The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-12-06
RERRY'S INDIAN BILL
How it Proposes to Reorganize
Indian Territory.
A Complete Territorial Govern
ment Scheme is Proposed.
LANDS TO BE DIVIDED.
Laws Of Arkansas to be Pat
termed After.

WASHINGTON. Dec. G. The bill in
troduced ia the senate yesterday by
Senator Berry, to provide a temper
airy government for the portion Of the
Indian territory occupied by the five
civilized tribes, provides that terri
tory shall be formed to be known as
the territory Of Indianola. Among
the first provisions made is one to the
effect that any time in the future the
boundaries may be changed or any
portion attached to any other
state or territory by the action
OF congress without securing the
consent Of the inha bitants of the new
territory The bill provides for a
governor and a secretary for the ter
ritOry, delegate to congress and
legislative asse bly,, the latter to be
composed of a council and house of
represen tatives. the council to consist
of twenty one mem bers and the house
of forty two, the sessions to be held
biennially and to continue for sixty
days The territory is to be divided
into twenty-one counties
All male citizens of the United States
who are actual residents and over 21
years of age are to have the right to
vote. az are also male Indians who
are citizens Of any tribe in the terri
tory 1t is provided that no law shall
be passed by the legisla ture interior
ing with the primary disposal of the
soil or with the titles of the Indians
Of the various tribes or their manner
of holding the same. Indian home
steads are made inalienable and are
exempted from taxation.
The bill provides for complete ju-
dicial system, and adopts a large
mum Der of the laws Of the state of
Arkansas ALI provisions of treaties
here tofOre made by the United States
with the civilized tribes except 50
far as the treaties relate to land
titles, are abrOgated and repealed.
and all gOvernrne nts esta blished by
the tribes polished The lands now
held in common by the several tribes
are to be divided in severalty among
the me Ia bers of the tribes, each to
have a homestead of 100 acres, and
after this division the residue is to be
sold and the proceeds to be divided
among the Indians
The twenty-oue counties provided
IN the bill are to be numb ered until
the first general election. when the
people shall vote Oh the names The
cOunty-seats as at present fixed are.
South McAlester, Atoka. Oak Lodge,
Talihus WheeIoclz Antlers. fish
oningo, StonewaIl, Ardmore, Wynne-
wood, Duncan. Chicl1asha. Nowata,
Claremont. Iablequah. Muldrov.
Muslogee, Sapulpa, Wewoka and
Che Gotta
Inc town OF cOuCn MICA lester IS
made the capital of the new terri tory.
The United States attorney and
United States marshal shall each re-
ceive s., 900 per year the clerk Of the
supreme court So. 600 per year, and
the clerks Of the district courts, ST.
500; the governor, 81, 600; the chief
justices and associate justices. s.. 600
each and the secretary, s., 5OO the
mem bers of the legislature to receive
SIS per day; 81 500 to be appropriated
to defray the contingent expenses of
the governor.
Five years imprison and $500
fine is provided for anyone introduce
ing intoxicants into the territory.