The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-11-09
TIE CHEROKEE LEGIsLA1URE
lts Indian Members Nave Some raDortar
Questions Before Them.

lts Indian Members Nave Some Important
Questions Before Them.
TAHLEouAH. /. T.. Nov. A-The annual SEES.
sion Of the Cherokee Legislature convened
here yesterday morning with nearly all OF tho
eighteen Senators and forty -one Councillors
In attendance.
The Cherokee Indians now number about
$4,000. with $500 adopted citizens. including
whites. negroes. Shawnees, and Delawares.
and are sovereign nation. They mako their
own laws. till their own soil. and boast OF hav-
ing attained higher civilization than many
OF their palo-face brethren In Arkansas, Just
east of them. Some thirty-seven or eight years
ago they framed Constitution in imitation OF
that OF the United States. and have since that
time successfully conducted the affairs OF their
country without the aid OF Uncle Sam. They
are not burdened with system OF taxation
and are permitted to own and cultivate. or
have cultivated. as much Of the public domain
a. thoy are able to enclose.
Many Of the Cherokee Indians are very
wealthy. live In costly residences Of modern
architecture. and own Thousands Of acres Of
fine land in single farm. They have 100 pub
lie free schools. with books and teachers pro-
vided BY tho nation. They also have two high
schools at this placc-the male and female
seminaries. which cost the nation upward Of
100000 each-and an orphan and an insane
asylum, all Of which are maintained by the
nation.
The Capitol or Council House" Of the Cher
okees is located at this place and is large two
story brick structure. SOx120 feet, which re-
sembles very much county court house in the
States The first floor OF this structure is d.
vided into three apartments. the Senate cham
her the c9qnc and ths On
and shs ocs S 81 saDe rS ., Eda
The present chief q the ,Cherokees. Joel
Mayes. does not speak the language OF his
TIE frssidsnt q 1 doysrnor q Stass. ana an y
tie Iesislature. GlscSit judges. and ali the
Ses sRs M
&ssopsl a11dii9F spa Rssieeai
shef The gsnase
dn the
deficient In docipiine and parliamentary, rules
slons eontipuousIy. when they are not Chewing.
They think nothing, amiss in resting their
iss tSg q VIII sh' The dfsss end
Spe:halt Of the members are full
guage O fourth speak both the Cherokee and
English languages and Q fourth speak only
the English language. All proceedings are
put to the two Houses in both languages by an
Interpreter All bills that become laws must
pass three readings and be signed by the
chief, though bill may be passed over tho
chiefs veto by two-thirds majority Of the
No session Of the Cherokee Legislature In
the history Of the nation has ever been
convened here this morning. and no other one
business to attend to. The deposition OF over
6.O00.0OO acres Of surplus land belonging
to the Cherokees. west OF here. known as the
Cherokee Strip" and which has attracted
years. is ono Of the first matters to be looked
after. The United States Commissioners. who
attempted to purchase this immense tract Of
land q year ago at $1.25 per acre and failed.
m nsx ee rea sea' the Rs'k old 1SHf
Is now pretty generally conceded that
sale will be consummated before the
Legislature adjourns. In case the Govern
ment succeeds In getting this land It will be
INN ediately thrown open to white settlement
and attached to the Territory Of Oklahoma.
thus giving thousands Of landless citizens OF
the United States Q chance to secure homes
and hurry the admission Of Oklahoma into the
Union Stnta.