Wichita eagle., 1889-03-06
TO OPEN OKLAHOMA.
Provisions of the Indian Appropriation
Bill Authorizing the Opening OF the
Territory to Settlement.

Dill AuInOr1Zlng the opening Oh tuo
Territory to Settlement
The senate failed to take action on the
Oklahoma bill proper as it passed the
house but the following provisions Of
| that measure were incorporated in the
Indian appropriation bill which was
agreed upon in conference, passed by
both houses and signed by President
Cleveland a short time before the expi-
ration of his term, the last one of the
general appropriation bills passed and
approved:
CREEK AND SEMINOLE LANDS.
Section 12-that the sum of 81 ,912,-
$50. ~ be, and the same hereby is appro-
priated, out of any money in the treasury
not otherwise appropriated, to pay in
full the Seminole nation of Indians for
all the right, title, interest and claim
which said nation of Indians may have
in and to certain lands coded by article 3
of the treaty between the United States
and said nation of Indians which was
concluded June 13, 1866, and proclaimed
August 16, 1866. and which land was
then estimated to contain 2, 159, $50 acres,
but which is now, after survey, ascer-
tanned to contain 1870, 414.62 acres,
said sum of money to be paid as fol-
lows: $1,50O,000 to remain in the
treasury of the United States to the cred
it of said nation of Indians, and to bear
interest at the rate of per cent per an
mum from July l. 1899, said interest to be
paid semi-annually to the treasurer of
said nation, and the sum of 1912. $40 90
fn no to- or
shall be duly authorized by the laws of
said nation to receive the same, and at
such times and in such sums as shall be
directed and required by the legislative
authority of said nation, to be immedi-
ately available. This appropriation to
become operative upon the execution by
the duly appointed delegates of said ma
ton specially empowered SO to do, of a
release and conveyance to the United
States of all the right, title. interest and
claim of said nation of Indians in and to
said lands in manner and form satisfac-
tory to the president of the United
States; and said release and conveyance
when fully executed and delivered shall
operate to eXtinguish all claims of every
kind and character of said Seminole ma
ton of Indians in and to the tract of
country to which said release and con-
yeyance shall apply, bnt such
release, conveyance and eXtin-
guishment shall not inure to the
benefit or cause to vest in any railroad
company any right, title or interest
whatever in or to any said lands; and all
laws and parts of laws SO far as they
conflict with the foregoing are hereby
repealed. and all grants or pretended
grants to said lands or any interest or
right therein now existing in or on be-
half of any railroad company except
rights of way and depot grounds are
hereby declared to be forever forfeited
for breach of condition.
PART OF THE PUBLIC DOMAIN.
Sec. 10. That the lands acquired by
the United States under said agreement
shall be a part of the public domain, to
be disposed of only as herein provided,
and sections 16 and Sc of each township,
whether serveyed or unsurveyed, are
hereby reserved for the use and benefit
of the public schools within the limits
OF said lands under such conditions and
regulations as may be hereafter enacted
by congress; that the lands acquired by
conveyance from the Seminole Indians
hereunder, except the 10Th and Both Sec
tious, shall be disposed of to actual set
tiers under the homestead laws
only except as herein otherwise
provided except that section 23O1
of the revised statutes shall
not apply; and provided further that
any person who, having attempted, but
for any cause failed, to secure title in
fee to a homestead under existing law,
l,o 10 -lo& e
as the committed provision of the home
stead law, shall be qualified to make a
homestead entry upon said lands; and
provided further, that the rights of hon
orably discharged union soldiers and
sailors in the late civil war, as defined
and described in sections 1904 and 1906
of the revised statutes, shall not be alb
bridged: and provided further, that each
entry shall be in square form as nearly
as practicable and no person be permit
ted to enter more than one quarter sec
ton thereof but until said lands are
opened for settlement by proclamation
Of the president, no person shall be per-
mitted to enter upon and occupy the
same and no person violoting this pro-
vision shall be permitted to enter any
Of said lands or require any right thereto.
The secretary of the interior may. after
proclamation and not before, permit
entry of said lands for town sites,
under sections 1887 and 1888 of the
revised statutes, but no such entry shall
embrace more than one-half section of
land; that all foregoing provisions with
reference to lands to be acquired from
the Seminole Indians. including the pro-
visions pertaining to forfeiture, shall ap-
ply to and regulate the disposal of the
lands acquired from the Muscogee or
Creek Indians by articles of cession and
agreement made and concluded at the
city of Washington on the 9th day of
January in the year of our Lord 1899.
TREATING WITH OTHER TRIBES.
Sec. IA. The president is hereby au-
thorized to appoint three commissioners,
not more than two of whom shall be
members of the same political party, to
negotiate with the Cherokee Indians and
with all other Indians owning or claim
ing land lying west of the Goth degree of
longitude in the Indian territory for the
cession to the United States of all their
title, claim or interest of every kind or
character in and TO said lands, aud any
and all agreements resulting from such
negotiations shall be reported to the
president and by him to congress at its
next session and to the council or councils
of the nation or nations, tribe or tribes,
a0raeInp tn tho SaDla ratification and for