The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1900-08-29
our UIMT WASHINGTON IfIIIl
INTERESTING MATTERR REoARD-
ma TRlsAL tax.
Secretary OF laterior 10 Vested with the
Power 60 Eject ''Undesirebie Set
elers'' Who Refuse 60 Pay Tax
Griaas win Decide Soon.

tiers Who Refuse % Pay TAX
Griaas win Decide Soon. Il
Special to the Ardmoreite.
Washington, d. O., Aug. 27.-The]
authority of the secretary OF the In
terror to enforce the collection OF
tribal taxes imposed upon merchants
engaging in business in the ChoctaW
and Chickasaw nations, with the as
sistance of federal tro ops, if neoes-
sary, will be definitely known within
the next few days. The whole sub
ject will be treated exhaustively in a
decision banded down by Attorney
General Griggs. Although the opin-
ion reached at the department. OF
justice is being carefully guarded,
am reliably informed that the attor-
ney general will hold that the secre-
tary of the interior is empowered
with authority to use federal troops
for the ejectment of intruders or Of
tenders against the law on public do
main, or lands held in trust for the
benefit of the Indian tribes. AS the
secretary of the interior is clothed
with authority to use federal troops
for the ejectment of intruders or un-
desirable settlers on Indian reserva-
tions, it therefore follows that he has
equal power and authority to eject
} merchants in the Choctaw and
Chickasaw nations who refuse to
comply with the laws governing
: those countries.
1t is pointed out that the tribal
| governments have certain rights
) guaranteed to them by treaty agree
ments with the United States, and
that one of the provisions of
} the treaty of 1897, ratified by cod
, gress, providing for the allotment
in severalty OF the lands of the
nations guaranteed to the Indian
tribes the right to maintain their
( own form of government for period
of eight years, and to levy and col
lect such taxes as they might deem
S proper. This authority having been
4 delegated to them by the congress OF
G the United States, and the nations
having availed themselves of this
privilege by the enactment of GER
II tain laws for the raising of revenue
to support the tribal governments, il
is clearly within the authority of the
J. secretary of the interior to either
IS force the collection of these taxeI
t. from the merchants or eject then
% from the Indian reservations.
;, 1t is further pointed out that tht
. secretary of the interior is the guar
j. dian of the Choctaw and Chickasav
Indians, being the executive Office
of the government Immediately il
:. charge of their affairs; and that if /
/ becomes necessary for him to us'
IS force in order to protect the right
l. of the Indians he has ample author
n ity to de so.
There is some apprehension felt a
~ the department of the interior owe
IL the situation in the Chickasaw ma
ton. 1t arises by reason of the fail
ure of the agents of the departmen
Ill to fully advise the authorities her
lie as to exactly what steps have beel
d taken. The position of the depart
Al ment is that they have no authorit
to attach the goods of the merchant
in the Choctaw and Chickasaw ma
II tions, and to dispose of them for de
10 linquent taxes. The authority of tn
re department ceases when the delin
,e quent merchants are elected an
their merchandise and effects re
moved from the Indian Territory.
Y Some time ago Special Agent Geo
, Wright and Agent Shoenfeldt d
=. rected the Indian police in the Choc
II taw and Chickasaw nations to lev
III attachments against merchants VIII
De had refused to comply with the tribs
N laws. Whether these attachment
20 were levied for the purpose of merel
=. closing up these mercantile estat
- lishments or with the object in vie'
is of disposing of the goods to NEE
e. delinquent taxes, the department
the agents were acting strictly With
ot their legal rights, and in accordanc
Sc with instruction from the depar
g. ment. If the object was to sell tn
"A goods to pay the taxes due the tribe
then the agents probably exceede
NC their authority and may have lai
p themselves liable to damage suit,
n AS the agents of the departme1
ns were estopped from final action
in temporary restraining orders frol
, the courts, it is propable that the
u have not over-stepped the instrut
as tions of the department.
q. n
In response to large number {
requests received from citizens
ed the smaller towns in the Indian Tel
or ritory who desire to take advantae
- of the provision contained in the Ii
dian Apr opriation Bill passed la:
winter, permitting them to surve