Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1897-12-23
THE FIVE TRIBES
IN CONGRESS.
Copyright 1897.

TN CUNOhCSS'
Copyright 1877
ALLOTMENT AND TOWNSHIP LEG.
ISLATiON CERTAIN.
Letter From our Special Washington
Correspondent Confirming Report
of Prospective Indian Territory
Legislation.
Many developments in the In
dian situation have taken place
this week. In fact this week has
witnessed a complete change in
what is regarded as the program
to be carried. out by congress, rela-
tive to the five tribes. The idea up
to the last few days has been that,
whatever course congress pursued,
it would be on the lines of the
agreements that were understood
to have been made. The report
that the Chickasaws had rejected
the agreement was not credited,
until official information of their
rejection of it, reached here. 1t
is now understood and expressed
by those having these matters in
charge that no reward will be paid
to the agreements that have been
proposed, but that the two COM
mittees of congress will get to-
gether and formulate some plan
and present it to congress. That
there will be clear and clean cut
allotment and townsite legislation
seems certain.
Yesterday there was a joint
meeting of the house and senate
Indian affairs committee. The
meeting was not an official one.
1t was called, that the members of
the two committees might become
better acquainted and approach
nearer each other in the work they
have 10 hand, and discuss inform
ally the work to be accomplished.
No definite plans were discussed,
further than that the allotment
and townsite idea prevailed, and
that the two committees would
unite in presenting some plan to
congress for the settlement OF the
confused conditions of the Indian
Territory.
The Dawes commission is here
and appeared before the house
Indian committee at its regular
meeting Thursday. There were
present Messrs. Dawes, Bixby and
Armstrong. Their recommended
tions and report have not yet been
formally presented. In fact, these
first meetings of all the commit
tees are only to properly organize
for the work of the session. There
will of course be lull during the
holidays but with the reassembling
of congress, the earnest work will
begin.
Judge Little is in receipt of a
letter from Major McKennon of
the Dawes commission, stating
that he will reach Washington in
a short while.
Col. Tams Bixby of the Dawes
commission was at the capitol
Thursday, and lunched at the
capitol restaurant with Judge
Little and Congressman Eddy, the
latter of Minnesota.
Of Mr.. Bixby, the "Post" has
this to say:
"Tams Bixby, the handsome
politician from Minnesota, and
who is acting chairman of the
Dawes Indian commission, was at
the capitol yesterday. x =
His appointment as chairman OF
the Dawes commission was a per-
sonal one by the president, made
without any application by Mr..
Bixby or by his friends.
Sam Powell, of WAGNER, is here,
and on the alert for townsites leg
islation. Everybody here who
knows anything about the Indian
Territory or her people know Sam
Powell. To say that he is an
earnest and conscientious worker
for the upbuilding of the Indian
Territory puts it mildly. His
knowledge of the conditions that
exist there is exhaustive and val
liable to those here who would be
enlightened that they may act in.
tel.igently. He has done much
for his town, having worked
through the whole Of the last ses.
sion of congress for the establish.
ment of court at Wagner. His
mission now is to secure townsite
legislation of the territory, and on
that feature of pending legislation,
he is directing his energies.
The Cherokee delegates are here
and at the National hotel.
1t was my pleasure to meet and
accept many courtesies from Mr.
E. E. White, of the Indian divis'
ion of the interior department,
Mr.. White is an Arkansas man
having been reared in Nevads
county. He is chief of the Indian
division of the secretary's office
and is the medium through which
the secretary of the interior dis
patches and receives all communi
cations and matters with the In
dian bureau. Mr. White has long
been in the Indian service and il
familiar with every detail of tha
branch of tho work
The provision in the last Indiar
appropriation bill transferring thu
jurisdiction of the Indian courts tt
the courts of the United States,
will not be suspended. Pending
negotiations with the tribes, dur
ing the extra session, bill passed
the senate providing that the Law
should be suspended until sucf
time as the senate should act or
the agreement made with th'
Choctaw and Chickasaw nations
Thursday when it was Learned
definitely that the Chickasaws haC
| l.