The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1896-02-12

dian Territory, viz: The Cherokee.
MuSkogee or Greek. Choc'aw,
ChickaSaw and Seminole nations.
and all right pertaining to such
citizenship; and to make for each
of said nations a full and COM
plete roll of ali persons entitled to
the rights of citizenship therein
and in the performance of them.
shall have power and authority to
administer oaths. TO Issue process
I for and compel the attendance OF
witnesses and to send for persons
and papers, and To punish any
I diSObedience of their orders and
/ processes. aS for contempt. They
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 of
any of their officers. which they
may deem necessary for the prose
cution Of said work. and may make
copies thereof: and in determining
all such questions of citizenship
the commissioners are authorized
to consider all acts OF the national
councils OF said several nations.
and thc acts and decisions of per-
sons claiming To act by authority
thereof. and amy decisions made.
or papers issued by such persons
IN any ease before them, and all
depositions. af1idayits and other
evidence in any form whatsoever
heretofore taken. where the wit
ncs>es giving such testimony are
dead OF now residing beyond the
limits Of said territory and to use
Iii Other fair and reasonable means
within their reach for the purpose
of determining the rights Of per-
sons claiming such citizenship or
to protect any of said nations from
fraud or wrong, and the decisions
of said commissioners in all such
cases shall be final. and rolls Sc
prepared by them shall be herein
after held and considered to be the
true and correct rolls of persons
entitled to the rights of citizens in
said several nations.
ALLOTMENT OF LANDS.
SEC. ). When the roll of citi-
zenS of any one of said nations Is
fully completed. as provided in
section 4, and the survey of lands
in said nation also completed, the
president of the United States
shall. at his discretion. order said
commissioners to proceed to allot
for exclusive use and occupancy all
the lands of said nation susceptible
OF allotment among the citizens
thereof. to them and their heirs,
as shown by said roll, giving to
each so far as may be his fair and
equitable share thereof. consider
ing the nature and fertility of soil.
location and value OF same, and
when such allotment has been by
them completed said commissioners
shall make full report thereof to
the secretary of the interior for his
approval, specifically describing al
lands or other property which they
found incapable of division and
giving reasons why same cannot b,
divided. and the secretary Shal
thereupon. at his discretion. direc
; the disposition or use of such lands
in the best manner for the benefi
of the citizens of said nation.
SEC. 6. Said commissioner,
I are further authorized and directed
to cause to be surveyed and laiC
out townsites mt such places as they
? may deem expedient and necessar!
for the needs of the people and tn,
= prosperous growth of the country
be the same at the present sites o
I towns already established or else
e where; opening or laying off sucl
streets. alleys and other ground
as they may deem sufficient an,