The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1897-12-24
TROUBLE EXPECTED.
indians VIII FOrcibIy Resist All Efforts
to Abolish Tribal Courts
Secretary james Wilson Strongly Advo-
Gates establishments OF Postal say
GnSa Banks-InterestIng sss-
sion OF the Cabinet.


WASHINGTON, Dec S2.-Trouble in the
Indian territory is expected by the
commissioner Of Indian affairs and by
Others in this city who are familiar
With the condition Of affairs prevail
ing there. On January 1 the tribal
courts viii be abolished by an act
passed at the last session OF congress
and the United States courts given full
Jurisdiction over the territory. In
many quarters the officers OF the In
dian courts have declared that they
viii fOreibly resist all efforts to pre-
vent them doing business, while the
United States marshals have given no
tiee that any tribal courts attempting
to sit viii be broken up and those as
suming to conduct them viii be ar
rested. Information has been received
at the Office OF the United States mar
shall at South McAlester, I T., to the
effect that the lawless element
among the Indians has formed a
conspiracy to burn up the United
States courthouse there and all other
United States court buildings in the
Indian territory. The burning of the
United States courthouse at ArdmOre
the other day, with all its records, is
believed to be the first attempt to
carry out the plot. The Indians are
said to be growing more FESTIVE as the
1st Of January approaches The dele
gates Of the Cherokee and Creek In
diaRs held a conference yesterday to
decide upon some course Of action
with reference to the act Of congress
abOlishing the Indian courts. They
hold that the act is unconstitutional,
and, after a session Of several hours,
reached a decision under which they
viii instruct the tribal courts to sit
just as though congress had never en-
acted law superseding their juris-
dictiOn- If stopped by the United
States authorities, and the officials of
the Indian courts are arrested, applica-
ton for a writ of habeas corpus will
be applied for in the United States
courts, and test case will be carried
to the supreme court for a decision of
the cOnstitutiOnality of the act. The
Indians say they will employ two of
the best constitutional lawyers in the
United States to represent them, and
they profess great faith in gaining a
favorable decision.
FAvORs POSTAL SAVINGS BANKS.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 22.-Secretary
Wilson is greatly interested in legisla-
ton for the establishment of postal
savings banks because he believes they
are necessary to the prosperity of the
farmers. The banking facilities in the
agricultural districts are so limited,
he says, that the farmers and their
wives are compelled to conceal their
savings in teapOts and tin cans, under
mattresses Of their beds and in corners
Of the carpets, and in stockings that
are hidden away where none but pru-
dent housewives can find them These
hoardings represent millions Of dollars
and are idle, first, because banks Of
deposit are scarce and remote, and sec
Ondly, because of lack of confidence
in private institutions. It's an all
days Job for a farmer to 90 to the
county town where the nearest bank
is situated, while there is a post Office
in every village The recent report Of
the comptroller Of the currency shows
that the savings banks Of the United
States are mostly confined to the north
eastern section Of the country. Nearly
so per cent. Of the number OF banks
and amount of deposits is represented
by New York and New England. In
the western states, for reasons that
are well understood, they are few and
far between, and Secretary Wilson
thinks the government should supply
this very important defect in our ma
tional economy.
CABINET MEETING.
WASHINGTON, Dee. 22.-Yesterday's
cabinet meeting was devoted almost
entirely to a discussion Of the opera
ton OF the civil service law The res
OlutiOn adopted by the senate last Fri
day calling upon the executive heads
OF the several departments OF the gov
eminent for information concerning
the application of the civil service law
TO their departments and an expression
of their opinions as to what, If any,
modification ought to be made in it,
was the subject directly under discus
sion. All the members Of the cabinet
were present except Secretary Alger,
and there was no dissent from the
proposition that the civil service law
ought to be, and would be, upheld
The principle OF the system, in the
opinion Of all, must be maintained, but
there was some difference Of opinion
as to the extent Of its application.
While the system was pretty thor
oughly discussed, it can be said upon
the authority Of three members of the
cabinet that no definite policy was
outlined, beyond q determination TO
maintain the principle of the civil
service. Nc effort was made to adopt
a reply to the senate that would en-
bo7v uniform ev0-osSions of ODiniCu