The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-02-18
Observation-Disclosures
Is the Burden of Resolutions
Passed at Vinita.
MEMORIAL TO CONGRESS
Demanding Relief From lntol-
cradle Conditions.

inita, I. T.. Feb. 7.-At a mass meeting
held here 10 discuss the needs of the ter
ritory, instructions were prepared for the
| guidance of the delegates TO the territor-
! iaI convention to hid at SoUh McAles-
| er February p, and memorial TO con-
gress was drawn up The sense Of the
meeting was embodied in the following
resolutions:
Resolved, That the ratification of the
agreement entered between the comznis-
sion TO the five civilized tribes and the
| commission appointed by the Cherokee
nation, as modified by the national coun-
| ell OF the Cherokee nation is of supreme
! Importance, and that IL is the sense Of
| this meeting that a proper resolution be
| framed by the territorial convention
calling the attention of congress 10 the
necessity Of immediate and proper action
in the premises. and that in the event
| congress cannot ratify said agreement in
| its entirety, congress be asked 10 pass
an act embodying the said agreements,
and that said act be submitted to a pop
ular vote of the Cherokee nation, 10 be-
come a law upon its adoption by them,
to the end that property rights in the
indian territory be finally settled and that
fee simple title to the land be vested
in each in dividlual indian citizen as
speedily as possible. Is further the
sense of this meeting that an enforce
ment Of allotments, such as provided by
the Curtis bill, would be worse than no
allotment at all.
Resolved, That the undeniable and ar
bitrary authority which has been exer-
cised by the interior department of the
United States has paralyzed without
doubt every interest and every vocation
in this country, and that congress be
memorialized to define the powers of the
interior department and every branch or
part thereof and to limit the same to
that scope which can properly be exer-
cised for and be helpful to a country of
more than 100000 inhabitants, and that
said department shall have such powers
only as are delegated to it by express
terms, to the end that certainty may ex-
list in the government Of this people. 1t
is further the sense of this meeting that
it was never intended that laws, rules
and regulations passed many years ago
should be applied to territory having
more than 100000 people.
Resolved, That inasmuch as the
twenty-ninth section of the Curtis act
provides that the laws of the various
tribes of Indians shall not be enforced in
the courts of the United States, either at
law or in equity, it is the sense Of this
meeting that it was never the intention
of congress that the revenue laws of the
. n Oh he 1fO in
any manner, much less by the interior de-
partment; that said taxation is unjust,
oppressive and un-American.
Resolved, That congress be asked to
provide ample means and every possible
facility to the commission making the
allotments of land of the five civilized
tribes undr the treaties heretofore pro
vided, and the treaties contemplated for
the Cherokee nation, and that he peO-
pie lend hir hearty cooperation and sup
port to the said commission, to the end
that the work of the said commission in
the matter of making said allotments
and the settlement of town sites may be
accomplished as orderly as possible. And
further, that the membership of said
commission to the FIVE civilized tribes
should be increased to that extent that
at least two members thereof be as
signed to each nation, with a full com
plement Of assistants, clerks and every
other facility necessary for the compile
ton Of the works in the said nations. and
that two or three members be specifically
assigned to each nation, and that they
be responsible for the work therein, and
that they terminate the same as quickly
as possible. is believed that the pres
ent number of commissioners could not
complete the work in the several nations
within a reasonable length OF time.
Resolved. That the citizens of the
Indian territory be requested to render
such aid as possible to the delegation OF
the Indian tribes which have treaties now
pending winth the United States to assist
them in their ratification
Resolved. That 1t is the expression Of
this meeting that all qSestions pertaining
to citizenship are adjudicated. and that
any effort TO reopen the matter in con-
gress be strenuousiy opposed.
Resolved. That X is Of vital import
ance 70 the people Of this country that
some system OF free schools beg estab-
lished outside of the incorporated towns
therein. and that congress be urgeds 20
provide such schools as soon as possible
Resolved. That II Is deemed by this
meeting % high importance that some
general law on the subject of sanitary
regulations and health measures, such as
those In force in Arkansas. be adopted
FOR the Indian territory.
EDGAR SMITH
ID. H z. DUNCAN,
DAVIS HILL.