Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1896-04-16
CASH PREFERRED TO A WARRANT.
A Tilt Between Chief Mayes and the
Late Council.
DOG CREEK, April s. 1885,

have been Tor several weeks as q
member of the lobby contingent OF
the national council. Things went
on there rather fairly until the
closing hours arrived and the
members, after their usual CUSTOM
went for what little money there
may have been in the treasury
Though not plainly so, their act
was to pay themselves by what
amounted to preferred" warrants
in effect and to result in immedi-
ate cash, if there were any laying
around loose in the treasury. The
bill to pay themselves provided
that the several amounts should
be paid "out of any moneys not
belonging to the orphan or school
funds" This is certainly a very
indefinite way OF getting at things
of a legal nature, but rather a
raking around method after some
thing of doubtful existence. But
there were other moneys beside
the orphan and school funds in the
treasury, such as the per capita of
the minor orphan children at the
asylum, the unpaid balance due
on intruder Improvements, the in
sane, and the required amount re-
served to pay the interest on out
standing warrants, but not a red
of the general fund. Thus it is
seen that there were other moneys
in the treasury not belonging to
the orphan or school funds, but
upon what fund should the war
rants be drawn became a question.
1t was very evident that the coun-
ell had defeated itself in getting
any kind of warrants in payment
for their Services by fishing around
for means to pay themselves ready
cash out OF funds not applicable 10
such a purpose.
The bill was sent up to the chief
little less than two hours before
the time set for adjournment. Its
purpose to secure, at a venture,
any moneys in the treasury for the
payment OF members being so evi,
dent, a message of a few parts We.
toing the act was Immediately pre-
pared and. with the bill, was sent
down TO the senate in ample time
for any CHI racter of action. But
instead of amending the act by
clearly specifying what funds were
to be drawn upon, the council
went off to work and passed the
act by two-thirds majority over
the chiefs veto. The matter thus
stood until next morning when it
was announced that the chief had
refused to issue the warrants be-
cause no special fund was men,
toned in the councils appropria-
ton. Here was a dilemma for
which there seemed 10 be no rem
edy. Members stood around in
subdued and helpless attitudes,
trying to devise some manner of
relief from their trouble. At last
it was suggested that if there were
a quorum present and would con-
vene in their respective chambers,
the chief might be induced to re-
convene them for the purpose of
correcting the mistake. He was
approached upon the subject TO
which he did not consent at first
on the grounds that such an occas-
ion was unusual and not "extra-
ordinary" But the members sig
nifying their willingness to serve
without compensation, and the
chief being desirous to help them
out of their difficulty, convened
the council in the usual way by
until II m, and
with a message accompanying the
return of the bill, requested them
TO correct it in accordance with
the requirements of law"
Only few minutes were re-
quired TO arrange-for it was hot
amendment that be-
trayed the original intention of
the council as TO what "moneys,
not belonging to the orphan or
school funds" were meant, which
had they clearly specified at the
start would have saved them no
little trouble and disappointment.
The only idle funds in the treas
lry were such set apart and re-
.ained in the custody of the treas
lrer and are awaiting the time the |
orphan children shall be of lawful
lge. The purpose of the amend
neEt was to borrow this, or as
much of it as was necessary to pay |
he members cash for their SER
vices and TO refund the amount |
,ut of the first moneys received on
account of the general fund.
The bill, with the amendment,
was returned to the chief in time
or short veto message upon the
amendment, but he preferred to
10 otherwise and to let it rest for
period, depending upon the
opinion of the attorney general
% whom it was Immediately sub
nitted-for legal definition as TO
he right of council to use for any
purpose sums of money belonging
o individual citizens of the nation,
placed in the treasury for safe
leeping. Under several consider
ltions the attorney general is re-
luested to give construction to the
lmendment-under treaty stipu-
ations, under the constitution and
he act for the distribution, per
'aplta, of the strip proceeds.
When | left, the law interpreter