The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1898-01-23
copyright 1881


has been reached in Indian Territory
affairs. The bill upon which the
subcommittee has been working for
several weeks was ordered reported.
This action is, to some ext mt, a
relief.
The bill is now being prepared for
printing, and the exact text cannot
be seen until after the committee
meeting, but it's general provisions
are as follows:
The occupancy of the land is to be
allotted. Coal, oil, asphaltum and
all mineral lands are to be reserved
from allotment. The secretary of
the interior is empowered to lease
the mineral lands in leaseholds not
to exceed $40 acres, and for terms of
not more than 15years. Each lease
hold is to be taxed s1OO per year for
the first two years, 5000 per year for
the second two years. $500 per year
for the third two years, and $500 per
year for each succeeding year, with
out regard to whether or not the
leasehold is operated. Townsites
are to be reserved from allotment;
Towns are TO be organized under the
laws of Arkansas. The town organ
iZations are to purchase the town
sites direct from the Indians. Lots
are to be surveyed and sold to indi-
viduals by the town organizations,
giving purchase preference to those
in poss' ssion of improvements. The
proceeds are to go. first, to the pay
ment of the Indian for the sites, and
the surplus, if any, is to be appro-
priated for school purposes. The
town governments are empowered to
levy taxe3 for municipal purposes,
and the support of schools. They
are also empowered to condemn
land for public improvements.
The bill carries the amendment
submitted by Judge Little for the
protection of farmers in possession
of improvements on farms for which
they have not received compensation
in rents, the full text of which was
published in my letter of two weeks
ago. Church and school lots and
cemeteries are also reserved from
allotment.
The question discussed for some
time, relative to an alternative clause
providing that the treaty made with
the Choctaws, Chickasaws and
Greeks be accepted within six
months, they are to become effect
i've, was ignored. The bill carries
no reference to the treaties.
1t is now too early to get an Opin-
ion as to what will be the fate of this
bill, or how much of it will track its
way through the intricate mazes of
congressional legislation, and finally
reach the statute BOOKS. The gen.
eral opinion is, however, that the
bill reported today contains the sub
stance of what congress is willing to
do at this session
The last week has witnessed a COM
plete organization of the townsite
people here. AS indicated in former
letters, every town of consequence
in the territory is represented by
from one to three live, active dele
gates, and their impress upon pros
pective legislation is, and has been
felt.
They in erview congressman aid
senators, and present to them such
facts and arguments as give them an
terests to be passed upon. They ap-
peared before the Dawes commission
at their quarters and presented to
them their views as to townsites.
The conference continued two
days, and was perhaps the most gen.
eral townsite discussion ever held
here. On Thursday Messrs. Bledsoe
and Humphrey were heard for the
Chickasaw towns, and on Friday Mr..
McMurray was given a hearing.
These gentlemen reviewed the whole
townsite question at length, and ad-
vocated the appraisal of the towns,
with reference only to their location
and advantages as townsites, and
that such appraisal should be within
a minimum and maximum of S25 to
$500 per acre.
just what direct result there will
be from this meeting cannot now be
foretold- Their objeHt was to i'm
press one common, harmonious idea
upon the Dawes commission, and to
ask that they recommend it to be in