Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1886-01-07
soME IMPORTANT CHEROKEE
HISTORY.

tee Learned In Relation TO th'
| 100000 Appropriation, From
Messra. Ross, Phillips, Bell
Bushyhoad and Blackstone.
The committee TO which was en-
trusted the investigation Of III,
$4,000 imposition have finished
their work, and like good and faith
ful servants are resting from thcil
labors. Many will wish to know
who were witnesses before the com,
miltee and 10 what they testified
and for this reason statements Of
several will be published in the
CHwFTAIN.
Mr.. R. B, Ross statement.
Question by MI Rogers. Was
there more than one appraisement
Of the occupied lands2
Ans. | cannot positively say;
there was but one appraisement
know Of at 47.49 cents per acre;
this appraisement was made by an
act of Congress; | don't know OF
any other appraisoment; was in
Washington at the time the $780,
600 was appropriated for the Cher
okees on the 3rd day of March
1893; my understanding is II was an
additional payment on the occu-
pied land; we were instructed by
the National Council to have the
price of the lands raised to sl.25
per acre; did not see the appro-
priation bill before it passed; | saw
il afterwards; | understood it to
mean that the money was coming
from the occupied lands from the
reading Of the bill: the bill speci-
fed that friendly Indians occupied
the same, the Pawnees, Nez Perces,
Poncas and Missourias; the bill
specified lands west of the Arkan-
sas river; / consider the unoccu-
pied lands Cherokee lands; | did
not think the bill was explicit
enough, but the conclusion, the In
dams aforesaid respectfully occu-
pied the same; | have made the
calculation Of the amount Of money
these lands would bring at 47.49
cents per acre; think the amount
would be in the neighborhood Of
1913, 900; | think the Cherokee ma
ton has received s6lS,000 on the
occupied lands.
Ques. Did You, with Mr. Phil
lips and Wolf file a letter in the in
terror department, stating that you
had full authority to dispose Of
these lands?.
Ans. Yes, We fled a letter of
Jan. 5, 1888.
Phillips statement:
Ques. Did you write the in
struciions in 1882, Dec. 10Th, or
have anything TO do in framing
such instructions2
Ans. | believe | assisted in
framing them during several years,
probably in that year, from data
and instructions furnished | think
| did so.
Ques. Did you know what the |
Instructions were in 1882?
Ans. They were enacted after
left.
Ques. Did you see the instruc-
ions before they were enactcd2
Ans. | saw some drafts but they
we're change3after left,
Ques. Were you aware what
he drafts contained concerning the
sale of lands west OF 962
Ans. Yes, some of The PROPOSE,
ions were submitted to me for my
egal opinion.
Ques. Was one of the PROPOSE
ions in the drafts for the sale Of
he unoccupied lands west Of 962
Ans. think there was, as such
we're in the drafts sub
nitted to me.
Ques. When you left TahleqUah
he fall Of 1888, did or did YOU not
now the bill authorized the del.
cation to pledge Z II per cent. for
ssistance in the sale Of all lands
vest Of 96; that is for the sale Of
lands west Of the Ar
Kansas river?
Ans. ] think some such propo- {
ition was in the drafts submitted {
D me.
Ques. Did you leave Tahlequah \
efore the instructions became a I
Nv? {
Ans. Ny impression is that / O
id. i
Ques. How long after you left c
ere before you reached Washing !
IN City. ?
Ans. II was a short time, either I
le latter part Of November or the 4
eginning Of December. | do not
whether anyone or not a
,companied me to Washington at 4
le time from this point. s
Ques. Who were the delegates
ected by the National Council in il
le fall Of 1883? s
Ans. r. NJ. Wolf and r. B. p
oss; they did not accompany me n
Washington.
Ques. Did you address a CON- d
to the secretary Of the "
terror about Cherokee affairs be- 7
re either Mr.. Ross or Mr.. Wolf
rivedl II
Ans. I donoi think I did about oI
e lands in question, probably ! b
4 about other matters. 81
Ones. Were r. N. Wolf and r W
Ross in Washington City when q
tiers bearing date Of 4th and 5ih el
Jan. 1883 ucre addressed 70
.e secretary Of fhe Interior pI
Ans. Yes, they were and had a.
.en for some time previous. re
Ques. Did they sign The letters d
delegates for the Cherokee na- %
ln2 e.
Ans. Yes.
Qa... DID b.lh VI. Rs. aad y