The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1900-04-01

be favorably acted upon during the
next session of congress.
: What wac there in the investiga-
ton instituted by Senator Jones into
the townsite commission?
On the second day after my arrival
in Washington, called on Senator
Jones in \his committee room. He
told me that he had heard great COM
plants from the Indian Territory |
with reference to the townsite COM
missions. l replied that we had no |
complaint to make against the per-
sonnel of the commissions, SO far as
1 knew, but that we were uncom-
promisingly opposed to the system.
| then proceeded to set forth our
views on the subject. He told me
that he was determined to investi-
gate the matter and probe it to the
bottom, as he had heard great COM
plant not only against the system
but also against the personnel of
some of the commissions. That day
he introduced his resolution. 1t
| bCCnb In6t cOAAC PCA cOAG A0NO 0OOA
writing him letters and asking him
to Withhold their names, making
charges against some of the comnis-
sioners. He expressed great disgust
with a man who would prefer a
charge and then ask to have his
name concealed, but said as this was
matter involving public service he
felt that it should be investigated.
A few days after this all of the men,
bers of the delegation were notified
to appear before q subcommittee of
the senate, of which Senator Jones
was chairman. The commissioner
of Indian affairs was also present.
We had a free Interchange of views,
the result of which was an agreement
that the Indian appropriation bill
should be amended giving Us town
site commission for every town 10
the Indian Territory. This amend
ment was not just exactly what we
wanted but it was the best that we
could get.
What do you think the prospect is
of our getting delegat to congress?
do not believe that we will be
given a delegate to congress for two
years yet. 1t was suggested that
bill might be put through allowing
US a delegate to be appointed by the
president. but our delegation was
unanimous in the opinion that we did
not want a delegate unless he could
be elected by the people. We have
had too much arbitrary one-man
power in the Territory already to
consent to anything of the kind.
What is the prospect for the pas
sage of the Platt bill?
while there is possibly one good
feature in the Platt bill, its other
/ provisions would only complicate
our difficulties and retard the es@b-
lishment of stable and uniform
, government in our country. When
these things were explained to sena-
tors and members of congress, our
! contention was agreed with. Sena-
tor Platt is absent in'Cuba. 1t is
! understood that he introduced this
( bill by request and cannot be con-
! sidered as its champion. Every
{ senator and member Of congress
3 with whom 1 have talked was oppos-
ed to the main features of the bill
: and have assured me that it cannot
3 pass. l do not believe that any bill
: can pass congress which would even
have tendency to retard allotment
or in any manner continue our pres
} ent conditions. There appears to be
: an absolute unanimity among sena-
= tors and representatives on this
g question. A leading republican sena-
tor said to me: 81 believe that your
: trouble comes from the fact that a
lot of Office holders in the Indian
: Territory are getting better salaries
r now than they ever received before
: or ever will receive again. 1t looks
3 to me as if they believe in life ten
/ ure of office and that they spend
j more time in increasing complica-
= tions than they do in dischargiDg
their duties. If you gentlemen will
q suggest some better system than that
e now in operation in the Indian Ter
8 ritory, 1 am ready and willing to vote
: to abolish all of the present agencies
t and to substitute in their places new
d agencies and new men," About
0 nine out of ever ten congressman
t with whom / have talked have ex.
4 pressed substantially the same state
t ment. Our delegation has always
d replied that we we're not here tC
Il complain against individuals, bu'
n that we were here to complain
oil against conditions and systems. We
s believe that, while there have beer
D unnecessary delays in the past; tha