Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1886-07-22
eAnInNr snor1oNs on A p111
introduced July 10th by Mr.. Rog-
ers. of Arkansas.

United states To create n COM
mission to try and dispose OF
claims for citizenship in the Cher
okee, Choctaw, Greek, Chicka-
saw and Seminole Indian nations.
BE Il enacted BY the senate aud
house Of representatives of the Unit
ed states Of america IN congress as
sembled, That the president of the
United States, by and with the
consent and advice of the senate,
is hereby authorized and empow-
cred to create n commission COM
posed of not more than three men;
that as soon as such are appointed
and commissioned they shall con-
stitute a commission, and shall
have FULL, unlimited, and ex-
elusive jurisdiction Of all claims
for citizenship and rights in the
Cherokee, Choctaw, Greek, Chick
asaw, or Seminole Indian nations,
of whatsoever nature, class or
kind. The secretary of the inte-
rior shall provide for said commits
sion a clerk, and deputy clerks if
required, to act and serve as such
on said commission, and shall pro-
vide for their use all record-books,
stationery, and all things else
needed and required.
SEC. 2. That this commission
shall as soon as practicable, pro-
ceed to organize, sit and hold pub
lie and open sessions in the Indian
Territory, in each of the afore-
named Indian nations. il required,
or in the most convenient place or
places in the nations OF territory
aforesaid, for the purpose of try
ing, examining and investigating
each and every claim of any per-
son or persons, tribe or tribes, to
be or belong to such Indian nation
or tribe as such, OF a citizen there
of, either by blood relation, treaty
stipulation, marriage law, custom,
or usage, or by articles of agree
ment by or between any of said
Indian nations or tribes, nj there
take up each case of each and
every claimant or claimants, tribe
or tribes, and try the same and f.
nally decide and dispose of the
same; and this commission is here
by clothed and empowered to adj
minister the oath TO any person or
persons in the usual and statutory
form, when necessary, in such tri-
ais, investigations, and examina-
tions, and to issue such process or
processes as may be necessary and
required to bring in for examina-
tion and hearing in such trials and
investigations all persons as wit
nesses, and compel the production
of all books, records, papers, and
files bearing on such trials and in
vestigations, and TO enforce order
and the observance of the same at
all of its sessions, and to punish
for contempt any violations of its
rules, processes or orders when
such violation shall have the effect
to hinder or obstruct its trials, de-
cisions, and the enforcement of its
orders. And the United States
marshal for the western district of
Arkansas is hereby required to
provide this commission with
sworn deputies as may be required
to be and attend to all sessions Of
this commission for the purposes
last aforesaid. This commission
may admit to practice at Its ses-
sions competent attorneys and law
yers to represent claimants or
tribes; and the governors or prin-
cipal chiefs Of the respective and
afOrenamed Indian nations may
appoint and have present at such
trials, investigations and examina-
tions such counsel, lawyers and
attorneys rs they or each of them
may think proper to represent
each nation, when such nation
shall be interested in the trial, ex-
animation, or investigation: Pro-
rided, That such nation appointing
such counsel or attorney shall COM
pensate him or them cut of the In
dian national treasury from which
such counsel or attorney shall be
appointed and serve.
SEC. 3. That the mode, method,
manner and rules of practice to be
observed and followed in conduct
ing such trials, examinations and
Investigations shall be the same as
if such cases or claims, or similar
ones, were being tried, examined
or investigated in the Unitad
States circuit or district courts;
anu the form or forms of process
required, the service, and returns
made by the officers thereof shall
be the same as now used in the
United States district court for the
western district of Arkansas. The
attendance of witnesses, the ad-
mission and rejection of their tes-
timony, and the taking and filing
of all depOsitions necessary and
required shall be governed and
concluded by the laws OF the Unit
ed States in such cases made and
provided After the trial, exami-
nation, and investigation of each
of the above-named claims, this
commission shall Immediately
proceed to decide, determine, and
finally dispose Of the claims; and
if found that the claimant or claim
ants, tribe or tribes, have and are
entitled TO the rights of a citizen
or citizenship, or TO become a
member or members of any such
Indian nation or tribe in the man.
ner or classes aforesaid, this COM
mission shall direct and order the
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