Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-01-06
ONE RELATES TO TREATIES.
1T GIVES TRIBES SIX MONTHS FOR
RATIFIC ALTON.
Bill Introduced Providing for Hold.
ing Court Mt Pawhuxka, in the
Usage Observation-Disclosures
ma Laws of Procedure
to Govern.

Washington, Jan. 5.-(Special) Some mis-
leading reports have been sent out from
here in rssard to the condition OF curtis
Indian Territory bill. since its considera-
ton by the joint subcommittee OF the
senate and house. The Curtis bill has noe
been materilly changed by the amend
ments which have been suggested up 10
cate In fact, these amendments have not
vet been adopted and even when adopted
will leave the original measure as 1t was
except in one or two particulars. The
rronosed amendments are not under con-
sideration. and will not be formally acted
upon by the subcommittee until next sat
Urday.
The principal amendment pending Is
that giving the tribes that have entered
into treaties six months from the adop-
ton of the measure TO ratify the same,
in which event they will be allowed TO dis
pose of their allotments and townsites ur-
der the provisions of their treaties 9th
erwise. the provisions of the curtis biiI
supersede.
1t is understood that q majority of tha
subcommittee held the view that the
United States has no legal power to con-
fer title TO any of these lands without
the consent of the Indians. Congress may
extend the jurisdiction OF the Cniteo
States, but cannot create townsiteS and
give title to the same. They hold that
this would leave a loophole in the bill
which would be quickly seized upon Tor
action in the supreme court and result IN
making the act imperative as TO every
| thing else contained in it. Some of tbs
amendments embody suggestions to facil-
itate the labor of the Dawes commission.
and it Is understood that an Amendments
is pending providing for roll of the freed
men of all the tribes.
The chairman of the Judiciary commits
tee, Representative Henderson. of Iowa,
to-day introduced bill amending the
statutes and providing for the holding OF
a term of the district court at Pawhuska.
| in the Usage reservation. in Oklahoma
| Territory. The bill provides that at least
| two terms of the district court shall be
| held at Pawhuska in each year. at such
times as the supreme court of the terrl-
| tory shall fix and determine. and the SUI
! preme court shall. by order. make the
| Usage and kaw Indian reservations IN ths
territory part of one of the Judicial dis
\ tricts of said territory and its jurisdiction
| shall extend to all causes within the said
reservation, of which the district courts of
| Oklahoma now have jurisdiction, unde-
| the constitution of the United States and
| the organic act of the territory. The gov
in o, heK of ibe Is The b
| further defines the duties of officers, quail
| ifications of judges, provides for stem
ographic service and gives .he governSr ,I,1
| lie administrator for the Usage and Kan
| S;,s Indian reservations, with jurisdiction
| over the estates of deceased persons, as
| a probate judge. The judge of the court
| shall keep stationed at Pawhuska and at
| the Kansas agency one or more United
| States commissioners, whose appointment
shall be approved by the attorney general
| OF the United States, and who. in addition
| to their usual duties. shall have and ex-
| ercise the same powers and jurisdiction
| over civil and criminal cases arising in the
| reservations as a justice of the peace.
| The present laws of procedure in force
| in Oklahoma shall have the same force
| and effect as elsewhere in the territory.
| and its criminal laws, except the game
| ervations.