Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1898-06-30

I
the Choctaw lands under article "A
of the treaty between the United
States and the Choctaw nation
concluded September q, 1880, and
to that end they may administer
oaths. examine witnesses, and per-
! form all other acts necessary there
10, and make report to the secre-
tary Of the interior.
The roll of Greek freedmen made
by J. W. Dunn, under authority
of the United States, prior to
Mch. IA. 1867, is hereby confirmed,
and said commission is directed to
enroll all persons now living whose
names are found on said rolls, and
all descendants born since the date
of said roll TO persons whose names
are found thereon, with such other
persons of African descent as may
have been rightfully admitted by
the lawful authorities of the Creek
nation.
1t shall make a correct roll OF all
Choctaw freedmen entitled to citi-
zenship under the treaties and
laws of the Choctaw nation, and
all their descendants born to them
since the date of the treaty.
1t shall make a correct roll OF
Chickasaw freedmen entitled to
any rights or benefits under the
treaty made in 1866 between the
United States and the Choctaw
and Chickasaw ribes, and their de-
scendants born to them since the
date OF said treaty; and forty acres
of land, including their present resi-
dences and improvements, shall be
allotted to each, TO be selected, ,
held and used by them until their
rights under said treaty shal. be
determined in such manner as
shall be hereafter provided by
congress.
The several tribes may, by agree
ment. determine the right of per-
sons who for any reason may claim
citizenship in two or more tribes,
and to allotment of lands and dis
tribuiions OF moneys belonging 10
each tribe; but if no such agree
ment be made, then such claimant
shall be entitled to such rights in
one tribe only, and may elect in
which tribe he will take such right;
but if he fail or refuse to make such
selection in due time, he shall be
enrolled in the tribe with whom
he has resided, and there be given
such allotment and distributions,
and not elsewhere.
No person shall be enrolled who
has not heretofore removed to and
in good faith settled in the nation
in which he claims citizenship:
Provided, however, that nothing
contained in this act shall be Sc
construed as to initiate against
any rights or privileges which the
Mississippi Choctaws may have
under the laws of or the treaties
with the United States.
| Said commission shall make such
rolls descriptive of the persons
thereon, so that they may be there
by identified. and it is authorized
, to take a census of each of said
tribes, or to adopt any other means
by them deemed necessary to en-.
able them to make such rolls
They shall haze access t. all -solls
and records of the several tribes,
and the United States court in the
Indian Territory shall have juris-
diction to compel the officers oi
the tribal governments and custodi-
ans of such rolls and records to
deliver same to said commission
and on their refusal or failure 10
do so to punish them as for con-
tempt; as also to require all citi.
zens of said tribes, and persons
who should be so enrolled, to ap-
pear before said commission for
enrolment, at such times and
places as may be fixed by said
commission, and to enforce obedi.
ence of all others concerned, so
far as the same may be necessary
to enable said commission to make
rolls as herein required, and to
punish anyone who may in any
manner or by any means obstruct
said work.
The rolls so made, when ap.
proved by the Secretary of the In
terror, shall be final, and the
persons whose names are found
thereon, with their descendants
thereafter born to them, with such
persons as may intermarry ac
cording to tribal laws, shall alone
constitute the several tribes which
they represent.
The members of said commits
sion shall, in performing all duties
required of them by law, have au-
thority TO administer oaths, ex-
anime witnesses, and send for
persons and papers; and any per-
son who shall wlllfully and know
ingly make any false affidavit or
oath TO any material fact or mat
ter before any member of said
commission, or before any other
officer authorized to administer
oaths. to any affidavit or other pa
per to be filed or oath taken before
said commission, shall be deemed
guilty of perjury, and on convic-
tion thereof shall be punished as
for such offense.
SEC. % That where members
of one tribe, under intercourse
laws, usages, or customs, have
made homes within the limits and
on the lands of another tribe, they
may retain and take allotment.
embracing same under such agree
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