Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1898-01-20

nation may appeal five cases of ap-
plications for citizenship, made
under the provisions of the laws OF
the 54th congress, to the supreme
court of ihe United States, and
that the legal principles settled by
the supreme court in said cases
shall be rules of decision in all citl-
zensh,p cases heretofore or hereaf-
ter adjudicated by the distric:
court and that said court shall
upon reconsideration, affirm, re-
verse or modify, in accordance
with such rules of decision, all
judgments heretofore rendered in
citizenship cases.
The question of annexing the
Indian Territory to Oklahoma will
be pressed at this session, if the
expression of Delegate Callahan, of
Oklahoma, counts for anything.
He has introduced a bill for that
purpose. 1t provides in substance,
that all the lands of the five
tribes be included in Oklahoma !;
that the capital remain at Guth-
rie that the officers of Oklahoma
shall continue to serve that the
land occupied by the five tri bes be
divided into six counties, each ma
ton; and the Quapaw reservation
form a county /; that the county
seats be located at the present ma
tional capitals; that the supreme
court be composed of a chief JUS
tice and two associate justices and
that one shall be selected from the
district judges now serving in th Q
Indian Territory that the terrific
ry thus formed shal. be divided
into five districts and a judge of
each district shall be appointed by
the president that the territory
of Oklahoma shall be entitled to
one delegate in congres, that the
legislative assembly shall consist
of a council and house of re pre-
sentatives that the council shall
consist of twenty-five members,
thirteen to be chosen from the
present territory of Oklahoma and
twelve from the annexed territory;
that the house of representatives
shall consist of forty-seven men,
bers, twenty six from present ter
ritory Of Oklahoma and twenty
one from the Indian country that
the organization of the territory,
as proposed, shall in no way affect
the tribal relations or rights of the
Indian in any way.
/ called on Mr.. Callahan and ask
ed him what he had to say about
the bill. He said: "The people
of Oklahoma of my political faith
are in favor of the bill. l am
aware that the people of the In
dian Territory are opposed to it.
1t is but natural that they should
be, for they want a state of their
own. | think it would be unwise
to make two separate state gov
ernments of these two territories.
My idea is to throw the expense
upon both, and by that means
make the burden of expense and
taxation lighter. l find special
opposition by the territory peo-
PIE to the location OF county seats.
| simply introduced the bill locat-
ing them at the present national
capitals, and expected the various
towns to be heard when the bill is
considered. l did not provide for
admitting the Indian to citizen
ship in the new territory because
| did not know their number and
other things necessary to enable
me to intelligently draw that feat
ure, and left it open TO amend
ment by the committee" When
asked about his intentions as to
the bill Mr.. Callahan said: "Yes.
| expect to press the bill. think
this union of the two sections
ought to be made, and / shall do
everything in my power to secure
the passage of the bill. l have not
decided just how / will proceed,
but | am in earnest about the mat
ter
| have discussed the matter with
many congressman. The demo-
Gratis all oppose it. They say that
the Indian Territory is large
enough and rich enough to claim
statehood in its own right. They
do not think it good politics to
unite the two territories when they
are in direct line for statehood,
which would result in the addition
of four democratic senator's. The
terrritery people who are here are
inclined to look upon the bill as a
huge joke, and are not disposed to
it seriously. Just what
Mr.. Callahan will
get when he comes to press the
matter remains to be seen.