The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1900-01-18
OUR SPECIAL WASHINGTON lfTItR
THREE DAWES COMMISSION NET
BERs sOJOuRNING THERE.
Closing of Citizenship ROlIs--SecretarS
Hitchcock Makes Several RecOmmen-
datIons, One for Smallpox Ap-
oroorIatIon for the Territory.
neoial to the Ardmorelte.

ion in Indian territory except una 49,
which comes under the immediate sn
of Mr.. Needles, has been OF
abandoned and will not or
Dc taken up again for probably three 1n
Chairman Dawes and Com VI
missioners Bixby and McKennon p'
have been in Washington for the "a
past two weeks and have made pre- Id
parations for a considerable stay pc zs
fore returning to the Territory. A W
room in the Indian once u
has been set aside for their accom- IL
mediation. The three members stroll
into their "office" usually once day
and consider the weighty problems :
with which they will be called upon :,
TO deal in bringing order out of the
chaotic condition now existing in the
Territory.
But their stay here has been mar
red by a pointed question asked py {
the commissioner of Indian analrs
and the secretary of the interior In
regard to the progress of their WORK.
and particularly their reason Tor
not complying with the instructions
of the department with relation TO
the enrolment of citizens, the con-
tested citizenship cases, and other
matters of a similar nature. Inc
commission has been in consultation
with the secretary on several occa-
sions and has endeavored TO furnish
satisfactory explanations to his
pointed questions. The majority OF
the explanations have come from
: Mr.. McKennon as Chairman Dawes
has not been in the Territory during
the past wear and Acting Chairman
Bixby has been confined to Muskogee
d in looking after matters coming up
, there. 1t has been explained to the
4 secretary that this fact accounts Tor
!, the letters written by Mr.. Bixby in
answer to inquiries relating to the
II preparation of the citizenship rolls.
e Certain charges made at the depart
Ic ment when submitted to Mr.. Bixby
a we're denied so far as his personal
knowledge went, but it now trans
pires that the cases came before Nc
io Kennon, and that Bixby was not only
Is not present but bad no actual knowl-
Ia edge of the affairs.
to The interviews which have thus
q far occurred have had good effect as
it is probable that if Mr.. McKennor
remains on the commission he viii
ne profit by the experience which hi
e. has had. There is some opposition
t. to mis- remaining, however, and ther'
90 is a probability that he may not re
turn to the Territory in his presen
official capacity.
ne ~
hO Secretary Hitchcock has transmit
no ted to congress the Creek treaty wit
!. the recommendation that 1t be ap
'l' proved. Mr.. Porter of Muskogee
90 arrived here the middle of last wee
OF to further the treaty before congress
It ia evident, however. that he treat
will meet with violent oppositio
from certain quarters and it seem
doubtful whether it will be confirme
by the house Or senate unless amenc
ed in many vital respects. Mr.. Poi
ter, however, seems to be contider
that he will be able to overcome tn
opposition in the house and senate
He probably bases this belief upo
es- his standing at the department
which is excellent, though when tn
treaty comes before congress he wi
ere find that the question of standin
! q cuts but little figure.
-
The secretary of the interior b;
;o,. transmitted to congress, with favo
able recommendation the agreemel
entered into between the Dawes cor
mission. and a commission of Il
W Choctaw and Chickasaw nations r
I'm lating to the closing of the citize
ship rolls. The agreement fixes Il
" 31st of October, 1899, as the dat
SUN and provides that no child born aft
'cu- that date can be enrolled. The four
.ofo section of the agreement is arousil
hSn particular opposition and from pre-
ent indications if it is approved tn
section must fret be stricken ol
This section provides:
W Inc EOll5 OI OnOCldW dbA OulS
asaw citizens and of Choctaw a
this Chickasaw freedmen made by
commission to the FIVE civili2
cad tribes, pursuant to the act of CT
ster- gress approved June 2s, 1898, and
provisions of this agreement and
proved by the secretary of the in
lie is rior, as provided by said act of C
gress, shall constitute the final r,
yes of citizenship of the Choctaw 6
Chickasaw tribea, and of the Oh
nore, taw and Chickasaw freedmen,
r sis which the name of no person 81
le to- thereafter be added; provided, I
all persons entitled to be enro
mt to from said October 81, 1899, who
then living shall be placed on {
rolls.'
1t is contended that this sectio
VINO amply covered py the Curtis
land and is therefor unnecessary Un
p tharo in san ulferior motive TO