Title 25—Indians--Volume 1
PART 158—OSAGE LANDS
§ 158.51   Definitions.
When used in this part:
(a) Homestead means the restricted nontaxable lands, not exceeding 160 acres, allotted to an enrolled member of the Osage Tribe pursuant to the act of June 28, 1906 (34 Stat. 539), or the restricted surplus lands designated in lieu thereof pursuant to the act of May 25, 1918 (40 Stat. 578).
(b) Surplus land means those restricted lands, other than the homestead, allotted to an enrolled member of the Osage Tribe pursuant to the act of June 28, 1906 (34 Stat. 539).
§ 158.52   Application for change in designation of homestead.
Any Osage allottee or the legal guardian thereof may make application to change his homestead for an equal area of his surplus land. The application shall give in detail the reasons why such change is desired and shall be submitted to the Osage Indian Agency on the form “Application to Change Designation of Homestead.”
§ 158.53   Order to change designation of homestead.
The application of an Osage allottee, or his legal guardian, may be approved by the Secretary of the Interior, or his authorized representative, and an order issued to change designation of homestead, if it is found that the applicant owns an equal area of surplus land. The expense of recording the order shall be borne by the applicant. The order to change designation shall be made on the form “Order to Change Designation of Homestead.”
§ 158.54   Exchanges of restrictive lands.
Upon written application of the Indians involved, the exchange of restricted lands between adult Indians, and between adult Indians and non-Indians, may be approved by the Secretary of the Interior, or his authorized representative. Title to all lands acquired under this part by an Indian who does not have a certificate of competency shall be taken by deed containing a clause restricting alienation or encumbrance without the consent of the Secretary, or his authorized representative. In case of differences in the appraised value of lands under consideration for exchange, the application of an Indian for funds to equalize such differences may be approved to the extent authorized by § 117.8 of this chapter.
§ 158.55   Institution of partition proceedings.
(a) Prior authorization should be obtained from the Secretary, or his authorized representative, before the institution of proceedings to partition the lands of deceased Osage allottees in which any interest is held by an Osage Indian not having a certificate of competency. Requests for authority to institute such partition proceedings shall contain a description of the lands involved, the names of the several owners and their respective interests and the reasons for such court action. Authorization may be given for the institution of partition proceedings in a court of competent jurisdiction when it appears to the best interest of the Indians involved to do so and the execution of voluntary exchange deeds is impracticable.
(b) When it appears to the best interest of the Indians to do so, the Secretary's, or his authorized representative's, authorization to institute partition proceedings may require that title to the lands be quieted in the partition action in order that the deeds issued pursuant to the proceedings shall convey good and merchantable title to the grantee therein. (See section 6, 37 Stat. 87.)
§ 158.56   Partition records.
Upon completion of an action in partition, a copy of the judgment roll showing schedule of costs and owelty moneys having accrued to or from the several parties, together with deeds, or other instruments vesting title on partition, in triplicate, shall be furnished to the Osage Agency. The original allotment number shall follow the legal description on all instruments vesting title. When a grantee is a member of the Osage Tribe who has not received a certificate of competency, deeds or other instruments vesting title shall contain the following clause against alienation:
Subject to the condition that while title to the above-described lands shall remain in the grantee or his Osage Indian heirs or devisees who do not have certificates of competency, the same shall not be alienated or encumbered without approval of the Secretary of the Interior or his authorized representative.
§ 158.57   Approval of deeds or other instruments vesting title on partition and payment of costs.
Upon completion of the partition proceedings in accordance with the law and in conformity with the regulations in this part, the Secretary, or his authorized representative, may approve the deeds, or other instruments vesting title on partition, and may disburse from the restricted (accounts) funds of the Indians concerned, such amounts as may be necessary for payment of their share of court costs, attorney fees, and owelty moneys.
§ 158.58   Disposition of proceeds of partition sales.
Owelty moneys due members of the Osage Tribe who do not have certificates of competency shall be paid into the Treasury of the United States and placed to the credit of the Indians upon the same conditions as attach to segregated shares of the Osage national fund.