The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1901-02-22
TAGGING TAMS.
Hitchcock Grows
Angry
--
AND PLUGS DAWES
COMMISSION
Likely to Be an Upheayal
in Which Members
Will Suffer
serIppa.McRae - -.

Scripps-McRao Press ASSN.
Washington. D. C., Feb. 21.-The
senate today PASSED a resolution introduc-
90 by Senator Thurston sending the claim
Of the Cherokee nation against the gov
ernmont amounting 90 nearly hee million
dollars TO The court OF claims for adiudi-
cation.
rams Bixby and Thomas Needles.
members OF the Dawes commission. have
been ordered to Washington By the secre-
tary OF the interior TO explain the new
trcaty with Chickasaw and cnoctaw ma
tions, recently nogoti0ted
unlces proper explgs ations can be ofer-
"a Bixbys resignation VIII probably be
called for
Serious trouble between the Dawes COM
mission ana Secretary Hitchcock Is brew
ing. In fact there IS strong probability
that the present strained condition Of af-
fairs may result in the removal OF one
~ more members of the commission.
Tho trouble arises over teaehted at-
tempts on the r,-t ot the members OF
mam0cfH Of the Dawes comnisslon TO di-
vest the secretary OF the interior OF hny
supervisory authority in the nnal prepara-
tions uf the rolls Of the members Of the
Twice before The commission has made
I'VE civilized tribes in Indian Territory
similar attempts, one Of which resulted
an she rc' oval Of member Of ,he COM
mission AID the Issuance OF a singing re-
bukc TO his associates. But notwith-
standing this drastic action on tho part
OF Secretary Hitchcock. Mr.. Toms Blk
by acting chairman Of tho Dawes com
mission. has again ATTEMPTED t. Jecure
the enactment Of legislation which would
n passed tie the hands Of the secretary
OF the interior and constitute the Dawes
commission a court OF final resort.
TO aay that this attempt to eliminate
the interior department from the consid-
eration Of contested citizenship cases. and
10 make the decision OF the Dawes COM
mission nnal. Is reserted by Secretary
Hitchcock. is but mild statement Of the
condition existing. Secretary Hitchcock
resents this attempt 20 thwart him and
while there Is no probability that the
scheme would be carried 70 frut.on by
congressional action, he is beginning to
realize that thcre Is some ulterlor motive
Ia the persistent attempts OF the Dawes
commission to ria him Of any supervisory
authority ia the nnal closing Of the cit
izenshop rolls.
But the Dawes commission this time
have attempted TO 90 farther than 20
eliminate the secretary OF the Interior
from the confederation OF the contested
citizenship cases. The purpose 20 have
the judgment OF the United States courts
IN Indian Territory. by which 1t was or
dero that certain citizens whose npplica-
tions for enrolment had been rejected by
the Dawes commission should be placed
npon the tribal rolls. annulled by act OF
congress. Their PROPOSITION has been sub
mitted in the shape OF treaty which was
secretly drafted between representatives
or the Choctaw and Chickasaw nations
and the members OF the Dawes commits
sion and which reached the interior de-
partment the other day The object of this
treaty 81 10 yitiate and annul practically
All the Atoka agreement. under the terms
OF which the Dawes commission has been
operating in the Choctaw and Chicalm-
Ha,o nations for the past four years. The
treaty contains the following provisions.
THAT all applicants for citizenship in
The Choctuw and ChicSasaw nations,
known as court claimant. that IS, those
who appealed from the decision of the
Dawes commission and obtaped Judgment
IN the United States courts entitling thom
10 citizenship shall hH refused citizenship
ia the Choctaw andHthickaaaw nations
Ii refuses citizenship 40 the Mississippi
Choctaws except those OF fun blood, who
shall in the future remove from the state
81 Mississippi 20 the Indian Territory
II constitutes tie Dawes commission a
court 81 hnal resort on an citizenship
question ana doprives the secretary OF the
Interior OF an supervisory authority now
vested in him hy law.
ID revokes and annuls the Atoka agree
ment. under which an proceedings nre
now being taken in the choctaw and
Chiokasew nations.
II extends the power OF the Dawes com
mission. confirms the rolls as prepared hy
them. and provides for the immediate and
hnal closing Of the rolls by the commits
sion
IL confirms past action With regard 20
townsitea and provides for allotmonts TO
be made by the Dawes commission who
shall have charge OF the entire question,
In short, the general terms Of the treaty
are such as 70 constitute the Dawes COM
misslon practically the only authority,
and places an matters OF the nations.
with the exception OF the townslte fea-
turea, with which they are now dealing,
wholly with their control. The treaty was
forwarded BY the Dawes commission on
February TN, and has been az the inter-
ior deartment under confederation FOR
more than O week. Thai u viii not be
sent 10 congress. or II 80 Il Will be accom-
panied by a scathing letter from Secretary
Hitchcock. Is foregone conclusion.
For some time past ramors have been