Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1898-08-04
TRIBAL REVENUES.
Instructions from the Interior Depar-
ment as to their Payment.
Department of the Interior,
Washington, July 2l, 1893.

Indian Territory, and for other
purposes, public No. 1922. by
section Is provides: THAT the
secretary of the interior is hereby
authorized and dir ected from time
to time to provide rules and regu-
latiOns in regard to the leasing of
oil, coal, asphalt, and other min
erals in said territory, and all
such leases shall be made by the
secretary of the interior; and any
lease for such minerals otherwise
made shall be absolutely void"
Section i6 of this act provides:
"That it shall be unlawful for any
person, after the passage of this
act, except as herein provided, 10
claim, demand or receive, for his
own use, or for the use of anyone
else, any royalty on oil, coal, as
phalt, or other mineral, or on any
timber or lumber, or any other
kind of property whatsoever, or
any rents on any lands or property
belonging to any one of said tribes
or nations in the Indian Territory,
or for any one to pay to any indi-
vidual any such royalty or rents
or any consideration thereof what
soever; and all royalties and rents
hereafter payable to the tribe
shall be paid, under such rules
and regulations as may be pre-
scribed by the secretary OF the
interior, into the treasury OF the
United States to the credit of the
tribe to which they belong"
And by section % it is further
provided: That all leases of
agricultural or grazing land be-
longing TO any tribe made after the
first day OF January, 1898, by the
tribe or a member thereof shall be
absolutely vDid, and all such graz
ing leases made prior to said date
shall terminate on the first day OF
April, 1899, and all such agricul-
tural leases siall terminate ON
January LIST, 1906, but this shall
not prevent individuals from leas-
ing their allotments when made 10
them as provided in this act, nor
from occupying or renting their
proporiionate shares of the tribal
lands until the allotments herein
provided for are made"
II is presumed that operations
have continued to be conducted,
under some at least, of the con-
tracts, leases, permits, etc., affect
ed by the foregoing provisions.
Until the department can possess
itself of all the relative facts and
conditions, it will not be practic-
able to make permanent rules and
regulations for the conduct and
government of these business af-
fairs. To the end, however, that
r such business may not suffer from
even q temporary interruption,
and that the interests of the tribes
may be protected, it becomes nee
essary to take provisional action
relative thereto.
1t is therefore thought proper
and advisable that all rents and
royalties arising upon such con-
tracts, leases, permits, ETC., as
were in force at the time of the
passage OF said act, shall hereafter
and until otherwise provided, be
collected on the basis of such con.
tracts, leases, permits, etc, and
, the proceeds paid into the treasury
of the United States, to the credit
of the respective tribes, in compli-
ance with the provisions of the
act.
Therefore, it is ordered that the
Indian agent in charge of the
Union agency be authorized and
instructed to inquire into, investi-
gate and ascertain what contracts
leases or permits were in existence
and operation at the date of the
passage of the act, whether min.
ing, agricultural or grazing leases,
or for cutting timber, lumber OF
hay, or any other kini of property
whatsoever, or for rents on any
lands or property belonging to any
one of the said tribes; whether the
payment made or to be made
i hereunder were upon the basis oil
a royalty, or a specific sum for a
, specific quantity of any kind OF
property or product, or for the use
of property for term, such as
rental or leases by the month ol
( year; when the last payments were
. made; whether the lessees, ,contrac
tors or permitees have since con-
tinued operations under their
several grants, of whatever char.
: acter, and the amount of lease
E moneys, royalties, rentals, ETC.,
that have accrued since their last
payment to the tribal authorities.
The Indian agent will also be
required TO give immediate notice
, TO such contractors, lessees or per.
, sons having permits from tribal
authorities, that all royalties, lease
moneys, rents, etc, that have
accrued since their last payment
to those authorities, or since the
2Sth of June, last, and are unpaid
or that may hereafter accrue under
their several grants, shall be paid
r through him, into the treasury o
the United States to the credit OF
the tribe to which they belong
and he shall receive from said
r persons, for transmission to the
, treasury of the United States, The
said royalties, lease moneys, rents
etc. based upon the terms anC
F: conditions of the leases, ETC.. ir
E existence ut the date of the passage
D of this act. and he shall account
for the same in his regular quar-
terly cash accounts. Relative tC