Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1900-04-26

Curtis act, insofar as it applied to
the lands in tho Cherokee nation,
and all other acts of congress in
consistent with this agreement, ex-
cept sections Ia and II of the
Curtis act, was omitted. The
former related to municipal gov.
ernment and the latter to main.
tanning an Indian inspector in the
territory.
LEASES OF MINERAL LANDS.
There is added to the agreement
new section, which would re.en.
act, with some notifications, sec.
ton Is of the Curtis act. II is as
follows: "That the secretary of
the interior is authorized to pro.
vide regulations for leasing Of oil
gas, coal, asphalt and other min.
erals on the unallotted and un-
settled portion OF the lands within
the Cherokee nation, and all such
leases shall be made by the secre-
tary of the interior; and any lease
for any such minerals otherwise
made shall be absolutely void.
No lease shall be made or renewed
for longer period than fifteen
years, nor cover minerals in more
than GAO acres"
The rates are set forth as in the
Curtis act, with q proviso that
nothing herein contained shall i'm.
pair the rights Of any holder or
owner Of a leasehold interest in
any oil, coal, asphalt or mineral
rights which have been assented
to by act of congress, but all such
interests should continue unim-
paired hereby, and should be as.
sured to such holders or owners
by leases from the secretary OF the
interior for not exceeding fifteen
years, but subject to payment of
advance royalties as herein pro-
vided; and provided further that
when under the customs and laws
heretofore existing and prevailing
in the Indian Territory leases have
been made of different groups or
parcels of oil, coal, asphal or other
mineral deposits, and possession
has been taken hereunder and
improvements made for the devel-
opment of such oil, coal, asphalt
or other mineral deposits, by
lessees or their assigns, which have
resulted in the production of oil,
gas, coal, asphalt or other mineral
in commercial quantities, such
leases are hereby approved for
fifteen years from the date
of the lease, and for not more
than GAO acres, such parties in po.
session should be given preference
in making new leases, in compli.
ance with the directions of the
secretary Of the interior, and pre-
ference shalt be given to such per-
sons who have made improve
ments.
The rate OF royalty to be paid
by all lessees should DO fixed by
the secretary of the interior, pro.
vided that the royalty which
should become due under the
terms of leases heretofore made or
under new leases made under the
provisions of this act should be
paid, if on unallotted or unselect-
ed lands, to the Cherokee nation;
but if on allotted or selected land,
then it should be paid to the allot-
tee or to the member OF the tribe
who made the selection. Provid-
ed further, that members Of said
tribe who have made selections,
or TO whom allotments have been
made, might lease their selections
or allotments for the development
Of oil, gas, coal, asphalt or other
minerals, and receive the royalty
from them; but before operations
should be begun upon the lands
owned or controlled by any person
for the development. oil oil or gas
the lessee or party operating
should pay to the allottee or owner
Of said land the value Of the use
OF the necessary surface tor pros
specting or mining, aud the dam
age done TO the other land and inn
proyements Of said allottee or
owner, the value to be ascertained
under the direction of the secre.
taIy of the interior.
A new section is added, to pro-
vide that the Cherokee freedmen
who were left Off the Clifton roll
should be enrolled and receive
their share.
1t seems probable therefore, that
the amendments in the bill intro
duced by Mr.. Curtis will be reject
cd by the Cherokees and Creeks,