The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1898-01-16


port of Messrs Curtis and McKennon
who had been instructed to compile
the suggestions of the Dawes Com
mission and committee, into the form
of a bill, but the print did not reach
the committee until quite late in the
session and the work of actual consid-
Grafton went over today.
The committee took up the Curtis
McKennon measure and began the
work of agreeing upon, feature by
feature, the bill, in course of prepa-
ration Some considerable progress
was made, but the work is only well
begun While the sessions of the
committee were executive it is under
stood that the following features
were practically agreed upon: The
first few sections of the original Cur
tbs bill relating to the jurisdiction of
the United States courts over the
Territory officials, in case of bribery,
corruption and misconduct in office
and contests over the possession of
property, were discussed and will
doubtless become part of the bill.
The allotment question was taken
up and it is thought il. the light of
the consideration today, that the
committee will reccomend the allot-
ment of the use and occupancy of the
land, the reservation of mineral
lands and tcwnsites. AS to how the
fee is to reach the Indian is still
question with the committee. It
was thought last week that a provis-
ion would be agreed upon
allowing the Inc ians to go into
the United States courts and have
fee decreed to them; and that the
whole was to su. >rseded by the
treaties, in the event of their adoD-
ton by the several nations, within
six months after the passage of the
law.
1t is now thought the committee
will reccomend that the question
shall be submitted to the Indians, to
whether or not they shall have the
fee allotted to them, which they may
either accept or reject, by vote of
the people. In other words, the oc-
cupancy will be allotted at all events
and to this the fee will be added if
they elect by vote to receive it.
There was regular meeting of the
house Indian affairs committee
Thursday but nothing was done with
reference to Indian Territory mat
ters for the reason that the commit
tee is awaiting the report of the SUBJ
committee, now at work.
The attorneys for the Chickasaw
freedmen appeared before the COM
mittee and presented in an extern
sive argument, their claim for cii-
zenship in the Chickasaw nation, and
participation in the land and other
property of that nation.
That feature will be considered by
the subcommittee, when it is
reached.
Senator Jones sustains closer rela-
tions to proposed Indian Territory
legislation than any other member of
the upper house of congress. He is
ex-chairman of the senate Indian af-
fairs committee and is a member of
the subcommittee now preparing a
bill for allotment, townsite and other
feat Tres. Thinking that his estimate
of the situation would be interesting
and valuable, 1 this morning called
on him and asked for a statement of
the present status of Indian Terri
tory legislation, for the information of
the people of that country.
1.-The Curtis bill with amendments
compiled by Curtis and McKennon !"
Senator Jones, said are now before
the committee and have been pretty
generally discussed. iJpon the whole
the members of the committee agree
upon the general features OF the pro-
posed measure, but they have not, RS
yet, taken any actual steps toward
reporting bill, The forthcoming re-
port of the subcommittee may entire
ly agree. The latter is possible rath-
er than probable"
When asked his opinion as to what
extsnt this congress will go, toward
legislating a settlement of Indian
Territory complications, Senator
Jones said.
II can best answer that by stating
what I think ought to be done. l
am in favor of ratifying a Seminole
treaty SO it may be operative at once
AS to the. ChOctaws, Chickasaws and
Greeks, | am ia favor of immediate
legislation providing for the aIlot-
inert of the use and occupancy of the