Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1899-12-07

mitting persons since 1880, neces-
about way for twenty per cent, no
more nor no less. His proposition
was introduced by Councilman
James B. Woodall in the lower
house Saturday evening and was
read once. 1t is very adroitly
drawn and reads like it was writ
ten by some New York lawyer.
The proposition is this, that
upon the approval of this act au-
thorizing the treasurer and princi-
pal chief to enter into contract
with Trasher assigning all the
right, title and interest of the
Cherokees in this claim due under
the Slade. Bender accounting, the
principal chief and treasurer will
enter into a contract with Trasher
making the transfer of the claim.
Trasher is to put up a forfeit OF
$4,000 in a bank in Manhattan In
the suburbs of New York City and
in four months after the contract
is made he is to pay over the bal
ance of the eighty per cent OF the
claim. The instrument Is so skill
fully drawn that it protects Trash
er all the way through and not the
Cherokee nation. 1t fits the law
in Just such a way that the Chero-
kee nation could never collect the
forfeit even if Trasher did fail to
pay over the balance. Another
misleading feature of The act is
that it provides that the money is
to be paid over when 1t is determ-
ined what is due or TO grow due
from the United States. That
means that when an appropriation
of the money is made by congress
and paid over to Trasher he will
keep twenty per cent and pay the
nation the balance. In other
words the whole affair is simply a
roundabout way of getting twenty
per cent for making the collection.
The Cherokee nation already
has a contract with Senator Butler
for the collection of this identical
claim, and why should it be placed
out for collection again? Would it
not be serving the interest of the
people better for council to delay
letting the claim out again for col
lection until it can be seen what
Mr.. Butler is going to do about
his contract2 Let him either make
the attempt or give it up. The
idea of a small band of men sitting
in the legislative halls of the Cher
okee nation aud voting away s4OO,'
coo, of the peoples money is
no small thing by any means. If
the money is collected Mr.. Butler
will get more than 100000, and
then to give some other collector
more than 100000 looks like
rushing the matter too much.
Why not refuse to entertain any
more propositions for the colleo-
tion Of this money and instruct
the delegation TO press Mr.. Butler
into service under his contract, or
let him give it up, one or the other.
Then If Mr.. Butler gives up, next
council can look after letting il
out for collection again. There
must be something in the claim or
sary to enable them to take the
census of the Cherokee nation in
the manner required by the act of
congress on June IS, 1898.
The following is the report of
the persons who have located in
truder improvements and also ap
estimate of the revenue that can be
derived from the intruder places
and town lots yet not collected on.
/ r-,s, r,,,,,..,,,,,o,,. f,i,o-ot-as N,tfor
TahleQuah. l. t, Nov. 26. lss9.
Number of intruder places and
the value thereof, as shown by re-
ports of parties appointed for the
district named;
Delaware district-29 places val
ued at s10.S40, two places not
valued,
Canadian district-Four places
valued at 81, 400, four places not
valued.
Cooweescoowee distriCt-1a pla-
ces valued at IS, 400, 81 places not
valued. Final report nO:received,
Sequoyah district-one place
valued at $40. ]. Il. PARKS,
Executive Sec.
Balance due on intruder places
sold, about s45, 900.
Estimated value ofplaces unsold,
about $4,000.
Balance due on town lots, about
$1,000.
Total revenue that could be col
lected by the accompanying bill,
about SOS, 900.