Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1893-04-06
ADVISES ACCEPTANCE.

Chief Harris Favors the Terms For the
Opening of the Cherokee Strip-HEs Mes-
sage to the Council.
TAHLEQUAH, ]. T., March 29.-Cher-
okee council convened here yesterday
and went to work with genuine good
feeling.
The interest manifested by the In
dams in the closing scenes of the strip
sale is unprecedented. The capital is
so crowded with people from all por-
tions of the nation that hotel accom-
modations go at a premium.
Many distinguished United States
citizens are present, among them Con-
gresham Fields, whose advice will be
worth much to the Indians at this
time.
tits expected to-day that some definite
plan of action will be mapped out by
the legislature, and it is confidently
believed that the trade will be agreed
to within the next week or ten days.
The chiefs message is as follows and
seems to give general satisfaction:
To the Honorable National Council IN Special
Session:
You have been convened in special session to
consider and take such action as your wisdom
seems best in the modification made by con-
gress in the articles Of agreement entered into
by the commissioners for the United States
the United States belonging to the Cherokee
nation, lying west Of So deg. west longitude, &C
cepted and ratified in part by the Cherokee ma.
ton by an act of the national council approved
January 4, 1892.
By the act of the national congress dated
March 2, herewith submitted for your informa-
ton. you will observe that this agreement was
amended to this extent, that before any in.
truder unauthorized person who entered
the Cherokee nation and commenced improve
ment prior to August II, 1886, shall be removed
from the limits thereof, as provided in the
agreement, such improvements shall be ap-
praised by board of appraisers. and the Chero-
kee nation Is required to pay such intruder the
value of his improvements, but the appraisers
may consider the rents and profits of the land
used and occupied by the intruder in determin.
ing the value of his improvements
or the So, So, 736 agreed to be paid by the
United States in the original agreement with
the Cherokee nation, 1885, 736 is immediat ely
available upon the acceptance by the Chero-
kee nation of the modification made by
congress in the said agreement and the
remaining Sc, 100000 is to be paid in five
equal annual installments, commencing on
the 4th day of March. 1895. and end
ing on the 4th day Of March, 1899. the
said deferred payment to bear per cent inter
est per annun which interest is to be paid an
nually: or, should the national council deem it
to be to the best interest of the Cherokee peO-
pie to negotiate loan on the principal and in
tereSt of the said deferred payment and thereby
secure at once the full amount due on these
lands, it is authorized by said act Of congress to
do So pledging the principal and interest to Sc
cure the payment of the debt
Paragraph 3 of article 20 OF the original
agreement giving exclusive jurisdiction to the
courts of this nation in all civil and criminal
cases where citizens Of the Cherokee nation,
either by blood or adoption, shall be the only
parties in interest, was stricken out by the act
of congress above referred to-
1 recommend that you accept the agreement
as amended by congress. The act above re-
ferred to provides that the amount to be paid
the lntruderS shall not exceed a2o0OOO. While
I am of the opinion that the intruders are tres
passers without equity, and to whom the law
| of betterment does not apply and deprecate
the fact that congress has placed different in
depreciation upon the same, yet think We had
better accept this amendment for the follow
| ing reasons: While the number of intruders is
not definitely known contemplated to
| be paid by this act, I am of the opinion
| that the limitation to those commencing i'm
provements prior to August II. 1886, and the
| further provision that the and occupancy OF
| the soil may be taken into consideration by the
| board of appraisers in making their award, will
| result in great advantage to the Cherokee
nation. in and majority of cases the balance
sheet will be in the nations favor The act OF
| congress does not interfere with the right OF
| the Cherokee nation to determine who are its
citizens but confirms that right and provides
| for their removal on demand of the principal
chief
1 cannot but think with the evidence before
Lndt only Shall amount Will De reQulr6O &c
pay for their improvements after deducting the
rent and profit for the time the lands have been
occupied
recommend in you accept the agree
ment as amended, that you make some ample
provision whereby the fullest Information can
/ be furnished the board of appraisers of the Gus
tomary rental value and the cost of improving
| the land in the community where such improve
ments are located, and such other information
| as you may deem necessary, that they car
arrive at equitable adjustment of various
| matters.
Relative to striking out paragraph of article
2, I will say that congress, by an act approved
May l, 1890, gives exclusive jurisdiction ovel
| all our citizens, whether by blood or adoption
| and this right is now recognized by the United
| States federal court at Fort Smith, Ark, an(
| MuSkogee in their rulings.
recommend that commission be appointed
| and authorized to proceed at once to Washing
| ton with proper instruction to make and exc
| cute contracts with the secretary OF the interior
for the payment of the IS, 300, 000 in addition t
the 1926, 736 available, as provided by the act OF
| congress and suggested by the secretary of the
| interior in his letter, herewith submitted fo
| your information
| I further recommend that after the contrac
| aforesaid is fully contaminated the said com
| mission be further authorized to thoroughly
| advertise and receive propositions for ne
| gotiating loan on the principal and in
| gress, to be submitted to the nationa
| council for approval rejection. I hav'
| written several banking houses, giving
| the condition of the loan. and am of the opin
| ion that if the contract for the payment of the
s. 800, 5000, which the secretary of the interior
| directed to make, be properly drawn with
| guarantee of such payment by the United
| States, that the Cherokee nation will have n,
| difficulty In negotiating such contract at a fail
| and reasonable premium in the money market
You will have my hearty cooperation in en-
| deavoring to realize for the people as large
| premium can be obtained I am satisfied
| that the loan with a fam premium can be mad,
| II these suggestions are carried out
In the event OF your accepting the amend
| ment an absolutely correct census Of the Cher
| okee people and intruders unauthorized per
sons within our boundaries will neces
| sari1y follow, that distribution Of tn
| money may be made to the first ant
q list of the intruders be had that the,
| may be reported to the president for remova
| as provided for in the agreement. In order tina
| census rolls be correct suggest that it would
| be proper to have them authenticated by tn,
Cherokee council and q special session be Gale,
| as soon as the census takers complete theil
work, at which session the commission befor,
| suggested will have time to report such propo
may have received c. ]. HARRIS,
Principal Chief.
whipping Hardly Sufficient.
LINCOLN, Neb. March 29.-HarrJ
Dunn, local swell, became infatuated
with Edna Earle Lindon, the feminine