The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1901-11-27
SECRETARY'S REPORT
on INDIAN AFFAIRS

Washington. Nov. 27.-The annual
report OF Secretary Of the Interior Hitch
cock covers 800 printed pages. and deals
in detail with all the operations 81 the
department.
The Indian question gets a prominent
position. Many pages are devoted to II
in It's broadest aspects.
INDIAN TERRITORY AFFAIRS.
Il Is. however, when tAe secretary cou-
elders IN detail the conditions OF the In
dian Territory under the Curtis act and
other legislation that his conclusions be-
lcome cf the greatest immediate interest
to the Southwestern states The earlier
treaties are reviewed and the several acts
under which the Jurisdiction OF the ter
ritorial court were extended are rested
historically, With this conclusive coni-
ment;
Notwithstanding the enlargement OK
the Jurisdiction of the United States
courts In thu Indian Territory, the cOndi-
ti0ns therein continued TO be unsatisfac-
tory .and subsequent legislation was had
with a view OF remedylrT protection 10
the persons residing IT. sltS Territory.
The consequent creation Of the Dawes
commission under the act OF March 5, 1885,,
as subsequently modified and extended by
additional legislation, are presented with
some attention to detail and the whole
| Legislative purpose Of the government Is
reviewed as 1t was finally crystaized
reviewed as II was finally crystaized
In the Curtis act. The secretary states:
Under the provisions OF the Curtis acr
the commission was required TO make
correct rolls of citizenship et the MEM
| lbers OF the five nations, including the
freedmen, and, upon the completion of
the roll of citizenshop of any one OF the
nations. It was required to allot the exciu-
sive- use and occupancy Of the surface
Of the land susceptible o fallotment TO
the members appearing upon said roll,
giving to each so far as possible, his
fair and equal share thereof, considering
the nature and fertility of the soil, loca-
tion and value thereof.
STATEHOOD.
by the terms Of the agreement Il was
declared that all the lands within the
Indian Territory belonging to the Choc-
taw and Chickasaw nations shall be al
lotted to the members Of said tribe so
az to give 70 each member, as far as
possible, fair and equal share thereof,
considering the character ard fertility
| Of the soil and the location ard value OF
the land, but the coal and asphalt In our
under the lands allotted were reserved
from allotment"
The secretary recites that the report OF
the Dawes commission "for the fiscal year
ending June 30. 1901. gives an exhaustive
account Of it's work, the magnitude there
Of and the difficulties TO be overcome in
its execution.
sion have probably reached their maxi
mum during the rast fiscal year, and
while a great deal has been accomplished
! In the matter Of preparation OF the rolls
and the allotment of the lands. there stin
remtins much to be accomplished before
| the tribunal government shall finally BE
ddissolyed and the lands thereof, be
prepared foi admission asc a state of tho
! UnionR'-a taclt suggestion TO the stare
hood, boomers that at least one member
Of the cabinet is not In sympathy with
thauconelusions OF the Muskogee conven-
COMMISSIONS WORK.
Mr. Hitchcock thereupon thus summaf-
izes tina exhaustive account OF the Dawes
commission.
During the fiscal year ending June 80.
1901. the commission has been engaged In
hearing applications for enrolment MAX
ing classihcations OF the lands OF the sew
er tribes. alloting the lands 70 the Semi
noles granting selection certificates to
members of the Creek nation and making
the necessary surveys OF the lands OF
the several tribes:
sThe number OF persons enlisted for en-
r0hmept Is as follows: Citizens by blood
and intermarriage. including names OF
newborn children IN the Choctaw nation
OSil: freedmen 1891; Citizens by blood
etc. in the Chickasaw nation ,493 freed
men 556e; citizens by blood etc. In the
Cherokee nation 25.36l; freedmen 3150:
citizens BY blood. etc, In the Creek ma
ton iO.O26; freedmen 5.l5i; number OF
names on approved Seminole role 2757.
The numbar of acres classified is as
follows:
Creek naticn ...................... 3072.sIs.16
cherokee nation .........-...... 3.420.W0. .13
Chickasaw nation ............... 47O3. los. .05
ChoctAW nation .,................ $3.50, ,043. 66
Seminole nation previously re
ported) .-.'.. ,..t...... ......-. 65.S54. 80
Total .. ........ ........... 1851. .Sss 80
although the work Of enrolling citizens
has been somewhat delayed. the commits
sion reports that commendable progress
has been made In the Creek and Cherokee
CREEK ROLLS.
"In the Creek nation Il has heen found
impossible 90 close the rolls until a date
shall have been fixed after which the chu-
dren born to parents who are citizens
also until further provision shall have
been made regulating the Opposition of the
lands Of citizens entitled 70 enrolment
who shall have died before the allotment
Is made.
IL appears that practically an the cltl-
zens OF the Creek nation whose names are
found upon the last authenticated rolls
OF that tribe arN listed for enrolment. and
II is now only required to ascertain the
names Of those TO be stricken from and
those 10 added TO the rolls on account OF
births and deaths under the ratified
agreement above referred TO.
Since April. 1899 when applications were
received for Frelimanry allotments by the
Creeks 1907 persons have made applca-
ti0ns 20 select allotments. OF which NUM-
ber S.b5l have received preliminary aliOt-
ments OF one huncred acres and 1060
have made partial selections; that the Sc
lections up TO and including June 30, 1901,
include an area OF l,626.9l7 acres.
ut appears that applications for en-
as citizens OF the Cherokee ma |
tion. including Indians and freedmen have J