Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1899-03-02
RULES AND REGULATIONS
For Putting in Effect the
Curtis Bill.


share OF the lands of his nation or
tribe, and that to which his wife
and minor children are entitled, d"
to relinquish possession thereof in
order that other members OF the
tribe may enter thereon and make
homes preparatory to the allot-
ment so contemplated.
Section l6, therefore, prohibits
anyon from claiming, demanding,
or receiving, as also any person
from paying TO any individual,
rents on any such excess of lands
alter the date of said act; and sec
ton II forbids anyone "to inclose
or in any manner, by himself
or through another, directly or in
directly, to hold possession of any
greater amount of lands. than
that which would be his approx
innate share and that of his
wife and minor children" after
the expiration of nine months
from the date of the act. No one
can, therefore, either receive or
pSJ-rents to an individual on any
excess aforesaid after the passage
of the act, or retain possession Of
any such excess after March 2S,
1899. without incurring the penal
ties fixed by section is of the act.
Constituting the first proviso in
section l6 with the language found
in the latter part OF section %, it
is clear that no mem Der is author
lied, prior to allotment, TO rent
his share of the lands and that of
his family, as aforesaid, unless be
be in possession and occupying the
same as his homestead, or the
same be in good faith selected by
him and In some way set apart to
him as the land to he allotted to
him.
Section % makes void all leases
of agricultural or grazing lands be-
longing to any tribe made after
January l, 1898, by the tribe or
any member thereof No lease
contract. therefore, of such lands,
executed since January l, 1898, or
hereafter, can have any force or
effect whatever.
All grazing leases made prior to
January l, 1898, will, by the pro-
visions of said section, terminate
on April l, 1899, which do not by
their own terms expire prior to
that date, and this without regard
to the period of time fixed by the
terms of such lease. And all agri-
cultural leases made prior to Janu-
airy /, 1898, expire January /,
1900, which do not by their own
terms expire prior to that date,
without regard to the period OF
time for which they were made.
The last prOvisO IN section 16
permits "aDy member of tribe 10
dispose of any timber contained
on his allotment" but this
privsiegt can not be exercised un-
Der said selection nor until after
final allotment has been made un
der provisions OF The act and agree
ment duly ratified.
In order, therefore, to effect
the provisions of said act accord
ing to its design, and to enable
every member of each tribe TO Sc
lect and to have set apart TO
him lands to be allotted TO him in
amount approximating his share,
as Aforesaid, the commission OF
the five civilized tribes is instruct
ed, as means preparatory to and
in aid of the duty Of allotment
of the lands of said tribes required
of il by said act, TO proceed as
early as practicable to establish an
Office within the territory of each
tribe. provided with proper and
suitable records, including copy
of the Unitad States survey of the
lands Of the tribe, for the
purpose of registering each and
eyerv selection of lands made by
any member of the tribe for his
allotment; and in order to make
such selection Of lands by any
member of any tribe effective and
valid such member, or the head OF
each family shall be required TO
appear in person at the office with
in his tribe and to make applica-
ton to one of the members Of said
commission, or to some one by
said commission authorized to act
for it in performing such duty,
to have set apart TO him the lands
selected by him for himself and
his wife and minor children; and
such application shall be prepared
by some member OF said commits
sion. or the person so authorized
and the applicant shall be requir-
ed to therein make oath that he
has in person actually been upon
the lands so selected by him and
is fully informed as to the location
of the same and the character of
the soil: that the land is suitable
for a home for himself and family;
that he has in good faith selected
such lands and will accept same in
allotment to himself aud family;
that no part of same is lawfully
held by any other member Of the
tribe; and thereafter he may oc-
cupy, control, and rent the same
for any period not exceeding one
year, by any one contract, until
lands are in fact allotted to him
under terms Of said act, and will
be protected therein by the govern
ernment from interference by al
other persons whomsoeveF. Sc