The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1900-04-11
our 5p[0lL WASHINGTON LETTER
MERRY FIGHT NOW ON BETWEEN
HITCHCOCK AND M'KENNON.
The Latter Wants the Interior Depart
ment stripped of Authority In Favor
of the Dawes Commits slOn and the
Former Has Taken the CudgeIs.
special to the Ardmoreite.


the Dawes commission final iuris-
diction in all citizenship cases in the
Indian Territory promises to result
in a pretty contest between the Sec
retary of the interior, Mr.. Hitch
cock, and Mr.. McKennon of the
Dawes commission.
AS already stated in these dis
patches, the Indian committee of the
senate, at the request Of Mr.. Nc
Kennon, inserted an apparently
harmless provision in the Indian ap-
preparation bill, under the guise that
it would expedite and facilitate the
settling up of affairs in the Indian
Territory, but which in effect changes
the entire order of affairs in con-
tested citizenship cases and deprives
the secretary of the interior of all
authority vested in him by the Curtis
law and other statutes. When the
provision referred to was incor-
porated in the bill no member of the
committee contemplated that 30 in
appear POI oSA NOhA0
have such far reaching effect. The
action was taken at the request of
Mr.. McKennon who insisted at the
hearing before the committee that
such a provision was necessary to
properly expedite the citizenship
cases in the Territory When the
full meaning of this provision became
known, however, it created a sensa-
ton.
Secretary Hitchcock, who is ia
miliar with the charges against the
members of the commission in the
adjudication of these cases, has in
/ the past year been compelled on sew
eral occasions to severely repri-
mand the members of the commission
for their assumption of authority in
power. The fight commenced last
spring when the Dawes commission
refused to obey the instructions of
the interior department in making
records of all citizenship cases pre-
sented to them in order that the Sec
retary of the interior might have an
opportunity for final review. Their
refusal on that occasion resulted in
the issuance of a stinging rebuke
which the members of the commits
sion have never forgotten and which
today is like fostering thorn in their
sides. Secretary Hitchcock has at
all times insisted that in the settle
ment of these disputed questions OF
citizenship, which involve the homes
of the people of the Indian Territory
: careful consideration and be sub
ject to the closest scrutiny, not only
by the commission, but by the de-
partment, acting as final court Of
review to insure absolute justice to
all. This idea was not consonance
with the plan of the commission
which body has at all times objected
to any person or tribunal reviewing
their decisions Accordingly they
carry their case to congress and
under the guise of legislation secured
the insertion of the paragraph above
referred to, which, if adopted, would
the courts.
Secretary Hitc hcock, however
does not propose to have the Dawes
commission, who are his subordinate
officials, thwart his wishes and in
Btructions and tie his hands without
a contest. Accordingly he has ac-
cepted their challenge and entered
the fight in earnest. In a letter
written ito a member of the senate
committee on Indian Affairs in an
swer to certain questions, Secretary
Hitchcock says: You request an ex.
preston of opinion from me upon
the following points:
l. "Do it's provisions deprive the
interior department of its revisory
powers over the rules prepared in
the first instance by the Dawes com
mission?
,. Does it change the law or eff
feet the rulings of court under which
names have already been placed up.
on the rolls by the Dawes commits
sion, and are entitled to be sc
placed?
3. "Will it make the action of the
Dawes commission final and con-
elusive?
4, "In so far as the provisions re.
fer to the Mississippi Choctaws, is il
limited in its action to the Missis
sippi Choctaws remaining in Mlssis.
sippi, or does it include the Missis.
sippi Choctaws who have of recent
years moved into the Indian Terri
tory?
5. "Win it finally deprive of all
rights of citizenship in the Cherokee
tribe persons who have by the find
ings OF masters been adjudge6 en-
titled to be placed upon the rolls
but who have not been 80 placed be.
cause of the action or want of action
of the Dawes commission or of the
courts?
q. "Will it finally, by the action
of the Dawes commission, divest oi