The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1900-01-31
our SPECIAL WASHINGTON ITTtQ
THRONGS OF 0RAFTERS AND LOB.
BYISTS In THE CAPITAL CITY.
Have No Influence. But Get Pay for the
Good Time They Hsvt-Seversl In
portant Bills Introduced-One Cuts
Slice From Southern District.
Special to the Ardmoreite.

Special to the Ardmoreite.
Washington, Jan. 30.-Prominent
men, lobbyists and grafters genei ally
from Indian Territory and vicinity
are in Washington ID force working
on matters of great Importance to
the people of the Territory. ALI kinda
of schemes are being devised, mainly
for the purpose of making fees. 1t
is astonishing how sincere these fell
lows are in the advocacy of certain
schemes and measures in which they
are not interested, or have no re-
mote connection, except in a Pc
cuniary sense, having received a lit
tie fee from scme of the big fellows
interested. But they all tell the same
story; how the people of the Terri
tory would be benefited by the en-
actment of some law which they have
been paid to lobby through the house
and senate. These grafters are to
be found in every section of the. city
and they hail from Texas, Louisiana,
Arkansas, oklahoma, Indian Terri
tory, Kansas and adjacent states
And it is surprising to see the thriving
business they are doing. Poor gull
lible creatures in the Territory, who
have more money than common
sense, employ these grafters who
have no more influence than the mo-
tormen on the electric cars with the
lawmaker, to further their claims.
As a result little is accomplished for
the Territory at any session of con-
gress.
But there are some men in Wash
ington who stand well and who are
able to accomplish results although
they may not be of vital interest to
the Territory. OF this class Mr..
Owens is probably the most conspi-
cuous. He is here trying to secure
the payment to the Cherokee Indians
of the S4 ,0OO,0 which it is claimed
the government owes the tribe, and
about which so much has been said
in the Territory papers recently.
Thus far he is meeting with no sue
cess and there seems to be no proba-
bility that later in the session things
will change.
The townsite question is now be-
fore the interior department. Some
of the most astute promoters of
money-making sc hemes are now Civ
ing the subject their undivided at
tention and presenting their views
at the interior department with more
force than discretion, Among this
list is Wiley o. Cox Of Kansas City,
Col Covert of Texas, and many
others. But there seems no proba-
bility that decision will be reached
soon. The secretary understands
the reasons which prompt the maj
ority of the advocates of the various
schemes and is proceeding cauti-
ously.
Gov. Porter of the Creek nation
and Chief Burlington of the Cherokee
nation have returned home, the for
mer carrying Iome with him the
Creek treaty for revision and the lat
ter having reached an understand
ing that the Cherokee delegation to
be sent to Washington will be given
full power to make such changes and
alterations in the Cherokee treaty as
is demanded by congress.
That this is upon the presumption
that President Mckinley signs the
bills appropriating money for the
delegations. This he has not done,
but it is understood that some ar
rangement has been made by which
the expenses of the delegations will
be paid out of the money in the
treasury to the credit Of the nations.
-.
The president has returned to the
secretary of the interior the bills
passed by the Cherokee and Greek
councils authorizing the appointment
of a representative at Washington to
look after the interest of the two
tribes. These were the positions
Judge Springer was to have, but is
now doubtful whether he will be en-
ployed, even IL the president signs
them, as it is understood that since
Chief Burlington and Gov. Porter ar
rived in the city they have discover
ed that the former judge of the
northern district is not as potential a
factor here as they have been led to
believe.
-.
Among the various bills introduced
in the house and senate, the follow
ing are OF interest to the people oi
the Territory:
A bill for the repeal of the act au
thorizing the construction of jails in
the Indian Territory. The bill pro-
vides that the act of July 7, 1898, au-
thorizing the construction of three
jails, one each in the northern, GEN.
traI and southern districts of the In
dian Territory, and making appro-
priations therefor, he and the same
n