The times., 1898-06-24
OKLAHOMA TAX DODGERS.
A ShnrD Issue Between CattIemen
and Indian Traders and the Citi-
zpng of the - Z

The eatuemen who are feeding large
droves of stock on Indian lands in Okla
homa, which they hire from the Govern
ment, have attempted to evade all forms
OF taxation by the Territory under one
preteXt or another, and this has aroused
the residence citizens and business men
to concerted protest and opposition
The following circular was lately issued
| by the cattlemen and traders for the
purpose of raising large fund to procure
influence with Congress:
"A meeting of business interests of the
| Usage and kaw reservations was held in
| Arkansas City, Kas., May g 1898. There
were present twenty delegates. represent
ing the interests of traders, eattiemen,
Usage farmers, and Usage Indians 3s~s
THE object of the meeting was to form
| an organization and devise the best means
| whereby Usage and Kaw reservations can
! be released from the unjust taxation of
| Oklahoma. -
/ Mr. Howard Ross was elected chair
man and w. e. Wilcox secretary and
| treasurer.
THE following committees were then
| appointed:
Executive Commfttee-Howard Ross,
! chairman; A. c. Stich, G.. NJ, Carpenter.
/ A. l. Adams I. ]. Leahy, G. NJ. Euffaker,
| ana George hume.
Committee on Resolutions-G. NJ. Huf-
faker Thomas Leahy, A. !. Adams. and
Howard Ross.
Special Committee-T. j. Leahy, Virgil
Herod, John Lee, William Leahy, G.. T.
Hume, A. /. Adams. James Stone, w. f.
Smith, II. G. Dearing, and r. H. Mosely.
The following motion was carried:
E" That 1t is the sense of this meeting
| that each cattleman and trader of the
II
! TO contribute 800 or in proportion to his
/ Interests affected, and citizens and farm
ers as they may see fit. The money thus
| contributed to be used for purposes of
detaching the Usage and Kaw reserva-
! tions from Oklahoma and TO be expended
as executive committee deems for the
best interests of this organization
at was then moved and seconded that
| the first assessment of $25 be paid into
the treasury at once, in order to meet
emergencies and current expenses.
Your name was placed on the rolls of
the association as being interested in this
movement. We know you will see the i'm
portance of such an organization, and
the great advantage TO be derived should
it be successful. You are therefore
earnestly requested to use all the influ-
ence you can and give your financial sup
port TO this undertaking, that the end
may be speedily attained.
1T has been wisely suggested that the
members of the association work very
quietly in order that the movement shall
not gain publicity before the proper time.
AN early acknowledgment from you
will be very much appreciated. Respect
fully. HOWARD ROSS, Chairman.
wv E. WILCOX, Sec'y and Treas.
OF the above-named officials and COM
mitteemen of said organization all are
citizens of Kansas and Texas except T.
]. Thomas and William Leahy, who are
citizens of the Usage reservation.
The act of May 2. 1890. creating the Ter
ritory of Oklahoma, included the Usage
and Kansas lands, within the limits of
that Territory. They form its north
eastern corner. and adioin the Indian
Territory on the east and south and the
State of Kansas on the north. The lands
of these reservations are fertile and are
held by the Indians as joint tenants, in
fee, by purchase. These Indians have
tribal governments, written constitutions
and code of laws, which are enforced
through officers elected and appointed by
their council. They are also within the
Jurisdiction of the United States District
Court for the County of Pawnee, which
holds two terI1s each year al Pawhuska-
for the trial of all violations of Federal
law. They are not, however within the
legislative jurisdiction of the authorities
of Oklahoma Territory. being wards of
the Government under the immediate
control of the Secretary or the Interior,
whose agent. with a corps of assistants,
resides on the reservation.
In the case of Thomas ct al. VS.. Kay
County ct al, decided at the October
term. 1897, of the Supreme Court of the
United States, the court held, in effect,
that the property of the Indian citizens
of the reservation was not taxable under
the laws of the Territory of Oklahoma"
The leading purpose " this ostensibly
humane organization seems TO be 10 pro-
cure, through Congress, some measure
of relief for the Indians from some cruel
ly oppressive legislation of Oklahoma;
yet, in the light of the foregoing high le-
gal authorities, we search in vain for any
just grounds for such anxieties, for the
Indians pay no taxes. are not subject to
the Territorial laws of Oklahoma, and,
under existing laws of Congress- cannot
be taxed so long as they maintain their
tribal relations.
That these modern defenders of Indian
rights earnestly desire Congress to de-
tach the Usage and Kansas reservations
from Oklahoma is clearly apparent but
for what existing cause. or what dispo-
sition they desire to be made of them, is
not clearly perceptible from the face of
their circular There seems to be but one
method of catiSfactorfIv arriving n tho
real cause which gave form and being to
the organization, of which the above let
ter is a characteristic exponent, and that
is by constituting its contents in connec-
tion with the principles announced in the
decision of the Supreme Court above re-
ferred TO. This cause came up on appeal
from the Supreme Court of Oklahoma and
involved "the right of the legislative as
sembly of Oklahoma to enact the law of
March 5, 1895, providing for the taxing of
cattle grazing upon the Indian reserva-
tion under leases granted by the Indians,
and the court unanimously held:
1.-The territorial law of Oklahoma of
March s. 1895, making cattle subject to
taxation which are kept or grazed on
the Indian reservation in said Territory
is not a violation of the rights of the In
dians; such taxation is not upon the
lands or privileges of the Indians
The facts that the above cited case
was instituted and prosecuted to termi-
nation by parties interested in grazing
cattle on the Indian reservation, that the
Indians pay no taxes, and that the lead
ing officers and factors in said organiza-
tion, at Arkansas City, are bankers,