The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1896-02-26
TIMELY SUGGESTIONS.
Hon. W. A. Ledbetter Writes Congress-
man Little Suggesting Change In the
Wording OF H. a. Bm No s3Os.
ARDMoRE, I. T.. Feb. 25, 'se.

Bill No. 6309, wherein IL Is provided
that the three persons named shall
constitute a board whose duty IL
shall be to appraise all town lots in
the towns within the territory Of
such tribe in the actual or construc-
tive possession OF any citizen or non
citizen and the claim 10 which has
been acquired by any such person
or persons from any tribe, or from
any citizen Of any tribe, or by the
citizen himself before the passage Of
this act at a fair and reasonable
value, exclusive ofthe improvements
upon such lot or lots, or upon such
townsite, and such claimant of any
such lot or lots may thereupon de-
posit with the nited States Assis-
tant Treasurer at st. Louis, the
amount Of sush appraisement and
the same shall be a tender thereof
TO such tribe
am in doubt as to the construc-
ton to be given to this provision in
reference to lots that are held BY
non-citizens under rental contracts
from year TO year under Indian
citizens. In ArdmOre, lots are held
under quit claim deeds from the
Indian citizens who laid out the
tOwnsite and under yearly rental
contracts with the Indian citizen,
with the option on the part Of the
nOn-citizens to renew the leases at
the expiration Of the year. In the
Ckickasaw Nation fully four-fifths OF
the town lots are held under the
latter arrangement. The non-citi-
zens almost invariably own the i'm
provements on the lot and have paid
a yearly ground rent to the Indian
citizens. Under such an arrange
ment, the lots may be said 10 be in
the actual possession Of the non
citizen tenants and in the construc-
tive possession OF the Indian land
lords; both may be said to be claim
ants with the first and primary claim
in the Indians.
The board is directed to "aPpraise
III the lots in the towns within the
territory of such tribe in the actual
1r constructive possession OF any
citizen or non-citizen and the claim
10 which has been acquired by any
such person or persons from any
tribe, or by the citizen himself before
the passage OF this act, and such
claimant of any such lot or lots may
thereupon deposit with the United
States Assistant Treasurer the value
Of such appraisement."
The question is which Is the clai-
mant; the nOn-citi=en tenant or the
Indian landlord; and which OF them
would have the right and privilege
TO deposit the appraised value Of
the lots, and thus acquire a quasi
title contemplated in this bin?
In my mind this Is matter Of
vital importance and is left in great
loubt, when il would be easy
TO make the congressional intent
clear. The people in this coun-
try would be under further
gratitude to you IL you would look
into this matter and make clear who
would be entitled to the privileges
accorded in the bill. IL seems TO me
that IL the words in lines IS and 10
of section 1s land such claimant Of
any such lot" were stricken out, ard
the following substituted therefore,
'the person or persons In the actual
possession Of such lot, or who owns
the improvements thereon" the
meaning would be clear and much
confusion avoided. The clause then
would read, "the person or persons
in the actual possession of such lot
or lots, or who own the improve
ments thereon may thereupon de-
posit with the United States assist
ant treasurer at st. Louis the value
Of such appraisement, etc"
know your time is entirely taken
up, but your prominence in Indian
Territory legislation, and the kind
ness which you have shown our peo-
pie heretofore has induced me TO
write you this letter. IL the Indian
landlord is permitted to hold the
lots, n very few men viii be made
immensely rich, while four-fifths Of
the population Of the towns viii be
robbed of the hope which they have
INDUCED heretofore to acquiring and
owning homes in this country.
would be pleased to hear from
you on the subject.
With great respect, am,
Yours truly,