The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1900-08-13
our uttk1 WASHINGTON LETTER
THE INDIAN TRIBAL TAX MUST
BE PAID.
Secretary Hitchcock Holds That 40 n
Portion of the Atoka Agreement n
Must be Enforced for EiRhe Years
From March q, 1898.
Special to the Ardmoreite.

disposition Rt the interior depart
-Nent to pay any attention to the ap-
peals made by the merchants In the
Ohoctaw and Chickasaw countries
for the postponement of the collec-
ton of tribal taxes until after test
cases can be decided by the courts.
On the contrary, Secretary Hitch
cock has instructed George Wright,
the special agent of the department
In Territory to see that the taxes are
collected, or the white merchants
are promptly elected and attach
ments made upon their property for
tie amount of the delinquent taxa
ton.
The officials of the interior depart
ment thoroughly understand that the
enforcement of the tribal laws in the
Choctaw and Chickasaw nations,
with relation to the collection of
taxes are surrounded with difficult
ties, but they are determined to
compel the white merchants to either
pay or get out, even if 1t is neces-
|
sary to eject them by force.
The question herein represented Is
one that has given the tribal author
tiles much annoyance for some time
past. Last winter an attempt was
made to secure legislation by con-
gress repeating that portion of the
Atoka agreement, providing for the
abolishment of tribal taxes imposed
upon white people. Secretary
Hitchcock sent a communication to
the committees on Indian affairs of
the house and senate, protesting
against such action. He called at
tention to the fact that the Choctaw
and Chickasaw public institu-
tions were dependent almost wholly
upon the revenues derived from this
source for support, and their sudden
withdrawal would result in violent
disruption and dissolution and thus
defeat the purposes for which the
governments were continued, mainly
to gradually prepare the people for
tribal extinction, without damage to
their interests. He pointed out that
the Indian citizens were compelled
to contribute largely to the support
of their government by the relin-
quishment of the interest upon their
vested funds, which goes not to them
Individually but for tribal uses. To
abolish the tribal taxes imposed
upon hon-citizens is allowing them
to invade the public domain and
avail themselves of the many bene
fits which they enjoy, without COM
pensation to the Indians, would con-
fer upon them rights and privileges
not enjoyed by citizens of any state
or territory. In conclusion the Sec
retary stated that to abolish the tri
| bal taxes at that time would be a
violation of the spirit and the letter
of the Atoka agreement, be an abuse
of confidence and engender distrust
among the Indian people, and there
! by render them less fit for the digni-
ties and responsibilities of American
citizenship which will come to them
with tribal extinction.
| This letter of Secretary Hitch
cocks defeated the legislation de-
sireHby- the merchants, who then
determined to resist the collection
of the revenues by litigation in the
courts. When assessments were
levied, the merchants refused pay
ments. Suits were instituted and
judgments obtained in number of
cases, but when the United States
authorities attempted to levy upon
the goods of the merchants, tenn
porary restraining orders from the
courts were asked for and secured.
Following this came the announce
ment from the attorneys of the mer-
chants that they intended to appeal
the cases to the supreme court of
the United States to test the consti-
tutionality of the law. This, of
course, would mean a protracted de-
lay, as it is improbable that the
supreme court would not pass upon
the case within the next two years.
When this condition of affairs arose,
Special Agent George Wright came
to Washington and laid the case be-
fore Commissioner Jones and Secre-
tary Hitchcock. He informed the
secretary that the only way the
| taxes could be collected would be by
sending federal troops to the scene
and forciably eject the merchants.
The question then arose as to the
authority of the secretary to force
the collection of these taxes. This
proposition was referred to the AS
sistant Attorney General Vandeven-
ter for a judicial opinion, which, ii
is expected will be handed down in
a few days. In the meantime, Spe-
cial Agent Wright returned to the
territory with instructions to force
the collection through the medium
of the courts, if possible. Thus far,
however, every attempt made has
been combatted by the attorneys for
the merchants. In the meantime,
letters have been received from or.
ganizations at Ardmore and other
TO