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CONGRESSIONAL RECORD
pp.
231-232
Scanned Image Archive
UNITED STATES SELECT COMMITTEE ON INDIAN AFFAIRS
Senate Hearing 95th Congress
SECOND SESSION
ON
S. 2000
Letter from Assistant Attorney General
to
Legal Counsel
231
November 6, 1953
Morton H. Silver, Esquire
1112 Biscayne Building
19 West Flagler Street
Miami 32, Florida
Dear Mr. Silver:
Re: Seminole Indians of Florida,
Dockets Nos. 73 and 73A
Your letter dated October 1, 1953, together with the notarized statement of Head
Medicine Man, Ingraham Billie, which accompanied it, have informed this
department that the General Council of the Seminoles has declared that the two
petitions filed before the Indian Claims Commission, Dockets Nos. 73 and 74A
have never been authorized and that the Seminoles have no
intention, presently or prospectively, to accept any money from the United
States.
A representative of this Department has examined the records of the Indians
Bureau. These disclose that 12 Seminoles signed the Attorney’s contract dated
October 15, 1949. It bears the certificate of the Okeechobee County Court Judge
pursuant to U.S. section 2103 and is accompanied by a statement of the
Superintendent of the Seminole Agency to the effect that the 12 signatures are
duly elected trustees of the Brighton, Big Cypress and Dania reservations,
especially called for that purpose.
The contract was approved on January 6, 1950, and is received and Miscellaneous
Records, Volume 17 at page 12 of the office of the Indian Bureau.
The records also contain inquiries respecting the contract from Senator Holland
of Florida, L. J. Thorp, Sheriff of Collier County, and from this Department. In
his
EXHIBIT 32a
232
90-2-20-290
90-2-20-654
-2-
letter from Senator Halland, dated October 30, 1950, the
commissioner of Indian Affairs said in part:
" " " If any Tribal Indians do not desire
to participate in any award to the Seminole Indians of Florida they
will not have to accept any per capita payment or other benefits
derived from a favorable judgment.
The Superintendent of the Seminole Agency advice that the contract
was negotiated after a meeting was held by the Indians of the three
Reservations, Brighton, Big Cypress and Dania. The persons executing
the contract were authorized to do so at this meeting. The Indians
living on Tamiami trail did not participate in the meeting but these
were advised that such meeting had been called for the purpose of
negotiating an attorney contract. The trail Indians do not reside on
any of the three reservations.
In view of the final determination made by the
Commissioner of Indian Affairs, this Department has no
alternative but to defend the pending sections.
Sincerely,
Perry W. Morton
Assistant Attorney General
EXHIBIT 32b
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