Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1899-09-07
AGENT WRlGHTS REPORT.
Radical Legislation AbOli-
ton of Tribal Court.

ton of Tribal Court.
Secretary Hitchcock has receiv.
ed the annual report of special
agent Wright, representative OF
the interior department in the In
dian Territory at Muskogee. 1t is
very voluminous, comprising sixty
closely written pages and covering
the years operation in the terri
tory exhaustively. The report is
particularly interesting by reason
of the recommendations for new
legislation submitted by the
special agent, whose recommenda-
tions are usually adhered to by the
secretary of the interior. The In
dian Office has made a careful ex-
animation special recommended
tions for legislation by congress
and has ccncuIred in them in a
strong letter to the secretary OF
the interior. The recommended
tiOns in question are as follows:
RECOMMENDATION AND NEW Leg
IsLATIoN DESIRABLE.
"Being directed to state what
legislation | consider necessary to
properly execute the provisions of
the act of congress approved June
2S, 1898, as appears from the ex-
listing condition in the territory, !
have the honor to submit the fol-
lowing:
at appears by treaty that all
mineral land, other than coal and
asphalt, is not reserved from allot-
ment in the Chickasaw and Choc-
taw nations; therefore, to avoid
complication later it would appear
desirable that no leases other than
coal and asphalt be made in such
nations, though the treaty provides
leases shall include all mineral.
THAT steps be taken to secure
a uniform system of taxes or per-
mits from nOn-citizens and others
to trade, introduce stock etc, and
non-citiZens TO reside within the
limits of the five tribes, to be COL
lected by the department and ap.
piled as a common school fund to
all, which is much needed, and
for which some provision for non-
citizens is essential.
THAT the advisability of estab-
fishing a military post and gov
ernment penitentiary within the
limits Of the Indian Territory be
considered.
"Also, the establishment of an
insane asylum. Reports from dif-
ferent officials of the five tribes
show there are a considerable
number OF insane persons.
"Some legislation is desired
concerning the laying out and
working of public roads. Under
the present system of allotting
there appears to be no provision
made for such, and much COM
plant has been and is repeatedly
being made to this office that citi-
zens selecting allotments fence up
existing roads, thereby seriously
mountaineering the travelling
public and carrying of the mail.
"It is also desirable that con.
gress be asked to apply tie 'Es-
tray laws of Arkansas as set forth
in chapter LVlII, entitled 'Es.
trays, OF Mansfield Digest of the
statutes of the state of Arkansas,
to the Indian Territory, and that
the poll tax of said state also be
made to apply to incorporated
towns in the Indian Territory,
together with law as to quahfi-
cations of legal voters and prohib-
iting persons convicted of felonies
from voting"
CHEROKEE AND CREEK WARRANTS. |
In discussing the warrants is
sued by the various Indian tribes, |
Mr.. Wright states that an exam
ination Of the Cherokee warrants
demonstrates that they were legal |
and proper claims against the Uni
ted States, according to their rec