Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1897-03-25

Dawes Commission Federal Control in
the Territory Sectarian Schools.

/ Aho ioIItOIl otcthFiah ochOOiSs
Washington, March 20.-The In
dian appropriation bill which
passed the house today carriel
s25, 900 for the expenses of tn,
Dawes commission and not only
extinguishes the tribal courts, bui
gives the president a veto power
over the acts of their councils
The passage working this notable
change is as fOllows:,,
"That on and after January 1
1898, the United States courts in
said territory shall have original
and exclusive jurisdiction aud au-
thority to Try and determine all
civil causes in law and equity
thereafter instituted and all Grim
inal causes for the punishment OF
any oflense committed after the
passage OF this act by any person
in said territory, and tire United
States commissioners in said ter
ritory shall have and exercise the
powers and jurisdiction already
conferred upon them by existing
laws of the United States as re-
spects all persons and property in
said territory; and the laws OF the
United States and the state of Ar.
kansas 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
qualified who can speak and un-
derstand the English language
may serve as joror in any Of said
courts. That said commission
shall continue to exercise all au.
thority heretofore conferred on it
by law TO negotiate with the FIVE
tribes, and any agreement made
by it with any one of said tribes,
when ratified, shall operate to sus-
pend any provisions of this act, if
in conflict Herewith, as TO said ma
tion. That on and after January
/, 1898, all acts, ordinances and
resolutions of the council of either
of the aforesaid five tribes shall be
certified Immediately upon their
passage to the president Of the
United States and shall not take
effect, if dlsapproved by him, or
until thirty days after their pass.
age: Provided, that this act shall
not apply to resolutions for ad.
journment, or any acts, or resolu-
tions, or ordinances in relation to
negotiations with commissioners
heretofore appointed to treat with
said tribes u
This paragraph Of the bill fixes
the status of many of the half
breeds of the territory. That all
children born of a marriage be.
tween a white man and an Indian
woman by blood and not by adop.
tion, aud who is at this time recog.
nized by the tribe shall have the
same rights and privileges to the
property of the tribe to which the
mother belongs, either by blood or
descent, as any other member OF
the tribe, and no prior act of con-
gress shall be construed as to debar
such children such right"
One hundred thousand dollars is
appropriated for the completion of
the survey of the Indian Territory,
and for a resurvey Of the lands of
the Chickasaw nation, /. r., sl41,-
500 is appropriated to be immed-
lately available.
Secretary is directed by the bill
to use the money heretofore ap.
propriated for providing homes in
the Indian Territory for the alb
sentee Wyandotte Indians in 10.
eating homes Tor them upon any
lands that may be available and
suitable for such purposes, except
that out of the money appropriate
ed, r. b Armstrong of Kansas
City, Kas., is to be paid 81 900 for
his services and expenses already
incurred in and about such mat.
ters in behalf of the Indians.
The deficiency bill carries these
items of interest to the Indian
Territory: ITO pay the salaries
and expenses OF the judges, dis.
trict attorneys, marshals, clerks.
commissioners and constables of
the United States courts in the In
dian Territory, 1000. To pay
three deputy clerks of the United
States district courts in the Indian
Territory, one at Muskogee, one at
South McAlester and one at Ard
more, at the rate of 81 200 per an.
mum each, for services from March
81, 1895, to June 30, 1897, IS, 100"