The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1899-03-15
TRADERS MUST PAY.
Or be ousted-So Say the Department
Officials.


dian Territory, is in receipt of the
following letter flom the actin g
secretary oc the interior, Thomas
Rvan, in reference to nOn-citizen
traders in the Chiekasaw nation
paying the tax imposed upon them
bv the laws of said nation:
The department IS in receipt of
YOUR letter of the 18th ultimO, en-
closing a communication from Mr..
Alex Rennie, Jr.. special national
agent Of the Chickasaw nation, au-
thorized by the governor of said
nation to collect taxes due the ma
ton from nOn-citizen merchants,
wherein he submits list of non
citizen merchants doing business
in the Chickasaw nation who re-
fuse to comply with the law of
said nation taxing all non-citizen
traders l per cent on their capital
stock. 1t appears from the allega-
tions of Mr.. Rennie that many of
the parties named in his communi-
cation have been in business and
have always hitherto complied
with the law, but some of them
have not paid taxes for one year,
declining to do SO upon legal ad-
vice, and requests that action be
taken by the Indian inspector for
the Indian territory to enforce
payment. You request to be ad-
vised whether non-citiZens doing
business in towns in the Chicka-
saw nation can be required to pay
said tax after the town lots have
been appraised and disposed of un-
der the provisions of the various
agreements.
The commissioner Of Indian
affairs in forwarding said com
munication expresses the opinion
that SAID nation has the right to
impose said taxes upon the non
citizens engaged in business In
the said nation, and while this Of
fee cannot undertake to act as tax
fcOllector for the Chickasaw nation,
it may. with the approval Of the
secretary of the interior, authorize
and direct the removal Of ali non
citizens who refuse to comply with
the lust and equitable conditions
imposed upon them under the laws
of the nation. The commissioner
I therefore recommends that he be
instructed to authorize Inspector
Wright to direct Agent Wisdom
to remove from the Chickasaw ma
ton such non-citizens within that
nation who refuse to comply with
the law thereof, imposing a tax
upon them for the privilege of en-
gaging in business within the ma
ton. He further states that this
question has in previous years
been brought to the attention of
this office and that merchants have
been compelled to pay the tax or
suffer removal.
BY the provisions of the agree
ment set out in section 90 Of the
act of congress approved June 2S,
1898 (30-statutes, 495). the tribal
government of the Chickasaw ma
ton IS continued for the period of
eight years, e ept as specifically
mydifed in said agreemet. Prior
to the passage Of said act said ma
ton unquestionabIy had the right
to prescribe the terms upon which
nOn residents should do business
in said nation. Said act of con-
gress did not take away that right
and the recommendation of the
commissioner of Indian affairs is.
therefore, concured in by the de-
partment, and you will accordingly
advise the Indian agent to notify
the parties refusing to pay the per
nit tax, duly levied by said nation
that they will be subject to remOv-
al, under the provisions of sections
2149, revised statutes.
d.. G.