The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1900-05-04
A (HAhdt Ton INDIAN T[RQITOQr
BILL TO RE-NArlE 1T IN HONOR OF
THOMAS JEFFERSON.
The Proposed Measure Provides for a
Local Governmene-Represe alton In
COnRress-A Governor and Other
Qfficers-AboIIsh Tribal Taxes.

Washington, D. C., May 3.-Con-
gressman Moon of Tennessee, today
introduced a bill providing terri
torial form of government for the In
dian Territory, under the name of
Jefferson Territory. The object of
the bill is two-fold. It's first purpose
is to give the people of the Indian
Territory home rule, and the second
is 10 do honor to the only unorgan-
lied territory embraced within the
grand domain secured for the United
States through his wisdom and state
manship.
The idea of remaining the Indian
Territory, Jefferson Territory origi-
mated with Judge E. G. Toilet, who
is now in Washington as a delegate
appointed by the South McAlester
convention, called to take steps for
the redress of the wrongs now suf-
fered by the 300, 900 white citizens of
the Indian Territory. Judge Toilet,
in speaking tonight of the bill, said
he considered it most fitting that the
new territory should bear the name
of that great statesman who made 1t
part of the United States, and it
was equally appropriate that the un-
organized portion of the United
States. should be prepared for ad-
mission to the union in time to be-
come a factor and participant IN
the Louisiana Purchase World g Fair
to be held in it. Louis in 1903.
The bill provides for a governor
and a secretary, who shall be citi-
zens of the territory, and who are to
be appointed by the president. A
treasurer, an auditor, and superin-
tendent of public instruction are to
be elected by joint vote of the two
houses of the legislature until other
wise provided for by the legislature
A delegate to represent the territory
in congress is to be elected by the
voters of the territory.
TERRITORY LEGISLATURE.
The legislature is to consist of 6
senate and a house of representa-
tives, the senate to be composed o.
fifteen senators and the house o.
thirty-three representatives.
The senatorial districts are to bt
as follows: Chickasaw nation, foul
senators; Choctaw nation, four sen
ators; Creek and Seminole nations
three senator's; Cherokee nation anC
Quapaw Indian agency, four sena
tors.
The representatives districts art
to be as follows: Chickasaw nation
eight representatives; Choctaw ma
ton, eight representatives; Creel
nation, seven representatives; Cher
okee nation, eight representatives
Quapaw Indian agency, one repre-
sentative.
The legislature is given power t.
redistrict the territory into senate
rial and representative sdistrict
and to apportion the membership
Not more than one senator nor NOR
than one representative can be elect
ed at the first election at the sam
precinct.
Each incorporated town or city
: made voting precinct for such tow
or city and the surrounding ter:itor
nearest thereto. The town author
ties shall appoint a non-politict
election board of three judges an
two clerks to act at the first election
The election returns are to be mad
to the secretary of state, and Gel
tificates of election are to be issue
by the governor.
: The Legislature has general powe,
with certain restrictions. The a
lotments and town lots are not to b
taxed in violation of treaties an
laws.
JUDICIAL SYSTEM.
The judicial system of the Terr
S tory is to remain as now constituted
I save that the legislature may col
I fer on county judges probate juri
diction, and on Justices of the PeaC
l 4