Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1897-05-27
OUR SPECIALS LETTER.


have developed before the Dawes
and Cherokee commissions since
our last report, negotiations, prop
er, have not yet commenced.
Speech making and the presenta.
tion of claims have occupied the
attention of the joint sessions Of
the two commissions since they
first met two weeks ago, but these
sort Of proceedings will end with
today. Tomorrow the first secret
session for the purpose OF begin
ming formal negotiations will be
held, and nobody but the two com.
missions and their secretaries will
be permitted to hear the proceed.
ings. This, at least, is what has
been "given out" by members OF
the Cherokee commission.
Last Tuesday and Wednesday,
the NJ, X. & T. r. r. and the
Delawares presented their claims,
the former for every alternate Sec
tion Of land along their line ofroad,
and the latter for 100 acres of land
for all registered Delawares OF
their heirs, and an equal division
Of the balance. The NJ, X. & T,
was represented by able couns el f,
but their claim is pronounced ".
g.. by both commissions and wi II
cut no figure whatever in the ne.
gotiations. 1t will simply be ily.
nored and the Katy will have &c
look to Uncle Sam for whateve !
she may get. Not so with the
claim OF the Delawares. They
will, in all probability get all
they ask for, so far as the Dawes
commission is concerned, at least.
The way to diminish their claim
is by a compromise both satisfac-
tory to the Delawares and the
Dawes men, and it is very doubt
full if this can be effected. On the
other hand those who are opposed
to allotment will use the "unreas-
enable claim" OF the Delawares as
an excuse for refusing to negotiate
at all.
The two commissions have been
adjourned since last Thursday
They will meet today at 2 o'clock
to hear the Baptists present their
claim and argue it. Revs. Murrow
and Rogers will represent this de-
nomination. Others may speak
and other claims may be present
ed, but this afternoon will occur
the last open session, according TO
the present program.
The new member, Mr.. Louis
Bixby, who succeeded Mr.. Cabi-
Miss, has arrived and joined the
three other members of the Dawes
commission. He is the youngest
member OF the commission, appar-
emily not more than 30, small in
stature, with a full black beard
and keen black eyes. lie very
much resembles Attorney Hutchins
Of Muskogee, and is quite hand
some. Mr.. Montgomery, who has,
! by request, sent in his resignation
will remain on duty until his sue
cessor is appointed and confirmed
The indications here still point
to a failure in the two commission
reaching an agreement. The Dun
can sentiment seems to be growing
instead of receding. The op
ponents Of allotment say there
will be nothing left for the Chero
KEGS by the time the Delaware ant
sundry other claims are satisfied
and are in favor of refusing to TAX
hand in their own robbery anC
death, as they term it. You car
read, however, between the line
and see a we'll planned scheme
II is to defeat those who favor al
lotment at the polls this summer
defeat any sort Of a trade, and thei
hold on to the reins of Cherokee
government until the nation'I
funds are exhausted OF until con
gress stops them. A member o
the Dawes commission told you
correspondent yesterday that h
was now very doubtful If an agree
ment could be reached. He said
however, il was his opinion that !
such proved TO be the cas-
the next congress would alb
, rogate the treaty entirely and wip
out tribal government at singl
wipe. He said this idea was grow
ing at Washington very rapidly
/. and in the interest Of the commo
| Indian citizen congress would al
, rest the official extrayagance i
this country before all the people
. funds we're squandered. He ais
! expressed the opinion that in cas-
an agreement was reached as fe'
/, years as possible would be give
the tribes to run through with th
! invested funds. He said IN
Dawes commission was now on II
last mission TO the five civilize
tribes, and what they refused /
let them do, congress would do
= their stead. In his cOnYersatio
: this commissioner expressed th
= opinion that so far as he was COZ
\ cerned, the toWnlot holders woul
! be allowed nothing but a rein
bursement Of the money they ha
, expended for and upon the loi
y they claim; that all lands Of III
Cherokee nation was public d.
main and that il should be treate
as such in dividing 1t up.
Il WHAT THE DELAwAREs WANT.
0 The memorandum referred 10