People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1892-12-16
The INTRuDERS.
Possibility That the Opening of the Chero-
kee Strip May Be Delayed-Gossip From
lVaehfnO

Possibility That the Opening of the Chero-
kee Strip May Be Delayed-Gossip From
Washington.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 9.-The house
committee on Indian affairs held a
meeting and discussed, in a rambling
way, the business before the committee
Most of the time was devoted to the
Cherokee strip bill
There was a general discussion of its
status and standing. There was an eff
fort to estimate its chances for passing.
1t was decided to await the arrival of
some reports being prepared on the in
truder question, which forms one of
the distinguishing features of the
Cherokee treaty. This provision makes
it imperative on the part of the gov
eminent to remove all intruders from
the home reserve of the Cherokees.
The Cherokees want the intruders re-
moved by the government, and care
little about remuneration to the intrud-
ers for their improvements. Some mem
bers of the committee insist that the
intruders should receive pay for improve
ments. If they should receive pay as
estimated it would amount to from
$500, 900 to 81, 100000 These same mem
bers Of the committee who are so very
solicitous for the intruders, insist that
the money that should go to the in
truders should be taken from the money
paid the Cherokees for the strip. They
hold that the improvements will be left
on the land in the home reserve, and
hence belong to the Cherokees, and
hence should be paid for by them
AS a rebu ttal the Cherokees reply
that the intruders have made money
off the lands, and this should be re-
garded as full compensation for the i'm
provements. This is at once regarded
as one of the arguments put forward
last session by Simpson at the instance
and under the guidance of the cattle
plutocrats, who are financially inter-
ested in keeping settlers out of the
strip. The same old, many-headed
monster opposition appeared in the
committee yesterday morning. and how
it will end would, at this time, be folly
to predict Chairman Peel stated i'm
mediately after the meeting that it was
impossible to tell or predict what would
be the result of the present session.
Personally he would do everything in
his power to get the treaty ratified, but
he was afraid the opposition forming
on the intruder provision would prove
dangerous if not fatal.
He ventured the opinion that if the
treaty was not ratified as presented to
congress now, the strip would not be
opened this session, and as the treaty
expires if not approved by March 4, the
question would revert to its old status.
He favors approving the treaty as it is
The objection he regards
as technical and intimated that posi-
bly, it was insisted upon mainly in
order TO retard, if not ultimately pre-
vent, any legislation. The intruder
provision conforms to a former treaty
with the Cherokees.
A communication from the Cherokee
chief states that he hopes to be able to
send two delegates to Washington soon
to confer with the committee and look
after the interests of the Cherokees.
Also similar communication was re-
ceived from the intruders. The full
line of lobby will be on hand in few
days, when the grand messiah dance
will commence.
The committee decided to call up dur
ing the morning hour, at the first oppor-
tunity, the Choctaw and Chickasaw res
OlutiOn. This resolution expresses the
opinion. for the benefit of the president.
that the house can see no reason why
the president should not pay the sS,OOO,-
600 awarded the Choctaws and Chicka-
saws by a former congress for a shad-
ow title in the Cheyenne and Arapahoe
lands Interference to this matter in
the presidents message called forth i'm
mediate action on the resolution.
The committee also decided to next
take up the Kickapoo bill. There is
apparently no opposition to this in the
committee, and it is thought it can be
passed at the morning hour under call
OF committees When the Cherokee
bill, however, is reached the committee
on rules will be asked to set apart day
for its consideration.