Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1888-06-14


rated between the two depart
monts. Tho people have had sui
fcicnt time to determine in their
own minds what is beet for the
public interest and viii expect Of
the council compliance with it.
---.-----.-.--------s--a
SPECIAL SESSION or CoUN.
OIL.
In the present range of "oxtra-
ordinary occasions" there is but one
just now in tho horizon Of Chero.
kee affairs upon which tho chief
could cons tutionally convene the
council in extra session and that
is tue lease or some disposition of
tho strip lands for revenue pur-
poses. It would be n bad piece o (
business and lack Of proper exc
cutive management of public mat
ters to let 100000 acres Of fine
grazing lands lie in any condition
of uncertainty as to the possible
benefits, outside OF their intrinsic
value and increase, they could
be TO the Cherokee people. ifprop-
erly managed. The land is GER
tainly increasing in value every
year, rs The public lands of the
United States decrease, and emil
grafton flows westward in search
Of new homes, but this is no rea-
son why we ought TO be satisfied
to let that country lie idle or to
lease at cheap figures. The chief
will certainly convene the coun-
ell to make some disposition Of
that conn;ry before the present
lease expires, and win recommend
how he inks it ought to be done.
If he and The council differ as they
did last session, the contest will
10 renewed between him and them
on the same grounds Of difference
that then defeated a cheap lease
and barred the chances OF getting
more. If tho council could not
have their way about The matter
they were determined the chiefI
should not have his. A failure
on part Of the council to have
-tneir way would necessarily sug-
gest u compliance to the chiefs.
rather than 70 make no disposition
whatever Of that country for rove
nue. purposes, or TO necessitate
the calling Of council in extra ses.
sion to DO that which they ought TO
have done without all this confu.
sion and unnecessary expense.
Had The chiefs plan been unrca-
sonaolo or impracticable, or that
chances we're against him in get
ting more than was offered. there
might have been some excuse for
the councils conduct, or for re-
fusing to authorize him TO advc.-
tise for tho highest bidder. No
harm could have been done The
public interest by such cause.
There was no likelihood that the
lease woul d be any less, while the
chances were, as they are now. !
thata much larger sum could be
realized by an advertising plan. |
That unnecessary expense woul d !
have been incurred in advertising |
for bids, over and above that of |
rcconyening the council 10 risk /
further disagreement and failure !
to dispose Of the question, there |
can be no plea offered in extenna- |
ton Of such proposition. II un-
necessary expense and unnecessary /
confusion and dangerous difIerenc- |
cs are to be considered ii cannot be /
claimed that the council were in
the right, because, If the greatest
possible amount for the lease is
what was wanted, the advertising
plan must be approved and ac-
cepted.
As TO the chances ofnot leasing,
there is no such thing, or Of
making some disposition Of the
country for revenue purposes, per-
haps better than leasing in the
long run There Is at present
great demand for grazing lands and
this demand is annually on the I'M
crease. On account Of This grow
ing demand the value Of grazing
lands u annually enhanced The
difference may not be very great
ipf ono of tive yeas, bpt Ia the
,np ofdte il wo takp pas, expert
sAcc lhe laena.e ~ astaal yaiue
iAAsl ~ 6hsiae4a!e-
t accomplished b <
aII ale IS iia pqaE of