The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1900-02-09

/ years 10 come -
/ Such was the positive and signifi-
cant statement of Representative
Curtis of Kansas in reply to an inter
! rogatory during the consideration
of the Indian ppropriation bill last
Friday. And Mr.. Curtis statement
! fairly indicates the sentiment of the
average member of the house and
senate. They have been led to be-
lieve by the Dawes commission that
it Will take at least four years to com
plete the work now intrusted 20 that
commission and the peopls can pre-
pare themselves for a continuation
of the present rule until the year
1904. All efforts toward a change in
| the territorial form of government
seem to have been abandoned and it
| is probable no further attempts to ere.
ate territorial form of government
will be made during this session of
congress. In the meantime, how
ever, the Dawes commission has re-
ceived severe rebuke. In their an
nual estimate of the amount required
to defray the expenses of the COM
mission for the fiscal year commenc-
ing June 30, 1900, they asked for
S640, ,O0O. This estimate was sent to
Congress by the secretary of the
treasury, but was reduced TO $780,,
600 by the committee on Indian affairs
When the bill came up for considera-
ton in the house last week n further
effort was made to reduce it, an
amendment being offered striking
out the $500, 900, and inserting in lieu
thereof S150, 900. This amendment
was voted down. Then followed
motion by Mr.. Stevens of Texas to
increase the amount to 5000 600. This
brought forth some caustic criticism
of the Dawes commission and it's
work in the Territory and the amend
ment was promptly rejected by an
overwhelming vote. Thus the Dawes
commission will only be given $780,,
600 next year to continue the work in
the Territory, and it is believed by
many that even this amount is far in
access of the legitimate expenditures
incident to the work of the commits
sion.
The Indian appropriation bill con-
tains the following appropriation for
the Territory.
Current and contingent expenses
At the Quapaw Agency, Indian Ter
ritory, 81 400, At the Union Agency,
50 800. For pay of eight Indian in
spectors, one of whom shall be an
engineer competent in the location,
construction. and maintenance of
4 irrigation works, and one of whom
may be located by the secretary of
the Interior in the Indian Territory,
and under his direction and author
ity may perform any duties required
by law of said secretary in said Ter
ritory, at 50 500 per annum each
$40, 900.
For general incidental expenses OF
the Indian service in the Indian
Territory, including incidental ex-
penses of the Indian inspectors Of
fee and for pay of employees, s13,.
$50.
Miscellaneous For salaries of four
commissioners, appointed under
acts of congress approved March 3
1898, and March ,, 1895, to negotiate
with the five civilized tribes in the
Indian Territory, s2O,O 900: Provided
That the number of said commission
ers is hereby fixed at four. For ex
pense of commissioners and neces
sary expenses of employees, and S;
per diem for expenses OF a clerk de
tailed as special di>bursing agent by
the interior department while oil
duty for the commission, shall bt
paid therefrom, for clerical help; in
Guiding secretary OF the commission
and interpreters, s275, 900; for con
tingent expenses of the commission
81 900; in all 100000.
The committee on the judiciary hat
favorably reported the bill intro
duced by Representative Little
changing the place for holding cour
in the central district of the lndiaI
Territory. from Cameron to Poteau
Mr.. Stevens of Texas has intro
duced bill in the honse TO subjec
the mineral lands on the Indian res
ervations throughout the country t
location, operation, development ant
entry, and for other purposes. Th'
object sought by the bill is to permi
the development of copper gold ant
other mineral veins on the reserva
tions by private parties, and provid
! ing a royalty for the privilege o
. working same.
Senator Pettigrew has introduce
= in the senate the joint resolutio
! formerly introduced in the house b
, Representative Stevens, to suspen
proceedings IN the courts in the Ii
e dian Territory and before the India
agent, pending the enactment of LEI
islation now before congress, wherei