Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1893-01-21
A STRAIGHT TIP.
How tho Opening of the Cherokee
Strip is to Be Effected.
Under Conference Proceedings mn Almost
New Biil VIII Be Adopted. Which
the Indians VIII Have
10 Accept.

WASHINGTON, Jan. lO.-This Is from
the inner circle. Peel's bill for OPEN
ing the Cherokee strip. which was
passed by the house Saturday and is
new in the senate awaiting fate, will
have the following experience: 1t will
be brought up in the senate without
delay, amended by virtually isubsti-
tuting in all its terms the bill pending
in the senate to open the Cherokee out
let, for the Peel bill. This action
should not be taken for hostility on the
part of the senate to the bill. The
fact Is, Peel is anxious to secure this ac-
ton by the senate himself.
The idea is this: Under the rules OF
congress nothing comes before con-
ference committee OF both branches but
points in dispute in the disagreement
Those parts of n bill which the senate
and house agree on are not discussed in
conference. They are regarded as set
tied. The intention OF Peel and others
is to get the entire Cherokee opening
bill into conference" from beginning
to end. Hence the sweeping amend
ments in the senate they are now reach
ing for.
The senate amendment will really
make only two changes in the bill, as
passed by the house. First it will pro-
vide for paying the Cherokees all of
their money cash on the nail, and
second, there will be discussed u clause,
much loathed and opposed by the Cher
okees, to pay squatters some 100000
for the improvements they have erected
while trespassing on the strip, said
5000, 900 to be deducted from the whole
amount paid the Indians Peel himself
is opposed to this clause, but will sur
render if necessary to get the bill
through. When the bill is sent to con-
ference the trio from the house will
probably be Peel, Holman and Mansur,
certainly the two first.
A compromise will probably be ar
rived at, wherein the Cherokees will
get some money down, probably as
good as half of the amount; possibly all
of il. This point will simply depend
on how far Holman can be brought
along the line of paying cash down.
All the rest will be in favor of paying
all cash. but it is likely they will have
to compromise in this matter with Hol-
man.
The situation is such that the bill
will not go through the senate, be
thrown into conference and emerge
again in the house and senate before
the last of February. In fact this de-
lay. if You want to call 1t such. is the
present plan of those who are handling
the bill. Work will be managed so that
the bill opening the Cherokee outlet
will pass the house and senate and be
sent to the president for signature dur
ing the last week of this administra-
ton. The incoming administration
will have control of the actual work of
opening.
The plan. too, is to open the outlet
in the fall, or the beginning of winter.
This last question will. however, be
settled entirely by Mr.. Cleveland and
his secretary Of the interior, whoever
the gentleman may be. This last point
ought to have the earnest consent of
the Cherokees themselves. When the
bill finally passes congress and is signed
by the president it will contain a
formidable clause, which will give the
Cherokees sixty days to consider the
question of accepting'the terms which
congress, in its modification o:
the Cherokee offer, proposes to
them. If the Cherokees, within
sixty days accept the new offer,
we'll and good. II they refuse or
fail to act within the sixty days, then
the bill will direct the opening to pro-
coed anyhow, just as If the land had
been bought and paid for and will re-
fer the Cherokees TO the court of claims
TO adjust their rights and get their
money. This rather heroic measure
has been resolved on because the inn
preston is growing here that the squaw
men and some other elements among
the Cherolxees who do not stand show
TO get any direct and personal money
out of the purchase and who fear that
in it's final effects the opening will very
much limit and restrict the holdings they
now enjoy on Cherokee territory will
be able to fOment enough opposition to
the opening idea TO refuse the terms OF
the bill. Congress will, therefore, take
heroic measures to prevent failure OF
the opening on any such account.
The strip is to be opened, Cherokee
or no Cherokee. and the Indians can
take their compensation under the bill
itself or 90 into the court Of claims and
try their title first and the question of
damages afterward, and add to the
risks on each question the vexatious de-
laws which eat up the hearts of liti-
giants in that same court of claims
The Cherokees had better come in I'M
der the bill.
To Urgo strip Opening.
--..x,. nj, Ian f0-Threa him.