Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1899-03-02
FOR THE WHITES RELIEF
A Measure to Permit Them
to Enter the Courts.

The following bill providing for
adopted citizens to sue in the
court Cf claims for lands and
money has been read twice and
referred to the committee on
Indian affairs:
Be it enacted by the senate and
house of representatives. of the
United States of America in con-
gress assembled. That any per-
son who has heretofore inter-
married with a citizen a member
OF the Cherokee nation ofIndians
IN the Indian Territory, and by
virtue Of such marriage Is, accord
ing to the constitution and laws Of
the Cherokee nation, a member
or citizen of the tribe, and who
has been excluded from sharing
equally with other Cherokee citi-
zens in the disbursement of
moneys heretofore paid out per
capita by said nation 10 their peo-
Pile, may, within ninety days after
the approval of this act, institute
and prosecute q suit in the United
States court of claims against the
Cherokee nation of Indians and
the United States for the purpose
of recovering from said Cherokee
nation his pro rata share of all
moneys disbursed as aforesaid
from which he was wrOngfully
excluded, and for all moneys yet
in the treasury, and to fix his
status as to his joint ownership OF
the public domain. Said suit or
suits may be brought in the name
of the claimants, either severally
or Jointly, by filing his or their
petition in said court. setting out
the facts upon which such claim
ant or claimants relies to secure
| Judgment in his or their favor.
The said court OF claims is hereby
invested with iull jurisdiction to
hear and determine all such suits
according 10 the rules of the law
and equity, and may consider all
treaty provisions touching the
same; also the law and cOnstllu-
ton OF the Cherokee nation. And
said court of claims may allow
either party to take additional
evidence. to the end that full un-
derstanding of the facts may be
reached and justice done by said
court between the parties, and
render such judgment as the law
and the facts may warrant. II
| Judgment Is rendered in favor OF
the claimant or claimants the
judgment shall fix the amount
of money due said claimant OF
claimants and direct that said
amount be charged against the
Cherokee Indians and deducted
from any moneys that 't-y may
have in the treasury Of the United
States and be paid, less attorney
fees, to said claimants; and said
court in said judgment shall
decree a reasonable attorney fee,
to be paid the attorney or at
torneys of record for professional
tservices rendered in prosecution
of such claim or claims, and direct
that the accounting officers of the
United States deduct from the
amount due each claimant the
attorney fee allowed in said julg-
ment and pay the same directly
to said attorneys. Service shall
be executed on the United States
and on said nation by causing a
copy of petition to be delivered to
the Attorney General and to the
Principal Chiefof said nation, who
shall demur or answer The same
within sixty days after such ser
vice. Either party may appeal
from any final judgment of the
said court to the Supreme Court
of the United States within thirty
days after the rendition of the
same; and said Supreme Court is
hereby vested with full jurisdiction
to hear and determine said suits
on appeal in the same manner as
appeals from other courts of the
United States; aud said cases shall
have precedence and be advanced
upon the docket.
WAGNER COURT PUTOFF
Il