The Iola register., 1889-02-15
THE OKLAHOMA BILL
Provisions of the Springer Bill
Passed by tho House.

Following Is tue Springer Oklanoma
bill which has passed the House of Repre-
sentatives and now awaits the action OF
the Senate:
A bill TO organize the Territory of Oklahoma
and for other purposes.
Be IL enacted By The .SeHdfs and House Of Repre-
sestatiges OF 1ss United Stotes Of ABaeriea in
Coscrsss assembled:
SECTION !. 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; or
the north by the State of Colorado and tbs
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, Siminole and
Chickasaw reservations: and on the south By
the Creek Sininole and Chickasaw reservations
and by the State Of Texas, comprising what Is
known as the Pubic Land Strip and all that part
Of the Indian Territory not actually occupied by
the five civilized tribes. is created into a
temporary government 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 pateri
10 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 oI
TO 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; bu,
all such territory shall be excepted out of the
boundaries and constitute no part Of the Terri
tory OF Oklahoma until said tribe shall signify
its assent to the President Of the United States
to be included in the said Territory OF Okla
homa, except for judicial purposes as provided
herein or 10 affect the authority OF the Govern
r,ent Of the United States to make anv regula-
tion or enact any law respecting such Indians,
their lands, property, or otheir rights, which II
would have been competent TO make or enact II
this act had never passed
SEC. . That there shall be a Governor. Sec
retary. Legislative Assembly, Supreme Court,
Attorney, and Marshal for said Territory. who
shall be appointed and selected under the pro-
visions OF title sa 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 o; 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 no person shall be en-
titled to vote at the first election. or to be
elected TO any once. who has not been a bona
fde 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. ard the House OF Repre-
sentatives shall consist Of twenty-six members,
which may be increased TO thirty-nine.
SEC. 5. 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 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 aris ing
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:
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-
Texas. known as the Public Lant 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. 5. That whenever the Creek and Semi
mole TRIES of Indians shall signify their assent
70. q he Of in
ner. to the commission provided for in this act,
and the President has issued his proclamation
fixing the time as provided herein. the uroccu-
pied lands ceded TO the United States by said
tribes under the treaties OF June II 1850, and
March q, f>G6. shall he open to settlement, ex-
cept the sixteenth and thirty-sixth sections in
each township, which shall BE- reserved fer
school purposes, and shall be disposed Of TO
actual settlers only. in quantities not to exceed
$50 acres in square form. to each settler, at the
price of 81 IS per acre. All persons who are
heads OF families or over tveuty-ore 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. shah 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-
thorized to confer with the Creeks and Sem
!noles to ascertain whether said indians are
entitled TO any further compensation than that
heretofore paid for said unoccupied lands. II
said Commission shau find that further com
pensation should be paid said Indians. they
may, by negotiation with said Indians, nI the
amount ot such additional compensation not 70
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-
dirional sum agreed upon by said Commission to
oe 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 Tha: whenever the Cherokee tribe of
Indians shall signify their assent TO the pro-
visions of this section, il legal manner, 10 the
Commission provided for N this act and the
President has issued his proclamation fixing
the time 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
concluded July is. ls66, shall be open to settle
ment except the sixteenth and thirry-sixt
sections OF said land, which shall be reserved
for school purposes and shall be disposed OF TO
actual settlers oaly, in quantities lot to exceed
100 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 o,
are, 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 10 become
actual settlers on such lands An accurate ae-
count shall be kept by the Secretary Of the In
terror of the money received as proceeds OF the
sale Of said lands. and said money shall be
placed to the credit ot the Cherokee Indian tribe
in the treasury OF the United States. after de-
ducting the cost OF the sale by the United States
and the amount heretofore appropriated and
paid to the Cherokee tribe IS part conpensa-
tion for said unoccupied lands: Provided that
nothing IN this act shall be construed 10 author
lie any person to enter upo1 or occupy any OF
the lands mentioned In this or the preceding