The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-03-30

TAHLEoUAH, L T., March 29.-It Is re-
garded here as reasonably certain that the
council will ratify the strip agreement.
The only fear is that. to pacify the opposi-
tion, some minor changes may be made,
and the bill thus sent back to congress.
The alteration of a single phrase would be
fatal The main objection was the fear
that the governments obligation to pay
could not be negotiated. This fear has
been allayed by personal investigation by
Chief Harris, and the assurance of ex-Chlef
Bushyhead, exCongressmen Peel, Colonel
w. A. Phillips and others, that the obliga-
,ion is not only negotiable, but that it
would bring a small premium.
The objection which sticks is that to the
provision of the bill regarding the terms
of settlement. 1t is fully understood that
the Cherokees themselves will decide who
are members Of the nation and entitled to
the money to be paid by the government,
but,the kickers do not want to recognize
the intruders as having any rights what
ever, and object to paying them
for their improvements, as pro-
yided by congress. They look with
jealousy upon any claim made by person
whose rights have not been handed down
bv blood relation TO the tribe. The friends
OF the bill agree in this, but say that it is
better TO give this point than 10 take the
bill back to congress. They say that the
courts W il ignore the decision, and that
should the supreme court take this view
dollar out of it. The only chance is to
ratify the bill and accept the terms offered.
By SO doing they would get the money
allowed in the bill, whereas il they object
they would get nothing. The council will
fully debate this point beforeit ratifes the
bill.
The leading men of the nation, while
confident of their ability to ratify the bill,
do hot want to override the members by
force Of numbers, preferring that there
shall be a fair discussion, in order that
tie vote may be unanimous, so as to avoid
bad feeling in the nation hereafter. There
is good deal OF politics mixed in the
question. This causes the majority to re-
frain from the use OF its power. Still, il
the worst comes, the power will be used,
although it will be delayed.
Chief Harris, in his message yesterday,
fully explains the steps to be taken by the
council to guarantee the Cherokees their
rights. This, however, will delay the
opening of the strip, and will waste the
time on unnecessary discussions The
full text Of the chiefs message is 81
follows:
TIE MESSAGE.
'You have been convened in special ses-
sion to consider and take such action as in
Your wisdom seems best in the modifica-
tion made by congress on the articles of
agreement entered into by the commits
siopers for the United States and Chero-
kee nation for the cession of land to the
United States belonging to the Cherokee
nation lying west of 96 deg. west longi-
tude, accepted and ratified in part by the
Cherokee nation by an act of the national
council approved Jan. 4, 1892
by the act OF the national congress
dated March g herewith submitted for
your information. you Will observe that
this agrermentlwaS amended to tins extent,
that before any intruders or unauthorized
person who entered the Cherokee \ ttion
and commenced improvement prlUr TO
Aug. IL, 1856, shall be removed from the
the limits thereof. as provided in the
agaeement, such improvements shall be
appraised by board of appraisers, and the
Cherokee 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 determining the value
OF his improvements
'Of the IS. sos, 736 agreed to be paid by
the United States in the original agree
ment with the Cherokee nation, $295, 953 is
Immediately available upon the accept
Hnce by the Cherokee nation OF the modi-
fication made by congress in the said
agreement, and the remaining $500. 600 is
30 be paid in five equal annual installments
commencing on the 4th day CT March, 1895
and ending on the 4th day OF March, 1899,
the said deferred payment to bear per
cent interest per annum, which interest is
10 be paid annually; or, should the nation
al council deem it to he to the best inter.
est of the Cherokee people TO negotiate
loan on the principal and interest of the
said deferred payment, and thereby Sc
cure at once the full amount due on these
lands, it is authorized by said act of con-
gress to do SO. plecging the principal and
interest to secure the payment of the
debt
Paragraph of article 90 Of the original
agreement, giving exclusive jurisdiction
to the courts of this nation in all civil and
criminal cases where citizens of the Cher
okee nation, either by blood or adoption.
shall be the only parties in interest, was
tr.cken out by the act of congress above
referred to.
Il recommend that You accept the agree