Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1908-12-20
OPENING OF INDIAN LANDS
Senator Gamble Seeks to Have the
Matter Expedited.
BIG PAYMENT TO THE INDIANS
Nebraska ConGressmen and Senators
Mostly Plan to spent christmas
Holidays at the National
Capital.
CFrom a staff Correspondent

WASHINGTON. Dec. 19.-(Special Tele-
gram. .)-Senator Gamble took up with the
Department of the Interior today the mat
ter of expediting the preliminary work for
the opening of the Standing Rock and
Cheyenne River reservations, and he feels
confident from the information received
that 1t will be possible to have the matter
in such shape that even II the lands cannot
be opened then. that the registration may
be had IN the fall of 1909 and settlement
taken up in the spring of 1910. The act
opening these reservations TO settlement
provides for the payment by the govern
ment to the Indians for school sections at
the rate of 31.5 per acre. The original
agreement was $3.50, but congress in the
passage of the act reduced the price The
department now favors an amendment 10
the law providing that the lands on school
sections be paid for by the government at
$3.50 instead of SIPS per acre, and has made
such a recommendation to congress.
Big Payment 80 Indians.
Commencing Immediately after Christmas
there will be paid to the Ssseton and Wah-
peton Indians, as a result of a Judgment
obtained in the court of claims on a bill
introduced by Senator Gamble and passed
matter to the United States court. the sum
of $69S s66.s7. This amount is to be dis
tributed among 4440 beneficiaries members
of the above two bands of Sioux Indians.
and the claim is for restoration Of con-
fiscat d annuiti,s growing out of the Mime
sofa massacre of 1862. There will be paid
at the Sisseton agency SSOOSSO.7; Devils
Lake. N. D.. Sl6l,5762O, and miscellaneous
roll, s246 ssO.6O Each Indian is to receive
sl57.4O, except the first 1907. who will re-
ceive sl57.H. OF the above s4O5,OOO will be
paid to 257s Indians living in South Dakota
Major James Mclaughlin. who had
charge of preparing the rolls, leaves the
city on Monday and will represent the de-
| partment in making the payments.
Committing Reclamation HOmeHteads.
Senator Brown today introduced bill
to amend the reclamation act so as to
allow Communication proof TO be made by
homesteaders on entries It is understood
the department will favor the passage OF
this bill for the relief Of those homestead.
ers who are unable to make payment as
provided under the original act. because
of the governments inability to furnish
water in time for this years crops.
Drainage Report Ready.
Senator Burkett was today informed by
Hon. c. Elliott, chief of the drainage
division Department Of Agriculture. tha
reports upon the drainage Of the Silvel
Creek bottom in Merrick county were com
plete and ready to be sent to the board o
county commissioners. Mr.. Elliott states
the survey was made with greater detail
than is usually done and that he hope'
the county commissioners would carry on
the recommendations of the proposed plai
for drainage. This work on the part o
the department is In compliance with
request made by Senator Burkett las
spring
Condition of Nebraska Banks.
The abstract OF condition OF nationa
banks OF Nebraska. exclusive of omah
and lincoln. at the close OF business O
November q, as reported to the comptrolle
OF the currency shows the average reserv
held at 1871 per cent, against l6.H pc
J cent on September q. Loans and discount
increased from s44.9il. 400 to ti5.slSS6S; gol
coin decreased from n.5n,sl to sl,54l. "a;
lawful money reserve increased from So
CONTINUED on Fifth PAge.)