Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1897-12-10

agreement with the Choctaw nation alone.
The Chickasaws, however, refused to agree
to its terms and, as they have comm on
interest with the Choctaws in the lands Of
said nations, the agreement with the latter
nation could have no effect without the con-
sent of the former. On April 49, 1897, the
commission effected an agreement with
both tribes-the Choctaws and Chickasaws.
This agreement 1t is understood has been
ratified by the constituted authorities of
the respective tribes or nations parties
thereto, and only requires ratification by
Congress to make 1t binding
On the 9th of September, 1897, an agree
| mcnt was affected with the Creek nation.
but II Is understood that the national coun-
| ell of said nation has refused to ratify the
same.
Mr. Dawes Suggestion Upheld.
The provision in the Indian appropriation
act, approved June TO- 1896, makes 1t the
duty of the commission to investigate and
determine the rights of applicants for citi-
zenship in the Five Civilized Tribes. The
commission is at present engaged in this
work among the tribes, and has made ap-
pointments for taking the census of these
people up to and including the 30th of the
present month.
Negotiations are yet to be had with the
Cnerokees the most populous of the five
civilized tribes, and with the SeminOles, the
Should the agreement between the Choc-
taws and Chckasaws be ratified by Con-
gress. and should the other tribes fail to
make an agreement with the commission
then it will be necessary that some legisla-
ton 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 invitation of
the tribal nations.
The Hon, Henry l.. Dawes, chairman of
the commission, in letter to the Secretary
of the Interior, under date of October II,
1897, says: individual ownership Is in their
(the commisson's) opinion absolutely es-
sential to any permanent Improvement in
present conditions, and the lack of 1t Is the
root of nearly all the evils which so grlev-
ously affiict these people. Allotment by
agreement Is the only possible method I'M
less the United States courts are clothed
with the authority to apportion the lands
among the citizen Indians for those whose
use 1t was originally granted"
I concur with the Secretary of the In
terror that there can be no cure for the
evils engendered by the perversiou of these
great trusts. excepting by their resumption
by the government which created them
A Kansas Pacific Bid.
The Union Pacific railway main line was
sold under the decree of the United States
court for the district of Nebraska on the
LIST and I'd Of November of this year. The
amount due the government consisted of
the principal of the subsidy bonds. S27 $780,
5l2 and the accrued interest thereon, !.
S31, oil, 7lL75, making the total indebted
ness sos. 44S 223.75. The bid at the sale
covered the first mortgage lien and the en-
tire mortgage claim of the government.
pr nc ipal and interest
Tae sale of the subsidized portion of the ''
Kansas Pacific line, upon which the govern
ment holds a second mortgage lien, has
been postponed at the instance of the gov
eminent to December 16. 1897. The debt.
of this division of the Union Pacific rail-
road to the government on November IS.
1897. was the principal of the subsidy
bonds sc, 500 600, and the unpaid and ac-
crued interest, &C. 626 600 SO, making total
of s12,929,690.33 The sale of this road
was originally advertised for November 4.
but for the purpose of securing the utmost
public notice of the event it was postponed
until December IL, and second advertise
ment of the sale was made.
The Kansas Pacific Matter.
BY the decree of the court the upset
price on the sale of the Kansas Pacific will
yield to the government the SUM of 81 $780,
900 over all prior liens costs and charges.
If no other or better bid is made this sum is
all that the government will receive on
its claim of nearly S1a. O00,00 The gov
eminent has no infor ma alton as to
whether there will be other bidders or
a batter bid than the maximum amount
herein stated. The question pre- sented there
for is, whether the government shall, under
the authority given it by the act of March
8, 1887, purch ase or redeem the road in the
event that bid is not made by private
parties covering the entire government
claim To qualify the government to bid at
the sales will require a deposit of 5000 900,
as follows: In the government cause $780,
900 and in each of the first mortgage causes
100000, and in the latter the deposit must
be in cash Payments at the sale are as
follows: Upon the acceptance of the bid,
a sum which. with the amount already de-
posted, shall equal Is per cent of the bid;
the balance in installments of 25 per cent
thirty forty and fifty days after the con-
firmation of the sale. The lien on the Kan
sas Pacific prior to that of the government
on the 3Oth day of July, 1897 principal and
government, therefore. should 1T become
the highest bidder, will have to pay the
amount OF the first mortgage lien.
The Government VIII BID
believe that under the act of 1887 it has
the authority TO do this, and in absence of
any action by Con ,ress, shall direct the
Secretary of the Treasury to make the nee
essary deposit as 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
1t is clear to my mind that the govern
ment should not permit the property to be
'oid at a price witch will yield less than one
half the principal of its debt and less than
1ne-hfth of its entire debt principal and
interest But whether the government,
-ather than accept less than Its claim,
should become a bidder and thereby the
owner of the property, submit to Congress
or action.
Civil Servico-EcOnomy.
The important branch of our government
Known as the civil service, the practical i'm
prove ment of which has long been a SUBJ
ect of earnest discussion. has of late years
'eceved increased legislative and executive
approval. Much, of course still remains to
,e accomplished before this system can be
made reasonably perfect for our needs.
There are places now in the classified service
which ought to be exempted and others not
classified may properly be included shall
lot hesitate to exempt cases which think
lave been improperly included in the class
fed service. or include those which, in my A
will best promote the public SER
ice, The system has the approval of the
eople, and 1t will be my endeavor to up
old and extend it. .....,,. .r' ...t..
Strict Economy Called For.
I am forced by the length of this message
o omit many important references to at
a.. TIT