The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-06-02
INDIAN BILLS PASSED.
To Rntify Agreements with the
CherOkees and Creeks.

The House held a session last night for
the consideration of Indian bills Mr..
| Sherman. Chairman of the Committee on
Indian Affairs. called up House bill 1880.
introduced by Mr. Curtis on May 90 and
reported with amendments on May -. 1t
| is bill to ratify and confirm an agree
| ment with the Cherokee tribe of Indians.
In 1898 agreements were made with the
/ Chickasaw, Choctaw and Seminole tribes
/ of lndians-three of the Five Civilized
( Tribes. In March, 1900. an agreement was
made with the remaining two tribes-the
! Cherokees and the Creeks This bill is to
/ ratify the agreement made with the Creek
tribe. In 1893 provision was made for the
appointment of commission 10 negotiate
with the Five Civilized Tribes in the In
dian Territory, since which time every
possible effort has been made to secure
agreements with each of said tribes which
would terminate the tribal governments
of said tribes of Indians in said Territory.
There are now over 100000 white people
in said Territory and only about $4,000
Indians. of which about 1900 belong to
the Creek tribe. The agreement, which is
ratified by this bill provides for the allot-
ment OF the lands belonging to said tribe,
SO as to give each member an equal share
of the whole, in value, as nearly as may
be.
1t requires each member to select forty
acres for homestead. Under the agree
ment, the allottee may sell his surplus
land after - years, but until the
expiration of such time he is not permitted
to sell said surplus without the consent OF
the Secretary of the Interior.
The agreement provides for the survey
ing, laying out. and selling OF town lots.
Proper provision is made for the COM
pletion of the rolls of membership.
The members in the House were Mr.
Clark of New Hampshire, Speaker pro
tenn; Messrs. Curtis, Sherman Lorimer.
Cooper of Wisconsin. Little. Marsh, Moon,
Benton, Jones of Washington, Cushman,
Stephens Ridgely, Glynn, Ketchum, Snod-
grass. Finley, Fitzgerald of New York,
Esch, Corliss, Sims, DeArmond, Burke, and
Henry of Mississippi.
Points of no quorum woTe the fashion
of the evening.
When the section on the rolls of men,
bership was reached Mr.. Stephens moved
an amendment enlarging the limitations
of enrolment. The gentleman from Texas
made a strong plea for the adoption of
his amendment, saying that the rolls are
at present imperfect and that Cherokees
were improperly excluded. The amend
ment was defeated by a vote of 5 to and
Mr. Stephens said: mo quorum
Mr.. Sherman-n you insist on that it
will settle the fate of the bill.
Mr.. Little-By your action you leave
things in the Territory just where they
are.
Mr.. Stephens-And you by your action
here would rob men of their homes and
farms.
Mr. Stephens was persuaded to not in
sist on his point of no quorum.
Mr.. Sherman moved that section So.
mttee conserving leases should be dis
agreed to- This section provides. ill part:
THAT the Secretary of the Interior is
hereby authorized and directed from time
to time to provide rules and regulations
for the leasing of oil, gas. coal asphalt,
and other minerals on the unallotted ard
unsettled portion of the lands within the
Cherokee country and all such leases shall
be made by the Secretary of the Interior;
and any lease for any such minerals other
wise made shall be absolutely void. No
lease shall be made or renewed for longer
period than fifteen years, nor cover the
mineral in more than one hundred acres
of land. which shall conform as nearly Us
possible to the surveys. Lessees shall pay
on each oil. gas, COAL asphalt, or other
mineral claim al the rate Of 500 per an
mum, in advance, for the first and second
years; 5000 per annum, in advance for the
third and fourth years. and $500 in ad-
vance, for each succeeding year thereafter
as advanced royalty on the mine or claim
on which they are made"
Mr. Ridgely opposed the motion, saying |
that many of his constituents would be
adversely affected by such action The |
motion prevailed and the lease section was |
ordered to be stricken out. when Mr.. |
Ridgely raising the point of quorum. |
He said that he would withdraw the point |
if Mr. Sherman would agree TO a recon |
sideration of the vote Mr.. Sherman and /
Mr.. Curtis receded and the section which
had been stricken out was adopted in the |
face of opposition from Mr. Benton, who,
upon the announcement of the result |
made the point of no quorum AT this
point Mr.. Cooper indulged in n severe
criticism of the kind of legislation carried
on in night sessions. The pending bill
was introduced on May %. reported two
days later and brought before the House
with about half a dozen members pres
ent, at a night session close upon ad-
journment- The bill affected the property
rights of Indians. Congress would not
deal with white mems property in that
way. He desired, he said. to enter his
protest against such mode of legislation
He hoped the House might adopt rule
against 1t.
Mr. Benton was dissuaded from pressing
the point of no quorum and the bill, with
out further incident. was passed
The House then took up the bill "to
ratify and confirm an agreement with the
Musc0gee or Creek tribe of Indians" This |
bill is practically the same as that pre-
viously passed with regard to the Chero- |
KEGS. This was passed with but little dis
cussion.
At 10 o'clock the House adjourned