The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1899-05-04
WASHINGTON LETTER.
CATTLE WILL BE DRIVEN OUT OF
THE CHEROKEE AND CREEK
NstIons-SOme Very Important Matters
Pertaining to the Indian Country.
PlIny SOper vs.. the Dawes
CommtaaIun Etc


PlIny SOper vs.. the Dawes
COmmIssIuD. Etc.
Special to the Ardmoreite.
Washington, D. c., May l, 1899.
All the cattle in the Cherokee and
Creek nations, aside from those
owned by members of the tribes
which can be grazed upon allot-
ments to be made to their owners,
must be driven out of the nations
Immediately. Such were the in
structiOns given District Attorney
Pllny l.. Soper, while in Washing
ton, by the Attorney General.
The owners of large herds of cattle
in the above nations are to be Civ
en- notice and if they fail to imme-
diately proceed to drive their cattle
out the suits now pending in
the Federal courts against them
will be pressed vigorously by the
District Attorney and the law will
be strictly enforced. This means
that the cattle will not only event
ually be driven out by the United
States marshals, in the event the
cattle men refuse to comply with
the instructions to be given them
by the District Attorney, but that
they will be subject to a fine of
one dollar for each head of cattle
in the Greek and Cherokee nations
which are not removed forthwith.
~
Mr.. Soper spent large portion
of last week in the city for the
purpose of receiving instructions
from the Department of Justice as
to the course he should pursue in
important cases now pending be-
fore the United States courts. One
of the most important questions
decided, was as to his position in
regard to the proceedings to be in
stituted against Indians taking al
lotments in excess of the lands
given them under the Curtis law.
The Dawes commission has insist
ed all along that it was the duty of
the District Attorney to procure
the evidence against the violators
of the law and prosecute them.
Mr.. Soper has contended that it
was the duty of the Dawes commits
sion to furnish evidence to his of
fee sufficient to base the issuance
of warrants upon, and then he
would proceed. In other words,
Mr.. SUper asserted that it was not
the province of the United States
attorneys to become detectives as
well as public prosecutors. His
position was sustained by both the
Attorney-General and by the Sec
retary of the Interior. The Dawes
commission has been informed that
it is their business to watch the al
lotments made to Indians and know
whether or not the individual mem
bers of the tribe have exceeded the
amount allowed them under the
Curtis law and that if there are
any offenders it is the duty Of the
Dawes commission to report the
facts to the District Attorney
Then the District Attorney is to
proceed upon the evidence furnish
ed him against such offenders.
M*
Secretary Hitchcock has decided
that the appropriation made by
congress of $30, 900 for the purpose
of defraying the expenses of the
townsite appraisers to be appointed
throughout the Territory is entire
ly inadequate and that it will bt
impossible to appoint more thar
one additional board in the Terri
tory. This board will probably bt
appointed for Wagner, in the
, Creek nation. In the event thai
the chief of the nation refuses tC
appoint a member of the board il
accordance with the provisions Of
the Curtis law the Secretary of tn,