Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1891-02-19

SO easy tne people 90 not appreci
ate their value and fail to take ans
great interest towards economizing
When we think of a nation oi
less than 26, 600 inhabitants requir.
ing about s225 900 annually to run
their government machine there IL
very suggestive iiea that an eye
to the welfare Of our people was not
very dilligent and an apparent
need ofreform presents itself. Now
let us figure: 1t is easy to count
it. Each individual pays tax Of
about SO; but charging the taxes
to the voting population of our ma
tion, which is less than A, 400, each
voter would pay s5l and fraction
yearly, or for every vote cast for
chief s204. Now, fellow citizens,
are we getting our money back
Think of it it is a serious matter
coming right to our fire-sides and
towards our last pony. Can we
get s204 worth of protection out of
the present aspirants, in case either
be elected? No, If matters are not
changed. You have a right to ex-
anime the gentlemen's ability,
their records and the probable sur
roundings after election. Hold
them up and sift them for honesty
and integrity and see how they
weigh out. We claim our present
mode of taxation bears unequal
hardships ON the poor Indian or
that class of citizens. For an IL
lustration we will take a person
who owns property to the amount
of $50, 900 with four In his family,
and one worth $500 with ten in his
family. Considering we draw
sl42, 900 annually on invested fund
it would be about Sc per head.
The $4,000 person with four in
his family would pay s24 tax,
while the $500 person with ten in
his family pays $50, making the
poor man pay $50 per cent. more
tax than the rich or $50, 600 person.
You cannot get out Of it, and fur
ther. suppose this rich person has
1000 head of cattle and eight to ten
farlas, which is the case in n ny
instances, and the poor man as
ten head Of cattle and one farm;
does it not suggest itself that aside
you lose the benefit of your grass
and land but paying taxes at the
rate of 250 per cent. more than the
man who gets the benefit of all of
this for the purpose of protecting
said rich men in order that he may
rob you? What a gump that can't
see. Study this, Indian. You
cannot make Il anything else. We
6ro talking for you and in your be-
ball and net charging you, only
good will II | am wrong, please
some good, honest person correct
me; he would be considered my
friend.
The way out is to cut down our
present representation, turn our
present schools into industrial
schools make our prison paying
institution by inventing tools and
shops or lease the inmates out
punish all violators of the law;
strict accountability of. all officers
and citizens equal taxation and
protection and strict observance
Of justice to all. This cannot be
done under the present mode of
raising revenue. Suppose we draw
put our invested funds except
sufficient amount to keep our
schools in running order, and pay
per capita; the amount would pay
he poor mans tax q long while
md raise a revenue by taxing our
according 10 its valuation.
Think Of the vast amount of land
he Cherokees have disposed Of
81 900, ,0O0 acres-so says the chief;
,wning now, including strip, about
Ia, 900, 900 acres.
The land treaty between the
United States was made in 1871,
Just 100 years ago; in that time we
have disposed of 81 ,000,0 acres
At this rate ofreduction in sixteen
years we will not have any land for
homes, $4,000, 900 is the total we
now and have owned. If we had !
retained il each of us would have
3, ,577 acres the whole acreage
would have made a strip around |
the earth nearly four miles wide,
and had it sold for so cents per
acre would have brought 81, 4,650,-
900, or at $1.25, S11,625, 600. |
This amount per capita for 26, 900 |
inhabitants would be the enormous
sum Of S447,115.
Now, fellow citizens, under what
system Of government has all this
occurred? Owning land in common
and raising revenue from invested |
funds.
Gentlemen, l want TO administer
on my part. Let us allot and be
done with it and do it ourselves.
Let us compare the United States
government in few instances with
ours in. the last 100 years Be-
ginning with thirteen states no
money; whipping England, pay
ing the expenses of said war; gain
I'd about 600 per cent. in territory;
had a Mexican war; Indian wars,
and a civil war at cost Of not less
han $40. 900, 900, 900 and to-day can
boast Of being cne of the most pow
srfnl nations on earth. Booming
up and supporting a flag with more