OCR Text |
Show UTE CLAIMS MAY BE SETTLED. Senator Teller introduced, on November Novem-ber 16th, "A bill for the relief of the confederated bands of Ute Indians." On December 11th It was referred to the Court of Claims. The claimants under the bill are the "Southern Utcs" in Colo- rado, numbering 055; the "Uncompahgre " J Utcs" of Utah, 795, and the "White p River Utcs" of Utah. 304. The "Ulnlah i Utcs" at White Rocks do not come un- der tho provisions of the bill, as they I located in the State at an early day; the others coming In under the act of jj June 15, 18S0, which was subsequent lo U the Meeker massacre. This Is a step toward the settlement of a grievance of & long standing. If the bill passes, as It l should, the Utes are likely to be nald for their Colorado lands, Their original reservation In Colorado embraced a vast tract extending from b the southern boundary of the Slate to S fifteen miles north of the fortieth par- allcl. and from the 107th meridian to ftj the western boundary of the State. In the year 1S91 a forest reserve of 914,500 9 acres was sot aside from this tract, and M In 1892 another forest reserve of S77.D00 I acres. The Southern Ute reservation had previously been cut out from the south part. El The attorneys for the Indiana claim the sum of $5,780,833 Is due their clients. This estimate Is based on the average price obtained for lands already sold from this reservation since Juno 30. ISS'J, which aggregates In value the sum of ?1,6-16,2SS, and at an average of $2.00 per acre. As the lands yet remaining, the proceeds of which Justly belong to the Ute, Indians, are denominated agricultural, agri-cultural, mineral, coal, Umber and stone, their real value Is a matter largely qf conjecture. The Indians,havc complained bitterly of the unconcern and tardiness of the Government In regard to these claims, and the delay in arranging for a settlement settle-ment of the same ;and now that an adjustment ad-justment has begun under favorable auspices, It 1b hoped that an agreement may be reached, generous enough In its terms to satisfy the Indians and to put at i-est forever this vexed question The compensation to the attorneys is not to exceed 15 per cent of tho sum awarded to, the Indians, if the fee shpuld reach the maximum amount, it will be so far beyond Ute arithmetical calculation that they will have no com- ; prehension of the enormous charges, but ' friends of the Indians will wonder 'why it became necessary to prosecute a claim against a just Government, and at such k surprising cost, when tho tcrnia of the agreement between the parties eeem to I admit of no cavil. But It Is only one I more case of Congressional delinquency, H of which there have been bo shamefully many. |