The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1900-03-08
TRIBAL AFFAIRS OCCUPYING THE
ATTENTION OF THE HOUSE.
NothIaG Of Any Special interese 20 Non
Citizens BEING COnsidered-Treaties
Before the House COmmittees-
Rennett and Soper There.
snecial to the Ardmoreite.

Special Agent Zevely, Chief Bumng-
ton of the Cherokees and Gov. For
ter of the Greeks, accompanied by
delegations of their respective ma
tions, have been in the city.
Mr.. Soper's visit to Washington
related to matters pending before
the department o: justice and fed
eraI appointments in the Territory.
From the appointments recently
announced it is evident that National
Committman Leo Bennett and Mr.. !
Soper still retain their control OF
government appointments in the In
dian Territory.
Special Agent Wright is here at
the request of the secretary OF the
| interior to furnish information for
the benefit of the department IN
matters pertaining to Territory, as
veil as to give the Indian committees
of the two houses the benefit of his
knowledge of affairs in the Territory
with relation to the pending Cherokee
and Creek treaties. 1t is now evil
dent that these treaties will not have
clear sailing in congress. There
will be opposition to them all along
the line. The members of the COM
mittee on Indian affairs of the
house, who have been devotiDg con-
siderable time to the consideration
J of the two treaties have certain
notifications which the representa-
tives of the tribes refuse to accede
to. One of the knotty problems In
connection with the Greek treaty is
the question of control of school
. funds. Heretofore the nation has
+ had complete control of this queS-
ton, but now congress proposes to
take it out of their bands and place
; it under the control of the general
t government. Gov. Porter is resist
ing this at every point. He insists
that the Creek nation is better quail
: fed to control its school system thar
s is the federal government through
q its officials in the Territory. H'
q says that to turn this over to tht
government would be an admission
= of weakness on the part o: the peo
= pie of the Greek nation, of incom
potency, which he repudiates in th'
- strongest language.
Another embarrassing question
'e which is not included in the treaty
5. but which is now being discussed, i
the proposition of inserting pro
i viso which will enable the cattlemel
1t to continue for period the pastul
or ing of large herds of cattle in tn
IS nation without going to the necef
sity of making individual contract
with all of the citizens who hav
,r made application for allotments
:. This is being pressed by represents
II with some favor.
lc Another demand of the committe
is which relates to both treaties an
"A which is being bitterly fought by tn
Representatives of the two nation
is that relating to the constructio
of public highways around each SEE
ton of land. The committee insist
that there should be public highway
I'll around each $40 acre tract. Th
ed delegations are opposing this upo
id the ground that these highways al
10 not necessary at the present tim
and will consume a great deal (
valuable land which will not resu
~ in any real benefit to the people.
ne is contended, on the other hand, thi
sooner or later as Indian Territol
increases in population these higl
is ways must be opened up and I'll
to proper time to do this is now.
nj Another question which is beir
;s strongly opposed by the Cherokee
is the demand of the committee tn;
'to a provision be inserted in the Che
d okee treaty making it mandatoI
,ir that as soon as the treaty is rattle
" Chief Burlington must sign and d
- liver to those citizens of the natio
who have made application for Ian
deeds to their allotments. This, it
insisted by members of the commi
:, tee, would gradually expedite IL
III work in the nation and assist in pu
OF ting the Territory in condition f,
On territorial government at an ear
no date.
7 Last Thursday there arrived
Washington a competing delegate
e from the Cherokee nation under IL
n leadership of Mr.. Boudenot, ,wh
ON claims that they are the rightful rel
de resentatiYes OF the people of the n
ton and that the delegation brougl
A here by Chief Burlington has no a
NC thority to act for the Cherokee
to They claim that the Burlington del
ed cation was not selected by the Che
at okee council nor by mass meeting
of of the people, and, therefore, ha,
no legal status whatever. They al
~ opposed to many of the provision
f. of the Cherokee treaty and propol
,e- to carry the fight into congress.
by ~
The house committee on India
affairs has favorably reported a bi
N. introduced by Representative Lit
er authorizing white persons who hay