The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-11-15
INDIAN ALLOTMENTS.
Rules and Regulations Made in Pur-
suance of the Curtis Bill.

Ardnore, I. II, Nov. 15.-There has
lust been received here a copy or the
rules governing the selection ana rent
ing of prospective allotments OF IandS
in the Indian Territory, prescribed by
the secretary of the interior. The rules
are important as supplementary TO the
Curtis bill. These rules affect thous-
ands in the Indian Territory, and Will
cause many to leave the domain
Section Is of the Curtis bill provides
that it shall be unlawful, except as is
provided in the act, for any one to re-
ceive royalty on coal, OIL asphalt, other
mineral, or on timber, or to receive rents
on any land belonging to one of the
tribes All royalties payable TO the
tribe are to be paid under regulations
provided by the secretary. But where
any citizen shall be in possession of his
reasonable share of lands he may con-
tinue to use them or receive the rents
until allotment.
Section II provides that no member of
a tribe shall hold greater amount OF
land than would be the falr snare OF
himself and family.
Section 10 provides penalties for the
violation for the two previous sections.
Section % provides that all leases Tor
agricultural or grazing lands made af-
ter January 1, 1898, shall be absolutely
void, and all grazing leases MADE prlor
to that date shall terminate April l.
1899 and all agricultural leases Janu-
airy l. 1900; but this shall not prevent
individuals from leasing their allot-
ments when made to them as provided
renting their prOpOrtiOnate share until
the alIotmentS are made
The rules say that it is the intention
of the law to require every member OF
anv tribe holding lands in excess of his
reasonable share to relinQuish posses
sion thereof in order that other mem
bers of the tribe may enter thereon and
make homes preparatory to the allot-
ments so contemplated.
Section 16, therefore, prohibits any one
from claiming, demanding, receiving as
Er4.v, 80 rferr 70 raVnNr in
dividual rents on any such excess of
lands after the date of such act; and
section II forbidS any one to inclOSe or
in any manner by himself, or through
another, directly or indirectly, to hold
possession of any greater amount of
lands than that which would be his APP
proximate share, after the expiration OF
nine months after the passage of the
act No one can, therefore, either re-
ceive or pay rents to any individual on
anv excess after the passage of the act
or retain possession OF any excess after
March %, 1899, without mourning the
Under other sections, it is clear that
no member is authorized prior to allot-
ment to rent his share of the land, and
that OF his family, unless he be in pos
session and occupying the same as his
homestead, or the same be selected by
him in good faith as the land to be al
lotted to him No lease or contract Of
lands executed since January 1, 1898,
can have any force.
All grazing leases expire on April /,
1899, and all agricultural leases on jan
uary l. 1900.
The last proviso in section Is permits
any member of tribe to dispose of any
timber contained on his allotment, but
this privilege can not be exercised until
after final allotment
In order, therefore, to give effect to
the provisions of the law and to enable
every member of a tribe to select the
lands to be allotted in his approximate
share the commission to the five civiliz-
ed tribes is instructed to proceed as
early as practicable to establish an Of
flee within the territory of each tribe,
provided with proper and suitable rec
ords. including a copy of the United
States survey, for the purpose of regis
tering each and every selection Of Land