Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1898-01-13

Nnen askeu MS opinion, tne gen
ator said:
"Is it supposed that litigation
would ever end, if the complaint
of the loser were needed? Will,
it is possible that injustice hal
been done in some instances, anC
while l am at loss to see Just how
some of the conclusions have beer
reached, still | think litigation
should end somewhere. Congress
authorized the Dawes commission
and the courts TO hear and deter
mine these questions finally. They
have done SO, and | do not think
there is any disposition upon the
part of congress to reopen the
matter"
Everyone in the Indian Terri.
tory knows Captain McKennon, OF
the Dawes commission, and is
aware of the active and earnest
work he has been doing for that
country for the past several years.
He has just completed, with the
assistance of Congressman Curtis,
collection of the ideas of the
Dawes commission and the Joint
subcommittee, as to proposed
Legislation by the present congress.
This work has been completed and
is now before the committee.
| called on Captain McKennon
this afternoon and asked him TO
make a brief statement of the situ-
alton, for the information of the
people of the territory. He said:
"Mr. Curtis and / have drafted
a number of suggestions for the
bill now being prepared by the
subcommittee. They embrace
various features and not altogether
in harmony with each other. These
have been printed and are now
before the committee. At the next
eing of the committee they
will be considered, and it will
probably be determined what
features will be embraced in the
bill. The sentiment is unanimous
to do whatever may be necessary
to be done in order to advance the
work thus begun. No backward
step Will be taken. The idea is
to furnish the Dawes commission
with all the work it can possibly
do during the year, and in doing
so, to protect the funds OF the
various tribes from future misap-
preparation. 1t is question as to
whether it would be polite at this
time, to dispense with the tribal
governments, but whatever may
be done, al effort will be made to
restrain them from any unlawful
use of the tribal funds. The mem
bers of the committee are conf
dent that whatever bill is agreed
upon, will pass. 1t will certainly
embrace provisions for the allot-
ment of the lands, in some man.
ner, and for the disposition of
townsites, and for town govern
ments. 1t is not probable that it
will embrace any feature for ad-
ditions to the judiciary, and it is
understood that the committee on
the judiciary will prepare q bill
in which these matters will be
cared for. The bill will likely
contain a definite provision for
complete rolls by the CON-
and in order that a
census may be taken. =.
the courts will be empowered to
enforce a compliance with the
necessities requisite to the work.
When asked his opinion as to
the probability of congress re-
opening the rejected citizenship
cases, Mr. McKennon said:
The commission has settled the
question of citizenship, and the
powers delegated to them for that
purpose have long since expired.
The tribal councils have no author
ty to pass upon the question.
There is not therefore, any author
lty anywhere vested, to admit any
person to citizenship in any of the
tribes, no matter what the merits
Of his claim may be. The commits
sion will now make the rolls of
citizens as they find them and be-
yond that it cannot CO."
Many parties In the Indian Ter
.itory and elsewhere have written
Judge Little in regard to the action
,f the interior department in hold
ng up the 100000 appropriation
or the payment of the Creek ma
ional debt, caused by the discov-
cry of fraudulent warrants.
Judge Little has called upon
Secretary Bliss and talked the mat
er over with him. The secretary |
stated that the department would
lot likely take any further action
Until directed by congress; which |
direction would have to be specific |
md voluntary, in the absence of
which the appropriation would
lold up indefinitely.
In two recent issues the local pa
,ers have published interviews
With prominent people of the In
lian Territory.
Messrs. Rolly and Cub McIn-
osh, delegates from the Greek ma
ion, in discussing their mission
lere, and the situation of Indian
territory matters, have this to
ay:
I'VE are here to try to get the
ct of June 7th, 1897, repealed.
That act transferred the jurisdIc
ion of our Indian courts, in crimi-
Ial cases, to the United States
ourts. We think our own tribun-
Is best for our people. In the
econd place we are here to bitter
y fight allotment of our lands in
l.