Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1897-09-02
TO VISIT Us DURING VACATION.
The Senate Indian Subcommittee to
Examine and Prepare Report.

proposes TO settle at the coming
session of congress the whole ques-
tion of government of the five civ
ilized tribes. 1t will submit bill
early in the session covering the
entire matter. On September 10,
a subcommittee of the Indian
committee will start for the Indian
Territory. 1t will thoroughly in
vestigate conditions as they exist
now, and in December will sub
nit report which will be made
the basis for prompt action on the
part of the senate.
The sub -committe is composed
of Senator Platt, of Connecticut,
Senator Jones, of Arkansaw, and
Senator Mantle of Montana. They
go with full authority to make
such investigation as they see fit
and that they propose to make it
thorough is attested by all three
members of the committee.
There is much dissatisfaction
among senators over the obstinacy
of the five tribes in refusing to
treat with the Dawes commission,
and the object of sending a SUBJ
committee into the territory at
this time is to get such data as
is necessary for the drastic step
which certain members contem-
plate. As soon as the senate con-
yenes in December the committee Q
will report and then the next step
will be the introduction of a bill
to carry out the suggestions
prompted by the inquiry.
1t is proposed by those who are
familiar with the Indian question
to end decisively and for all time
the squabble between the tribes and
Dawes commission. This is to be
done by the passage of bill, gen.
eral in its nature, which will take
from the five tribes, or such Of
them as fail to make terms with
the Dawes commission, all right
to deal further with them. Es-
pecially is the senate committee
determined to see what influence
prevented the Cherokees and the
Creeks from entering into agree
ment with the commission, and
just where the responsibility lies
for the discord among the tribes,
over the proposition to take their
lands in severalty.
The subcommittee will closely
inquire into all the tangled threads
of the five tribes problem, and as
the members are thoroughly fa-
miliar with the Indian question,
there is no doubt but that they
will present a report that will be
speedily followed By decisive ac-
ton on the part of the senate to
bring an end to the present state Of
affairs. The sub committee has
received much information upon
the unequal use of common prop
erty Of tribes, and this of itself is
fruitful field for investigation.
1t is charged end supported by the
best of evidence, that the element
in each tribe which is so bitterly
opposed to treating with the Dawes
commission is that faction which
for twenty years has enjoyed spec
ial privileges in coal and oil land
leases and in the rentals of grazing
land to cattlemen.
This condition is going to be
broken up and the entering wedge
will be driven when Senators Platt,
Jones and Mantle begin their
work. They are authorized to
conduct a searching investigation
and to spend as much time as may
be necessary to get all the facts.
While on his way home from
Mayesyille, |. W. Yancey, who
lives north of Southwest City, was
met in the road by two young men
driving a buggy. They halted
Mr.. Yancey who was also driving
buggy. and ordered him to get
out of his buggy. He hesitated
when one of them struck him in
the face with revolver. The
men forced Mr.. Yancey to get out
of his buggy and fix something
about the neck yoke to their bug
gy, when they allowed him to
drive on. 1t is believed the two
men are Davis and Title, two
tough characters of the territory
S. w. City Enterprise.
The Dawes commission is tax
ing a rest with their families. The
great strain ;hey have passed nee
estates this, but the clerk is at his
post of duty. He has to remain
there no matter whether he is
worn out or not. His salary is too
small to admit of a vacation.
When an officials salary reaches