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Compiled and edited by Charles J. Kappler. Washington : Government Printing Office, 1904.
Whereas, by an act entitled “An act for the relief of certain Indians in the Central Superintendency,” approved June tenth, eighteen hundred and seventy-two, the Secretary of the Interior was authorized and directed to appoint three commissioners and to take an inventory of, appraise, and sell certain lands, bonds, notes, accounts, contracts, mortgages, and other property or assets held or acquired in any manner under a trust in respect to education, created and confirmed by treaties with the Ottawa Indians of Blanchard’s Fork and Roche de Boeuf, proclaimed July twenty-eighth, eighteen hundred and sixty-two, and October fourteenth, eighteen hundred and sixty-eight, and to pay the proceeds of such sale to the several members of the said tribe, their heirs or assigns, per capita; and whereas counter-claims of rights and equities in said lands, bonds, notes, accounts, contracts, mortgages, and other property or assets having been set forth and affirmed by the trustees under said trust, and by the American Baptist Home Mission Society, the Secretary of the Interior has referred to Congress the question of further legislation; and whereas representatives of all the said parties have united in an agreement to make friendly application to Congress for legislation providing for the ascertainment of all such property, real and personal, and the severance and satisfaction by commission, of the equitable interests of the contending parties: Now, therefore, in order that the perfect justice may be done in the premises to all the said parties,
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That Walter R. Irwins, Luther R. Smith, commissioner appointed by the Secretary of the Interior under the aforementioned act, together with Henry S. Neal, of Ohio, Joseph Henry, of Washington, D. C., and Emory Washburn, of Massachusetts, be, and they are hereby, constituted a
commis[sion] to investigate and ascertain all the property, real or personal, rights and interest legal or equitable, held or acquired under such trust, and to determine and award upon the rights and equities of the said parties in the property aforesaid for which purpose they are invested with sufficient power and authority to hear and determine, and to make such rules and orders thereunto as may be necessary, and their award shall be final and conclusive of all the rights and claims of all parties.
That the said commission shall assemble on or before the first Wednesday in August, eighteen hundred and seventy-three, at such place as a majority of its members may select, and upon being duly sworn by any person authorized to administer oaths, they shall proceed to organize by the election of one of their number as president and of another as secretary, with authority to procure rooms and attendance. A majority shall constitute a quorum for all business, and they may adjourn to any place deemed by them more convenient. The Secretary of the Interior shall be authorized to detail a stenographer for the service of the commission. In order to the prompt and easy carrying into effect of their final award the commission shall proceed to demand and take possession of all the lands, bonds, notes, accounts, choses in action, contracts, mortgages, records and other property or assets, held or required under said trust, and in case of the refusal of any person or persons to give possession of and deliver such lands, bonds, notes, accounts, choses in action, contracts, mortgages, records and other property or assets, shall bring suit or suits in behalf of the parties in interest, in the name of the United States as plaintiff, for the same in the United States circuit court for the eighth judicial circu[i]t, which court shall have power to appoint a receiver; and it shall be the duty of the Attorney-General to prosecute the said suit or suits to final judgment. The commission shall, nevertheless, proceed to inquire, to investigate, determine and award as if in actual possession of the property; and the said commission shall determine and adjudge the various claims according to what they shall deem the rights and equities of the case. After meeting the necessary expenses of this adjudication as hereinafter provided, any land or other property, interest or equities which may be awarded to the Indians aforesaid shall be sold, paid, or delivered for their benefit as the commission may direct; and any equities which may be awarded to the said trustees and to the said Home Mission Society shall be paid or delivered as the commission may direct. Patents of lands may be issued by the Secretary of the Interior, and he shall be authorized and empowered to do any other act necessary, in his judgment, to carry into effect the awards of this commission, on notice to him by the said commissioners of their final award. Lands so patented shall be liable to taxation under the laws of Kansas after five years from the passing of this act, or sooner if sold by the parties to whom they may be patented under the said award: Provided, however, That the section on which the Ottawa University stands, or any part of it, which may remain as a site of an institution of learning, shall remain free from taxation until the legislature of Kansas shall otherwise order. The said commissioners shall be required to make award in writing which, within thirty days after the case is finally submitted, shall be filed in the office of the Secretary of Interior, and a copy thereof shall be delivered by the Secretary of the Interior to each of said parties when the same is so filed; and the concurrence of a majority of said commissioners in such award shall be necessary. Said commissioners shall also fix the amount of fees or compensation to be paid to the counsel of said Indians for services already rendered before the passing of this act, and which may be rendered hereafter in the premises, together with their
expenses, which compensation and expenses shall be paid out of the funds, property and assets awarded to said Indians; and they shall also audit the costs of proceedings before this commission, which, with the compensation of the commissions to be fixed by the Secretary of the Interior, and their expenses, together with the compensation and expenses of the commission appointed under the act of June tenth, eighteen hundred and seventy-two, to be presented by the Secretary of the Interior shall be paid out of the property as a whole, and in proportion to the several interests as adjudged.
That any vacancy occurring in this commission shall be filled by the President of the United States.
That any person or party interested in the awards to be made under this act shall have the right to institute suit or suits at law, or in chancery, before the circuit court of the United States within the State of Kansas, to carry into effect and enforce any decision made by the commissioners appointed under this act, and for this purpose, jurisdiction is hereby given to said court in all cases thus arising, and from the orders, decrees, and judgments of said court in such cases appeals may be taken as in other cases.
That if, at any time before the rendering of a decision by the commission aforesaid, the parties to the questions in controvers[it]y shall agree upon a settlement,b and the said settlement shall be approved by the Secretary of the Interior, then the Secretary of the Interior is hereby authorized and empowered to issue patents of lands, and to do any other act necessary, in his judgment, to carry such settlement into effect, as if it were an award of the said commission, and each and all of the said parties shall have the right to enforce the terms of the settlement by suit suits in law or in chancery as provided for in section four of this act.
That upon carrying into effect of the award or settlement aforesaid, the jurisdiction of the United States over the questions and property hereinbefore named, and the trust relating thereto, created by the aforenamed treaties shall cease and determine.
That this act shall be in force from and after its passage.
Approved, March 3, 1873.
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