Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-10-02
LAND OF THE FIVE TRIBES.
Recommendations of the Inspector OF
the Indian Territory.

The annual report of the Indian inspec-
tor for the Indian territory has been made
public by the Secretary of the Interior
This official has charge of the five civ
iized tribes, comprising the Seminoles
2,s25; the Choctaws. 19,4O6; the Chicka-
saws. 9,OfS; the Greeks, 14,771, and the
Cherokees, "a, 461, in population.
These various tribes have heretofore
controlled their own affairs, conducting
their governments, having their respective
governors OF principal chiefs, and other ma
tional or state officers. their legislatures or
councils enacting such laws governing
their country, schools and affairs generally
as they deemed proper, acting Independent
OF the United States government By their
respective laws and treaties their lands
have been owned in common, citizens being
authorized to use and rent to non-citizens
as their laws permitted, in many instances
comprising large areas
Numerous thriving towns throughout the
territory have been built upon the common
land of the respective tribes all non-citi-
Zens located therein being assessed for the
privilege of residing therein or conducting
business within the limits of the nation and
others also for introducing cattle mining
coal, cutting timber etc, citizens being.
also required to remit tax for each non
citizen to whom farms are rented.
These various taxes are supposed to have
amounted to considerable, but owing to the
loose manner in which affairs have been
conducted and records kept it has been
impossible to ascertain the aggregate
amounts collected or accounted for In
many instances, however, it has been found
that amounts due have not all been paid but
compromised with collectors and Others
In many instances of amounts so collected
by officers but small percentage has
reached the treasury Of the nation to which
it belongs.
The report gives a detailed statement of
the several tribes, which includes their
treaty Obligations and the mining indus
tries within their respective boundaries
Inspector Wright closes his report with
the following recommendations:
Legislation Recommended,
Being directed to state what legislation l
consider necessary to properly execute the
provisions of the act of Congress approved
June %, 1885, appears from the existing
condition in the territory, l have the honor
to submit the following:
1t appears by treaty that all mineral
land, other than coal and asphalt. is not
reserved from allotment in the ChckasaW
ana ChoctaW nations; therefore, to avoid
complications later it would appear de-
sirabie that no leases other than coal and
asphalt should be made in such nations.
though treaty provides leases shall include
all mineral.
That steps be taken to secure a uniform,
system OF taxes or permits from non-citi-
ZenS ana others to trade. introduce stock
etc, ana non-cltiZens to reside within the
limits OF the five tribes, to be collected by
the department and applied as a common
school fund for all, which is much needed
ana Tor which some provision for non-citi-
ZenS is essential
Also that all tribal governments he ahoI
ished. as they are of no practical benefit
TO any community other than providing an
preparations for the maintenance of
scnools. which should be under the super
VISION OF the department, and uniform rules
and regulations adopted to apply to the va
rious tribes.
That the advisability of establishing a
military post and government penitentiary
"thln tIe limits of the Indian territory be
considered.
Also the establishment of an insane asy-
lum Reports from different officials of the
i've tribes show there are a considerable
number OF insane persons (nineteen citizens
and two non-ctiZens being reported as
within the limits of the Cherokee nation),
Tor which no provision is made in any
other nation, except the Cherokee nation
where a national asylum is maintained
Some legislation is desired concerning the
laying out and working of public roads
Under the present systemlof altotting there
appears to be no provision made for such
and much complaint has been and is re-
peatedly being made to this office that cit
liens selecting allotmentsT fence up existing
roads. thereby seriously nconveniencing
the travelling public and the carrying of the
mail.
1t is also desirable that Congress be asked
to apply the "estray' laws of Arkansas, as
set forth in chapter LVIII. entitled "es-
trays. of Mansfields Digest of the Stat
utes of the State Of Arkansas. to the In
dian territory, and that the poll tax of
said state also be made to apply to incor-
porated towns in the Indian territory, to-
Sether with law to qualifications of
legal voters and prohibiting persons con-
Xicted of falnnies from, untinr