New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-04-09
LAND GRAB SCHEME.
THE STATE OF TEXAS SCORES A POINT
rur HOUSE PASSES BILL WHICH is isihNDD q"
A MEANS TO ROB INDIAN TRIBES

THE HOUSE PASSES BILL WHICH IL A''h
MEANS TO ROB INDIAN TRIBES
lsr TELEGRAPH TO TuE TRIBUSEl
w.su,~cToS April s-The House to-day passed.
.for considerable discussion and slight amendment
the bill 10 authorize the appointment by the rIeS
dent of n commission, TO act In conjunction wiz"
like commission appointed by the Governor "
Texas to run and mark the boundary line between
that state and a portion of the Indian Territory
This is the first step toward the acqu,si''n ~
Texas of about 100000 acres oil the moo'
fertile land in the Indian Territory lying between
the North Fork and the South FORK OF tho
Red River This land is included IN the
p,ient granted 70 the Choctaw and ChiekaSaw IN
dian by the United States, in consideration OF lahus
east of the Mississippi River ceded by those lnolahs
10 the United States. The patent was issued III
1912 three years before the annexation OF leNas'
The land has belonged to the United states since
the date of the treaty of 1919 with SPAN. Inc
representatives of the Choctaws and Chlckasa"s
have protested with energy against the a"einP's
of Texas 10 despOil them of their lands, anu 'ho
Executive Department of the Government mas sVoou
nv the Indians and resisted the pretensons of Texas
which were first set up some thirty years ago
In 1855 Joint commission of Texas and the United
States was appointed 70 survey tho boundary and
settle the dispute. The Texas commissioners re-
fused To act with those Of the United States, be-
cause the latter insisted on running the line as de-
scribed by the treaty of Sl9 according 10 Melishs
man. which was the best authority at that time,
and was accepted by Spain, as well as by the
United states. The Texas commissioners went
home and the United States commissioners COM
pleted their survey. Their report was never hied'
or if filed il has disappeared
RENEWED EFFORTS BY TEXAS.
Since the war, and especially during
the last three or four years, Texas
has sought IN various ways 10 extend her
jurisdiction over the territory in dispute. which
by an act of her Legislature has been defined and
designated as " Greer County, II is asserted that
one reason of the recent activity ON the part oil
Texas is found in the fact that the state has issued
more land scrip than she has public lands. 1t IS
further asserted that one ormOre persons who hold
large quantities of this surplus scrip have been In
Washington since last December using every
cxertOn 10 the passage of this bill, provided
they could not succeed i'm having passed bill Of
fered in the senate by Nh. MaXey, and which dl-
dispute. and TO which no disnterested person VINO
VIII investigate the subject can belleNe tnal olSte
has shadow of right
TEXANS WIN BY HARD FIGHTING.
Mr. Reedled tile opposition to the bill to- day. and
tried 10 have the House adopt as substitute for II
q bill reported by the judiciary Commlttc of the
last Congress.
The Texas men fought hard and gained their
point. II is to be hoped that when it is brought
before the other branch of Congress, Senators OPP
posed To- the further spOIiatl0n Of the indians VIII
take advantage of the opportunity to probe the
Scheme TO the bottom.