Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1899-11-30

The council is progressing slow
ly. Council bill No. 8. written by
j. c. Starr and championed by ].
EB. Woodall in the house, passed
by a close vote yesterday evening,
the vote standing is for and l6
against. The act is as follows:
An act to extend the time allowed
congress to ratify the agreement
dated January IA, 1899, and for
other purposes.
| Whereas, An agreement was
made. by and between the govern
ment of the United States, entered
into in it's behalf by the commits
sion to the five civilized tribes,
Henry L. Dawes, Tams Bixby,
Archibald S. McKennon and Thos
B. Needles, duly appointed and
authorized thereunto, and the
Cherokee nation, entered into by
its commission, Robert B. Ross,
Glenn V. Rogers, Percy WHY,
Henry c. LOwery, John E. Gun
ter, George Sanders and Wolfe
Coon, duly appointed and author
lied thereunto, concluded at Mus
kogee, 1. T. on the 14lh day of
January, 1899, and
Whereas, Said agreement was
submitted to and ratified by the
legally qualified voters of the
Cherokee nation at an election held
for that purpose on the 31st day of
January, 1899, and,
Whereas, Said agreement was by
the terms and provisions therein
named, submitted to the United
States congress for ratification and
Whereas, The time allowed con-
gress for the ratification of the
same was limited to about thirty
days, or until March 4, 1899, and,
Whereas, the time allowed the
United States congress was Insult
fcient for a thorough consideration
of matter of legislation so great
and important. Therefore
Be it enacted, by the national
council, That the time provided
for in said agreement for its ratif-
cation by congress be and the same
is hereby extended to July 1st,
1900, and that congress be request
ed to ratify the same with the tnl-
lowing sections of said agreement
eliminated, to-wit:
Sections 81, 26, 81 and S5, and
in lieu of section 26 insert the fol-
lowing:
"Any citizen of the Cherokee
nation in rightful possession of
any town lot, the right of occu-
pancy of which has heretofore been
sold under provisions of Cherokee
law, shall have the right to pur-
chase, by paying in manner here
matter prescribed, one-half of the
amount of its appraised value, de-
Quoting therefrom such amounts
as may have been paid into the
treasury of the Cherokee nation as
the purchase price for the right of
occupancy"
In section %, after the words
"If any" strike out the following
"With six per cent interest there
on from the date of payment TO
, the time of appraisement." +"
That upon the passage Of this
bill by the national council and
the approval of the same by con.
gress of the United States the
same shall be ratified by majority
! vote Of the Cherokee people at an
election held for that purpose, be.
e fore the same shall become bind,
ing on the Cherokee people.
:. Passed the council Nov. 25, 1899
This bill will meet with some
. opposition in the senate and it i.
probable that joint committee 0
: five members from the house ant
three members from the senat
4 will be appointed to see if they il
conference can not come to som
= agreement on the bill.
Some favor striking the fou
million three hundred thousan
is dollar claim from the agreemen
and asking congress to give n
d nation the right to sue in the Uni
Z ted States court of claims with tn
right of appeal by either part
q to the supreme court. Thi
y seems to be the best plan an
places the claim out of the hand
Is of schemers and shears the treat
= = of all temptation for tricksterI
d That plan would be great defe'
e. to many boodlers who want to g
d rich of of the Cherokee nation, /
rs handling this claim.
: The whole trouble with tn
n treaty seems to hinge on the co
lection of this. claim and if th