The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1898-02-20

Dlll, rcldIluB W mdJIoFS OI court
jurisdictions, were read. Judge
Little's amendment for tbe protec-
ton of farmers having improve
ments for which they have not re-
ceived compensation in rents, was
read and passed.
AT this point the committee en-
tered upon a discussion of the
question as to whether or not all
those who have been denied citi-
zenship in the nation, and who are
now on tribal lands, shall be given
the right to occupy the same to
the 31st of December of this year.
Before discussion on this point
ended, the committee adjourned to
meet again on Monday, when an
amendment will be offered, as fol-
lows: All persons who have
made improvements on tribal lands
and whose claims for citizenship
have been decided adversely, under
act of congress of June 10, 1896,
shall have possession thereof until
December 81, 1898; and may,
prior to that time, sell or dispose
of their Improvements 70 any men,
I
Der of the tribe in which the land
is located, who desires to take the
same in his allotment; provided,
this section shall not apply to i'm
prOvements which have been ap-
praised and paid for, or payment
rendered, by the Cherokee nation,
under agreement with the United
States, approved by congress
March 3, 1898"
Another important amendment
to be offered provides that mayors
of cities and towns to be incOrpOr-
ated shall have and exercise the
same authority in civil and Grim
inal matters as, and co-extensive
with, United States commissioners.
The amendment to the townsite
clause, prepared and agreed upon
by the townsite delegates, is before
the committee, and will be consid-
cred when reached.
The Business Mems League, of
st. Louis have asked the commit
tee to adopt an amendment pro-
viding that nothing in the act shall
apply to rents on agricultural or
pasture lands or royalties ON coal
lands, until allotment shall have
been completed.
Just what amendments will be
accepted or rejected cannot now be
foretold. | think it is safe to say
that the committee will report the
bill during the coming week, and
that, while there will be some
changes here and there, the new
bill will go on the calendar in sub
stantially the same form as the
present Curtis bill.
***
Mr.. Curtis has been authorized
by the committee to favorably re-
port to the house for passage, a
bill for opening up the Comanche,
Kiowa and Apache reservations.
In 1892 the United States made
treaty with these tribes provid-
ing for the allotment of a part of
their lands to them, and the pur-
chase of the remainder by the gov
ernment. The treaty is ratified by
the bin just reported. 1t provides
that each member of these tribes is
to receive an allotment of 16O acres
of land, within one year after the
passage of the act, and that within
one year after such allotment, the
remainder of the reservations is to
be opened for settlement in the
manner provided for in the laws
under which the lands in the Ter
ritOry of Oklahoma were opened.
The opening of this country is,
without any doubt, a most import
ant matter. The committee in
their report, quote from the gov
ernOr of Oklahoma as follows:
l cannot refrain from urging,
as | have heretofore done, that
these reservations be opened at