The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1906-08-01
BIG FEES FOR LAWYERS.
Enormous sums Received For Services In
Indian Claims

WASHINGTON. July 25.-Scne Of
the biggest iega. fees ever PAID in the
United States have arisen from Ira:au
c a'T> against the government. and
Que has just been allowed by the au-
.hcrities. under the provisions vi an
act of congress. Involving the pay
rleut to half q dozen lawyers Of $780,
5o5.42. A former candid ate for the
presidency, two ex-senators OF the
United States. and a full.blooded
Cherokee are among those who have
or will "divy up on this fee. Part
Of this money has already been turned
over to those who are entitled to it.,
aod part of it has been tied up ia in.
junction suits.
A few years ago q firm of lawyers in
Museogee, I. T.. came to Washington
with a claim for $3.50, 900. which i. de.
manded as q compensation for ser.
vices performed for tribesneu in the
Indian Territory. Every effort was
made by the secretary Of the interior
to hold up this claim, but he failed,
and the Muscogee firm got the money.
The fee just granted the former can
did ate for the presidency, the two ex.
senators of the United States, the full.
blood Cherokee, and other lawyers,
was based on work done by them for
the Cherokees of the southwest. the
claim having been pending agains st the
government since 1885. The CD ances
are that the claim of the Indians
would never have been satisfied had i,
not been for the persevering efforts Of
the lawyers who presented it to the
courts, and securing judgments ir
them, finally got appropriations from
congress TO satisfy the demands Of the
Indians.
Belva Lockwood is the former can,
didate for the presidency who was in
terested In the Cherokee claim. Sht
ran for the first Office in the gift of the
people in 1884 and 1888 on the tickle
OF the equal rights party. Mrs. Lock
wood has been a practicing lawyer i,
Washington for many years. He,
share OF the fee in question was SIS,
600.
The ex.senators above REFER. &C ,l
are James X. Jones Of Arkansas. VIII.
was chairman Of the Democratic IA
t!onal committee in 1896 and 1900, anl
Matthew G. Butler of South Carolina
The formers share was S4S, 10. He:
got his. Ex-senator Butler has bee,
subjected to the annoyance of an IN
junction, and he must wal: sewers
months before his allotment can b.
disbursed to him by the fedora! au
thorities. Butler is entitled to S72 2:5e
A firm Of lawyers here claim that
part OF this sum should be paid I,
them.
Fi%rkelberg, Maggie u Kirby, a fir
OF St. Louis, lawyers. were also ider
titled with the wor. OF prosecuting tn!
claim, and they We're entitled TO $3.50.
900. This sum was Just abou. to b
paid over to them las, week when Jus
tice Gould, IF the district suprem
court. at the instance Q: Frank j
BoudinOt, a Cherokee Indian, cite,
the secretary Of the interior and III
United States treasurer to show caus
july 30. why they should cot be- er
Joined from paying the money to tn
ST. Louis lawyers Boudinot asser,
that the Indians, without dispute. hav
already paid attorneys fees aggrega,
ing $4,000, AID he is unwilling tha
his share ia TIE fund due his trih
should be decreased by the payme1
OF thi. additional fee Of $3.50, 600.
The moun Appropriated by COT
gree. 10 a~d judication OF the Cherokee
claim wa, S4,95,, 036. Fifteen per cen
OF this. or S740,5555.4 II. was deduc,e
for attorneys fees.