig
lhais and very valuable. The Sl0C eco
referred 10 is the sum received hy the
Ind; from Robert Morris, the phila-
delp' ranitalist. for 5.O0e. eco acres
of III richest land in New York state.
IN Ia :, when Morris bought the land,
he paid for it at the rate of two cents
an acre
II" Kansas claim originated in 1898
altho nothing was heard of II Mt
that T. e. In that Year the New York
indians decided to move west and p,r-
shaseo 3aooon acres of land ii Niscon-
SIN. For some reason they did not
make he trip and the same wear the
Indians traded the land in Wisconsin
Il.
of LAND n Kansas.
r'9iect to settle on this land also
Tell through, and the Indians did not
go to Kansas. In 1s60. when the par-
tlon o. Kansas where the land Law was
opened tor settlement. white man tool
up the Indians land and II 80 cen
Rress 'std 4 law to sell III Indians
Aahd n 1nsas to white settlers. in
spite I" the fact that 40 vea,s, before
iheN wen this land to tn Indians
Alter 'nrs OF constant eff "iS con
gress 200 passed the law arthoriy-
1ng tn @ayment of nearly sa,Oo0.o0o
for tht ,ind in dispute.
The Nations. now numbering
about c 100, still retain $4,000 n..es IN
the ric st part of New Ne, eate.
They a wealthy and indust'' -.
have il he United States
large srm of money. The g aE-
tanned from Robert Morris i
still Untouched and to that h ~
added by various sales of la, aus
which have made the total nearly a5E.-
600, on which the Indians annually
draw interest.