The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1897-12-10

brace the lands within said Indian territory
me commission met much opposition from
the beginning The Indians were very slow to
act and those in control manifested a decided
olslnc1natlon to meet with favor the PROPOSE
lions submitted to them. A little more than
tnree years after this organization the commits
sion eHected an agreement with the Choctaw
nation alone The Chickasaws however, re-
FUSED to agree to its terms, and as they have a
common interest with the Choctaws in the
IanoS OF said nations the agreement with the
latter nation could have no effect without the
consent OF the former. On April %, 1897 the
commission effected an agreement with both
trioes-the Choctaws and Chickasaws. This
agreement. it is understood has been ratified
Dy the constituted authorities Of the respective
trlOeS or nations. parties thereto. and only re-
qulreS ratification by congress to make it bind
ing.
On the 9th Of September 1897 an agreement
was effected with the Creek nation, but it is
understood that the national council of said
nation has refused to ratify the same. Nego-
tiatons are yet to be had with the Cherokees
the most populous of the five civilized tribes
and with the Seminoles the smallest in point
OF numbers and territory The provision in the
Indian appropriation act, approved June TO-
1896 makes it the duty Of the commission to
investigate and determine the rights Of appli-
cants for citizenship in the five civilized tribes.
The commission is at present engaged in this
work among tribes and has made appointments
for taking the census of these people up to and
including the Goth of the present month
Should the agreement between the Choctaws
and Chickasaws be ratified by congress and
should the other tribes fail to make an agree
ment with the commission. then it will be ne
cessary that some legislation shall be had by
congress. which, while just and honorable to
the Indians. shall be equitable to the white
people who have settled upon these lands By in
Vltatlon OF the tribal nations. Hon. Henry I.
Dawes, chairman of the commission, in a letter
to the secretary Of the interior, under date of
October IL, 1897, saws: individual ownership
Is in their (the commissioners opinion absolute
ly essential to any permanent Improvement in
present conditions. and the lack Of it is the
root of nearly all the evils which so grievously
ahiict these people. Allotment by agreement
Is the only possible method, unless the United
States courts are clothed with the authority to
apportlon the lands among the citizen Indians
for whose use it was originally granted
concur with the secretary Of the interior
that there can be no cure for the evils engen-
dered by the perversion of these great trusts,
excepting by their resumption by the govern
ment which created them.
The Pacific Railways.
The Union Pacific railways. main line was
sold under the decree of the United States
court for the district of Nebraska on the 1st
and End OF November, OF this year. The amount
due the government consisted of the principal
OF the subsidy bonds. S27 236. 512 and the ac-
crued interest thereon, S3l .2ll. 71l.75 making
the total Indebtedness S5S, AS, 223. 10 The bid
at the sale covered the first mortgage lien and
the entire mortgage claim Of the government,
principal and interest The sale Of the sub
sidized portion of the Kansas Pacific line,
upon which the government holds a second
mortgage lien. has been postponed at the in
stance of the government to December
Is, 1897. The debt of this division
of the Union Pacific railroad to the
government on November 3D. 1897 was the
principal of the subsidy bonds, 81. 303 900 and
the unpaid and accrued interest s6 626. 800 49,
making total of sl2,sa9. $50 81 The sale of
this road was originally advertised for Novem-
Der 4, but for the purpose of securing the Ut
most public notice of the event it was post
poned until December 10, and second adver-
tlSement OF the sale was made. By the decree
of the court the upset price the sale of the
Kansas Pacific will yield to the government
the sum of -, 800 0OJ over all prior liens costs
and charges If no other better bid is made
this is all that the government
will receive on its claim of nearly
S13, OOO,0 O. The government has no informa-
ton as to whether there will be other bidders
or better bid than the maximum amount
herein stated. The question presented there
fore is: Whether the government shall under
the authority given it by the act of March g.
1857, purchase or redeem the road in the event
that a bid is not made by private parties COW
.ering the entire government claim. To qualify
the government to bid at the sale will require
deposit of $685. 900. as follows: In the govern
ment cause 800 900 and in each of the first
mortgage causes $50, 900, and in the latter the
deposit must be in cash. Payments at the sale
are as follows: upon the acceptance or the
bid sum which with the sum already depoS-
tied shall equal Is per cent of the bid the bal
ance in nStallments of 25 per cent, 80 40 and 50
days after the confirmation of the sale. The
lien on the Kansas Pacific prior to that of the
government on the 30th of July, 1897. principal
and interest amounted to 1929, U4s1 IL. The
government, therefore, should it become the
highest bidder, will have to pay the amount of
the first mortgage lien.
believe that under the act of 1887 it has the
onfhn itv tp do iS md in ahS oof
tion by congress 1 shall direct the secretary of
the treasury to make the necessary deposit
required by the courts decree to qualify as a
bidder and to bid at the sale sum which will
at least equal the principal of the debt due to
the government; but suggest in order to re-
move all controversy, that fan amend
ment OF the law be Immediately
passed explicitly giving such powers
and appropriating in general terms whatever
sum is sufficient therefor
Civil Service.
The important branch of our government
known the civil service, the practical i'm
provement of which has long been subject Of
earnest discussion, has of late years received
increased legislative and executive approval
During the past few months the service has
been placed on still frmer basis of business
methods and personal merit. While the right
of our veteran soldiers to reinstatement to de-
serving cases has been asserted, dismissals for
merely political reasons have been carefully
guarded against, the examinations for
admittance to the service enlarged
and at the same time rendered
less technical and more practical; and a
distinct advance has been made by giving a
hearing before dismissal upon all cases where
incompetency is charged or demand made for
the removal Of officials in any of the depart
mentS- This order has been made to give to
the accused his right to be heard. but without
in impairing the power OF removal