The daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Ind. Ter. [Okla.]) 1898-1902, 1899-03-02

ment duly ratified.
In order, therefore, to effect
the provisions of said act accord
ing to its design, and to enable
every member Of each tribe to se-
lect and to have set apart TO
him lands TO be allotted to him in
amount approximating his share,
as aforesaid, the commission of
the five civilized tribes is instruct
ed, as means preparatory to and
in aid of the duty of allotment
of the lands Of said tribes required
of it by said act, to proceed as
early as practicable to establish an
office within the territory of each
tribe, provided with proper and
suitable records, includinga copy
of the Unitad States survey of the
lands of the tribe, for the
purpose of registering each and
eyerv selection of lands made by
any member of the tribe for his
allotment; and in order to make
such selection Of lands by any
member of any tribe effective and
valid such member, or the head of
each family shall be required to
appear in person at the office with
in his tribe and TO make applica-
ton to one of the members of said
commission, or to some one by
said commission authorized to act
for it in performing such duty,
to have set apart 10 him the lands
selected by him for himself and
his wife and minor children; and
such application shall be prepared
by some member of said csmmis-
sion, or the person SO authorized, {,
and the applicant shall be requlr-
ed to therein make oath that he
has in person actually been upon
the lands so selected by him and
is fully informed as to the location
of the same and the character of
the soil; that the land is suitable
for a home for himself and family;
that he has in good faith selected
such lands and will accept same in
allotment to himself and family;
that no part Of same is lawfully
held by any other member of the
tribe; and thereafter he may oc-
cupy, control, and rent the same
for any period not exceeding one
year, by any one contract, until
lands are in fact allotted to him
under terms OF said act, and will
be protected therein by the govern
ernment from interference by all
other persons whomsoever. Sc
lections may be made for orphans,
incompetents, and prisoners. by
guardians and relatives.
ANY selection of lands otherwise
made by any member of any tribe.
and any rent contract made for any
longer period than one year or for
other than the current year, shall
be void.
The commission shall give due
notice, by publication, of the time
and place when and where appli-
cations for selections may be
received.
Contest for any tract so selected
may be made by any member OF
the tribe claiming right thereto al
any time within ninety days from
the date of notice of the time and
place for receiving applications,
and not thereafter, by filing in the
office in which the selection was
made a complaint, duly verified,
therein plainly stating the facts
upon which his claim is based
All contests shall be determinedby
said commission subject to appeal
to the commissioner on Indian
Affairs, and from him to the secre
tary of the Interior.
No contract for rent of any selec'
ton so made shall be valid oil
binding unless for adequate con
sideration and made in writing
in duplicate and deposited in ths
office of said commission in which
the selection wss made. Sale
commission, after investigation
shall forward same to the secretary
of the Interior for his approval
and when approved it shall be re
turned to such office of the com
mission, to be by it delivered t'
the parties, one copy to each.
c;l oo,,r,;uo;nn 80 authorised