Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1896-03-12
THE WHITE ADOPTED BILL.
Introduced by Berry In the Senate and
Money i'm the House.

1
white men who have married ma
tive Indian women OF the Cherokee
nation, and also a number of white
women who have married native
Indian men of the Cherokee nation
of Indians; and
Whereas the white husbands of
said Indian women and the white
wives of said Indian men, who are
incorporated and settled in the
Cherokee nation, contend that un-
der the laws Of the Cherokee ma
tion they are full, lawful citizens of
the same, and as such are equally
entitled to all rights of person and
property as other citizens of said
nation, and that the national coun-
Gil of said nation is prohibited, un-
der its constitution. from discrimi-
mating. on account of blood, race,
marriage relations, or otherwise,
against them or any class or classes
of its citizens, whether they be
such by adoption, by birth, or by
marriage, in the distribution of the
common property or funds of the
nation, in the protection of their
rights, and in the equal enjoyment
of any and all of the immunilies
and privileges guaranteed in COM
mon to all lawful members of said
nation; and
Whereas il is alleged and claimed
said Cherokee nation has. discrim-
mated against said white adopted
citizens on account of their blood
and marital relations, and have re-
fused TO recognize them as entitled
to share, or to in any way partici-
pate in the distribution OF moneys
and funds arising from the sale OF
certain lands known as the Chero-
kee Outlet" which were the com
mon property of all the citizens of
said nation, and which money and
funds have been, or will be, paid
out per capita TO all other citizens
of said nation, without reg rd to
the rights of said white adopted
citizens; and
Whereas it is desirable and es-
ssntial to the internal peace and
good order of said Cherokee nation
that such contentious and disagree
ments be settled and the rights of
said adopted citizens determined
in just, certain and impartial
way: Therefore.
Be it enacted by the senate and
house of representatives OF the
United States of America in con-
gress assembled. That full juris-
diction is hereby conferred on the
court of claims, subject to an sp-
peal TO the supreme court of the
United States, as in other cases, to
hear and determine what are the
just rights in law or equity OF the
white adopted citizens of the Cher
okee Indian nation, who are set
tied, incorporated therein, and by
adoption are citizens of said nation,
in respect to the subject m matters
herein provided for.
SEC. 2 That said white adopted
citizens of the Cherokee nation
shall have right, either separately
or jointly, to begin and prosecute a
suit or suits against the Cherokee
nation and the United States gov
ernment to recover from the Cher
okee nation all moneys due either
in law or equity and unpaid TO the
said white adopted citizens, which
the Cherokee nation have hereto
fore paid out or may hereafter pay
out per capita, In the Cherokee ma
lion, and which was, or may be,
refused or neglected 10 be paid to
said white adopted citizens. out of
any money or funds which have or
may be paid into the treasury of,
or in any way have come or may
come into the possession of the
Cherokee nation, Indian Territory,
derived from the sale, leasing, or
rent for grazing purposes on Cher
okee lands west of nine;y-six de-
grees west longitude, and which
have been, or may be appropriated
and directed 10 be paid out per
capita by acts passed by the Cher
okee council, and for all moneys,
lands, and rights which shall ap-
pear to be due to the white
adopted citizens by reason of their
said citizenship.
SEC. 3. That the said suit or
suits may be brought and prose-
cuted in the name of the executive
committee, known as 1.-The Execu
tive Committee" OF said white
adopted citizens of the Cherokee
nation, and now composed of Will
liam Jackson, chairman; D. NJ.
Marrs, secretary; NJ. C. Jones, Jas.
W. Skinner, and A. ]. Jeremiah,
all citizens of the Indian Territory,
or their successors, as trustees for
the use Of and on behalf of said
white adopted citizens of the Cher
okee nation; and the exercise of
such jurisdiction shall not be
barred by any lapse OF time here
tofore, nor shall the rights oil such
adopted white citizens of the Cher
okee nation be impaired by any
acts passed and approved by the
Cherokee national council. Suit
or suits may be instituted within
twelve months after the passage of
this act, and the law and practice
and rules of procedure in such
courts shall be the practice and
law in these cases, and copies of
petition or petitions filed in the
case at the commencement of the
suit shall be served ON the attor-
ney-general of the United States
and on the principal chief of the
Cherokee nation by the marshal of
the district court for the Indian
Territory; and that the costs of the
said suit or suits shall be appor-
toned between the United States