The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1899-02-20
WASHINGTON LETTER.
Territorial Topics as They Come to the
Surface at Washington.

Washington, d. c., Feb. ID
This has been a field week in Con-
gress for the Indian Territory. The |
Indian appropriation bill has pass
ed the Senate and is now in CON
ference. In this bill are all the
appropriations for the Five Tribes
in the Territory, and the full APP
preparations, together with all the
new laws and regulations relating
to the Territory are given in this
letter below.
~
The most important question now
left for Congress to dispose of, re-
lating to the Territory, Is the rat
ifcation of the Cherokee and Greek
treaties. Several hearings have
been given by the subcommittee
of the Senate committee on Indian
affairs having jurisdiction of the
subject, during the past few days.
The question of favorably report
ing the treaty to the Senate is now
under consideration by this COM
mittee. The Delawares represent
ed by Dick Adams and Mr.. Har
vey, are here contesting the rati-
ficatiOn of the treaty at every
point. The claim that should the
treaty become a law it will mean a
loss of millions Of dollars to them,
as they insist that they are enti-
tied to the allotment of 100 acres
of land each. before the CherOkees
are given anything and then they
are entitled to equal allOtments
with the Cherokees. They Insist
that Congress has no right to en-
act legislation on this subject at
this season, pending the decision
of the Court of Claims, which will
decide the rights of the Delawares
in the allotment of the lands, and
the distribution of tribal funds.
Tom Bixby of the Dawes Com
mission is here urging the ratifi-
cation Of the treaty, as is also
Hastings and UIey Bell of the
Cherokees. . The contention of the
Delawares is however, so strong
from "A legal standpoint that they
may be able to defeat action at this
session of Congress. III which event
final allotment of the Cherokee
lands may be postponed until af
ter the decision of the case by the
Court of Claims
-
The Senate is determined if pos
sible to make public all the facts
relating to the payment of the
Cherokee Freedmen. 1t has been
alleged, in fact it has been common
gossip that $125, 900 of the $400, =
| 600 paid to the Indians for the use
Of paying off the Freedmen was
squandered in fees to attorneys.
The Senate recently addressed a
communication to the Commission
er of Indian Affairs, relating to the
question and has received all the
documents in the case. Commits
siOner Jones says, 4 have the
honor to acknowledge the receipt
of your communication Of the Both
ult., transmitting Senate resolu-
tions of June 9th, 1898, and also
including two reports, with their
inclosure, Of United States IN
dian Inspector William j. McCon-
nell, of his investigation OF the
enrolment and payment of the
Cherokee Freedmen under the de
cree of the Court of Claims in the
case of Moses Whitmire, trustee.
vs.. The Cherokee Nation, and a
letter from Hon. Z. II. Tingle,
House of Representatives, in re-
gard to the payment of $4OO, ,0O0
by the Council of the Cherokee
Nation for the payment to the
Cherokee Freedmen under the de-
cree aforesaid, to the disposition OF
the 1925, 900, thereof on account of
alleged services and claims, nor to
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