Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1897-08-05
LATE COUNCILS WORK.
mEAsUREsTO GUARD THE CENSUS
ROLLS FROM FRAUD.
Two Attorneys Appointed and Their
Duties Carefully Deilaed - Councillors
Take Preferred Warrant.


cepting the bill to pay members,
which called for a preferred war
rant, was vetoed and passed by q
two-thirds vote:
Whereas, The United States
government has directed the com
mission to the FIVE civilized tribes
Of this territory, to prepare and
complete a final roll or list Of the
names of all persons who are en-
titled to Cherokee citizenship, ac-
cording to the treaties, laws and
customs Of the Cherokee nation,
and
Whereas, The said commission
has applied to the authorities of
the Cherokee nation for copies Of
whatever official documents on file
in the executive department may,
or will, enable or assist the said
commission in the preparation and
completion of the said final list or
roll of Cherokee citizens.
Section /. Therefore, Be it en-
acted by the national council, that
the principal chief be, and he is,
authorized TO select and employ
such number of competent and
expert clerks or copyists as will be
able, under his direction and @ith
the necessary certainty and dis
patch, to make and furnish what.
ever copies of records and docu.
menls in his Office may be useful
and needed by the said United
States commission in the making
of said final roll of Cherokee citi-
zens.
The compensation of any clerk
so employed shall be $500 per day;
and the principal chief is author
ICED to draw his warrants accord
ingly at the close of their services
respectively, and the necessary
amount is hereby appropriated out
Of the general fund not otherwise
appropriated.
Sec. 2. Be it further enacted, 4,
That there shall be appointed and
commissioned by the principal
chief, by and with the advice and
consent of the senate, four compe-
tent attorneys or counsellors at-law
whose duty il shall be to act for
and in behalf of the Cherokee ma.
ton and people, before said United
States commission in all matters
and things connected with the
making of said final roll, until the
same shall be finished, and to rep
resent the said nation in and before
the United States courts in any
case OF claim to Cherokee citizen
ship which may be appealed to
such court FROM the decision of
said commission.
The said attorneys shall be au-
thorized, for sufficient cause in
their judgment, to question or
deny, to and before the SAID com
mission or other United States au.
lhority, the right or claim OF any
person to be therein enrulled,
whose name may be found upon
any register, roll, list, or census Of
names of persons purporting to be
Cherokee citizens, and subject 70
investigation by the United States
commission.
In the investigation of any such
disputed right or claim, the said
attorneys, having been qualified to
discharge their duties faithfully,
shall assist the said United States
commission to develop and ascer-
tain the truth Of the matter in each
case-ihis nation being as much
interested in upholding and de-
Tending the rights of any person
Justly and truly entitled to CheTO-
kee citizenship, as in exposing and
defeating all claims based on fraud
or a misapprehension OF the law
upon the subject.
And the sum Of $1,000 for each
attorney is hereby appropriated
out of ihs general fund not other
wise appropriated, TO pay for the
services of said attorneys, and the
sum of $1,000, or so much thereof
as may be necessary, is also appro-
priated out of the same fund to
pay Witnesses and other incidental
expenses. and the principal chief
is authorized to draw warrants
accordingly: Provided, that the
witnesses shall receive one dollar
per diem, including going and
returning, aud the attorneys herein
provided Tor shall have the right
TO issue subpoenas for witnesses
and TO send such subpoenas to the
several sheritfs whose duty it shall
be to serve them without unneces-
sarY delay.
And in the event that IL should
be necessary that any Of the attor.
neys should go and take deposit
tions, his necessary expenses shall
be paid out Of the funds provided
10 pay witness fees.
Provided, further, that the attor.
neys herein provided for shall
report to the next session OF the
national council the amount of
money expended; and shall furn-
ish vouchers for same
Sec. 3. Be II enacted, that the
principal chief shall cause 10 be
printed a sufficient number of the
following general notices to the
Chrokee public, which shall be
distributed throughout the nation.
"To the citizens Of the several |
districts: By or before lhe---I
day of-----iS97, you are direc-
ted to register, under oath, in the |
clerks Office of your district, the |
additionGf any)by birth 10 your
family since the last general enroll
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