The Tomahawk., 1924-07-03

lie. 1ne poverty ana disease
prevalent among a large part of
these $4,000 people scattered
throughout a considerable portion
of the state is q matter of concern
to all the people within the state.
Therefore it is incumbent upon
the Representatives of the state of
Minnesota to respond to the call
of these people for aid in securing
justice at the hands of the Federal
Government. They are asking no
charity. They are asking only
assistance in securing from the
United States the value of their
property improperly and illegally
disposed of by it's Indian Bureau,
and which, if obtained. would i'm.
mediately relieve their distress and
render them self sustaining.
Claims against the United
States can only be prosecuted with
the consent of the United States.
In other words the United States
can only be sued with its consent,
and then upon such terms and con-
ditions as it sees fit to impose
Before these Indians can bring a
suit against the United States a
law must be enacted authorizing
the bringing of the suit or suits,
and defining the jurisdiction of the
court. I conceive it to be my duty
a. a Representative in Congress
from the State in which these peo'
pie live to see to it, so far as lies
within my power, that the courts
are opened to them, and that the
jurisdictional act when passed is so
worded that the courts will be
afforded full opportunity to pass
on all of their claims, free from
legal technicalities, and to give
them a judgment or judgments
against the United States for all
the losses they have sustained by
reason of the failure of the Indian
Bureau to administer their estate
in conformity with the plain terms
of their agreements with the Uni
ted States. do not propose, if |
can prevent it, to permit the In.
dian Bureau to so word the jurls
dictional act that these people will
be left impotent and unable to
properly assert all their claims
against the United States when
they get into the courts.
1.-THE Indian Bureau has been
endeavoring for years to prevent
these people from securing access
to the courts. Recently a Com
mittee of Congress decided that
the Indian Bureau policy was
wrong and these people should be
given access to the courts. There
upon bill was prepared in the In.
dian Bureau and introduced in the
House by my colleague, Harold
Knutson, Representative of the
Sixth Congressional District OF
Minnesota, in whose district about
fifteen per cent of the Indians re-
side. After examining the bill |
refused to support it, as | did not
believe it to be a proper bill. The
House Committee on Indian Affairs
without affording any hearings or
the bill, reported it to the House
where it is now pending on the
calendar. l deem it but proper to
state publicly my reasons for re-
fusing to support the bill prepared
in the Indian Bureau and intro.
duced by MIR. Knutson. 1t is
known as H. R. 9343. After con.
ferring jurisdiction on the Court
of Claims ito consider and render
judgment in any and all claims
both legal and equitable, y which
the Chippewa Indians of Minneso'
ia, or any band or bands thereof,
may allege against the United
States under any treaty, agreement,
or act of Congress, the bill pro
vides:
In any suit or action brought