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Show 19. S. Attempts Ute Settlement Of $31 Millions, Awaits Final Answer A tentative settlement with the U. S. Court of Claims for $31,500,000, arising out of a federal grant dispute, was announced an-nounced Monday by Ernest Wilkinson, Wil-kinson, Washington claims attorney at-torney for the Ute tribe, at the annual general council meeting of the Uintah and Ouray reservation. res-ervation. (The court two years ago entitled en-titled the Utes to damages on a dispute centering around the division of a federal grant. The Utes brought suit when the government gov-ernment changed its original policy of band payment and began be-gan distributing funds on a per capita basis.) Four provisions were attached at-tached to the federal terms: (1) that the settlement must be accepted ac-cepted by the general council; (2) that the Uinta band must wave future Colorado indemnities; indemni-ties; (3) that all three bands share in the settlement revenue; and (4) that all future claims of the three bands be jointly entered en-tered into by all. A meeting between the three bands to consider the proposition proposi-tion and to formulate a final answer was scheduled for Thursday, Thurs-day, June 1. Chairman Rex Curry, of the Tribal Business committee, reported re-ported that the total tribal balance bal-ance from last year's funds, as of May 22, was $304,136. As of Dec. 31, the total balance was $249,127, while total receipts re-ceipts were $1,065,630, and disbursements dis-bursements $817,587. Total receipts on oil to date amount to $486,049, with $5,-106.25 $5,-106.25 coming on advance royalties royal-ties on the Ute Tribal No. 1. There was no new oil revenue during 1949. In February, 1950, $16,675 was received on the Ute Tribal No. 2. The per capita payments during dur-ing 1949 amounted to $125. Mr. Cu.rry reported that the tribe and individuals now own .1,061,832 acres of land, 62,763 acres of which are now in individually indi-vidually owned allotments for the Uintah band, and 17,383 acres in allotments for the Un-compaghre Un-compaghre band. More than 30 housing units have been distributed to date, with 20 yet to go. Farm leases were issued totaling $37,820, including' in-cluding' 332 for cash, 25 on a share-crop basis, and 10 on improvement im-provement leases. About 600 Indians were present pres-ent at the meeting. Prominent Indian affairs officials attending attend-ing were Darcey McNickle, head of the division of tribal relations, rela-tions, Washington, D. C, and Ernest Wilkinson, claims at torney; James Barker, assistant to Mr. Wilkinson; John S. Boy-dan, Boy-dan, tribal general attorney, Salt Lake City; Walter V. Woehlke, area director of the Indian service, ser-vice, Phoenix; Lynn Nelson, assistant as-sistant area director of the Indian In-dian service, Phoenix; and John Bart'ey, chief personnel officer, : Pho?ni::. Covering the meeting were photographers and feature writ-err writ-err fro..! Time and Life maga- I zines. |