Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1898-01-20
THE FIVE TRIBES
IN CONGRESS.
MATTERS NOW BE-
GINNING TO ASSUME TAN
GIBLE SHAPE.
The REORGANIZATION Bill Discussed
TOwnsiters Actively at WOrk-Re.
duced Railroad Fares i'm Prospect
Delegate Callahan's Joke.
Copyright 1881
WASHINGTON. Jan. IL, 1sqs.


The first milestone of the session
has been reached in Indian Ter
ritory affairs. The bill upon
which the subcommittee has been
working for several weeks was
formally introduced Monday.
The senate members of the sub
committee will not report a bill to
the senate committee for the pres
ent. Their course was indicated
in my interview with Senator
Jones last week. The senate will
wait until the bill h as passed the
house. 1t will then 90 to the
senate, where it will be amended
and modified, if it does not reflect
the ideas of those in charge of this
branch of legislation in that branch
of congress. Only the occupancy
of the land is to be allotted.
A careful synopsis of the bill is
presented in this paper.-ED. I
The l57 900 acres of land claim
ed by the Delawares in the Chero-
kee nation, Is to be set apart, be-
fore the land of that nation is al
lotted, and the rights of Delawares
born after the purchase of this
land, are not to be affected there
by.
The question discussed for some
time relative to an alternative
clause providing that if the treaties
made with the Choctaws, Chicka-
saws and Creeks be accepted with
in six months they were to become
effective, was ignored. The bill
carries no reference TO the treaties.
it is now too early to get an
opinion as to what will be the fate
of this bill, or how much of it will
track its way through the intricate
masses OF congressional legislation
and finally reach the statute books.
1t has been understood during the
whole time the subcommittee has
been at work, that their recon-
mendations would, substantially,
be adopted. Much will depend
upon the senate, and when the
measure reaches that body, it may
be that many radical departures
will be insisted upon, and it is
barely possible that that body will
not be inclined to strike out as
boldly as the house in recasring
Indian Territory matters and in
terests. The general opinion is,
however, that the bill reported to-
day, contains the substance of
what congress is willing to do at
this session.
Last week witnessed complete
organization of the townsite peo-
pie here. AS indicated in former
letters, every town of consequence
in the territory is represented by
from one to three live, active dele
gates, and their impress upon
prospective legislation is and has
been felt. They interview con-
gressmen and senators and pre-
sent 10 them such facts and argu-
ments as give them an intelligent
understanding of the interests to
be passed upon. Thursday and
Friday they appeared before the
Dawes commission at their quar-
ters in the Atlantic building and
presented to them their views
as to townsites. There were pres
ent at this meeting ]. F. McMur-
ray, ]. J. McAlester and Josiah
Gardner of South McAlester, S. T
Bledsoe, of Ardmore, and J. H.
Humphrey. of Purcell, Sam Pow
ell, of Wagner, J. N. Thornton,
of Eufaula, and Messrs. Halsell
and Thompson representing the
interests of those who hold under
the Cherokee townsite law, Gen.
Porter and Roley Mcintosh of the
Creeks, and the whole Cherokee
delegation. The conference con-
tinued two days, and perhaps is
the most general townsite discus
sion ever held here. Thursday
Messrs. Bledsoe and Humphrey
were heard for the Chickasaw
towns, and on Friday Mr.. McMur-
ray was given a hearing. These
gentlemen reviewed the whole
townsite question at length, and
advocated the appraisal of tine
towns with reference only to their
advantages as townsites, and that
such appraisal should be within a
minimum and maximum of s25 to
$500 per acre. Messrs. Halsell and
Thompson were heard for the
Cherokee towns. They, of course
advocate a ratification of the hold
ings under the Cherokee law. As
to all towns and parts of towns in
their nation not so held, they are
in harmony with the other dele
gates. Just what direct results
there will be from this meeting
cInnot now be foretold. The re-
port of the subcommittee bill, of
course, directs all attention for
time. upon its provisions The
object OF the townsite people was
TO impress one common harmon
i"us lued upon lhe Dd"eS Coth- |
mission and ask that they recon-
mend that it be incorporated in
the bill then being prepared.
This meeting and those being |
daily held by the townsite people !
makes apparent one thing, and |
that is that they stand ready to
unite uon any idea that may be
thought most reasonable and feas-
ible. That unity and harmony is
possible prefaces effective work
and that each is adding to the use-
fulness and effectiveness OF all is
evidenced by the policy that pre-
walls.
Much anxiety is expressed at
Il. of H. T..