Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1898-06-23
CURTIS BILL PASSED,
Amendments Agreed TO in Conference
Without Opposition.

lhe prlnclpal changes which
have been made in the Curtis bill
by the conference committee arise
from the modification of some of
the provisions of the house bill
and the elimination of the
amendments which were at
atched to it in the senate by Sen
ator Pettigrew. The following is
4 summary of the bill as it has
been reported:
When the roll of citizenship of
any one of the nations is fully
completed as provided by law,
and the survey of the lands of the
nation is also completed, the
Dawes commission shall proceed
to allot the exclusive use and
occupancy of the lands Of the ma
ton among the citizens as shown
by the roll. The coal, oil and
mineral deposits are reserved to
the tribe, as are all townsites.
There will also be reserved from
allotment a sufficient amount of
lands now occupied by churches,
schools, parsonages, charitable
institutions and other public build
ings for their present actual use
The lands reserved for each school
shall not exceed FIVE acres, and
for each church one acre. 1t is
provided that no allotment pro-
vided for shall impair vested legal
rights heretofore granted by con-
gress. Persons asserting such
rights may bring their suits in the
United States courts in the Indian
Territory, provided that the suits
shall be entered within six months
after the allotment of any lands
affecting alleged grants.
The secretary of the interior is
authorized and directed from time
to time to provide rules and regu-
lations In regard to the leasing of
oil, coal, asphalt and other miner
ais in the territory. No leases
shall be made for longer period
than fifteen years nor cover more
than GAO acres.
The inhabitants of any city or
town in the Indian Territory hav-
ing a population of 200 or more
residents may proceed by petition
to the United States court in the
district in which the town Is To-
Gated, TO have the town incorpor-
ated under the laws of Arkansas.
There shall be a commission in
each town for each of the Chicka-
saw, Choctaw, Creek and Chero-
kee tribes 10 consist of one mem
ber to be appointed by the execu-
tive of the tribe, who shall not be
interested in town property other
than his home; one person 10 be
appointed by the secretary of the
interior and one member to be
selected by the town. These
commissions shall cause to be
surveyed and laid out the town
sites where towns with a present
population of 200 or more are To-
Gated, conforming to the existing
survey as far as may be with pro-
per and necessary streets, alleys
and public grounds, including
parks and cemetries, giving to
each town such territory as may
be required for its present needs
and reasonable prospective growth.
The plats as made up b. this
board will be filed with the secre-
tary of the interior, the clerk of
the United States court and the
town authorities.
The owner of any improvements
upon any lot, other than fencing,
tillage or temporary buildings.
may deposit in the United States
treasury at St. Louis one-half of
such appraised value; 10 per cent
within two months and - per cent |
more within six months after not
tice of appraisemert, and the re
mainder in three equal annual in
stallmen,s. All moneys paid into |
the United States. treasury at St. |
Louis under the provisions of the
bill shall he placed by the treas
urer to the credit of the tribe to
which they belong.
Appeals will allowed from the
United States court in Indian Ter
ritory direct TO the supreme court
of the United States in all citizen
ship cases, and in all cases involv-
ing the constituIionality or valid
ity of the act for protection of the
people Of the territory.
The agreements made between
the Dawes commission and the
commissioner repl esenting the |
Choctaw and Chickasaw tribes,
are ratified and confirmed and |
shall be of full force and effect if
ratified before December l by a |
majority of the whole number of
votes cast by members of the tribes
at an election held for that pur-
pose.
In addition to the agreements |
reached by the conference commit
tee, the report contains the follow
ing: The senate recedes from its
amendment which provides that in
renewing any lease the rights of
the lessees which have made sub
leases shall be protected, it being |
the opinion that the rights of all |
parties were fully protected by the |
provisions Of the bill.
1.-The house accepts TIE senate
amendments striking out the pro-
visions of the house extending in
dividual royalty ON minerals under
existing contracts for nine months
alter passage of the act.
1.-The house accepts senate
amendment which provides for
levy and collection annual y of a
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