Wichita and Affiliated Bands

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1922 edition. Excerpt: ...with the amount of business we have now in the number of claims bills before this committee that embody almost identically the same thing you are discussing. Mr. Weaver has one. Mr. Weaver. I have no claim bill; an allotment bill. The Chairman. It is bringing up an old question 100 years gone by, and this committee has got to determine some policy with regard to it, the reason for them, before we pass them out, with careful consideration of the merits of the cases, or before we know it there is a claim against the Government for many millions of dollars. As a matter of fact, and as a matter of economy, it seems to me now, having the time as a legislative committee to go into these matters carefully, we should do it, not only as a matter of protection to the Indians but to the Government and to the people. Mr. Gensman. Here is my idea about it. This committee in my own estimation should not report this bill out without convincing themselves that, as a matter of fact, there is merit to the claim. Mr. Roach. That brings up the question, Is there any claim at all pending before this committee? That is a question I want your views on. You are the author of this bill. Do you really think a bill of this character should be passed out or should it be amended by showing definite claims that the committee has investigated and passed upon sufficiently, that the Court of Claims ought to hear and try them. Mr. Gensman. I want to say on that subject that I would bel ndeed glad if every Member here would suggest, or any one Member or any number of Members, any curtailment of the scope of this claim, if you care to do that. I am willing to accept anything like that. Of course, I want you to keep in mind the fact that it is not up to us as a matter of economy to...