The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1900-01-10
WASHINGTON LETTER.
INDIAN TERRITORY JAIL CUES
TION UP AGAIN.
waaoner, PauIs Valley and AtOks are
Now After Them-DeIeGate Flynn
Vents the Comsnche Country
Opened to Settlement at Once.
Special to the Ardmoreite.


tory will be made the subject of con-
siderable discussion in congress
within the next few days. 1t was
generally supposed that when the
attorney general, obedient to the
provisions contained in the def
cheney act of July z, 1898, directing
him to select three sites in Indian
Territory for the erection of United
States jails, designated the cities of
Muskogee, South McAlester and Ard
more, that he settled this question
for all time. 1t now transpires, how
ever, that the question is again to
be made the subject of congressional
legislation, or at least an attempt is
to be made in that direction. A bill
is already prepared providing for
the repeal of the provisions contain
ed in the deficiency bill of July Z,
1898, relating to the location and
construction of jails in the Indian
Territory, and provies for an appro-
priation of s120, 900 for the erection
of three jails in the Territory to be
located at Wagner, Pauls Valley
and Atoka. The represen alive of
Wagner is already on the field, and
and it is understood that represen-
tatives from other cities will be here
shortly to press the matter before
the house and senate.
house by Delegate Flynn to ratify
and confirm the agreement made
with the Comanche, Kowa and
Apache tribes of Indians in Okla
homa Territory and to open their
reservations for settlement. The
chairman of the committee on In
dian affairs in the house appointed
Representatives Curtis CT Kansas,
Stevens of Texas and Delegate Flynn
of Oklahoma Territory, as sub
committee to consider the treaty and
to report to the full committee there
on. The chances for the ratification
| of this agreement this winter seem
to be especially bright, and the prob
abilities are that favorable action
will be taken before congress ad-
iourns.
Mr.. McMurray, of the firm oi
Mansfield, McMurray & Cornish oi
South McAlester, who has beer
agreed upon as the representative
of the Choctaw nation, is in Wash
ington endeavoring to secure the ap
proval by the president of the Choc
taw council action relating to his ap
pointment. The chances are thai
representation for the Choctaw ma
tion at Washington will be denied
as the policy of the interior depart
ment is against such action.
Judge Springer, who is also ir
Washington trying to secure the ap
proval by the president of similar
act passed by the Cherokee council
providing for his appointment as
their representative here, saw the
president last Thursday. 1t is un.
derstood that he did not receive any
satisfaction from the interview, az
the president can not consistently
approve his appointment after hay
ing refused to approve a similar
council act passed by the ChickasaW
| nation.
The Indian committee of the house
has devised unique method for the
preparation of the annual oppropria.
ton bills. AS these bills are more
important to people of Indian Terri
tory than all the 9th er federal legis-
iation enacted, the system by which
they are prepared will be of interest
to them. Representative Curtis, the
second ranking republican on the
com mittee, in discussing the ques-
tion with your correspondent said !:
''In the early days, especially
when the late Representative Hol-
man of Indiana was chairman, the
usual committee proceeding was fol-
lowed. When the estimates had
been placed before the members the
Indian commissioner and several OF
his subordinates were summoned to
appear at the capitol. They were
heard and the committee made in
quiries. But always they were de-
layed because members would want
Information that the officials could
not give off'hand. 1t would be nec-
essary for them to consult the rec
ords in the bureau and accordingly
the committee would haye to wait
some other day.
More recently We have adopted
another idea. We called on the In
dian commissioner to fix up a room
in his bureau where the committee
could assemble. Now, when we are
ready to make up the annual bill, all
hands of US journey down to the In
dian bureau. There the officials
have the records at hand. We can
ask questions and have speedy an
swers. Any subordinate or division
chief who is needed to enlighteu
the committee in it's work can be
called Immediately. Thus our work
10 dispatched, and we get it out of
the way in short order"