The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1893-04-07
PROMISED LAND.
Cherokees Pass the Bin Retifying
the Strip Sale.
DONE NEATLY WITH DISPATCH.
Obstructive Amendments Voted On-Sec-
retary Carlisle VIII Aid the Ghero-
KEGS Ia Selling the
Bouds.


TAHLEQUAH, /. T., April S.|Satur-
day in the Cherokee senate was one
succession of violent, stormy scenes, re-
calling the most turbulent passages in
the early cattlemen's fight against ex-
Chief Mayes. 1t is typical of the pres
ent state of the political mind that on
such occasions their leadership should
fall naturally to Robert L. Owen, ex-
Indian agent, present patronage boss of
the Indian territory and of Choctaw
payment notoriety, who wants to buy
the strip from the Indians and pay the
cash down.
1t is not probable, however, that Owen
will be favored to the extent of getting
the job of furnishing the money with
which to pay for the lands, because the
Indians have no confidence in him,
since they know that his object is to
work into the hands of scalpers who
want 81 for every 81 they pay for the
governments paper.
Secretary of the Treasury Carlisle
has interfered personally with Owens
scheme to furnish the money to buy
the strip, and has telegraphed Chief
Harris that if the council wishes to
pursue the wisest course and secure the
biggest sum possible for the lands, they
must advertise for bidders. In case
this is done Carlisle proposes to inter-
est himself personally in the matter
and thus render the Indians much valu-
able assistance.
Saturday morning Senator Wolfe,
leader of the national party in the SEN
ate, offered substitute to the bill re-
ported Friday, ratifying the congress
sional amendments to the strip bill.
Wolfe's substitute is in effect that the
ratification shall not be construed to
mean the acceptance of the amend
ments until such acceptance is for
mally filed with the secretary of the
interior by delegation consisting of
the principal chief, the nations treas
urer and three delegates to be ap-
pointed by the council who shall be-
fore the title to the strip passes in fee
simple to the federal government re-
ceive payment in full, in accordance
with the terms of the act of congress.
The substitute further provides that
the secretary of the interior must give
a guarantee that all intruders shall be
removed at once. 1t also authorizes the
same delegation to negotiate the GER
tificates Many members objected TO it
because they said it would add new
complications and might possibly de-
feat ratification.
The substitute bill failed and the
original strip ratification bill passed
the lower house by a unanimous vote,
it having passed the senate an hour be-
fore. The chief will sign it without
doubt The last scene in both senate
and house were exciting in the ex-
treme. The Downing party took time
by the forelock and rairoaded the bill
through both houses The work was
done with such neatness and dispatch
that the members themselves were sur
prised.
There now remains nothing more to
be done by the Indians In the opinion
of Congressman Peel the strip cannot
possibly be opened before July 1. Be
side the seventy allotments to be made
to the Cherokees provided for in the
agreement, the Tonkawa lands will
have to be surveyed. The Cherokee
delegation when appointed will leave
at once for Washington to arrange the
money matter with Secretary of the
Interior Smith.