Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1900-11-15
AS TO INDIAN AFFAIRS.
United States Commissioner
Makes His Annual Report,

The report Of the commissioner
Of Indian affairs has been submit
ted to the secretary Of the interior.
or the Creek aud Cherokee leases
the report states:
"The department, November 4,
1898, promulgated acquisitions gov
erning the leasing Of mineral lands
in the Greek and Cherokee nations
in accordance with the provisions
Of section 13 of the act approved
June 28, 1898. No leases for the
mining Of minerals Of any charac.
ter in either Of said nations have
been approved by the department;
but the inspector reported Decem-
Der 1, 1899, that be had given John
Bullette Indian, temporary per.
mission TO mine coal in a certain
locality in the Cherokee nation
and that similar permission had
been granted TO w. s. Edwards,
a Cherokee citizen, who desired TO
supply coal to railroad that was
in the course Of construction,
and the inspector requested
that Mr.. Edwards action be ap.
proved. Under this temporary
permission said parties were to
pay the rate Of royalty prescribed
by the regulations Of November A,
1898, and the permits were subject
to cancellation at any time the de-
partment deemed IL advisable.
Office report Of December z, 1899,
recommended that the inspectors
action be approved and the depart.
ment December II authorized him
to issue the permits under the con.
ditions stated, namely, that they
can be revoked at any time in the
discretion of ths secretary and that
each party shall pay a royalty of
10 cents per ton as prescribed in
the general regulations"
With reference TO the collection
Of tribal taxes the report says:
There is no doubt that the cat.
tie tax due to the Cherokee nation
should be paid, and | do not see
that anything satisfactory would
result by the seizure of the cattle
unless there be authority to sell
the same in satisfaction of the tax.
The law Of the nation on this sub
ect does not contemplate the sale
of cattle to sstisfy a debt to the
nation in taxes, and the Office has
very great doubt whether this de-
partment could authorize a sale
for the purpose.
"There is no question, however,
that it would be Advisable TO re-
m and all cases Of the introduction
Of cattle, or the grazing of cattle,
in the Cherokee nation, over which
the United States would have jur-
isdic,ion under Section 2l17 Of the
revised statutes, 10 those courts
for the imposition penalty pro.
vioed in the statute; and doubt
very much whether the introduce
tion of cattle by citizen of the
Cherokee nation, although in vic.
lalion Of the laws of that nation,
would be violation of Section
2ll7 Of the revised statutes OF the
United States, and constitute an
offense over which the courts of
the United States would have
jurisdiction.
"As to this, therefore, il is rec
commended that the inspector be
advised that on account of the |
Limitation as TO his force Of Indian |
policemen il is not deemed exped-
lent to attempt to enforce the cat
tie tax law against citizens Of the |
Cherokee nation by attempting |
their removal as a punishment for |
their failure to comply with the |
law, but that il 10 the desire that
he shall exercise every authority
reasonable to affect the collection |
OF these taxes; also that he be in
structed to report to the United
States attorney for the northern
district OF the Indian Territory all
cases which amount to a violation
Of section 2-17 OF the revised stat
utes, and request him 10 bring suit
under that statute for the enforce
ment OF the penalty provided"