Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1894-04-05
Indian Matters in Congress-.

Extracts from Washington
special of April l.
There seems to be a general fer
ment in Indian affairs. This re.
lates both to the conduct of Indian
affairs in the relations between the
government and the existing tribes,
as well as the policy to be pursued
in the future opening of Indian
Ian DIS for homestead settlement.
The present house committee oil
Indian affairs at the close of the
session will have done more inn
portant work than any like pre-
ceding committee for many years
past. Possibly some of this is due
to the activity Of the chairman of
he committee. Mr.. Holman has
always been a hard worker, and
has always taken up with a vim
whatever his hands found to do.
There have been Indian treaties to
be ratified and Indian financial
tanglements to be settled in the fu-
ture opening of Indian lands.
All of this, TO say nothing of the
usual immense work of supervis
ing current Indian expenditures,
and supervision Of the tribal gov.
eminent, makes a voluminous re-
sponsibility. There are Indian
problems from all sections of the
Union Congress has just washed
its hands of the famous Cherokee
bond fight, and this for the pres
ent seems etfectually disposed of.
There are, by the way, to be no
bonds, as was originally coutem.
plated. The debt, or, what it
really is, the contract between the
government and the Cherokee In
dians, is to be assigned to whomso-
ever the Indians desire. The sec
retary of the interior has agreed to
recognize any legal assignee.
Yesterday Representative Hun
ter Of Illinois called up in the
house his bill to make an appro-
priation to complete the appraise.
ment of the improvements of in
truders in the Cherokee nation. 1t
will be remembered that this ap-
praisement was begun several years
ago, but the amount appropriated
failed to carry out the purpose.
The bill carries with it an appro.
priation of "a, 1856. 1t is liable to
cause quite a breezy fight in the
house What is deemed the most
Objectionable feature is that which
provides that upon the filing Of
the report Of the appraising COM
mission, the Indian agent at Mus
kogee shall at once proceed to
carry out the provisions Of the law
for the removal Of intruders, aud
if il is found necessary. the presi-
dent is authorized to detail the
necessary force from the army for
the removals.
Delegate Flynn Of Oklahoma is
violently opposed to the military
feature ofthis bill. He says there
is no such thing as an actual in
truder. The question is merely a
NunAlONtiNl DEAhtfH hlHtItlll
people, all claiming to be members
Of the tribe. While Representa-.
tive Hunter estimates the number
of local intruders at 1000, Mr..
Flynn says there are fully $4,000.
He says it is all very well TO have
a controversy over the rights of
the settlers in the Cherokee nation
decided, but there is no need for
such violent aid to the action.
Representative Enloe of Tennes-
see has introduced a bill upon
which he expects favorable re.
port from the judiciary committee,
as 1t meets with the approval of
those interested in Indian affairs.
The same bill was introduced in
the senate by Mr.. Harris 1t pro-
vides that the white citizens ofthe
Cherokee nation shall be en-
powered to file suits in the court
Of claims for the purpose of hav.
ing their rights as citizens settled
hV that cOurl