The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1898-06-09
Curtis BiIlGOGS Through

Special to the Kansas City Times.
Washington. June S-The senate this
afternoon passed the Curtis bin, which
chqngcs existing conditions iu
the Indian Territory it has many ann
cndments incorporated 10y the senate and
viii have 10 go to conference whore the
differences viii be adiu95oi.
As passed by both houses the bin pro-
vides for the abolishing tribal rotations,
the taking OF the land in scverauy, the
appointment OF townsitc commission,
leasing ol mineral and oil lands. and the
ratification Of the treaties between the
Dawes commission and the FIVE civilized
tribes. In its report recommending the
passage Of the bill the senate committee
on indian affairs said:
Your committee found wmlc un-
der treaty provisions thc land of each
tribe were to be held for the use and be-
ncnt Of each OF It's members, yet tho
truth is that the lands anr in the poess-
ession of very few; and while some OF the
hiflf liIWfl IL VI aii'llh'ln itAN' AAl NtiAil
possession and under their control thous-
ands Of acres, the poorer class of indians
are unable 90 secure enough lard FOR
houses and farms and your committee
has provided in this bin for division OF
the use of the surface OF the lands SO
that each and every member Of the tribes
will De placed in possession of his share
Of tho common lands. We believe this
to have been the intent of all parties
when the treaty was made
RICH DEPOSITS GO To WASTE.
your committee was convinced that
there are many rich deposits of coal and
other minerals in said territory and that
tine tribes are not deriving the benefits
thcrcfrom that they should derive, but
that individual members and those hold
| ing leases from them are deriving more
than their share of the profits $50 it has
provided that an valuable mineral de-
posits be reserved 10 the tribes and bc sct
aside as incapable Of allotment, and that
such mineral deposits be IN the future
leased under rules and regulations pre-
scribed by thc secretary 90 the interior,
but rights held with the consent of CON
gress are not impaired and parties hold.
ing leases under the customs and laws of
! the tribes which have resulted I'm pro-
duclng coal In commercial quantities ar,
to be preferred in the making OF now
leases, and due consideration Is to be Civ.
on for the Improvements thcy have madc
Your committee found that while cher
were only about 5000 Indians I'm said ter
rtory, there are al times about 3O0Oc
white people. Lines Of railroad haye beer
constructed through the territory in var
ious directions. These people have DulI
and towns. they have 10 title 10 thel
lands, no municipal government no pro
vision for the erection Of school house
and the education Of their children cx
oept by private means By uhis bin W
authorize the inhabitants Of ny city %
town of the sid territory. having NOR
than 20O HUNDRED residents Go incorpcr
ate under tho laws of Arkansas. COnsen
OF the Omitted States is given 10 tho tribe
% convey by deed 10 any city OF town m
lands embroce whhm the links OF sail
corporation, and provide for the disposl
ton OF the lands so purchased IL 3
madeunlawful TO violate certain proyi
sions Of this act, but ample time Is give
FOR making changes rendered necessary D.
It's provisions.
FOR A NEW CITIZENSHIP ROLL
provisions have heretofore been mad
for uhc making OF rolls OF citizenship d
the various tribes. but the commission "a
thorlzed 70 do the work is OF the oainio
that 70 DO equal justice 20 all conoerne
they shouh have additional authority
and we believe this measure provides r.
the settlement of the question Of citzer
snip. So that when the rolls are made m
interest Of am concerned viii have bec
fully protected and This vexed and iu
portaui question viii be sottlcd foreye
Tho Mississippi Choctaws the Del
wares the freedman OF the various trib,
calm certain rights which we do uot "a
tempt 90 settle in this bln. but ln it pr
vision is made no protect AN iuteres
the courts may find the have.
Your commistee fally upneolates n
impdrtant problems involved. ana 20 b
leiye this measure, n enacted into a las
viii do much 10 settle ti.ose problem
Il VIII settle the intrude. question. pr
tect the so-ealied common Indians by q
iotiing % them their rights % use "a
occupy their part Of uhe lands. II "