The Wichita daily eagle., 1891-09-12
THE cHicKAsAw LEGISLATURE.

OKLAHOMA CITY, o. T., Sept. 10
Especial IA visit to the Chickasaw legis
lature now in session at Ardmore, i'm
presses one favorably with reference to the
Indians capacity for self-government
The decorum observed during the sessions
is in striking contrast to that Of the late
Iamented Oklahoma Legislative body.
During prayer the most reverential atti
tude is the order, and every speaker is lis
tened to with the closest attention. There
is no popping of paper bags, no half-tipsy
LEGISLATORS. and no ridiculous speeches
Everything is in order and becoming those
who have their peoples interests in theiI
hands The members sometimes discuss
the questions before them in low tone OF
voice.
The senate consists of twelve members
and the house of twenty The officers of
the senate are: President Billy Goforth;
secretary, Judge Duncum; interpreter,
A H. Colbert; sergeant-at-arms, Robert
Cravatt.
Those of the house are: Speaker, Isa-
cum Okyamby; clerk, George Colbert;
interpreter, Eli Goforth; sergeant-at-arms,
Daniel Keel. The two sessions are held
daily at s a. m. and 2 p. m. The legisla-
ture is composed entirely of ful!-bloods.
The majority 90 not understand English.
All of the members of the senate under
stand ChickasaW, and all but one OF the
house.
The officers Of the Chickasaw nation are:
Governor. William Byrd; lieutenant Egov-
ernor, William Goforth; secretary, NJ. V.
CbeadIe; treasurer, Frank Byrd; auditor,
H. II. Burris; superintendent OF schools,
Levi Reynolds: attorney general, II. Col
bert: chief Justice, Samuel Love; associate
justices, Wesley Harney, Jenkin Bowling,
md A b. Sillman.
The Legislature convened in regular ses-
sion last Monday, with all the members
present. Gu Tuesday Governor Byrd de-
livered his message in person. Among the
recommendations of the governor were
the following:
Notwithstanding we have been much
blessed the past year, there has been con-
siderable disturbance among us Us nation,
the primative cause of which is the intru-
der. BY experience it has been shown
that the present permit law has many de-
fects which render il almost impractical
BILE in its application. Therefore | recon-
mend that it be repealed and that you
enact a permit law which will be peacea-
ble in its application in the removal of
intruders; that you amend the embezzle-
ment act by stating the period of time an
officer may retain the national fund after
time of settlement authorized by law be-
fore be be deemed guilty of embezzle-
ment, and that the penalty for embeZzle-
ment be increased; that you amend the
acb entitled an act 10 prOulDlJ tne lnJrO-
ductlon of steer cattle" so rs to prohibit
the introduction of live stock Of any kind
/ would also recommend that you author
!ze the building of national Jail.
''Ihe receipts of the treasury for the fiscal
gear are S221 SIS 90, and the disbursements
have been Si45 o4S. 7S leaving a balance in
the treasury OF SO $50 u There was
placed 20 the credit of the Chickasaw in
competent fund during the month of July,
1891, by the interior department the sum
OF S494, Isl. this amount including princi-
raj with added interest for years. l rec
ommend that you authorize this amount
80 be paid pro rata TO the adjudicated in
sUmpetent claimants
The Chickasaws have ueighborhood
schools established with an attendance of
s4S pupils, and five academies, including
the Chickssaw Orphans home, with sn
attendance of sos pupils and IS pupils at
tending schools in the states. making the
total number Of pupils attending school at
the expense OF the Chickasaw government
s6l, which shows an attendance of every
Chickasaw child of scholastic age.
The general impression at the capital is
that the permit law in its re-enactment
will be increased from 8 10 $40 per head,
and SO arranged that a failure to pay the
amount will result in immediate removal
from the nation.