The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1899-05-08

ings to be Instituted against Indians
taking allOtments In excess Of the lands
given them under the Curtis law The
Dawes Commission has Insisted all along
that Il was the duty Of the district att
torney to procure the evidence against
the vlolators Of the law and prosocure
them. Mr. Soper has coutended that il
was the duty OF the Dawes Commission
TO furnish evidence to his office suni-
cient to base the issuance OF warrants
upon, and then he would proceed In
other words Mr. Soper 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 the attorney general and by
the secretary Of the interior The Dawes
Commission has been informed that they
must watch the allotments made to the
Indians and know whether or not the
members OF the tribe have exceeded the
amount allowed them under the Curtis
law, and that If there are any offenders
1t is the duty Of the Dawes Commission
to report the facts to the district at
torney. Then the district attorney is to
proceed against the offenders upon the
evidence furnished.
Secretary Hitchcock has decided nat
the appropriation made by congress OF
10000 for defraylng the expenses of the
townslte appraisers to be appointed
throughout the territory Is entirely in
adequate and that 1t will be imposs 20
TO appoint more than one additional
board in the territory. This board will
probably be appointed for Wagner. in
the Creek nation In the event that the
chief OF the nation refuses to appoint n
member OF the board IN accordance
with the provisions Of the Curtis law
the secretary OF the interior will rhen ap-
point another member of the board and
the two members thus appointed by tho
United States officials will proceed to
prepare the plats OF the town 60 appraise
II as rapidly as possible.
Benjamin Marshall, Of Clarkvfle, /. r..
has been appointed by the secretary OF
the interior as II member OF the board Of
appraisers for the town Of Muskogee
The appointment was made under the
provision OF the Curtis law. which pro-
vldes that In the event the chief of the
Creek nation refuses 10 appoint a member
OF the board, the secretary should then
appoint
The Dawes Commission has forwarded
TO the interior department a report of
It's plans for the allotment and Citizen
ship enrolment and other work required
by tho Indian Territory act The fun
floods Of the Creek nation have been very
low TO accede to the policy of the gov |
'rnment as expressed in recent legsa- |
Ion, and the work OF enroung has been |
materially retarded by the determination |
m their part TO lguor the requirements |
Il the commission.
Upon the establishment of land office !
It Muskogee. however, II became evil |
lent TO these ful-bloods that unless they |
lppeared for enrolment they would NOT |
'e permitted TO select their lands The |
eport calls attention to the opportunity |
or fraud and error. There Is large /
olored population in the Crek nation |
Iaving no cltizeship rights, but claiming
hem. AS class" says the report, "t-ie
egroes are untruthfm and only =. skill
d clerk with knowledge OF their ma
ure and Of the conditions existing in the
'reek nation can detect attempted
raud."
Cattlemen Il Ii stated In many instan
es arc endeavorlng to induce citioens
D file upon certain lands with view OF
enting them for grazing purposes. and
reat care Is necessary TO prevent impo-
'uon. The commission IS now enrolling
he Choetaws. The principal difficulty
with the freedmen, many Of whom at
ampt frauds involving valuable property
ghts The classification OF the Semi
ole lands, under the present plan. viii
e accomplished m about six months.
he repom concludes:
THE commission has untiringly de-
oted its energies to the accomplishment
the ends desired In the face OF an ap-
alling opposition by not only Indians.
NJ by various forces which have COM
med TO defeat the governments policy.
osorb the substance Of the rightful own
rs Of the soil and conduce TO the ma
'al welfare Of those whose Interests
re subseryed thereby" I
The prosecution Of prominent men in
rneys. A revelation Is promised Some
the most prominent men IN the terrl-
ny ana the two states mentioned viii | b
indicted. The department OF Justice 7
Is instructed the United States attor-
'ys TO institute suit Immediately against 1
e guilty parties and within the next
70 weeks the proceedings VIII be made
lblie.
NO decision has been made by the in
rior department as 10 the approval
the mineral leases in the Cherokee =
-tion. number OF applications have
ready been submitted, one man hav- /.
omitted ten applications covering more n
an eight thousand acres OF land, but II
far no action has been taken. Special n
Ient Wright was called upon 10 report
regard 10 these matters and his re-
RI has already been submitted 10 the
partment. 80 far, however. the report
$ not been made public. The exact con- )
ats cannot be given but il Is under
'od that he Is opposed TO the approval =
the leases.
he charges against United States judge
ouaas hav9 not been considered by the
department Of justice The de-
rtment Is now endeavoring 20 secure
pies OF the letter written by Judge
omas TO members OF the Creek nation,
which he asserted that the Curtis law -
uoeonstitutional This is looked upon N
grave breach OF judicial etlqueits, II
Judge Thomas passed upon the ques-
N privately before Il was submitted
his consideration judicially. II copy
his letter can be secured there Is no
1bt that ne will be removed. =,