Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1896-02-13
TEXT OF THE DAWES BILL.
Territory Organization as Proposed BY
the Commission.

lne DaWes commission has
decided to ask congress to
pass for the government Of
the Indian Territory is here pre-
sented. The bill does not meet
the full approval of the president
or of the secretary of the interior.
Whether the differences will be
reconciled does not yet appear, al
though the harmonious relations
that exist between the administra-
ton and the commission would SO
indicate.
The commission entities it's
measure, IA bill to provide fur
ther security to persons and prop
erty in the Indian Territory and
for other purposes.
"Be it enacted by the senate and
house of representatives in
congress assembled:
"Section 1. The United State.
courts, established by law in the
Indian Territory, shall have ex-
elusive jurisdiction, both in law
and equity, to hear and determine,
in their respective districts, all
controversies, causes and suits
concerning the tribal lands and
other tribal property of either of
the five civilized tribes, viz: The
Cherokees, the Creeks or Musko.
gees, the Choctaws, Chick kasaws
and Seminole nations, and for that
purpose shall have power to make
parties plaintiff or defendant to
such controversies, causes and
suits of any of said Cherokee,
Creek or Muskogee, Choctaw,
Chickasaw or Seminole nations, or
any person claiming title in any
manner in and 10, or to any inter
est Of any kind in, or any right to
the use, occupation, rents or profits.
either exclusively or in common
with others, OF any portion Of such
tribal lands or other property, and
in the deter mination of such suits
said courts shall have authority to
issue any and all processes neces
sary for the enforcement of any de-
cree or order in the premises. Ali
parties in said suits shall have the
same rights of exception and ap-
peal as are now reserved in parties
in said courts.
EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION To COURTS.
"Section 2. Said United States
courts shall have exclusive juris-
diction to hear and determine all
other civil cases of whatever name
or nature and without regard to
race or citizenship of any of the
parties thereto, arising within their
respective districts, and also ex-
elusive jurisdiction of all prosecu-
tions for crimes and misdemeanors
committed in their respective dis
tricts without regard to the race or
citizenship of the person or per-
sons charged Herewith; provided,
that this section shall in no way
affect the jurisdiction of the United
States courts at Fort Smith, Ark,
and Paris, Tex, under existing
laws, until September /, 1896.
"Section 8. No act, resolution.
ordinance or decree passed or
adopted by the legislative council
of either of said FIVE tribes after
the passage of this act shall be of
any validity or force in said terri
tory until after the same shall have
been approved by the president of
the United States, and every such
act, properly authenticated, shall
be presented to him for that pur-
pose within thirty days of its pas
sage, and, if approved by him,
shall be published with his ap-
proval as one of the laws of the
tribe by which it had been enacted.
TO DETERMINE INDIAN CITIZENSHIP.
Section 4. That the commits
sioners heretofore appointed under
acts OF Congress, approved March
3, 1898, and March 2, 1895, to ne.
gotiate with the five civilized tribes
in the Indian Territory in addition
to the authority already conferred
upon them by law, are authorize d
and directed to proceed at once TO
hear and determine all questions
of citizenship in the several tribes
or nations in said Indian Territory,
viz: The Cherokee, Muskogee or
Creek, Choctaw, Chickasaw and
Seminole nations, and all rights
pertaining to such citizenship; and
to make for each of said nations
full and complete roll of all per-
sens entitled to the rights of citi-
zenship therein and in the perform
ance of such duties said commits
sioners, and each OF them, shall
have power and authority to ad-
minister oaths, to issue process for
and compel the attendance of wit
nesses, and to send for persons and
papers, and to punish any dis
obedience of their orders and pro-
cess, as lOr contempt. lhey shall,
at all times, have access to all rolls
of citizens, records and documents
belonging to or in the custody of
any OF said nations or any of their
officers, which they may deem
for the prosecution of
said work, and may make copies
thereof; and in determining all
such questions of citizenship said
commissioners are authorized to
all acts of the national
councils of said several nations,
and the acts and decisions made, or
papers issued by such persons in
any case before them, and all de-
positions, affidavits and other evil
dence in any form whatsoever
heretofore taken, where the wit
nesses giving such testimony are
dead or now residing beyond the
limits of said territory and to use
all other fair and reasonable means
within their reach for the purpose