Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1897-02-11
The NeMs from MashIneton.

ber of the Indian committee, and
man to whom the five civilized
tribes have looked for advice, in
formed the delegates to-day that in
his opinion this congress is certain
to take decisive action looking Tor
allotment of lands and dissolution
of tribal relations.
Chief Samuel Mayes, of the
Cherokees, has written letter to
leading men of his nation, telling
them That it is useless to try to de-
lay action, and that the Indians
must make the best terms they
can FOR themselves. He urges the
leaders 20 prepare the tribe for
what is inevitable
Representatives of the Chcrokees
and Creeks today completed the
draft of an agreement which they
propose to offer to congress.
Copies OF the agreement have been
sent to the territory, accompanied
by private letters urging that the
tribes ratify the provisions. This
agreement differs from the one
signed by the Choctaws, in that il
ignores the Dawes commission.
The Cherokees and Creeks want
congress to authorize the tribal
governments to allot the lands in
stead OF placing it under the di-
rection and control of the Dawes
commission. They also want the
mineral properties to 60 with land
as allotted, instead of being kept
separate and handled for the bene-
fit of the whole tribe. But the
principal point Of difference be-
tween the agreement is that the
Cherokees and Creeks insist that
all claims they have against the
United States must be settled be-
fore any steps are taken toward
the distribution of the lands.
The Choctaw and Chickasaw
delegates held a long conference
this morning and Unexpectedly
reached conclusions. The matter
was laid before the Dawes COM
mission this afternoon. The in
dications are that the Chickasaw
delegates will conclude to sign the
Choctaw agreement without wait
ing for the special session of their
legislature to give them authority,
as was expected last night. The
Chickasaws have obtained some
notifications in the Choctaw
agreement which they think justi.
fy them in signing. The princi-
pal change relates to the method
by which the individual title shall
pass in the allotment. The new
arrangement, for which the Chick
asaws have contended, is that the
tribal government should give the
title direct, the United States con-
firming it. Under the agreement
as originally made the United
States was to receive the land from
the tribe and reconvey it to the in
dividual Indians. The modified
agreement will also include more
definite provisions regarding town
sites.
John Brown, the chief OF the
Seminoles, has prepared a protest
against the dissolution ofthe tribal
relationship. He represents the
smallest OF the five civilized tribes
His people number a few hundreds.
The most of the Seminole reserva-
ton is composed OF sand hills.
There is one good valley. John
Brown presents a picture Of Sem
mole distress worthy of Osceola,
the famous chief and orator of the
tribe when it inhabited Florida.
February S.-The senate com
mittee on Indian affairs at a meet
ing this afternoon decided to re.
port fayorably the bill ito amend
existing conditions in the Indian
Territory" This measure reor-
ganizes the entire government OF
the Territory. 1t provides that the
five civilized tribes shall be allot-
ted lands in severalty and that the
United States shall replace the In
dian tribunals with federal courts.
1t also provides five United States
judges for the territory. the juris-
diction of whom shall be complete.
This bill will be reported by the
Indian committee as an amend
ment to the Indian appropriation
bill aud il stands a good chance ol
becoming law. Friends Of the five
tribes in congress are gratified at
the action Of the senate, and some
Of them predict that if passed the
new measure will do much in the
way Of accomplishing the condi
tions which the government hat
endeayored TO accomplish by ne.
goGalion.