The Tomahawk. [volume] (White Earth, Becker County, Minn.) 1903-192?, 1926-04-08

Steenerson concluded, MIR. Ballin.
ger stated to the Committee that
under the bill the only suits that
could be brought would be against
the United States; that no suit
could be brought that would in any
wise affect the rights of the Red
Lake Indians on the Red Lake
Reservation. At this point, Mr.
Ballinger requested Mr.. Steenerson
to point out the provision of the
bill under which the Red Lake
Indians could be sued. Mr.. Steen-
erson then stated that in a bill
prepared by Mr.. Ballinger FIVE
years ago they could be sued. Mr..
Ballinger replied that no such pro
vision was in the pending bill.
Mr.. Ballinger further stated that
it was the intention to allow the
Red Lake Indians to keep the Red
Lake Reservation and the bill au-
thorized the Indians off the Red
Lake Reservation to sue the United
States and to recover money judg
ment against the United States to
be paid by the United States for
any interest they had in the Red
Lake Reservation; that the Red
Lake indians were in no wise
concerned in this.
1t then developed that for a
number of years the Red Lake In
dians had been permitted to en-.
ploy an attorney and that last July
the Department refused to renew
the contract. Mr.. Steenerson de-
sires to become attorney for the
ReG Lake Indians and he was
apprehensive that under Section 5
of the bill this employment might
be prevented. Commissioner
Burke explained that there was
nothing in the bill that prevent
the Red Lake Indians, with The
permission of the Department,
from employing an attorney. At
the suggestion of Commissioner
Burke a slight amendment was
made to Section so that in the
event it becomes necessary for the
Red Lake Indians or any other
band to employ an attorney in any
matter involved in any suit brought
under the bill. that the band, with
the consent of the Department,
could make the employment, tie
compensation to be fixed by the
Secretary and to be paid out of
any funds standing to the credit of
the band.
Senator Schall then offered an
amendment to the bill slightly
changing one provision in Section
7. As the bill passed the House
the Indians on the White Earth
Reservation are authorized tn en-
ploy an attorney and the Indians
off the White Earth Reservation
are authorized to employ an at
torney. Both attorneys are to each
receive $4,000 per annum and ex-
penses for period not exceeding
five years. These two attorneys
are to prosecute the claims of the
Indians against the United States.
Section 7 then authorized the
Court of Claims at the conclusion
of the litigation to sepa arately allow
said attorneys such additional
compensation as it might deem
just and proper considering the
nature, extent, character and value
of all services rendered, and in no
event should the additional COM
pensation for the two attorneys,
or firms of attorneys, be in excess
of 5 per cent of the total amount
recovered, and in no even should
the additional compensation for
the two attorneys exceed $4,000.
Senator Schall, at the request of
the Indians, offered an amendment
authorizing the Court at the con
cluIon of the litigation to allow
the attorneys in its discretion ad
ditional compensation not exceed
ing 5 per cent of the total amount
recovered which should also include
all moneys heretofore paid the
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