Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1890-03-20
TEE oKLAHOMA BILL.

senate IN lis debates ana votes
showed that il regarded the It'll,
Of the Cherokees as a fee simple
and that il was impossible to leg
islate it away from them without
their consent. When the lowel
house had the question before
them. IT vas proposed that moth
ing in the bill should interfere
with the Cherokee title. This
wss over whelmingly voted down,
leaving the government free to as
ssrt any real OF pretended claim OF
a full or incOmplete sale made by
former Cherokee delegations and
administrations, leaving, neverthe-
less, the equities TO be settled
hereafter.
It extended the jurisdiction OF
the courts over the Cherokee strip.
1t also placed all matters of dis
pute between Indian citizens and
whites in the jurisdiction Of courts
in that territory. 1t established a
court at Vinita, Ardmore, AtOka
and Muskogee, thus giving each OF
the four civilized tribes a court
(the Seminoles were incorporated
with the Creek) at home.
1t provides for a eommingled
United States commissioner and
justice of the peace to try minor
cases, and bind over in criminal
matters. It placed the new terri
tory under the laws Of Nebraska.
An attempt was made BY Kansas
and eastern men to saddle prohi-
bition on Oklahoma, but A-ksn-
sas and Texas opposed it.
The matter was lodged by en-
forcing the federal law against
bringing liquor into the country
until the first legislature met and
settled that question for them
selves.
Thus our outlet is placed in jur-
Isdiction Of courts, and matters
about settlement left to be acted on
later The bin goes to a confer
encs committee where each side
viii haye 10 concede something.
No'S is the time for the Cherokee
delegation to do their best TO keep
the senate from conceding too
much TO the house and leaving but
little to negotiate about when the
next commission comes 20 treat
for the strip.
Unfortunately the house said
the public land was thrown open
10 settlement, meaning "No Man s
Land" but boomers have long
considered the stris as public
land, SO they swarmed over by
thousands. President Harrison
has warned them to leave, and the
troops are marching down to en-
force the order, but the boomers
have fred the grass, doing a great
deal of damage 10 the S00,-
900 head of cattle there, out
side of the Indian rights violated
by their invasion. But these peO-
pie must go; the govsrnment will
permit no "soonsrs" 10 remain.
The bill provides for the usual ter
organizations, and estab-
fishes counties. However it leaves
Dne county 10 be made by the
irst territorial legislature, clearly
the strip to be that cOun-
". The senate intended TO have
another commission come out to
see if negotiations could be made,
Dut whether it viii let the house
sircumscribe those negotiations,
remains TO be seen.
What viii finally be done with
he strip no man can tell at pres
mt. If left to the senate, the
could at least hope to
receive a fair remuneration; while
f the lower house carries the day,
he Indians may expect to get
What they can for their western
So far Vinita and
,ther towns gain a court of some
What limited jurisdiction in the
ihuffie, while it places the most
rsluable property ofthe CherOkees
Z jeopardy.
Well, matters look little tough,
,ut more honorable to be robbed
" a stronger power than be ride
Ilously cheated; so II the govern
nent does not offer something
ike a fair bargain, the people had
,etter refuse and abide by the re-
ult.
)UR SPECIAL WASHINGTON
CORRESPONDENCE.
wasHIScroS, d. C.. March ie, $50
EDITOR CHIEFTAIN:-Many of