68 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 
After communicating with the federal authorities dealing with 
Indian matters and with the chairman of the two committees of 
Congress on Indian affairs, it was found impossible to secure a con- 
ference until after September I919. 
At a meeting of the commission held in the Murray Hill Hotel 
December 3, 1919, the commission appointed Chairman Everett, 
Robert W. Hill and A. C. Parker to visit the Washington authori- 
ties and discuss the subject of the legal status and condition of the 
New York Indians. The members so appointed went to Washing- 
ton in January 1920 and visited the officials as directed. 
Results of Conference and Visitation 
No thoroughgoing conference could be held with the congress- 
ional committees in 1920, but valuable information was obtained. 
The committees placed in our hands several important documents re- 
lating to the New York Indians, notably Document 1590, H. R. 63d 
Congress, 3d Session, under the title Senecas and Other Indians of 
the Five Nations of New York, and known to the Indian Department 
as the Reeve’s Report. This report recites the treaties and and court 
decisions relating to the New York Indians. 
It was found that the federal authorities desired to cooperate with 
New York in the matter of clearing the New York Indian problem. 
A suit in the Supreme Court to determine in which body the ward- 
ship of the Indians of New York rested, was suggested. The ques- 
tion in Congress seems to be: Who is responsible for the New York 
Indians, and to whom shall they appeal for protection? 
The Washington authorities were interested in the opinion of the 
Attorney General of the State of New York, rendered October 15, 
1915, noted herein. 
No other meetings with the committees of Congress were held 
and no information has been received from them. The state com- 
mission has sent the federal authorities no detailed information. 
Joint Meeting with Federal Indian Commissioners 
On July 27, 1920 the State Indian Commission held a joint meet- 
ing with the United States Board of Indian Commissioners at the 
United States Hotel, Saratoga Springs. The minutes of this meet- 
ing are a matter of record. In this meeting Secretary McDowell 
said: 
Down in Washington they wonder what the commission is to do; 
whether they want the State of New York to have jurisdiction or 
not; whether New York wants the United States to assume com- 
