The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1897-01-17
rRIBAL RELATIONS END.
Secretary Francis Approves the Agree
ment Of the ChOetaws-Other Tribes
VIII Be Forced to Dissolve.

Washington, ID. c., Jan. 15.-Sec-
retary Francis has approved the
Choctaw agreement. There will be
one more meeting between the secre-
tary, the Dawes commission and the
ChOctaw commission. This will be
held on Saturday. Early in the week,
probably on Monday or Tuesday, the
agreement viii go to congress for
action. The hearing concluded the
consideration OF the provisions. The
secretary made suggestions in the
way of minor notifications, which
the Choctaw commissioners accept
ed. These changes made, the secre-
tary declared his approval.
Upon consultation with the Dawes
commission, the secretary also de-
cided that the thing to do was to get
the agreement before congress as
quickly as possible. IL is known to
Mr.. Francis and TO the commission
ers that a bill has been prepared for
the dissolution of tribal relations,
and for the allotment of lands and
other purposes. The disposition in
both senate and house to put the
bill through at this session is very
strong. Those having the measure
/ in charge will accept the Choctaw
agreement as governing in the course
of the government toward that tribe;
/ but they will make the legislation
apply TO the other tribes without any
/ further delay for their consent. The
provisions of the bill will not allow
I the Cherokees, Creeks. Chicka>aws
and Seminoles many % the advan-
tages which the Choctaws have Sc
cured. They will do away with the
tribal governments, allot the lands
to the Indians and establish town
sites and town governments for the
white people.
Simon Sterne of New York, gem
eral counsel for the Missouri, Kansas
and Texas railroad, appeared again
today before the secretary and filed
brief. lie claims that the com
pany's grant of alternate sections
for ten miles on either side OF the
railroad becomes effective when the
tribes are broken mp and the lands
subdivided. Mr.. Francis consulted
with Assistant Attorney General
Lionberger, and decided that this
claim was something that did not
enter into consideration of the
agreement OF the ChoCtaws. lie,
therefore, ignored the grant in max
ing up his mind TO approve the agree
ment. II is supposed that the Mis-
. souri,. Kansas and Texas will enter
a claim against the government FOR
the loss of the land.
The bill, which will be reported
and pressed soon after the Choctaw
: agreement is reported to congress
/ will have two chances. II may &c
. through as an independent measure
IL the time should prove too short
i, for this course, the bill may be at
! tached TO the Indian appropriation
bill. There has been no time wher
there was such unanimity on thS
part of the administration and botl
branches of congress to break uI
existing conditions in the Indiar
TIE ritory. The members of this
I Dawes commission have had confer
+ ences with senator's and representa-
, tives on the Indian committee o
: both branches Of congress, and hav,
found them anxious TO dispose o
this long-pending question at thu
present session. Ii is probable tina
= the bill will be SO framed rs 10 con
tinue the Dawes commission, en-
larging its powers and directing it 4
proceed at once with the allotmen
. Of lands, with the establishment o
= townsites and with other details o
> the transformation OF these five In
dian reservations into a territory o
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