New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-02-18

CHCKAsAws AID THEIR AGENTS
Washington Feb. 1.-THE President today Sent 10
Congress a message calling attention to me 'nool'"
and Chickasaw claims TOR the payment oi winch '"''
grcSs appropriated $2.90l45 In the imam 'ppto
priaon bill passed BY the last Congress Tins amount
was to be paid these Indians for fhelf H'c'c-' III
lands living south OF the Canadian River In the Indian
Territory and now occupied By the Cheyenne anu
ATapahOe Indians
Threefourths of the appropriation was to be paid
TO such person persons rs sl9nld be a"'ho@en w
the laws Of the ChOctaw Nation to receive H. ana
onefourth to the ChcSasaws, the Appropriation 10 DC
come operative upon the execution OF r leases ana
cOnveyaECes satisfactory in manner ana iorin I" "'
President. The message says:
II this measure had been submitted 10 m as separate
measure, especially during the closing h"ut' % "''oi
/ should dlsDprovcd 1t; but, ~ th' congress was
in last hours disapprova oil the general ihuo
Appropriation bill. OF which it was prt' ""lia nave
resulted in consequences so arrachng and disastrous
that felt IL my duty approve the bull Hnt As uu9
dcvovcd upon me. VIZ, the ace pahc' anu 'po''
0, the conveyance provided for felt bound y look INTO the
whole matter and in view Of the fact, which shall pres
emily mention postpone my executive a'oi uhti use
fact, could b. submitted to Congress.
Very soon after passage ~ the law II came TO my
knowledge that the Legislature had entered into
an agreement citizens Of that tribe TO pay To
them compensation FOR procuring this legislation % per
cent Of any appropriation that might bc made by Congress
The amount BE- secured by these three agents uhdr ts
agreement ont Of thrccourhs interest In the apno
pration OF the Choctaw Nation Is $500 SoG have III
formation that made by IN, Chickasa"S 70
pay about pr cent Of their CncfonTth interest to he
agents and attorneys who r"pr ,cnied them within q
month after the passage Of tye law, H. j. ward one OF
the agents who dlvde with his two associates the
enormous sum 10 be paid the Ch0caws presented 10 me
an andavit dated April 1891 tOppcars from his state
mont that the action the Ch0cow Council In this matter
was corrupy Influenced by the execution OF certain ho'e"
signed by Ward for himself and his associates in sums
VARYING from - 800 $1,000. His associates dny any
knowledge Of this but the giving and existence Of urs"
no,s T. not -.fu4d Whatever NAV be the fat 10 tho
or Of corrupt Dcthods TO secure THIS Ieea
ton from Choctaw Council do not think the Congress
Of the United should lr2sate upon this matter
a. 10 give effect such contract which am sure musi
have been unnotlced when the MEASURE was pending II
the relations q Indians 10 tht United states ar'
those q a ward. Congress should protect them from
such cNtoronltc actions. We cannot assume That a e.
n-c, and services Of committee q three pcr-ons to p
this claim before Congress could justly e>sn' su'h
proportions.
subsequently when 1t found that hl- 'Nt'aofdina'y
aiian cement might require 10 bring the matte again
TO the attention Of Congress, act vi. pa--'d bv tn
Choctlw General Council declaring all contacts in con-
nection with this appropriation void and u no eject
There has been submitted To mc an unofficial copy Of ~
opinion 81 the Auoncy-t'enelIl % the Chocid" Nation
holding til, Last lli,iton is unconstitutional and
void. of thr opinion that. Il this appropriation ), 10
stand PROVISION should be- made ior Protecting tl"'- tribes
cNiortnlte claim, or Compensation 10 procuring
action by congress.
Tie President then calls attention L law made by
the ChOctaw nation limiting tho distribution ID: the
money 10 Cloctaws by blood aud to protests from
white and freedmen who lave been excluded.
lie says. IN view % treaty spulaDns. seems = MN
the United states should have made suitable provision
Ia ichllf uf The freedmen. There D, tlru taken up
the question OF the title OF thee tAOriI" and chi Ia
SAW Indians to Use lands and be reviews IT, rcln
stances under which til Cheyenne and Aap9ho'o 10 IL
their reservation %. substitute Tor land, further n'r,i
hear the Cherokee outlet lie then call, attention u
tie fact that tie cheyenne and Arapahoc allotment
are incOmp ctr aud ilut tie appropriation made should
have been DELAYED 10 ascertain hos many acre, -
the land FOR which payment l, 60 Dc made T. the
Choctaws and Chichasaw. to be taken oIt In al
loiments. y rc,iial f. ti.u made VI To various
Indian tribe, having reservation, th, LEASED district
u, snow what further appropriations are inNov"d III q
tlcucut FOR all th"sc nu- upon the la'i, al Pt
By Congress. -,
Inc PRESIDENT doe, not approve of dealing With this
question by pcccincaL II Would haV" been better DO"
avs. II a remnant 81 tito remains IN the thD'td",
ana thickas3Na t. the lands III tnc leased District 10
have ,ctt.d th" Whole matter at once. The cilcuLi
zion, made arriving d the ha-l- oi the app!oprd
lion made. NO account being taken - the T-op,opD
paid under treaty stipIlihOn- for the leased district
10 ia" President not inst - ~" nitcn states
I'm cuncln-i Ia" President comcud~ the matter Il
the attention O COngrc., for such action "a, may he
Thought I'D isablc.