Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1892-01-21
JOHN WILLIAM BROWNE RE
VIEWS THE WORK OF
COUNCIL.

~ Ildl bt HdlN, anu MltlOub Itc-
ervatiOn or fear of contradiction,
that this council was the most ex-
traordinary body of Legislators
ever got. together "in the name Of
the Cherokee nation" Whether
it be considered in Its freshness
from the people, { | came near say
ing cowmen,) in its inexperience,
not to say ignorance, in its blind
partizanism, aud generally in its
lack Of everything essential in a
tree, enlightened and representa-
tive legislature. From the begin
ming the caucus was supreme, and
in the caucus country was set aside
and party was made Lord of all !"
This is true Of both parties, and it
is unfortunate for the nation that
such is the fact, and neglecting the
general interest, the leaders on
both sides gave themselves over
to technical obstrusities that neith-
er side understood and putted away
two months of time at n cost of
thirty thousand dollars in showing
the people how new men with old
leaders could do nothing when they
tried. In only one instance were
the parties agreed, and that
was when they voted their war
rants preferred and took the money
that belonged to the school fund
and sent the poor teachers home
without pay. As financial strait
gists they are admirable
The majority, at the opening of
the session, with much bluster
gave it out that no more extra ses-
sions would be had squandering
the public funds and debauching
public morals. Well what was the
result2 They did not have an ex-
ira session but they had a double
extra session in which the founda.
tion Of the biggest job ever known
in this nation was successfully laid ,
aud when completed the pillars of
this government will have been de.
stroyed.
The work Of the council may be
summed up in some half dozen
measures besides the regular APP
preparation bills, most of which
were private and inconsequental
to the general public.
The amended "cow law" good,
no doubt, in its intentions, but
practically "to the cowman's
hands.
The joint resolution directing
the supreme court to cancel the
licenses of two attorneys for alleg.
ed violations of the law, will ever
remain a monument of the stu.
pendous ignorance of the men who
voted it, and this resolution was
passed in senate in which fOuI
men had scats-One had been chiel
justice of the supreme court, one
had been Il justice on the same
bench, one had been prominent
candidate for the same place, and
one served two years as a district
judge, all of them expounders OF
the constitution . An attorney :
license is a vested right bought and
paid for at price and under con.
ditions fixed by the grartor, and
can only forfeit for cause, aud then
only by educ process of law.
Naturally enough this might have
occurred in a South Carolina legis-
lature in reconstruction days, but
at this day and time in the Chero.
kee national council, to think that
ignorance or worse has such a hold
is appalling Comment is useless.
The handwriting is on the wall
weighed in the balance and found
wanting.
The ominous bill usually called
the auditors report. contains some
strange Inconsistencies An item
of several hundred dollars appears
on it in favor of law hrm for SER
vices in defending Percy Wyly,
late sheriff OF Delaware district, in
the matter ofthe Audrain Williams
cattle seizure; but an item of sew
eral more hundred dollars does not
appear on the bill This item is
for service Of guards, herders and
their board while taking care OF
these same cattle. Will some one
eXplain this difference? The claim
of the guards aud herders was filed
before the senate. II had, am
told, the special recommendation
Of the chief Did Delaware have
no senators ia the council2 Each
one of the three lawyers who We're
SO promptly paid haa good fat
places from which they can reach
out at will and give tug at the
public teat. The benfciaries Of
the item that did not appear are
poor devils whose daily labor is
their chance for bread-you may
pay your money and take your
choice.
Another item on the current ex-
pense bill OF the extra session OF
eleven hundred dollars, for the
benefit of a Tahlequah law firm
supplemented by a Muskogee at.
torney, deserves at least passing
notice II is related that the late
chief Mayes entered into con-
tract with firm Of Tahlequah law
yers, to which this Muskogee at
torney was added, Gust why the
relator failed to say The con
tract was to be approved by the
national enuncil, and the lawyers
were 60 receive in good sound war
rants or cash, twenty-five hundred
dollals for defending the Cherokee
nation at Mnskogee. Following
this agreement, which was never
satisfied formally by the national
council, one Of the Cherokee law.
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