The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1889-02-14
TRE OKLAHOMA BILL.

HOuse-Ths Soldier Amendment a. Agreed
Upon.
We have had numerous inquiries for
the Springer bill as it passed the lower
house of congress since its passage, but
being unable to procure the full text OF
the bill the subjoined synopsis will give
the reader comprehensive idea OF its
provisions. The bill will doubtless be-
amended somewhat by the senate,
though it Is not believed that 1t will be
materially changed:
The bill, as it passed the house, is in
many of its features unlike that re-
ported last seSsion-by Chairman Spring
er, of the committee on territories. 1t
contains sixteen sections, the first one
defining the boundaries of the new
territory to be created. The terrific
is to be known as Oklahoma, and COM
prise all of the Indian territory
tribes, the Cherokees, Choctaws,
Creeks, SemiRoles and Chlckasaws.
This covers about half the entire AREA
of the Indian territory besides No
Man ISLAND, and includes Oklahoma
proper, Kiowa, Comanche and Apache
reservations, the Cheyenne and Arapa-
hoe reservations, the reservation OF the
Wichitas, the POttawatomies, the
Kickapoos, the Sacs and Foxes, the
L
the OEages, the KaWs and the Poncas,
the old Nez Perces reservation and the
Cherokee strip or outlet now occupied
AS a catt( grazing ground by the
Cherokee Strip Live stock association.
Northumberland. which lies in the eX-
treme northwest, is thirty-four and
one-half miles wide and 16S miles
long. The Indian territory proper in
cluded i'll the bill averages about $50
-, nh
number of miles i'll width. The only
portions of the proposed territory now
unoccupied by the Indians are No
Mans Land, Oklahoma proper and the
Cherokee strip. The Creeks and Sem
inoleS claim the land in Oklahoma
and the Cherokees allege own
ership of the Cherokee strip. 1t Is
therefore provided that a commission
created by the act, to consist OF hve
persons, shall open negotiations with
| these Indians to determine whether
| they are entitled to further compensa-
| ton than that heretofore paid for their
| unoccupied lands. The compensation
| to be thus determined shall not exceed
| 81 % per acre. And as to the rest OF the
land now occupied by the various
| tribes as reservations the consent OF
the tribes shall be obtained before oc-
cupat;on by settlers. In that event
| lands shall be allotted to the Indians in
severaltY under the existing law, and
| the surplus remaining shall be thrown
| open to settlement. The llOwance
| for these lands also not to exceed
| 81 25 per acre. the price to be fixed by
the president, and the money accrulnQ
| therefroIn is TO be placed to the credit
of the tribe to which the lands now be-
| long. The lands are to be entered
under the provision of the homestead
act, each individual entry being limited
/ to $50 acres. Each person settling
upon lands shall be required to Sc
| lect the same in square form as near as
practicable and to maintain contlnu-
| Gus residence of three years. BY ar
amendment adopted lately each settler
is required to pillow not less than forty
acres of land before obtaining title, IL
addition to making other improve
ments, under the homestead law. Pay
ments at the rate of S1-25 per acre OF
less are to be made in four equal install
mentS, the first within six months from
the time of entry, the second at the enc
of one year, the third in two years anC
the fourth at the end OF three years
! Considerable discussion has taken place
over the soldier amendment" to the
bill, but it was finally agreed upon. Al
it passed the house it allows honorablN
| discharged soldiers and sailors in tht
late civil war to:make homes in the new
territory under the existing homestead
laws, their present rights in no WIS.,
being impaired or abridged. Another
impurtant amendment which wa'
adopted is to the effect that no pro
vision of this act shall be construed u
authorize an extinguishment of the
| Indian title to any of the lands in sale
Indian territory which by virtue of al
existing law that would inure to thu
benefit of any railroad corporation, Oh
the title to which would vest in AM
such corporation or the extinguishment
of the Indian title thereto, or on thu
same becoming part of the public land!
of the United states, but all such lands
shall be held by said Indians as tribes
or in severalty. and shall be held by
the United States in trust for the bene
lit of the Indians interested therein, II
pursuance of such agreement Wlth SucI
tribes in said territory as shall be con
sistent with this provision of this aci
but such lands shall not becomepart Of
the public lands of the United States
or iDure to the benefit or vest in any
church railroad corporation or any as
signee or mortgage thereof. ANY act
hereafter done by any officer or agent
of the United States or treaty con
by any such officer or agent will
any Indian tribe in con
fiict with the foregoing provision
which shall validate or give effect Il
any such grant or to any assignment o
mortgage of any such lands, shall b
null and void. An amendment was ais
adopted FORGETTING the grant of the at
lantic & Pacific Railroad company. Tn
J original town site proposition submit
| ted by Mr.. Springer and his asSoclat
| was stricken out and in its stead new
! section was adopted providing that til
J secretary of the interior shall reServ
lands for existing or prospective fowl
, sites. the area of each not to exceed 81
: acres. In this connection the act says
No APPLICATION to enter any land sha
r be allowed until approved by the secrt
+ tary of the interior, of any tract OF Ian
} first where any exterior line of she Ian
a is within one-half mile of the line of an
2 railroad which is constructed, or the lin
T of any railroad not constructed, bu
r where its map of location shall be file
: with the secretary of the interior at til
date OF the APPLICATION to enter; or Sc
q ond. any tract of land upon which sc
e tlemenL in advance of survey by props
: authority shall give any right /;
2 against the power TO reserve town sit
hereby given, it being the object Of tt
It provision to secure so the inhabitaD
s of all towns and cities and villages
e said territory the benefits and prof
It arising from the sale Of lots therein
Is The president is authorities to local
, the land Offices. not to exceed four
= number, as may be required. 1t
l. EproVided also that the territory
Oklahoma shall have a governor, Sc
It rotary legislative assembly, suprer
ir court, attorney and marshal. to be a
d pointed, and selected under existiI
is law. and the laws OF the United Stat
" now in force in other territories sh
st be extended over the new terFitol
All leases by cattlemen or others NJ
f in force in the prescribed territory g
l. declared void
Tie Hsssisa Ply IN nlizeis.
a MONTICELLO, Ill, Feb. 12.-The II
sh sian fly is destroying the wheat crop
ne r1o-,.,.oi T11,,,,i. ~, sovoa ,,l.oos ~,