Sac & Fox Indians of Mississippi in Iowa v. Sac & Fox Indians of Mississippi in Oklahoma

Citations

• 220 U.S. 481
• 31 S. Ct. 473
• 55 L. Ed. 552
• 1911 U.S. LEXIS 1691

Syllabus

<p>The provision in the act of August 30, 1852, c. 103, § 3, 10 Stat. 41, 56, • forbidding payment of Indian annuities to any attorney or agent and requiring the same to be paid, to the Indians or to the tribe did not give any vested rights to the Indians but was a direction to agents of the United States.</p> <p>In the Indian treaties under consideration in this case the Government dealt with the tribes and not with-individuals, and the treaties gave rights only to the tribes and not to the members.</p> <p>Under the act of Mar. 1, 1907, c. 2290, 34 Stat. 1055, authorizing this suit, the action is analogous to one at law to recover money paid under mistake of law or fact, rather than one in equity, and this court follows the rule not to go behind the findings of the Court of Claims. United, States v. Old Settlers, 148 U. S. 427, distinguished.</p> <p>45 Ct. Cl. 287, affirmed.</p>