Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1896-01-02
ECHOES FROM COUNCIL.

One time at least during the late
council at Tahlequah, was Chief
Mayes in doubt which course TO
pursue. The No. 1 bill, (the APP
preparation bill to pay per diem of
members and others passed and
was sent to the chief just twenty
minutes to the time set for final
adjournment. 1t provided for
what was equivalent to preferred
warrants. Chief Mayes had twice
before gone on record as opposed
to such a measure, believing that
all officers of the Cherokee govern
ment should share the inconven-
fences of a depleted treasury alike.
But the Nationals had very cum
ningly inserted in the bill the
chiefs contingent" appropriation,
well knowing that if the bill failed.
the executive department would
surely run mighty dry before next
council. Chief Msyes signed the
bill, but is safe to say that had it
not been in the closing moments
of the extra session that he certain
ly would not have done so. The
bill carried an appropriation of
over $1,000. Warrants were is
sued to 103 persons, or rather 103
warrants were issued to a less
number of persons, as many drew
three TO four warrants.
***
A few days before the adjourn
ment of council just after the close
of the primary schools throughout
the nation, a large number of
teachers from all parts of the coun-
try, mostly girls, had assembled
at the capital 10 draw their pay
and in most cases incidentally to
secure from the board of education
their positions again as teachers for
next term, beginning in February.
a ball and banquet had been ar
ranged largely for their benefit.
On the evening before the night
set for the dance, the secretary of
the board informed the school
marms that if they attended it
they would all be refused schools.
They didn't go to the ball-and of
course were not disappointed in
the least.
*s*
1t is not probable that a more
disgraceiul scene was ever witness
ed in the old council house at Tab
lequah, than was witnessed during
the closing hours of the session
which ended on Saturday night.
Dec. p, at 8 o clock. The gener-
al history of the whole session is
one of which the Cherokee nation
is not proud, but the climax was
reached at the night session above
mentioned. A certain ''miscel-
laneous" bill carrying over s25,-
600 in doubtful appropriations was
to be passed. 1t was the handi-
work of two of the most notorious
scoundrels the Cherokee nation
ever produced. They had groom
Ell it. and nursed it with great
care, and went into the closing
night session with much confidence
and also with much firewater-the
latter being the weapon used by
each always in elections and dirty
work during the sessions of coun-
Gil for generation back. 1t was
boasted last summer that one of
these worthless had actually writ
ten more than half of the laws in
the compiled statutes of the nation
and that the other, not TO be out
done by his colleague, had more
wivesC) than any man in Table
quah. However true or untrue
this may be, there isn't a shadow
of doubt but what these two men
intended to commit a rape on the
Cherokee treasury through the
credulity or ignorance of the mem
bers of the late lamented council.
The session met some time after
seven in the evening. The above
mentioned two met also. They
We're fixed" SO far as liquor was
concerned. They We're also" fixed"
as to abundance of gall Their
work began with the assembling Of
the members. Thry we're met in
the hall aud offered drink, ,singly:
then they were importunad to vote
for the miscellaneous appropria-
tion bill. For a while the outcome
was decidedly doubtful, but finally
enough members begun to catch
on" to rally enough to defeat the
scheme and s57, 600 dollars were
saved.
LET'S BE CONSISTENT FIRST.
The thing that is discussed most
in and out of congress just now