Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1889-02-14
THE OKLAHOMA BILL.
Provisions OF the Springer Bin
Passed by the House.
How the Lands Are to He Opened FOR Set
Recommendations Reserved For School
Purposes-A Commission to He
Appointed.

Following is the Springer OkIahoma
bill which has passed the House Of Repre-
sentatives and now awaits the action of
tho Senate:
bill to organize the Territory OF Oklahoma,
and for other purposes.
BE enacted by the Senate and House of Repre-
eentdtfUes of the United States Of limerick IN
Congress assembled: eses. zsa <
SECTION I. That all that partrof the United
States included within the following Umits ex.
sept such portions thereof as Is hereins fter
express exempted from the operations of this
act, to-wit: Bounded on the west by the State
al Texas and the Territory of New Mexico: ON
me north by the State of Colorado and the
state OF Kansas: on the east by the reserya-
ton occupied by the Cherokee tribe of Indians
east OF the Ninety.sixth Meridisng OF west
Iongitude, and by the Creek. Siminole and
Ch1ckasaw reservations: and on the south by
the Creek Siminole and Chickasaw reservations
and by the State OF Texas, comprising what is
known as the Publ Land Strip and all that part
OF the Indian Territory not actually occupied by
<ne nve civilized tribes. is. created into q
temporary government by the name of the Ter
TfsoTy OF Oklahoma; Provided, That nothing IN
rms act shall be construed to impair the rights
~oi persons or property, to impair any patent
20 or right OF occupancy of lands now pertain
1ng TO the Indians IN said Territory under
the laws and treaties OF the United
states, executive order. or otherwise, or to in
ciude 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 agreement with any In.
dian tribe is not, without the consent OF said
tribe, to be included within the territorial limits
OF Jurisd'c ion OF any State or Territory: but
all such territory shall be excepted out of the
boundaries and constitute part of the Terri
tor OF Oklahoma until said tribe shall signify
its assent to the President of the United States
10 DC included In the said Territory OF Okla
homa, except for judicial purposes as provided
herein, or TO affect the authority of the Govern
ment OF the United States to make any regula-
ton or enact any law respecting such Indians,
their lands property, Or otheir rights, which it
would have been competent to make or enact II
ibis act had never passed. 49,
SEC 2. That there shall be 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 1. 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
DE elected until the President shall order;
Provided, further, That no person shall be en-
titled to vote at the first election or to be
elected to any Office, who has not been q bona
Hide 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 maybe increa ed to thirty nine.
SEC. 3. That the Constitution and laws of
The United States which are not locally inap-
plicable shall have the same force and effect in
said Territory of Oklahoma elsewhere in the
United States: Provided. that nothing In this
net 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 Qnited 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 the 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;
put cases now pending shall be prosecuted to
sfner final disposition therein the same as il
this oct had not been passed.
SEC. A. That the section Of country lying be-
tween the States of Kansas Colorado and
Texas known as the Public Laud 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. D. Inat 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 ac,.
and the President has issued his proclamation
fixing the time as provided herein, the unoccu-
pied lands coded to the United States by said
tribes under the treaties of June H. 1866 and
March 81, 1866, shall be open to settlement ex-
<cept the sixteenth and taairty-si sections in
each township which shall be reserved for
school purposes, and shall be disposed of to
settlers ut IN
160 acres in square form, to each settler, at the
price OF S1.s5 per acre. All persons who are
heads OF families or over twenty-one years of
age, and who are citizens of the United States
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-
dhorized to confer with the Creeks and Sem
inoles to 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
peusation should be paid said Indians, they
may, by negotiation with said Indians, fix the
amount OF such additional compensation not to
exceed the sum of Sl25 per acre, less the cost
OF sale and the amounts heretofore paid said
tribes in the purchase Of said lands; and any ad
<iitional sum agreed upon by said Commission
be paid said tribes Tor Sas0 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
Ynaians shall signify their assent to the pro-
visions Of this section, in legal manner, to tho
Commission 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-si
degree of west longitude, coded to the United
States by the said tribe OF Indians by the treaty
y.,rx- N ry~D Ao~ N<~c To
xnent 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
s60 acres in square form. to each settler, at the
price OF 81 25 per acre. An persons who are
heads OF families over twenty-one years OF
age. and who are citizens Of the United States,
or haI e resided in the United States two years