Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1898-03-24
to its passage, until the Curtis bill
has been disposed of.

***
The senate has passed a bill ap.
propriating s75, 900 for the erection
of an asylum for insane Indians OF
the United States. The asylum is
to be erected under the direction
of the secretary of the interior at
or near the town of Canton, South
Dakota.
***
Judge Little has introduced, by
request, a bill, "arpropriating
$40, 900 for the support of a school
for the blind, at Fort Gibson, In
dian Territory" 1t provides that
the above sum shall be apprOpria-
ted, to be used under the direction
and within the discretion OF the
commissioner of Indian affairs for
the support and maintenance of a
school for the blind now in opera
ton at Fit. Gibson, OF which Miss
Laura A. Rowland is principal.
Miss Rowland is a graduate OF, and
was for some years teacher in
the Arkansas school for the blind.
In the recent report of the Dawes
commission some very pointed
recommendations were made in
favor of the institution now under
her control, known as the "inter.
national School for the Blind, ]"
and the bill just introduced is the
outcome. 1t has been referred to
the committee on Indian affairs.
***
The senate Indian affairs COM
mittee has favorably reported the
bill referred to in a previous COM
munication "authorizing cities and
towns in the Indian Territory to
secure, by condemnation and other
wise, lands necessary for public
Improvements" Under the pro-
visions of the bill cities and towns
may condemn private property for
public use as provided for in sec
tions 907 to 912, inclusive, OF
Mansgeld's Digest of the Statutes
of Arkansas.
***
Unless the attorney general
presses his recommendation for a
100000 appropriation for three
jails in the Indian Territory with
very much more persistency than
is to be anticipated the matter will
go over without attention. The
senate committee on appropria-
tions has the recommendation but
claims to have no jurisdiction in
the premises. To hand the papers
over TO Senator Pettigrew would
appear a very small and common
place transaction, but the United
States senate does not do business
that way. A nineteenth century
man has no place in the United
States senate; to be a standard sem
ator he must be a fossil. But your
town of Vinita will not be dis
tressed by the announcement that
no jails are to be provided by this
as your name was not on
the list, though an examination of
the dockets of the several courts
shows no reason why it should not
be; hence the reason must be
sought elsewhere.
***
The senate has passed a bill
prohibiting the railroads of the In
dian Territory from charging more
than three cents per mile for pa.
sengers. The report accompany
ing the bill contains the following:
Your committee are of the
opinion that these charges should
be uniform by all the railroads of
he territory. and that 8 cents per
mile is a sufficient compensation,
and that the citizens of the Indian
Territory should not be compelled
10 pay a greater rate than that
in the surrounding states.
This bill was introduced by Sen
ator Berry, of Arkansas, and has
been pressed by him for many ses-
;ions of congress. 1t passed the
senate at the last session and went
% the house, where it was favor
lbly reported from the committee.
On motion of those representing
he railroads, the house committee
'ecalled the bill from the house
and it has never been
heard of since.
*s*
Whatever may be said OF the ell
ect and influence of the Cherokee
delegation pending legislation, it
annot be said that they are not |
ctive and vigilant. They meet |
very change in the legislative sit
lation with either a brief or pro-
est setting forth their views and
objections, as regards the interests
# their people.
They have recently issued and
to congress a"Petition of
he Cherokee delegates, asking an
to the Indian appro-
,riation BILL" The petition is
pecially directed at the provision
uthorlzing the 'intruders" of the
nation to appeal to tie
ppellate court of the Indian Ter
itory, and asks that the same be
tricken out.
The most recent document is IA
Memorial of the Cherokee delega-
ion urging the passage of Senate
Bill No. 4105." The bill referred
0 was introduced by Senator Nor
an, and seeks to invest the su-
rene court of the United States
nth special jurisdiction to pass