Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1897-12-09
LOBBY IS ON HAND.
FIGHT TO PREVENT INDIAN LEGIS-
LATION ALREADY BEGUN.
WOULD SHUT OFF ITS INCOME.
CHICK KASAw-CHO DELEGATES
TO BE HEARD TO-DAY.
Usual Plan IL to Urge Legislation of
Some Kind but to Fight Every
Scheme That Is PrOpOsed-
Curtis Bill II In
Favor.
WOULD SHUT OFF ITS INCOME.

Washington. Dec. S.-tSpeciaI) The In
dian Territory lobby has commenced to file
in for business. AS usual. they want no
legislation. this by way of retaining graz
ing and mineral leases and other financial
advantages secured. at the expense of the
people of the tribes. The first to put in
an appearance is Captain Stanley. of the
Choctaws. He is closely followed by Cap
tain Ainsworth. These two men have been
coming here for twenty-five years. plead
ing poor Lo" by way of protecting their
special privileges. They usually show up
with percentage commissions in all claims
allowed or money paid to the tribes. They
sometimes represent they want legislation.
but they don'r-only legislation that ap-
propriates some claim in which they have
a contract for a large slice.
They will appear before the house In
dian committee tomorrow morning to urge
two things: First, modification Of the
clause in the last Indian appropriation bill
extending the jurisdiction of the United
States courts over all offenses committed
in the Indian Territory and abolishing the
tribal courts. The commissioners will ask
that the time when this provision shall
go into effect be extended beyond the time
now fixed by congress, which is January
| /, 1888. The other object Of their appear
ance before the committee is to urge the
| ratification of the Choctaw and Chickasaw
treaty. They will give the committee as
surances that If the treaty is ratified by
| congress, or congress takes such action
as will fix a time for the dissolution OF
the tribal bonds. the two tribes will ac-
quiesce, in spite of the apparent opposi-
ton which manifested itself in the ter
ritory recently. What the committee may
do Is, Of course, a matter Of conjecture
only. There Is strong sentiment In favor
| of legislation along the lines of the Curtis
| bill, and in all probability this measure
will be finally adopted. possibly with some
notifications.
The usual plan Of the lobby Is to favor
something. They always admit that some
thing should be done. but they manage to
| raise a terrible fog over details. so much
| so that nothing is done. In the midst of
the fog. the whole thing falls through and
after the session Is ended the lobby ep-
plains that 1t cost q certain amount to
prevent legislation. In this way they sup
port the theory that congress is venal as
| well as the councils of the tribes.
| At this time of a session there is always
| radical Indian Territory legislation There
| are many threats on the part OF those haV-
ing the matter in hand. The lobby in due
| time applies the usual remedies. brings in
| a few federal offiCeholders from the terrt-
| tory and all is well. Nothing Is done.
The presidents message handles the
question intelligentIy, and thus gives an
| impetus unusual even at the beginning OF
| the session. This may give some extra
| hope for favorable results during this ses-
sion.