Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1898-01-06
THE FIVE TRIBES
IN CONGRESS,
OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENTS
WRITE.UP OF THE WEEKS
DEVELOPMENTS.
The Final Bill Being Prepared Pro-
visions, Amendments, Etc.-Not a
Thought Of Failure of Congress to
Act, Entertained

WASHINGTON, Jan. 1.-1s9S.
This week two meetings of the
joint Indian committees have ac.
complIshed much. Their work is
becoming systematized, and it
would seem that if they continue
to make the same degree of pro-
gress, their labors will soon be
completed, and their recommend
ations put into the form of a bill
and the bill placed on the calendar
of the house and senate for final
consideration.
The proceedings had at the two
meetings were as follows:
At the Monday meeting there
were present Senator Jones, Con-
gressmen Curtis, Little. Fisher,
Benton and Lacey. Senators Pet.
tigrew and Platt being absent the
discussion was general. Major
McKennon of the Dawes commits
sion, having been wired to Wash
ington, was present. He was with
the committee at its entire session
of more than two hours. The
whole situation was gone over, and
Major McKennon presented the
views of the commission as to the
scope and extent of proposed legis-
lation, touching specially on the
status of the allotment and town
site questions. The Curtis bill
was before the committee as a
basis Tor their LAHORE. At the close
of the committee meeting Major
McKennon was authorized to pre-
pare the views of the commission
on these questions, in the form of
amendments to the Curtis bill,
and present the n to the committee
at its Thursday meeting.
At the Thursday meeting there
were present Senators Platt, Jones,
and all the members of the house
sub committee, as above mention
ed. Major McKennon was present
with the work that had been as
signed him. The amendments
were taken up and discussed at
length. Major McKennon and
Mr.. Curtis were instructed 20 take
the amendments of the commits
sion, the suggestions of the joint
committee at its two meetings, and
the Curtis bill, and incorporate
them into a bill. This they are
now doing and the result of their
labors will be reported to meet
ing of the committee which will
be called as soon as they are ready
to report.
AS indicated in former COM
munications the two all absorbing
questions that command the at
tention of the committee are allot-
ment and townsites. 1t is under
stood that the bill now being pre-
pared will contain the following
provision:
The allotment of the use and oc-
of the land to the Indians,
reserving townsites. coal and min
erals from allotment; and that
when the allotee is placed in pos
session of his allotment, he may |
go into the United States courts
and ask that the fee be decreed to
him. This decree vesting the fee
in the allottee shall make $50
acres inalienable as a homestead,
with the privilege of disposing of
the remainder, under certain re-
strictions imposed by the court.
TIE tOwnsites are to be survey
ed, plated, and those in posses
sion of improvements authorized
TO deposit a percentage of their
appraised value into the sub-tre
nry of the United States, at St.
Louis, as an offer to the tribe.
This is practically the Flynn bill
Of last session. The bill will fur
ther provide for the levying of
tax for schools and
city improvements.
If opinion, publicly expressed,
counts for anything, the COM
nittee will lose no time in agree
ng upon a bill, and asking its
passage by congress.
The settlement of the Indian
Territory question has been an is
sue during the whole time Judge
Little has been in congress, and
Turing this time he has given that
branch of legislation a great part
If his time and very thorough
md painstaking consideration.
Among other things, it has been
lis idea to do justice first to the
indian and also to the white citi-
zen who has gone there and made
improvements, upon the invitation
If the Indian. Whenever allot-
nent comes, the bill will, of course | {