Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-04-03
BIG PAYMENTS TO INDIANS.
Commissioner Jones Will Hand 1898,
744 to the Six Nations.

Washington, April 2.-Commissioner
Jones of the Indian bureau will make
an effort at an early date to pay the
sum of 81 ,99S, 744 to the Indians of the
Six Nations of New York awarded them
by Congress about three years ago and
,bout which there has been some delay
in settlement. The money is due the
Indians as a result of the decision in
he famous Kansas land case. There
are about 5000 Indians to receive this
money, and they belong to the Onon-
laga, Oneida, Cayuga, Seneca, st. Re
,is, Tuscarora, Stockbridge, Musee and
Brothertown tribes , The payments
will amount to about $500 per capita
md will be made by check to prevent
fraud.
One of the chiefs of the Six Nations
has been in Washington continuously
or twenty-three years endeavoring to
secure the allowance of the claim
against the government, and he now
believes his work is accomplished and
will leave the citys This chief. known
Is Andrew John, has in his possession
some documents OF priceless historical
ralue on which the claims of his people
ire DdSSU. NJHG VI lueSe papers was
ssued during Washington's admins
ration and was signed by Gen. Knox,
1T that time secretary of war. The pa
5er is addressed to the sachems, chiefs
md warriors of the Six Nations, and
hey are requested to hold a convention
md sign treaty with the United
States relative to the land they occu-
)ied. AS a result of this convention a
reaty was signed which brought about
)eacc with the Indians. Another of the
documents in Andrew Johns possession
s a statement of Joseph w. Henry, as
secretary of War in 1898, to the effect
hat the sum of 100000 had been re-
.eived on deposit in the United States
treasury for the Six Nations. The money
'eferred TO is that paid by Robert
MORRIS for 100000 acres of the
'ichest land in New York state. This
vas bought from the Indians at the
cate of about 2 cents an acre.
In 1888 the Indians decided to move
West and bought 100000 acres of land in
Wisconsin on which to settle. Later
they decided to remain and traded the
Wisconsin land for 1,S24,000 acres of
land in Kansas. In 1860, when that por-
ton of Kansas was open to settlement,
settlers were permitted to take up the
Indians land. In 1873 Congress passed
L law authorizing the sale of the rest
of the land to white settlers despite the
fact that the land belonged to the In
dams. 1t was then that the claim OF
the Indians against the government
was formulated, and in 1850 Andrew
John came to Washington at the head
of large delegation from the Six Ma
tons to have the wrong righted. He
remained in this city and has worked
indefatigably for his people ever since.
The passage Of the bill through Con-
gress three years ago authorized the
payment of the claims.
The Six Nations are among the
wealthiest of the Indians in the United
States. They still control $4,000 acres
Of the richest land in the state OF New
York. The sum of 100000 mentioned as
having been paid by Robert Morris, IS
still in the treasury to the credit OF the
Indians, and this has been added to
from time to time by small sums,
which bring the total amount up TO
about S259,000, on which the Indians
Graw interest