Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1894-11-01

pense of the judiciary several
thousand dollars annually, and
also knocking many good man
out of a JOB Of packing a winches-
ter around for months after an un-
fortunate with trace chain locked
about his ankle and waist. And,
too, such a rash act on the part OF
council will work a hardship on
the professional "ticket buyer"
who is growing fat at the expense
of the nation.
Another problem that must be
solved by the Cherokee law
makers is that of the monopoly of
the public domain. Chief Harris
will incorporate this in his recon-
mendations TO council and the SER
wants of the people will have to
provide a practical plan to be car
ried out. This monopoly ques-
ton is a hard one, and something
must be done with it, not only as
a protection to the homeless Cher
okee but in order to satify the
Dawes commission, who use this
ilagrant evil as one of their strong.
est arguments in favor Of allot-
ment. But the real trouble will
begin with the councillor and SEN
ator when he attempts to regulate
this monopoly business. How is
he TO do it at this late day? They
can't take the monopolists' inn
provements without paying him
for them, and how is the nation to
pay for them when it is already
thousands of dollars in debt for
current expenses? All, indeed, it
will require brains to do the work
of the coming session of council as
well as a pile Of money.
***
The chiefs message will prob
ably be an unusually lengthy doc
ument this time. There are lots
of things to be said, and the chief
told THE CHIEFTAIN man yesterday
he was going to say them ~ rec
commended a repeal of the old law
and the enanctment OF a new one
in regard to the guarding of pris-
oners in my last annual message, "
said the chief, 'and l shall recon-.
mend it again. There is no use of
spending s75, 600 a year for this
business when $4,000 or $4,000
will answer by placing prisoners
accused of a crime in Jail, if they
can't give bond, until their trial.
This is an extravaganza the nation
cannot afford just now"
~
The Cherokee nation is now
nearly 100000 in debt, with but
little money available to pay itself
out. The chief says he is in favor
OF "retrenching" and then use such
funds as can be gotten hold of to
square up. II now seems probable
that the Cherokees may soon get
another big sum from Uncle Sam.
Special Accountant Wyly, who
spent several months this year in
Washington overhauling old ac-
counts with the government, is OF
that opinion. He says balance
with accrued interest amounting to
about 81, 800, 600 was found due the
Cherokees. A report to this effect
will be submitted by him to the
national council next week for ac.
ceptance by that body. A like re-
port will be submitted to the next |
congress by the two accountants of
the United States who went over
the books with Judge Wyly. Then
there is little doubt that the
amount will be appropriated by |
congress to pay off the claim. Per-
haps the Cherokees could use some
of this money, if they succeed in
getting it, TO pay of the indebted
ness that is now eccumulating.
~
The two-year old child Of Louis
Payne died Saturday right after a
short illness.
***
The "Cook gang" has been the
principal topic of conversation
hereabouts for the past week. All
sorts of reports come in about the
desperadoes, the latest being that
eight of them were run into a cave
on Grand river Sunday morning
and are now surrounded by over
hundred officers who will starve
Them out. Meantime sweet Will
liam is probably beyond the limits
Of the hation, TO the west.
*t*
As was hinted in last weeks let
Ter, il now turns out that Jim Cook
did not make his escape from his
guards, as they reported. He was
aiken TO the country and placed in
charge Of other guards for safe
keeping and that he might not be-
come familiar with the arrange
nents for his brothers. capture.
His case, for killing Sequoyah
Houston, at payment, was called
IN the circuit court at this place
Judge Il. II. Whitmire
on the bench. 1t was found, how
syer, that some of the most inn
portant prosecuting witnesses were
off with a posse hunting the de-
iendant's big brother, Bill, and by
general consent Of both sides the
rial was continued to Nov. 13.