Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1886-12-02
oouNo11 PRoorrp1Nas.

The heated contest for and
against the continuance OF the
lease Of the strip lands, after the
present term expires, culminated
in the council chamber last Friday,
and was "killed too dead to skin"
on Saturday following. A bill had
been introduced to continue the
lease for five years longer to the
Cherokee Strip Live Stock associa-
tion, at an increase Of 500, 900, and
referred to committee consist
ing Of Dannenburg, of Flint, Geo.
Downing and Ben Catcher, of Tab
lequah, VIM. Howell and John Mil
Ter, of Delaware. Excepting Miller
the committee endorsed the bill
and recommended its passage.
Miller submitted a minority report,
which, after considerable wran-
Cling, was permitted to be read.
Speaker Hawk and others were
opposed to giving it a hearing.
The two reports were declared
subject to adoption or rejection,
nevertheless, and Miller's was
adopted by an overwhelming ma
jority. Saturday morning follow
ing, some member of the house,
credit be to him, be he who he may,
moved to table the bill until next
council, which was done. SO it is
to be hoped that the matter will
rest until the proper time comes to
seriously consider the propriety Of
continuing the present lease or of
entering into a new one.
The act to create a commission
on citizenship passed the senate
after a careful consideration and
adoption by sections. 1t is of con-
siderable length and is intended to
guard well the powers and duties
to be exercised by the commission.
II returned from the house, amend
ed, to which the senate for good
reasons will not agree. The
amendment disqualifies any except
Cherokees by blood to sit as MEM
bers Of the commission. This is
carrying too far, blood qualifica-
tions, in matters where all classes
of our citizens are equally concern
ed, or in rights some are disposed
to claim by reason a stream now
comprised of so many tributaries.
1t would take but little more ac-
cession of power, backed by a
little more prejudice and selfish
ness, to exclude from holding office
any except Cherokees by blood, if
such prescription is to rule our
legislative bodies. Conditions with
which all classes Of our people are
satisfied, and the assurance of a
peaceful and prosperous govern
ment, are impossible in the midst
Of such antagonisms of castles and
blood lines. 1t is an injustice that
can be corrected at the polls and
will be.
The reading of the revised laws
still goes on like the supply from
some large water reservoir. From
continual use the manuscript opens
at the lesson like a school boys
spelling book. There are some,
reckless enough to say that an
extra session of council Of about
six weeks will be necessary to
complete the reading, aud that it
wont do TO adjourn before it is
finished on account Of the expense
so far incurred. In a spirit of dis
covery the committee are in search
of the end, pretty much in the
same way that explorers hunted
for the source of the Nile.
Appearances at present indicate
that there will necessarily be an
extra session. Some important
bills are not yet disposed of, and
some other matters will require
legislative attention, such as u
delegation, the election of a mem
ber Of the board of education, and
members of the commission on
citizenship, should the act now