Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1891-11-12
CHIEF MAYES' MESSAGE.
A Synopsis of the Document Civ
ing its Principal Features,

After the opening passages the
chief spoke of education. The an
nual income is s46, 1914; this,
with what may be added from the
internal revenue should keep all
our schools in a flourishing condi-
ton. Recommended: That pay
of teachers be increased; board of
education re-established; price Of
board reduced to $500 a month at
seminaries.
The revenue of the nation could
be materially increased by a revi-
sion Of the system of collection.
Recommended: That a supervisor
of revenue, and collector tor each
district be provided for, to be APP
pointed by the Principal Chief and
confirmed by the senate. The dis
trict collectors should collect all
revenues, grant license, sell strays,
issue permits, taking these duties
away from the district officers.
They should make a detailed state
ment to the supervisor tri-monthly,
who should make quarterly returns
to the treasurer. Their pay should
not exceed ten per cent. of col
lections.
The expense of criminal trials
for last year was s3S, S,216.41. This
should be materially reduced.
Recommended: That the nation be
divided into two criminal districts,
and Judge provided to hold two
sessions of court year at Table
quah for each of these districts.
Homicides and some of the other
higher crimes should be tried by
this court. The accused should
be confined in the national Jail if
not bailed. Appeal to the su-
preme court should be granted.
After describing the unfortunate
intruder question in its various
bearings, detailing the plan of OPP
Grafton of the citizenship associa-
tion (and making no allusion to
the citizenship schemes of some Of
our own attorneys) the chief says:
ask that you make one more ap-
peal for protection with the un nder-
standing if it fails to get relief from
this oppression, that the Cherokees
proceed quietly and peacefully to
eject these unauthorized persons
from our land. If we perish in
the attempt to prevent this out.
rage it is only what we will event
ually do by sitting still aud letting
them strangle us.
In regard to the monopoly of
the public domain the chief said
there were many lawful ways TO
preveIu this evil. If !, or any
other citizen. should fence up and
use more Of this common property
than a reasonable amount, let me
pay the other citizens who are de-
prived Of the use of it, a tax that
will richly compensate them for
thus being deprived of the use oI
the same; fix a limit of acres that
each adult citizen shall use for
farming purposes alone, and on all
excesses of this reasonable amount,
let a tax be placed that will make
il profitable 10 the owner Of the
same TO let his neighbor who is
deprived Of it by this monopoly,
have the use Of the same. This
will open a way for all who wish
to farm. Make the penalty for
the leasing Of land strong and ef-
fective. The leasing Of our prai-
rie land for a number of years
leaves the land in a worse condi-
tion than when the wild grass
grew upon it. In many instances
| il is left worthless.
That the chief is unalterably at
tached to the doctrine Of holding
land in common is shown in the
opening passages ofthat portion oI
the message that refers to the pub
lie domain. He says: The con,
stitution and laws of the Cherokee
nation make its domain the com.
mon property OF the Cherokee peo,
pie, wisely intending that all
should reap a benefit from the
same and making the homes of ouI
people inalienable.
There Is no doubt but this is
the true system OF government for
the protection Of the poor and help
less IN the continued possession
of their homes. Hence we
have no paupefs. There is not
a citizen of the Cherokee nation
bpt who can have a place he can
call homei a piece of land that he
and his posterlty can hold in per.
|petuity. This no doubt is the best