Coleman J. Ward et al. v. The Board of County Commissioners of Love County, Oklahoma (decision of Supreme Court of the United States rendered April 26, 1920).-This was a case brought to recover moneys alleged to have been coercively collected from Choctaw Indian allottees by Love County, Okla., as taxes on their allotments which under the laws and Constitution of the United States were nontaxable.

It was held by the Supreme Court of the United States that as these claimants had not disposed of their allotments and 21 years had not elapsed since the date of the patent that the lands were nontaxable. It was further held that, as the payments were not voluntary, but made under compulsion, no statutory authority of the State was essential to enable or require the county to refund the

money.

George R. Broadwell v. The Board of County Commissioners of Carter County, Oklahoma (decision of Supreme Court of the United States rendered April 26, 1920).—This case was decided along the lines indicated in the case of Ward v. Love County, Oklahoma, and its decision may be rested on the opinion in that case.

The United States ex rel. Jennie Johnson et al. v. John Barton Payne, Secretary of the Interior (decision of the Supreme Court of the United States rendered June 1, 1920).—Before the date for the final closing of the citizenship rolls of the Creek Indian Nation, March 4, 1907, the Secretary of the Interior had affirmed a decision. of the commissioner to the Five Civilized Tribes under which the names of the petitioners were to be placed upon said final rolls, but on March 4, 1907, the last enrollment date, the Secretary rescinded his above-mentioned decision and denied enrollment to said claimants. Said claimants in the above-mentioned case petitioned for a writ of mandamus to require the Secretary of the Interior to place the names of the petitioners upon said final rolls of members of the Creek Nation. The Supreme Court in its decision held that while the case was before him the Secretary was free to change his mind and might do so no matter if he had stated an opinion in favor of one side or the other, and that he did not lose his power to do the conclusive act ordering and approving an enrollment until the act was done. The petitioners' names had never been on the rolls. It was further held that the Secretary of the Interior was the final judge whether they should be. It was held that the names could not now be ordered to be put on the rolls upon the suggestion that the Secretary had made a mistake or that he came very near to giving the petitioners the rights they claimed.

United States v. Omaha Tribe of Indians (decided by United States Supreme Court June 1, 1920).-The court affirmed a judgment of the Court of Claims in favor of the Indians aggregating $122,295.31.

with the exception of an award of $4,560 for horses killed by the Sioux Indians, which was reversed.

As a result of the decisions in the cases of State of Wisconsin v. Hitchcock (201 U. S., 202); United States v. J. S. Stearns Lumber Co. (245 U. S., 436), and State of Wisconsin v. Franklin K. Lane (245 U. S., 427), the State of Wisconsin has surrendered all its right, title, and interest to the swamp and school lands within the Bad River Reservation. The claim of the State to swamp and school lands within the Lac du Flambeau Reservation has been held for rejection, and negotiations are pending with the proper authorities of the State with a view to obtaining a relinquishment of the swamp and school lands on the other reservations.

The claim of the State of Minnesota to the swamp lands within the reservations of that State is still pending, and some progress has been made in one class of cases on the White Earth Reservation.

COMPENSATION FOR INJURIES.

Employees throughout the Indian Service are given assistance in the preparation and presentation of their claims to the United States Employees' Compensation Commission for payment of compensation or for medical or hospital service on account of injuries sustained while in the performance of duty. The compensation act has proved to be of great benefit to employees when not able to carry on their regular work because of injury. In case of the death of the employee, the dependents are likewise assisted in the proper submission of their claims.

PENSIONS FOR INDIAN SCOUTS WHO SERVED IN INDIAN WARS.

The pension act of March 4, 1917, provides pensions for Indian scouts who were enlisted in the military service of the United States and rendered service in Indian wars specified in the act. Indians who have claims for pension under this act are given assistance in the preparation of their claims. A great many Indian scouts who served during the Indian wars have been awarded pensions on account of their scout service, and many others have claims pending or in the course of preparation.

MEMORIAL CELEBRATIONS.

In connection with the usual Fourth of July celebrations, there were held on each of the Sioux reservations memorial ceremonies by the Indians in honor of the returned Sioux soldiers and sailors who served in the World War and in memory of those who lost their lives in such service.

The Sioux furnished a splendid quota of fearless young men for the Expeditionary Forces and have made a fitting choice of the great patriotic date in the calendar for perpetuating the sentiment which was thus solemnly chanted at one of their gatherings held while the war was still in progress:

Our father asked for our sons, and our sons have gone, and we are glad, for it is good that our sons fight for our father, whose battles are good battles. Our sons have gone and we are proud. Our sons have gone and we are glad we had sons to give.

CONCLUSION.

I have always welcomed constructive criticism conceived in the desire to uplift the Red race and to assist in its protection morally, legally, and materially, and believe that I am warranted in assuming that the true friends of the Indian who seek the progress of his race more than their own selfish interests appreciate the work that has been done by this bureau and its employees. This appreciation, so often expressed, is highly gratifying.

In closing the present review of Indian Service activities, I wish again to give expression to the fidelity and sturdy loyalty displayed by our employees to the Indians and to the Service. In their earnest devotion to duty under many trying conditions they illustrate the best types of American manhood and womanhood.

I thank you for your cooperation and support.

Very respectfully,

The SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR.

CATO SELLS, Commissioner.