Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1897-02-25
TO BREAK uP rmE 1RInEs.
Radical Provisions OF the senate In.
dian Measure.


Washington, Feb. 19.--The In
dian appropriation bill now before
the senate for consideration IL Of
vast importance to the west, for il
aims a destructive blow at tribal
sovereignty, aud plao the Indian
territory in immedis touch with
the long excluded foi fdevelop-
ment
After providing the necessary
appropriation for the mainten e
of the Dawes commission, the svh.
ate committee has inserted:
provided further. that said com
mission shall set apart the lands
upon which any town is located in
the Indian territory, together with
a reasonable amount of land to pro-
vide for the future growth of said
town; also all lands occupied by
any church, cemetery, school, char.
table or penal institution or pub
lie building of any sort outside Of
the limits of any town; also all
mineral lands, including coal oil
and natural gas lands now leased,
occupied and improved for mining
purposes, that the use of the sur.
face OF all other lands in the Indian
territory belonging to the Chicka-
saw, Choctaw, Cherokee, Musko.
kee Cor Creek) and Seminole tribes
shall be allotted equally among
their respective citizens, area and
value being taken into considera.
ton, such allotments to embrace
other Indians and freedmen now
living with said tribes according
to the provisions of existing treat
les and laws in relation to such
other Indians and freedmen.
UNDER FEDERAL JURISDICTION.
Omitted States courts in said ter
ritory shall have full and exclusive
Jurisdiction aud authority to try
and determine all civil causes Tor
the punishment of any ofiense COM
mitted after the passage of this act
by any person in said territory,
and the United States commission
ers in said territory shall have and
exercise the power aud jurisdiction
already conferred upon them by
existing laws Of the United States
as respects all persons and prop.
erty in said territory, and the laws
OF the United States and state of
Arkansas in force in the territory
shall apply to all persons therein,
irrespective of race. said courts ex-
ercising jurisdiction thereof as now
conferred upon them in the trial of
like causes. and any citizen of any
one of said tribes otherwise quail
fed who can speak and understand
the English language may serge as
a Juror in any OF said courts.
THAT there shall be appointed
by the president. by and with the
consent of the United States sen.
ate, two additional judges for said
territory, and the appellate court
of said territory shall designate the
places in the several judicial dis.
tricts therein at which, and the
times when, such judges shall hold
court, such courts to be held at the
places now provided by law; and
said judges shall be mem bers Of
the appellate court and shall have
all authority, exercise all powers,
perform like duties, and receive
the same salaries as other judges
Of said courts, and shall serve for
"A term offour years from the date
Of appointment.
THE COMMISSION POWERS.
THAT said commission shall
continue to exercise all authority
heretofore conferred on it by law
to negotiate with the five tribes,
and any agreement made by it
with any one Of the said tribes,
when ratified, shall operate to sus-
pend any provisions of this act if
IN conflict Herewith as to said ma.
tion. That no act, ordinance or
resolution OF the council of either
Of the aforesaid five tribes here.
after passed shall be of any valid
ity until approved by the President
of the United States"
1t must follow, if these amend
ments shall be adopted substan-
TALLY in the form in which they