Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1889-02-14
THE OKLAHOMA BILL.
Provisions OF the Springer Bill
Passed by the House.

Dill Hhich has passed the House or repre-
senUatives and now awaits the action OF
the Senate:
A bill TO organize the Territory of Oklahoma,
and for other purposes.
Be enacted By tie Senate and House Of Repre-
se6tGtiUes Of TIE United states Of AB1ericl IN
Congress Gsssm5led:
SECTIoSl. That all that part of the United
States included within the following limits. ex-
cept such portions thereof as is hereinafter
express exempted from the operations Of this
act to-wit: Bounded on the west by the State
of Texas and the Territory OF New Mexico; on
the north by the State Of Colorado and the
State of Kansas; on the east by the reserva-
tion occupied by the Cherokee tribe Of Indians
east Of the Ninety-sixth Meridian OF west
longitude, and by the Creek Simnole and
Chickasaw reservations; and on the south by
the Creek Siminole and Chickasaw reservations
and by the State OF Texas, comprising what is
known as the Public Land Strip and all that part
OF the Indian Territory not actually occupied by
the five civilized tribes is created into a
Temporary co. ernment by the name OF the Ter
ritory Of Oklahoma; Provided, That nothing IN
this act shall be construed TO impair the rights
OF persons or property, or to impair any patent
TO or right of occupancy OF lands now pertain
ing TO the Indians IN said Territory under
the laws and treaties OF the United
States, executive order. or otherwise, or TO in
clude any territory occupied by any Indian
tribe for which title has been conveyed by
patent or otherwise from the United States, or
10 which such tribe may be entitled by law, eX-
ecutive order, right Of occupancy, or treaty,
without the consent OF said tribe, or any terri
tory which by treaty or agreement with any In
dian tribe is not without the consent OF said
tribe TO be included within the territorial limits
OF jurisdiction Of any State or Territory; but
all such territory shall be excepted out of the
boundaries and constitute no part Of the Terri
tori OF Oklahoma until said tribe shall signify
its assent to the President Of the United States
&c be included in the said Territory of Okla
homa, except for judicial purposes as provided
herein, or 10 affect the authority OF the Govern
n.ent OF the United States to make anv regula-
ton or enact any law respecting such Indians,
their lands, property, or other rights, which it
would have been competent to make or enact il
this act had never passed.
SEC. 2. That there shall be a Governor, Sec
Rotary, Legislative Assembly, Supreme Court
Attorney, and Marshal for said Territory. who
shall be appointed and selected under the pro-
visions OF title %, chapter /, of the revised
statutes of the United States. relating to the
government of all the Territories. The pro-
visions of said title shall have the same force
and effect in the Territory Of Oklahoma as in
other Territories of the United States: Pro-
vided, that the Legislative Assembly and Dele
gate to the House of Representatives shall not
be elected until the President shall order;
Provided, further That 10 person shall be en-
titled TO vote at the first election, or to be
elected to any office. who has not been a bona
fide resident OF said Territory for sixty days
previous TO said election. And provided further,
that the Council in said Territory shall consist
of thirteen members, and the House OF Repre-
sentatives shall consist OF twenty-six members,
which may be increased to thirtv-nine
SEC. 3. That the Constitution and laws OF
the Tinted which inon
plicable shall have the same force and effect in
said Territory Of Oklahoma as elsewhere in the
United States. Provided. that nothing in this
act shall be construed to interfere with the
local governments of any of the Indian tribes
which may now be provided for by the laws
and treaties OF the United States, or which
may exist in conformity thereto; And provided
further, that the Supreme Court Of the Terri
tory shall have jurisdiction and shall embrace
all causes OF action, crimes and ofenses arising
within the limits OF tAe Territory organized by
this act: and all laws heretofore passed grant
ing jurisdiction to United States courts within
the limits OF said Territory are hereby repealed;
but cases now pending shall be prosecuted to
their final disposition therein the same as if
this act had not been passed.
SEC. 4. That the section OF country lying be-
tween the States OF Kansas, Colorado and |
Texas, known as the Public LAM Strip. is |
hereby declared TO be part OF the public domain |
OF the United States, and shall be open to |
settlement under the operation of the Home |
stead laws only. except as otherwise provided |
in this act; Provided that the sixteenth and |
thirty-siXth sections of land in each township |
shall be reserved for school purposes.
SEC. ,. That whenever the Creek and Semi |
mole tribes OF Indians shall signify their assent
to the provisions of this section in legal man. |
ner. to the commission provided for in this act.
and the President has issued his proclamation |
-
pied lands coded 10 the United States by said
tribes under the treaties OF June II, 1856, and
March 81, 1oC5, shall be open to settlement, ex-
cept the sixteenth and thirty sixth sections in
each township, which shall be reserved for !
school purposes and shall be disposed of to |
actual settlers only. in quantities not 10 exceed
100 acres in square form, to each settler, at the
price of S1.%5 per acre All persons who are |
heads Of families over twenty-one years of |
age, and who are citizens Of the United States, |
or have resided in the United States for two |
years and have declared their intention TO be- |
come citizens thereof, shall be entitled TO be- |
come actual settlers on such lands An accurate |
account shall be kept by the Secretary of the |
Interior OF the money received as proceeds |
Of the sale of such lands. The Commission |
Hereinafter created for this act is hereby au- |
ihorized to confer with the Creeks and Sem |
!hOles 10 ascertain whether said Indians are |
entitled to any further compensation than that |
heretofore paid for said unoccupied lands. II |
said Commission shall find that further COM |
pensation should be paid said Indians, they /
may, by negotiation with said Indians fix the |
amount Of such additional compensation not 10 |
exceed the sum of sl.25 per acre, less the cost |
Of sals and the amounts heretofore paid said |
tribes in the purchase OF said lands; and any ad-
ditional sum agreed upon by said Commission 10 |
be paid said tribes for said lands as provided |
herein, shall be placed TO the credit of said |
tribes in the treasury Of the United States.
SEC. G. That whenever the Cherokee tribe OF
Indians shall signify their assent TO the pro-
visions Of this section, in legal manner, to the
provided for IN this act and the
President has issued his proclamation fixing
the time as herein provided, the unoccupied |
portion of the lands west Of the ninety-sixth
degree OF west longitude, ceded to the United
States by the said tribe OF Indians by the treaty
July 10, 1866, shall be open TO settle
ment except the sixteenth and thirty sixth
sections of said land which shall be reserved |
for school purposes and shall be disposed OF TO
actual settlers only, in quantities not TO exceed
l60 acres in square form, to each settler, at the
price OF sl-2o per acre. All persons who are
heads OF families or over twenty-one years OF
age, and who are citizens Of the United States,
or have resided in the United States two years
and have declared their intention TO become
citizens thereof, shall be entitled to become
actual settlers on such lands. An accurate &C
count shall be kept by the Secretary of the In
terror OF the money received as proceeds OF the
sale OF said lands, aud said money shall be
placed 10 the credit OF the Cherokee Indian tribe
in the treasury OF the United States. after de-
Quoting the cost Of the sale by the United States
and the amount heretofore appropriated and
paid to the Cherokee tribe as part compensa-
ton for said unoccuped lands: Provided, that
nothing in this act shall be construed TO author
IKE any person to enter upon or occupy any of
the lands mentioned in this or the preceding
section, for the purpose of settlement or other
wise until aftar Tho cold Indian frshaS ord |