The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1900-12-06
OUR vfKII WASHINGTON HHlh
TERRITORY AFFAIRS ARE TO RE
cElvE EARLY Considerations
The Report of J. George wright Con.
eeies Sein@er for Non.Citlzeas and
he Wants Their Property confia
Gated for Indian Taxes.
special to the Ardmoreite.

berg OF the Indian committees of the |
house and senate are carefully ex-
amining the annual reports of the
OF Indian Anairs and of
Special Agent Wright, with relation |
TO the difficulties in the enforcement |
OF tribal taxes in the nations of In |
dian Territory, particularly in the
Choctaw and CEickasaw nations.
There is q determination to do some |
thing, is possible, to straighten out
the tangled condition of affairs by
the enactment of a federal law.
What shape this law will take is pro-
blematical. Any statement would
be nothing more than a mere guess,
for the members of the committees,
and even Commissioner Jones him
self are in doubt as to the specific
kind of legislation needed to correct
the abuses now existing.
In viewing the difficulties which
existed in the collection of tribal
taxes during the last year, Special
Agent Wright, whose views will be
carefully considered in the settle
ment Of the question, says in his an
nual report:
"Under the tribal laws non-c1ti-
zens are required to pay to these ma
.tions, collectibie by the proper tri-
bal officers, certain taxes for resid-
ing or transacting various kinds of
business therein, merchants in the
Choctaw nation being assessed 1-2
per cent. on the value of goods in
troduced for sale, and in the Chick
asaw nation 1 per cent. of the capi-
tai employed.
SIN the Choctaw nation an act of
their legislature, passed March %.
1899, and approved by the president
one June s, 1899, levies a tax OF s5
Against each citizen for every
farmer or renter employed and ST.
for each 'hireland" employed, such
permit expiring Dec. 81, regardless
of date of issue.
"While this permit tax is larger
than that prescribed by the Chicka-
saw law and the same as previous
Choctaw laws, the penalty of non
payment by citizen is that he shall
be fined not less than $25 nor more
than SOC, while the previous law pro-
vided as a penalty that the non-citi
zen farmer or. renter should be re-
ported to the principal chief as ar
intruder and that the citizen, fol
non-psyment of fine, should receiye
: not less than fifteen nor more thar
thlrty-nine lashes on his bare back
"There is no introduction or an
nual cattle tax in the Choctaw ma
ton, but their laws prohibit the in
PRODUCTION of cattle except during
the months of November and De
cember, and then only to be kept il
feed pens and legal Enclosures. 4
citizen is to be fined SIS per heaC
! for violation of this law and non
citizens to be reported to the United
States authorities for prosecution
under section 2117 of Revised Stat
utes, or removal from the territory
"ln the Chickasaw nation thei
legislature passed and act in Decem
Der, 1898, approved by the presiden
J on January 10, 1899, providing for .
permit and occupation tax, requir
ing q payment by non-citizens of s
, residence tax; live stock tax of fv,
cents per head on sheep and goats
and twenty Eve cents per head or
other stock over q specified numbe
exempted by said act, and which /
: o material reduction from former re
quirements.
, FThis act also provides that non
citizens refusing or neglecting t.
pay such tax shall be deemed in
. truders and reported to the Unitet
3 States Indian agent (or inspector) t
r the FIVE Civilized Tribes for removs
beyond the limits of the Ohickasay
nation.
LAS the tribal authorities of thes
nations handle their revenues an
{. finances, making their own collec
tions and disbursements without 81
8 pervision of this office, l am unabl
n to furnish any Information concern
j, ing the condition of their finance
, or amount of taxes due and collec
= ed. Many non-citizens. howsver, il
I. both nations have recently refuse
e to comply with such laws, claimiu
i that they are exempt by reason {
Il living in incorporated towns, AN
others that the recent agreemer
which provides that residents c
Q towns can purchase lots upon whic
2 their improvements are located q
8 so per cent of their appraised valu
recognizes their right to resid
within the limits of the Indian TeI
ritoy.
"Much correspondence has bee
j. had with the department ON tn
subject, and was advised on Marc
:. 8, 1899, that the tribal laws were sti
. I'm force and that non-citizens wer
!. subject to such laws so long as til
governments of those nations cor
tinued. regardless OF the fact tn,
d such parties lived In incorporate
IA towns and owned lots therein.
4 "This holding was sustained in a
nn1NinV1 wonAmmaA ~ - - ~ono