The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1900-09-14
WILL fhfOQd TRIBAL TAX LAWS
RESULT OF OPINION GIVEN BY
ATTORNEY GENERAL BRIGGS.
Failure TO Comply After Ten Days No
tIce VIII Result I'm Eviction From
Choceaw and Chickasaw Nations.
Letter From the Secretary.

l
taw nations will be enforced by the
United States government. This
course was definitely decided upon
today, and will be carried into effect
at once. Mr.. Hitchcock, secretary
of the interior, sent out definite IN
structions today to the United States
Indian Inspector for the Indian Ter
ritory to that effect. 1t makes known |
the course of the government in the |
clearest language possible. 1t in
forms that government official that
all persons carrying on business in
the Territory or feeding cattle with
in it's boundaries must pay the tribal
tax laws in every particular within
period of ten days after formal no.
tice is given of the departments de-
termination in the matter, or failure
to do so will result in the eviction of
such persons from the Territory and
the closing of their places OF busi-
ness.
The department has decided to
take no middle ground in the matter
but the terms of the secretary's let
ter mailed today will be carried out
with all the power and authority OF
the United States government. The
: action of today was direct result of
the decision of Mr.. Griggs. attorney
y general of the United States, advis'
ing such course and declaring it to
q be the legal and proper one.
The opinion is an exhaustive and
n lengthy one, and, in addition to 60
ing into the merits of the case, gives
a review of the incidents leading up
d to the opinion. No recent decision
# of the government is of more vital
e interest to the southwest or more
sweeping and positive in it's terms.
Ever since the act, which is known
as the Curtis law, became effective
: the people in the Territory, have re-
~ sisted the collection of the tribal
&c taxes. The opposition has gone to
) such an extent where it is formally
q organized in some localities. Only
the most positive action by the gov
ernment can force this collection,
3, and today's letter from the secretary
st of the interior indicates that such
+o action has been determined upon
- with all the responsibility it brings
The letter was mailed today anC
- will reach the Territory and be II
the hands of the inspector by th'
-, close of the week. AS his instruc
III tions are to post the formal notice
d at once, the endorsements as pro
r. posed by the government will be il
e. effect ten days after the receipt o
Ia the letter. The full text of the sec
retary's letter follows:
'0 HITCHCoCK's LETTER.
The United States Indian Inspec
Ilo tor for the Indian Territory, Mus
kogee, I. T.-Sir: Referring t
VI your several communications re
e questing authority to remove certai
e. parties from the Chickasaw an
az Choctaw nations upon the request {
Ill the executive thereof, for the reaso
- that said parties have failed and r.
fuse to pay the tribal taxes due sue
nations for permission to reside an
=, carry on business therein, you al
advised that on the 18th ultimo th
ns department requested an opinion {
ed the attorney general "as to th
ad duties, powers and authority of tn
ais department in the matter of the CO
10. lection of permit taxes imposed h
=, the laws of the respective Indian N
nu tions in the Indian Territory, know
es- as the five civilized tribes, upo
fe. non-citiz5ns engaged in various pu
suits within the Territorial limits
lp- such nations
ted The attorney general was reques
ct ed to answer the following que
tbo tions:
"Have these nations the right
require non-citizens to pay perm
vas tax or license fee for the privilege
err engaging in business within the
RE- boundaries?n
or. "Do the provisions of the act
June %, 1898, allowing others thi
citizens to purchase town lots occ
left pied by them, constitute arecogl
bAOh Ny COdSIOco VI tuOAC EARHI W
and remain in such nation and ha
ler' the effect of relieving them from
ave payment of the permit taxi"
urn "Does the actual purchase of
9 q town or city lot, sold under the pr
- visions of June 28, 1898, relieve
n-citizen from the payment of su
III tax or fee?"
lost "Can non-citizen be lawfully pt
mitted to hold and pasture cat
upon the lands of such nation wit
ons out paying the tax prescribed by t
nth nation for such power?"
fu- ''Has this department author
h under the law to remove a non-ci
zen who refuses to pay such tax?'
una HAS it auth ority in the case o.
'e II merchant refusing to pay such t
lent to close his place of business or
om- remove his stock of merchandise
tbo+ yond the limits of the nation?"
g. "Did the Indian Territory by re
~ on of the provisions of the act
tne June 2S, 1898, authorizing the sale
lree town lots to non.citizens ceaae to