Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-11-03
MONEY FOR INDIANS
DISPUTE OVER DISTRIBUTION BE-
FORE THE COURT OF CLAIMS.
Apparently the End is Near of Land
Controversy Nearly Twenty
Five Years Old.

The members of the Six Nations, the big
corporation of Indians in New York, are
awaiting anxiously the decision of the court
of claims in the matter of the distribution
of the money paid these Indians for lands
taken from them by the government and
afterward opened for settlement More than
two million dollars is involved in the trans
action and the money has been appropn-
ated for the payment The final settlement
has been held up, however, by the action
of some of the tribes that were formerly
associated with the Six Nations in putting
in claims for a share of the money. The
matter was argued before the court of
claims Monday and Tuesday, and it is ex-
pected that a decision will be handed down
shortly.
The story of the claim of the Six Ma
tons Is one of the interesting bits of his
tory connected with the manner in which
the Indians have been dealt with by the
government. The nations included in the
corporation are the Mohawk Oneida, Onon-
daga, Cayuga, Seneca and Tuscarora tribes.
This is the organization as it stands today.
Up to 1713 only the first five tribes were
included in the organization, which was
known as the Five Nations. The Tusca-
roras were hostile to the others, and in the
numerous fights that were had before the
opening of the eighteenth century were so
depleted in numbers that their foes took
pity on them and magnanmously admitted
them to full fellowship. At~least that is
side of the story. These Indians all
had valuable land in New York state, and,
unlike many other tribes, were industrious,
intelligent and thrifty. The value of their
property increased many times, and in
time. when the government desired to Sc
cure some of the land for settlers. hundreds
of acres were sold at a fancy price.
With the money thus obtained valuable
tract of timber land in Wisconsin was pur-
chased by the Six Nations. 1t is understood
that at first 1t was the intention OF the In
dams to move to their new land, but they
had retained possession of large tract in
New York. and after the purchase of the
Wisconsin land it was decided to remain
where they were. In time the value of the
timber land became apparent and the gov
eminent offered the Six Nations induce
ments to give this up.
They agreed to sell it and in exchange
take a large tract of over million and
half acres in Arkansas. This land is not
as fertile as that owned in New York. and
therefore the thrifty red men determined to
remain where they were. 1t was not long,
however before the government, through
an error, threw the Arkansas tract open
to settlers without saying word to the
Indian owners about it. Settlers came in
and made the tract fertile farming coun-
try.
Then the members of the SIX Nations sat
up and took notice, as it were. Through
Mr.. Andrew John, an ex-president of the
Seneca tribe, they brought the matter to
the attention of Congress and asked for
relief. Mr. John came down here from
New York in 1880. and he has been here
ever since pressing the claim. Through his
representations and the arguments of coun-
sci employed by the Six Nations, Congress
passed bill appropriating money to pay
the Indians.
Before payment could be made. however
claims were filed by members of other
tribes who had been included in the organ
izs ton of the Six Nations at the time the
taken before the Court of Claims and pay
ment was held up.
Argument was finally had Monday and
Tuesday last. and the decision of the court
will result in the final distribution of the
money.