The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1900-02-19
WILL URGE CONGRESS
TO TAKE ACTION.
CONVENTION OF INDIAN TER
RITORN CITIZENS.
Needs of the People Set Forth in
Resolutions Adopted in
MnScugrc.


EEPJELfC SPECIAL
Muscogec. l. I. Feb I>.-Thc rrocrc-siv,
residents Of the Indian Territory are look
ing forward with interest - the cnuvcn-
ton of citizens of tie Territory at South
McAlestcr next THURSDAY.
The convection viii ask Congress 20 take
ccsnizance of the conditions that prevail.
and viii urge expedition in the work ot
transformation now going on.
Some idea of the needs and conditions o..
the people of the Terri;ory may be gained
from the following resolution which was
adopted by the delegates from Muscogcc:
u urge the Importance OF securing.
with as little delay as possible. 4 settle
ment of the question Of land tenure ir the
Indian Territory THAI shan be definite and
final.
W are heartily in sympathy with the
position taken by Chief Porter and the
Creek delegation 10 Congress that aIIot-
ments 10 Indians should be made at once.
giving absolute individual title TO the land
and all contained in #. from the surface to
the center OF the earth.
I'VE call attention 10 the annoyance and
hardship caused by the difficulty Of sccur-
ing a final adjudication of such matters -
come before the Dawes Commission and
other representatives Of the Interior De-
partment in the Indian Territory. and urgs
the appointment OF a board of appeals. TO
be permanently located in the Territory,
whose decision in all such cases shall DO
final We further recommend the appoint
mert of u legal adviser TO the various Of
hceFs OF the Interior Department In tho
Indian Territory, 10 lie permanently located
here.
We urge that AL taxes or permits levied
by tribal legislation OF departmental rcEg-
lat!On be abolished. for the reason that they
are primitive and unequal. and that the
major part of them are now paid 10y resi-
dents Of inCOriOIatcti towns. who are
Otherwise beaiiu. Il heavy burden. Of local
taxation - accomplish the great ana III
gent work which these new muuig!pa! GOV
eTninents have had 10 assume FOR a..U.at-
ing their children, making public improve
mcnts. caring for the poor. etc.
We urge the immediate passage Of the
bill now before COnSI"ss, FitTuIUccd IS
Representative Gaines OF Tennessee. affect
Ing commissioners courts and increasing
their jurisdiction.
" would point out that absolutely TO
provision Is MADE In tie Territory for tho
insane, the blind and other helpless uufur-
tundt"s, and Va would insist on the great
ursency OF the need FOR an appropriation
to enable the Interior Department To al
range for sending them 40 ~el,emosy nary
Institutions III the states. or to make some
otEcr adequate provision for them.
" urge the immediate passage Of the
ball now before Congress authorizing the
ISSUING OF bonds for public utilities Uy it,
curpurdt"d Towns in the Indian Territory.
arg" the Immediate passage OF tho
bill: now before Congress providing that the
Arkansas law win regard to private cor
porationS shall be extended and made APP
pliGable I" the Indian Territory:
We urge GpUT Congress the justice and
Expectancy .: allowing the Indian Terri
tory representation in Congress through a
delegate elected by the people