The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1898-09-30
COLLECTING TAXES.
and Chlekasaw Governments
wm Retain This RIaht--The Indian
AGENT Is without Authority.

1ne demand OF Jne OnlJeO states
Indian agent for the payment to
him of all import taxes by nom
citizen traders in the Choctaw ma
ton caused, as we have heretofore
reported, much disturbance and
apprehension among the merchants
in this nation.
We were informed to-day by the
firm of Stuart, Lewis & Gordon
that some time since, at the in
stance of number of merchants,
they submitted an argument to the
secretary of the interior in which
they urged that the agent was
without authority to collect these
taxes upon two grounds. The first
was that the terms royalties"
and rents as used in the Curtis
bill. could not, according to their
legal Specification, include the
taxes to be paid by merchants up
on their own goods imported into
/ the nation. The second was that
the adoption of the Atoka agree
ment on Aug. 24th. 1898, author
lied the United States, through
the Indian agent, to collect only
royalties on coal and asphalt. and
restored to- the nation the right to
collect any other taxes.
The secretary replied at much
length to the argument submitted,
indicating that they were not pre-
pared to accept the first contention
made, and citing authorities to
support the position of the depart
ment; but, with reference to the
second position, saying this:
In the letter of instructions (tC
the agent dated July 21st, it was
stated that nothing III this commu
nication Is intended to be appli
cable to such business affairs o.
1.-THE Seminole nation, who, by theil
agreement with the government o
the United States, fully ratified
and made operative July 1st, 1898
by act of congress, are not subjec
to the provisions above quoted o.
the act of June 2Sth, 1S9S."
The provisions referred to were
the provisions of the Curtis bill
authorizing the United States t.
collect royalties, rents and Othel
indebtedness due the nation. Th,
letter concludes:
i There would seem to be M
good reason why the same rul'
should not apply to the ChOctav
: and Chickasaw nations since tn,
ratification of the agreement, ex
cept so far as the same expressl!
directs.
r AS the agreement expressly di
e Directs that the United States sha.
: collect royalties on coal and as
S phalt, it is clear from this letter o
IS the secretary of the interior, tina
the agent is no longer recognized
|, to have authority to collect the i'm
a port taxes, and doubtless will b
so instructed by the department.
l. As the reply of the secretary wa
made to an argument In which
5 was stated to the department. tina
it was submitted in behalf Of eli
'e ents interested, who had been ad
n vised that the agent was withOu
authority to collect this tax, an
-e who would resist its collection b
him in the courts, it may be re
t, garded as settling authoritative
d and officially that the United State
will not through the Indian agen
e or otherwise, collect the tax il
question Capital.
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