Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1888-12-20
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90 UNOlL HUNlhW MI.
Now that council has adjourned,
Its members dispersed and gone to
their homes TO receive the judg-
ment OF the people, it may not be
improper to review their conduct
as lawmakers. Confning obser-
vations 10 the session just closed,
1t must be acknowledged that they
have behaved themselves very de-
Gently in many respects, principal
among which is, that they adjourn
ed within the con stitutional limit,
for which they are entitled to the
respect and gratitude Of the peo-
pie. II they had only done this
and nothing more they should 20.
ceive the plaudit Of "well done,
good and faithful servants" To
nothing or more than enough, or to
do just what ought to be done, is
a legislative practice that seems to
be as little followed by our Chero-
kee solons as generally by like
bodies elsewhere. But be it said
the members have shaved along
pretty close to such subjects as ac-
tually needed their consideration
and action, although at the begin.
ming and near the close of the
council, it seemed that nothing OF
general interest or Importance
would be done. Chief Mayes had
frequently expressed a determine.
tion not to call an extra session Of
the council, whether the necessary
appropriations to run the govern
ment we're made or not. He
seemed to be inclined to. humor
the council, if they wished TO ex.
pertinent in the management OF
public affairs without money
that if they could stand il, he GER
tainly could. Not knowing from
what real cause the council fin.
ished their work at the end OF their
thirty constitutional working days,
it would be unfair to say that the
chiefs determination had nothing
To do with the readiness with
which they dispatched business.
Much may be credited to the in :
fiuence of the bid of the Southwest
ern Grazing association in bring
ing about a ready disposition Of
the grazing on the outlet. AL
though after a while this associa.
tion and the old combined their in
terests, there was evidently more
character and intention of honest
dealing manifest than at any time
since the lease question has been
before council. 1t was once re.
ported from the committee on the
public domain, TO whom the lease
question had been submitted for
preparation, that the Southwest
ern Grazing association had with
drawn their bid. This left but
one before the council and that
was the $4,000 one of the old
company. The chiefs veto of the
bill that had passed the two hous-
at the close OF the previous coun-
Gil had not yet been acted on, and
it seemed that the report was a
scheme to induce certain members
to vote against the veto, as upon
no consideration they would give
their support to the bill, unless the
sl75, 900 bid was all that was in
sight and all that was likely to be
offered. Mr.. Williamson who had
offered.he 5000, 900 bid when called
upon by Chief Mayes to know il
the report was true, said it was
false. Nothing now was left but
to sustain the chiefs veto and pre-
pare bill TO lease to the strip
company for 100000. There was
no room for dodging anywhere or
TO set up an excuse not TO do so.
As a consequences the lease was
effcted for that amount, and TO
the credit Of Mr.. Williamson for
sticking to his first proposition.
A bill to regulate the introduc-
ton of cattle into the country,
without robbing the citizens OF all
they have, passed the council and
was signed by the chief. 1t may
not be all it should be, but it is by
far less savage and revengelul than
any that has been attempted for
some time.
Upon the whole council has
done exceedingly we'll.