Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1893-03-04
THE STRIP BILL.

Proyislops OF tho Amendment Attached to
the Indian Appropriation Bili-OpeninB
| the strip
: WAsuIyGToy, March 1.-The senate
committee on Indian affairs, after fully
considering the matter, finally agreed
to attach a rider to the Indian appro-
priation bill for the opening of the
Cherokee strip to settlement.
The indications are that the senate
will commence work on the general
Indian appropriation bill Thursday,
and the committee on appropriations
has promised to have the Cherokee strip
amendment out to be attached by the
time the senate is ready To consider it.
The amendment agreed upon by the
Indian committee provides that all the
money by way of remuneration for the
strip be paid at once. In this respect
the committee adhered to the plan Of
the Platt amendment rather than that
offered by Perkins. 1t is thought the
committee on appropriations will hesi-
tate to some extent in permitting this
feature to get through without change,
but will not insist upon change unless
the Cockrell element of the committee
predominates. lie is known to be pro-
nounced in his opposition to making an
appropriation to open the strip to set
Element.
The following is taken from tho
amendment as agreed upon:
The acceptance by the Cherokee nation Of In.
dams OF the money appropriated Us herein set
forth shall be considered and taken and shall
operate. rs q ratification by said Cherokee ma
ton OF Indians OF said agreement, as II Is here.
by proposed to be amended and rs a full and
complete REIMBURSEMENT and eXtnguishment
Of all their title, claim and interest In and to
said lands but such REIMBURSEMENT and ex-
tnguishmcnt shall not inure TO the benefit OF
any railroad company nor vest in any railroad
company any right title or interest In or TO
any Of said lands, but said lands, except the
portion 10 be allotted as provided in said agree
ment. shall, upon the payment OF the money
herein appropriated or upon the Offer by tho
United States TO pay the same. according to
the terms OF said appropriation and the refusal
upon the part OF the Cherokee nation 10 accept
the same become and be taken to be and he
treated as part OF the public domain.
This provision is according to the
views of Senator Platt, who has always
maintained that the strip should be
thrown open to settlement, whether
congress in its legislation conforms to
the original treaty or not, and whether
the Cherolsees are inclined to approve
the bill finally passed.
Section IL in each township is re-
served for the benefit of the university
Mt Norman, the normal school at Ed
mond and the agricultural college ut
Saltwater, and section 10 for the benc-
fit of the charitable reformatory and
penal institutions. The intruders are
to be paid out of the purchase price for
the strip
The president is authorized to open
to settlement the strip within sixty
days, and can esta blish one or more
land offices in or outside the strip. and
counties to contain 800 square miles,
and the secretary of the interior is per-
mittcd to add some of the strip to the
northwestern counties of the present
Oklahoma.
The Tonkawa and Pawnee reserva-
tions are also included in the amend-
ment The friends of the strip bill
have n very delicate task to perform
in getting the various interests adj
iusted