Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1898-04-07
A RHmOr Of Lease System Which it
is Hoped is Only 4 RumOr-NO Court
Legislation Likely This Session.
WASHINGTON. ID.

Curtis bill that would not be q
repetition of my communications
of the past two weeks. 1t await:
consideration and passage. The
delay is due 10 the war situation
The minds of congress and its
members are engrossed with inter
national matters, and until they
are disposed of, pending Indian
Territory legislation must wait an d
will wait.
Mr.. Curtis was called home this
week on account of the death of his
father. H obtained a leave of ab-
sence of ten days, but it is thought
that he will return sooner. His
absence does not affect the status
of the bill, or its chances for con-
sideration. Should the business
of congress admit of its being call
ed up, arrangements have been
made for its management on the
floor of the house.
***
now write OF a rumor; 1t is this:
That the eastern idea of the Indian
and his country is to put the whole
Indian Territory, towns, farm
mineral and grazing lands, and all ,
under the lease system, so that an
adequate and perpetual fund may
be created for the support of the
Indians; and that when the Curtis
bill reaches the critical legislative
stage, systematic and determin-
ed effort will be made to bring
about this end.
That the lease system is the
eastern idea, there can be no
doubt, but as to whether the east
earn idea can or will either pre-
vail or seek to prevail, is the ques-
ton. Up to this time the eastern
members and senators have been
inclined 10 say to those OF the two
committees who have a personal
knowledge of the needs of the In
dian Territory: "We neither know
nor care very much about affairs
down there. You know what is
needed for tie protection of all
people and interests, and whatever
you agree on, will meet our ap-
prevail"
have made careful and guarded
inquiry among the eastern mem
bers of the committee to get, il
possible, expressions that would
indicate whether or not they enter
tain such a purpose as is indicated
by the rumor. My inquiries de-
velop rather the absence of any
purpose on their part; and a desire
to acquiesce in whatever may be
proposed by Senators Pettigrew
and Jones, and Congressman Cur
It's and Little. This, so far as it
goes, tends to confirm the forecasts
made, from time to time, since the
meetings of the subcommittee at
the beginning of the session.
But while this is true, there is
another phase of the situation it
would be well for the people of the
Indian Territory to bear in mind.
1t is neither rumor nor conjecture,
but fact, that the question of re-
submitting the treaties, will be
seriously considered by the senate.
If this idea prevails and is acted
upon, as indicated in a former
communication, the Curtis bill
will be passed in the alternative.
and the treaties modified so as to
practically parallel it in operation.
The townsite delegates here wi tn
whom l have talked, would not
seriously oppose this. The treat
les would operate to give title at
once, and they are of the opinion
that they would be preferable,
even with some additional hard
ships, to the delay and vexation
that would necessarily attend the
present Curtis bill.
*s*
Among the eastern senators upon