Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1892-02-27
THAT APPROPRIATION.
The President Explains Why It
Has Not Been Paid.
Nearly Three Million Dollars Voted
the Choctaws and Chtckasaws
Held Back for Further Action OF
Congress-Corrup influences on
the Indian Legislature.

WASHINGTON, D. c., February 19-The
president has sent to congress message CALI
ing attention to the Choctaw and Chickasaw
claims, for the payment of which congress
had appropriated 1881, 450 in the Indian
appropriation bill passed by the last congress.
This amount was to be paid these Indians for
their interest in lands lying south of the Co
madam river, in the Indian territory, and
now occupied by the Cheyenne and Arapahoe
Indians. The message says: IF this sec
ton had been submitted to me as separate
measure, especially during the closing hours
of the session, should have disapproved of
it; but as congress was in its last hours, q
disapproval of the general Indian appropria-
ton bill, of which it was part, would have
resulted in consequences so far reaching and
disastrous that felt it my duty to approve
the bill. But as the duty was devolved upon
me to advise the acceptance and approve con-
veyances provided for, l have felt bound TO
look into the matter, and in view of facts
which I shall presently mention, to postpone
any executive action until the facts could be
submitted to congress-" The president says
it came to his knowledge that the Choctaw
legislature had agreed to pay three OF that
tribe Is per cent. of any appropriation OBJ
tanned from congress, and that the Choctaws
agreed to pay 10 per cent. of their interest to
their agents and attorneys. It also came to
the knowledge of the president that the ac-
ton of the Choctaw council was corruptly
influenced in the matter. The president does
not think that congress should legislate SO as
to give effect to such contract, and he is
of the opinion that if this appropriation is to
stand, provision should be made for pro-
tecting these tribes against extortion. The
protective Intervention of congress is asked
in the matter of the refusal of the Chickasaws
to admit white men to citizenship.
The question of the title of these Indians
to these lands was then taken up. The presi-
dent says the lands were coded by terms sui.
ficiently comprehensive to have passed the
full title of the Indians. The words of the
treaty and proceedings connected with it, the
president thinks, points clearly to the conclu-
sion that the government commissioners and
Indians must have understood this. The
government was acquiring something more
than the mere right to settle friendly Indians,
which is already possessed, and something
more than q mere release of rights. Un-
doubtedly, says the president, it was the pol
icy of the government for time to hold
these and adjacent lands as Indian country,
but this is quite different from the condi-
tional title which limits grant to a particu-
lar use and works the reinvestment of full
title in the Indians when that use ceases.
Certainly, if for an adequate consideration
by treaty, the United States placed upon
these lands other Indian tribes, it was con-
petent TO give them title to certain and
agreed reservation. This being so, compen-
sation for lands not needed for allotment
purposes should 60 to the occupying tribe.
Recital is then made of the various Indian
tribes having reservations in this district, to
show that further appropriations are involved
in the settlement for all these lands upon the
basis adopted by congress. The president
does not approve of dealing with this ques-
ton by .pieceneal. 1t would be better, he
says, if the remnant of the title remaining in
the Choctaws and Chickasaws to lands in the
leased district, to have settled the whole mat
ter at once. The calculations made in arriv-
ing at the basis of the appropriation made,
no account being taken of the $4OO, 600 paid
by treaty stipulation for the leased district,
seems to the president as not just to the
United States.
In conclusion, the president commends the
matter to the attention of congress for such
action as may be thought advisable.