The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1901-11-20
INDIAN TERRITORY AFFAIRS
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as. This act required that there should
FIRST be paid 10 such survivors Of the
original benefciaries Of such fund
and to such heirs Of deceased bene-
iciaries as should within six months
OF the passage Of the act satisfactoril-
ly establish their identity in such man.
ner as the secretary Of the interior
might prescribe: the remainder of
such fund as should rot be paid OUT
upon these claims. satisfactorily estab-
lished. TO be distributed per capita
among the members Of the Chickasaw
nation
Under instructions Of the depart
ment. as will be seen bv reference 70
my last annual report. these claims
were submitted to the United States
Indian agent for the Union agency,
and within the date allowed for the
filling Of same 2i3 were presented.
claiming an aggregate amount OF $50 o.
000. The agent has had considerable
difficulty in ascertaining the facts
concerning these claims. and has but
recently been enabled 10 secure suf-
ficient information 70 make an intel
ligent report on the seme which re
port has since the close OF The fiscal
year been made. Detailed information
concerning these matters is set forth
In the agents report
Special Agent Wright concludes
with the following recommendations
for changes in existing laws:
The unsettled condition Of affairs
throughout the Indian Territory must
necessarily continue during the trans
itory period until the towns are sur
veyed, plated and lots therein dispos-
ed Of. citizens enrolled. lands appraised
and allotted and the several tribal
government with their various laws.
cytinguished
When it is considered that this Ter
ritory contains some 100000 acres.
rich IN mineral deposits. and is also
an exceptionally fine agricultural coun-
ny. portions oi which are especially
adapted 90 the raising Of cotton which
fact has induced some 100000 or more
white persons OF non-ciuzcrs 10 locate
here, all seeking 20 take advantage of
the opportunities offered, together
with the constant building and cons
truction OF new railroa 70, thereby con
tinually changing condition in the
work Of ascertaining ard enrolling
some 10000 proper citizens OF the va
rious tribes, alloting lands to same
under existing agreements; surveying
and plating, and disposing of lots in
about 40 towns; the enforcement o.
certain acts OF congress ('yith various
constructions placed or same and con
sequent litigation), together with the
various tribal laws still recognized. and
the final winding up ot the affairs OF
the several nations, Is difficult to real.
izC by those not familiar with the re.
| quiroments ana duties invol, ed upon
the officers OF the various departments
Of the government In the indian Terri.
tory.
In every instance in COZ. .idcrlng the
duties required of the Interior depart.
ment, executing the laws and required
regulations. action taken only after
matters are submitted with full ex.
planation, the same carefully consid.
cred in turn, both by the Honorable
Commissioner of Indian affairs and the
| Honorable Secretary OF the Interior
and in many instances bv tho latter
submitted to the Honorable Assistant
Attorney General of the Interior De.
partment, or the Honorable Attorney
General for am opinion on the legal
opinions involved and the duties Of the
Department in reference thereto. and
In many other instances after having
been passed upon by United States
courts in the Indian Territory.
The most importan. and desired
work to be accomplished i'm the Indian
Territory at this time by the govern.
mcnt and all interested parties Is the
allotment of the lands IN severalty to
the citizens of the Five Civilized tribes
and the 6nal winding mp OF their az.
fairs.
The existing agreement with the var.
ious tribes under which this work
is 20 be accomplished. provides that all
lands shall be appraised and so al.
lottod that each individual will receive
his equal share in the vGlues OF the
same, TO be equalized either in lands
or moneys of the tribe
Being directed to submit such sug
gestons and recommendation as are
deemed desirable for the betterment
of the conditions existing in Indian
Territory | would respectful suggest
that the most desirable change would
be additional legislation with the va.