Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1900-03-15
SERIOUS CHARGES.
Territory Officials Said to
Want More Courts.

aShlnglon, March III ne
treaty with the Cherokees is now
under consideration. The Dawes
commission, as was the case with
the Greek treaty, hasrefused TO in
sert any provision for additional
United States courts. One of the
principal reasons for this is that
large sums of money have been
raised for lobbys in Washington to
procure additional courts for vari-
Gus towns. In other words U. S.
courts are TO go to the highest bid
ders. The 30th U. S. statutes at
large specifically prohibits this
and imposes heavy fine and pun
ishment, especially if any official
of the tribes or of the government
is implicated therein. Serious
charges have been made implicat-
ing officials of the nation and Of
the government in attempting to
to secure these courts and this is
one of the strongest arguments
which is being brought to bear
against provision for additional
courts in the two nations.
Another complication which has
arisen with relation to the Chero-
kee treaty is the failure to make
any provision for the Delaware
Indians. There is a suit now
pending in the court of claims to
give the Delaware tribe 157 900
acres of land in addition to their
individual allotments which would
be the same as those of the Chero-
KEGS. No provision for this has
been made in the treaty, and, as a
result, there is likely to be a long
drawn out contest. In addition TO
this the representative of the Dele
wares here is insisting that the
rolls of the nation must be care
fully gone over and the names of
white citiSens, negroes, and of the
North Carolina Cherokees must be
expunged. Ii is probable that
some arrangement will be made
whereby these questions will be
left open for decision by the courts
and that allotments to the palties
interested will be suspended pend
ing final settlement 1t has been
publically announced in the east
ern press that the oil syndicates
which have been attempting to Sc.
cure leases in the Cherokee nation
have disposed of their interests TO
the Standard Oil Company for s10,-
100000. This is twice the amount
offered by the English sydicate.
The purchase of these interests by
the Standard Oil Company means
that the fight for the approval of
these leases will be renewed with
vigoT.
The senate has passed the bill
providing for the appointment of
an additional . S. commissioner in
the northern judicial district of the
territory who shall be located per-
manently at Wewoka in the Semi
mole nation The same bill has
been favorably reported by the
house committee on Indian affairs
on the recommendation of the de-
partment Of justice and the judges
having personal knowledge of the
situation and the necessities of the
case.
Marshall Bennett and delegates
selected by the South McAlester
convention reached Washington
the latter part oflsst week. While
their mission here seems to De a
hopeless one, they are making the
best of the situation and are work.
ing industriously with members OF
the house and senate in the hope
that they may finally be prevailed
upon to accord the territory repre-
sentation in congress and the es.
Enlistment Of local offices which
will have control of such matter;
as will relate TO affairs there.
WEBSTER BALLINGER
Muskogee Times.
1t is just three days till "St
Patrick's Day in the Morning, -