The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1899-09-05
INTERESTING REPORT
OF SPECIAL AGENT WRIGHT TO
SECRETARY OF The INTERIOR.
Recommends the Establishment OF a NIL
Itary Post. Government PenItentiary,
insane Asylum and the Abolish
ment of all Triba IGovernments.
Special to the Ardmoreite.

Special to the Ardmoreite.
Washington, d. c., Sept. 3.-Sec-
retary Hitchcock has received the
anual report of Special Agent Wright.
the representative of the Interior
Department in the Indian Territory.
1t is very voluminous. comprising so
closely typewriter pages and cover
ing the years operations in the Ter
ritory exhaustively. The report is
particularly interesting by reason of
the recommendation for new legis-
lation submitted by the special agent,
whose recommendations are usually
adhered to by the Secretary of the
Interior. The Indian office has made
C. careful examination of Special
Agent Wright's recommendation
for legislation by Congress and has
concurred in them in a strong letter
to the Secretary of the Interior. The
recommendation in question are as
follows:
RECOMMENDATIONS AND NEW LEGIs-
LATION DESIRABLE.
Being directed to state what leg
islation / consider necessary to
properly execute the provisions of
the act of Congress approved June
IS, 1898, as appears from the exist
ing condition in the Territory, have
the honor to submit the following:
1t appears that by treaty all min
eral lands, other than coal and as
phalt, is not reserved from allot-
ment in the Chickasaw and Choctaw
nations: therefore to avoid compli-
cation later, it would appear desir-
able that no leases other than coal
and asphalt be made in such nations,
though treaty provides leases shall
include all mineral.
That step be taken to secure a uni
form system of taxes or permits from
non-citizens and others to trade, in
troduce stock, etc., and non-citiZens
to reside within the limits of the Five
Tribes, to be collected by the depart
ment and applied as a common
school fund for all, which is needed
and for which some provision for
non-citizens is essential.
Also, that all tribal governments
be abolished, as they are of no par
ticular benefit to any community
other than providing appropriations
for the maintenance of schools, which
should be under the supervision of
the department, and uniform rules
and regulations adopted TO apply to
the Iarious tribes.
That the advisabilitY of establish
ing a military post and government
penitentiary within the limits of the
Indian Territory be considered.
Also, the establishment of an in
sane asylum. Reports from different
officials of the Five Tribes show there
are a considerable number of insane
persons 10 citizens and two non-citi-
zens being reported as within the
limits of the Cherokee nation, where,
a national asylum is maint tained.)
Some legislation is desired con-
cerning the laying out and working
of public roads. Under the present
system of allotting there appears to
be no provisions made for such, and
much complaint has been and is re-
peatedly being made to this office
that citizens selecting allotments
fence up existing roads, thereby Sc
riously inconveniencing the travel
ing public and the carrying of mail.
1t is also desirable that Congress
be asked to apply the "Estray" laws
of Arkansas, as set forth in chapter
LVIII, entitled "Estrays," of Mans
fields Digest of the statutes of the
state of Arkansas, to the Indian Ter
ritory, and that the polltax of said
state also be made to apply to incor-
porated towns in the Indian Terri
tory, together with a law as to quail
! fications of legal voters and prohio-
iting persons convicted OF felonles
from voting.
In discussing the warrants issued
by the various Indian tribes, MIR.
Wright states that an examination
of the Cherokee warrants demon
strates that they were legal and
proper claims against the United
States, according to their records,
recommends that an appropriation
be made by Congress, from the Cher
okee funds in the treasury, to pay all
outstanding warrants in full.
The fact that these various nations
appropriate large amounts annually
without rendering any particular
benefit to the people, except for
schools, should be sufficient argu-
ment for the advisability of discon-
tinuing their national governments
especially il Congress should make
provisions for supervision of schools
in the Cherokee and Greek nations,
The coal royalty supplies funds for
schools in the Choctaw, and un-
doubtedly will furnish sufficient rev.
enue for schools in the Chickasaw
nation hereafter.
"The superintendent OF schools
for the Indian Territory recenfIs