The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-11-23
WAY OUT OF
THE TROUBLE
COMES BY MAIL
Hitchcock Explains About the
Issuing of Deeds
TO CREEK CITIZENS
Dawes Commission viii Now
Finish Work Quick
CREEK CITIZENS

Muskogee, I. T.. Nov. 22.-The Daily
Phoenix Of this city has received a letter
from Secretary Hitchcock. relative to the
Issuing of deeds TO Creek citizens. The
letter says:
Washington. Nov. IS. 1901.
The Muskogee Daily Phoenix, Muskogee.
Indian Territory.
Gentlemen: The department is In re-
ceipt of your communication Of November
s. 1901. stating that much dissatisfaction
and discomfort prevails among the Creek
citizens on account OF the non-delivery
Of deeds to their properties, which. ac-
eordlng to section . OF the treaty ratified
May 14th OF this year was promised
them You enclose said section %.
You also state that the principal chief
the members of the Dawes commission.
and, in fact, ali of the officials who nave
any connection with the affair are
charge dwith bad faith. and the lack OF
information is having a very demoraliz-
Ing effect on the entire Greek nation
In reply. YOU are informed that the de-
partment has recently received a commu-
nicatiOn from the Dawes commission
forwarding letter addressed TO the com
mission by the principal chief. making a
similar complaint
The department has recently called the
attention Of the commission to the fact
that on October 16. 1901. il was advised
that. under the act ratifying the Creek
agreement, approved March l. 1901. ca
stat, S6J no allotment was intended 10
be made final by the issuance of deed
therefor until the citizenship OF the allot-
tee has been finally determined"
The attention of the commission was
"a of4n nfsat14 To- - .c
ment, which reads in part as follows:
The rolls so made by said commission.
when approved by the secretary of the
interior, shall he the final rolls of citizen
ship of said tribe. upon which the allot-
ment of all lands and the distribution Of
all moneys and other properties shall be
made and to no other persons"
The commission was further advised
that it is the purpose Of the department
TO expedite as speedily as practicable the
issuance of deeds 10 the Creek Indians
who may be entitled thereto. and it was
directed TO forward 10 the department. in
blocks of 500. the names Of those entitled
to be enrolled d Creek citizens, and that.
as soon as the same were returned TO the
commission Otter approval by the depart-
ment, the commission should Immediately
i'll out deeds for the lands 10 which said
parties are entitled and forward the same
was also instructed to advise the princi-
pal chief of the views of the department.
Any further information you may de-
sire will doubtless be Furnished YOU by
the commission, on application. Respect
fully,
z. A. HITCHCOCK. Secretary.
Upon receipt of this. a call was made
on Mr.. BiNby who was shown the let
ter, and in substance he said:
You Will notice that II was only about
thirty days ago that the commission was
advised Of the action Of the department
that no allotment was intended 10 be
made final by the issuance OF a deed
therefor until the citizenship Of the sllot-
tee had been finally determined Since
that time the commission has been stead
lily working on the lists. and great pro-
gress has been made. Inside Of ten days
there will be four thousand names sent
to the sechetary OF the interior and
from that time on the list sent to him
viii be fully one thousand per week.
These lists will, Of course. be Of those
citizens TO whose claims for citizenship
no contest has been entered.
The list at present stands: 9S02 fndi- /
ans, with 80 classed as doubtful, and g.. /
207 freedmen. with 103 classed as doubt 4
full"
It viii be noticed that Mr. Hitchcock I
states III is the purpose Of the depart 4
ment to expedite as speedily as practica- .
bic the issuance Of deeds TO the Greek
Indians who may be entitled thereto.
eac The way out of the woods is clear
/ last. The Dawes commission has the
work in splendid shape. and as stated by
Mr.. BiXby. will make the first strt in
side OF ten days. It viii take but a short
time for the approval Of each batch by
the secretary of the interior, and on the
return Of the roll approved. the commis-
sion win hn out the deeds and hand them
over 10 Chief Porter for his signature.
The first on the ron is SUsanne Barnett.
age 70. three-fOurths blood. who fled on
her 1lFor~-ars 1T1rch