The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1898-03-06
Che Daily Hromorette.
BLEDSOE TO FARMERS.
An Expression to the Nom n-CItIxens-HIl
Views on the Matter-COnRress
VIII Protect Them.
To The Ardmoreite.

the protection afforded to non-citi-
zen owners of improvements or
leasshold interests in the Indian Ter
ritory by the Curtis bill, beg to say
that full consideration of the bill,
l think, will convince all persons III
terested that fair and adequate pro-
lection is afforded the non citizen
owners of improvements or lease
hold interests thereby. The provis-
ion specifically protecting such in
terest, as found in said bill, is as
follows:
provided always, That a person
in possession of agricultural lands,
holding the possession thereof under
an agreement, lease or Improvement
contract with either of said nations,
or tribes, or any citizen thereof, exc
cuted prior to January l, 1898, may,
in defense of said action, show that
he is and has been in peaceable pos
session of such lands, and that he
has, while in such possession, made
lasting and valuable improvements
thereon, and that he has not enjoyed
the possession thereof a sufficient
length of time to compensate him
for such improvements. Thereupon
the court or jury trying said cause
shall determine the fair and reason
able value of such improvements and
the fair and reasonable rental value
of such lands for the time the same
shall have been occupied by such
person, and if the improvements ex
ceed in value the amount of rents
with which such person should be
charged, the court, in its judgment.
shall specify such time as will, in the
opinion of the court, compensate
such person or the balance due, and
award him possession for such time
unless the amount be paid by claim
and within such REASONABLE time as
the court shall specify. Ii the find
ing be that the amount of rents ex-
ceed the value of the improvements,
Judgment shall be rendered against
the defendant for such sum, for
which execution may issue, and such
Judgment shall become lien upon
the improvements situated thereon" "
1t was not without much effort on
our part that this provision was pro-
cured to be inserted in the bill. The
idea is largely prevalent among the
members of congress that the farm
ers of the Indian Territory consist
principally of what is known as the
"boomer" element, that caused the
government so much trouble in the
early Oklahoma days. They seem to
have no idea of the magnitude of the
interests involved. of the number of
white people occupying the farming
lands in the Indian Territory, and
the actual amount of improvements
made by such persons. Our first en-
deavor was to get the leases confirm
ed, but the opposition to this was so
great that we saw it was practically
impossible to get it done. Then we
set about devising some means
whereby an equitable adjustment
could be had that would be fair to
the white man, and at the same ii ne
90 fair to the Indian that no valid OBJ
lection could be made to its incor-
poration in the bill. The provision
above. quoted was finally agreed
upon and presented by Mr.. Little of
Arkansas, who insisted upon and
procured its insertion in the bill.
The purpose of this provision is to
permit any person who either holds
q quit claim deed to the improve
ments, or a lease under which he
made valuable improvements, to
have an accounting taken of ahaim-
proyements made by him or his as
signors under the lease or quit claim,
and also of the reasonable rental
value of the land during the exis-
tence of the lease, and if he has not
occupied the lands sufficient length
OF time to fully compensate him for
his improvements, the court is to as
certain the excess due him and the
length of time in which the use of
the land would discharge and pay off
this, sum. The Indian may pay of
the amount ascertained to be due for
improvements and acquire sposses-
sion at oEoe- IT he. fails. TO do this
the possession is awarded to the nom
citizenf for sufficient length of time
to pay him for the balance due him
ON account of improvements. In Or
deFlto prevent the holding of lands
by persons who desire to do SO un-
fairly and after they have received
full compensation for their improve
msnts,5 it ia provided that if they
have held the lRnd long enough al
ready to realize more from the rents
ehansthey invested in, improvements,