The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1901-03-27
CITIZENS DO NOT
WANT CURTIS LAW
Cherokee People Are Very
Anxious TO Have the
Treaty Ratified

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Washington, March 27.--Prominent
oitlzcns OF Indian Territory arriving in
the city evidence the greatest Interest
ln the contest now being waged over thf
ratincation Of the Cherokee treaty. Those
who have Interests IN the Cherokee ma
tlon are particularly anxious that the
treaty should be ratified ae they take
u fer granted that in the event the
treaty falls there viii be a reign of three
years of chaos in tho nation during which
time almost every pergAn who has in-
forests there will be in iitigation in court
col r. bort J.. owen. one of the most
prominent of the citizens of the territory,
who ls in Washington, mnkes no conceal
ment of his anxiety over lho situation
and says frankly that u the Cherokee
people faiI a. ratify the present agree
ment they VIII make n mistake which
will probably never have an opportunity
10 correct IN discussing the question
with the state Capital correspondent. Col
owen said.
''rhc agreement bctwecn the United
states and the Chofokec nation is about
20 be voted on. our people should real
he that this agreement Is the most
important matter upon which they have
had occasion to vote. The alternative
81 now presented 10 them Of being gov-
erned by the agreement. subject TO fut-
ure amendment or by the Curtis act
'Under the agreement each citizen Wi
receive his fair proportion OF the tribal
property including land with "a good title
wi.h his allotment free Of cnarge or
debt
"Under the Curtis act be Will receive
an allotment only OF the surface right
subject TO mineral leases for coai. OIL
aSphalt aud other minerals.
"Cndor the agreement town lot holders
win receive perfect title 10 town lots
and be able TO obtain town lots acquired
under tribal inw on q reasonable basis
Under the Curtis act they can only
acquire possessory right TO lots whic
they have suitable improvements, while
an OF their other unlmproved lots VIII be
sold 70 the highest bidder
.'Undcr the Curtis act the secretary Of
the Interior is directed TO provide rules
for leasing ,coa, oil. asphalt and other
minenis TO ra term OF fifteen years,
etc. large number Of these applica-
tions are pending and the parties entitled
under the law and the rules established
By the secretary will demand Issuance
OF such leases Immediately the Cherokee
agreement IS rejected. The govern
ment Officers here seem 20 be unani-
nous IN the poinion that no future op
portunlty viii be given the Cherokees for
agreement, but that that section of coup-
try will be administered under the Cur
lis act II this agreement is rejected.
Under the agreement no more mineral
lenses can be granted none Of those
hereafter gr6nted by the nation are rec
ognizcd. although the agreement IN sec
tlon 49, proyided that no existing coal
or OH rights Heretofore acquired shall
be held as modified by the agreement,
The effect OF this section is to leave such
rights whore they We're before the agree
meut II the parties have rights which
woula be established hy law, they re-
main unlmraIod. T. arties had rights
vested w th inv uo agreement be-
tween ~. nitce .t-tes and the Cher-
olSa nation o9a take such rights away
from third parties, even II the agree
ment had tried TO de Il.
Under the agreement liberal reserva-
tion for schools, asylums, etc, are made.
Under The Curtis act such reservations do
not exceed FIVE acres
''under the agreement towns may hor-
row money on bonds for sanitary pur-
poses for the construction Of sewers,
lighting plants, water works and school
houses up to five per cent OF the fun
value Of real ard personal properly "a
the town. Under the Curtis act this can
not be done.
'under the agreement an public bulld-
ings and other public property belong
ing 20 Cherokee nation mey BE- disposed Of
by the nation, subject 20 thc approval
OF the secretary OF the interior Under
the Curtis act this IS not proyidede for
"under the agreement no Cherokee
funds can be used or paid out hy the
uniteo States without the consent Of The
tribe expressly given through its national
council. Under tho curtis act this pro-
lection 10 not provided ana Cherokee
money have been royently used without
the consent of the Cherokees in various
wcgs
'under ihr agreement the transfer Of
the titles OF uilottees shall not inure &C.
ihe benefit OF any railroad company uu-
der the Curuc act section ~, II Is ex
nrcaify proVidedf
'rhat nothing herein contained shall iu
any way eject amy vested legal rights
which may have been heretofore grant
ga by act of congress. which was put Ia
"a the demand of tho railroad people,
who declared that they did have yestcu
rights in the land of the Cherokee na-
ton. IN fact ihey have no such vest-
"a right
"lnder the agreement the United States
is Obliged 90 pay am EXPENSES Incident 20
The survey aud allotnents OF the lnnds
but under the Curtis act the United
States is ieft free 20 charge the expenses
81 this COMMUNICATION against the bene-
hciaries OF the allotment and plating OF
town sites, as the United states did 10
charge the Kansas Indians.
Under the agreement hundreds OF
thousands OF dollars of Cherokee war
rants WY be Immediately raid ana money
wgll be abundant ia the Cherokee nation
Under the Curtis aga this win not be
done