The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-07-02
THOUSANDS WAITING FOR THE
OPENING OF THE WICHITA
RESERVATION
FIGHT ON LOTTERY SCHEME
SETTLERS WILL FILE ON THEIR
CLAIMS AND THEN LOOK FOR
BACKING IN THE COURTS
OPENING TO BE NEXT MONTH

WASHINGTON, July 1.-According to
advices from Guthrie, Okla, the govern
ment's proposed lottery plan of Settle
ment Of the Wichita, Kiowa and Co
manche country is to be contested by
settlers who expect to take claims when
the country is opened. The plan of con-
test is on the legality of the drawing
scheme. Among the plaintiffs will be
Lewis N. Hornbeck, of Minco, l. T.,
former government surveyor.
The best advices show that thousands
are now ready and prepared to enter
the country as soon as the proclama-
tion is promulgated. Claims will be
staked out by those who are already
camped along the borders, and If fight
is to be made along the proposed lines
Of contest it VIII occasion endless suits
for rights and titles in the land Offices
and the courts. The belief of the land
attorneys is that only two legal ways
are open to those who want a claim.
First to settle upon a quarter before
some one else files. Second, to file be-
fore the other fellow settles. The courts,
not the departments, are the interpret
ers of the law, and all questions must
be finally passed upon by the courts.
OPENING NEXT MONTH.
Secretary Hitchcock has decided that
there is no authority of law permitting
a delay until Oct l in the opening of
the Wichita Indian reservation in Okla
homa as desired by certain cattle inter
eStS.
The secretary's announcement followed
hearing which he had given to repre-
sentatives of the lessees and of COM
panies which had loaned money on res
ervatioH cattle owned by the lessees.
The cattlemen have paid the money up
to the 1st Of October, and said an In
justice would be done them If the reser-
vation is opened at the date proposed.
There was a very full and free discus
sion, but the secretary did not feel he
had authority to grant the delay asked
for. While he has announced no formal
decision in the matter, his views are to
the effect stated, and preparations will
be made for opening the lands for set
tlement next month
THE PUBLIC DEBT.
The statement of the public debt, Is
sued today, shows that at the close of
the fiscal year, June so, 1901, the debt,
less cash in the treasury, amounted to
Sl044, 739, ,12O, a decrease during June of
ST, 374. This decrease Is accounted for
in the main by an increase in the cash
on hand. The debt is recapitulated as
follows:
Interest bearing debt........... -. $9S7 ,14,O40
OSpI On WHICH interest mas
ceased since maturity. 1,415, ,620
Debt bearing no interest....... 3S3, ,O15, 5S4
Total ......,.....,............s1,s 81 ,572,2
This amount, however does not In
clude $71, ,754,6S9 in certificates and treas
ury notes outstanding which are offset
By an equal amount of cash on hand held
for their redemption. The cash in the
treasury is classified as follows:
HSoT1
Trust funds ...................... n, ,754, $50
General fund .................,.. 15S, 697, PAS
In national bank deporitories. 101, ,416,9 973
Total 81, ,1S1 ,S6S, ,O11
Against this there are\ \demand liabil-
tiles outstanding amounting to $S55, ,O35, ,7S6,
which leaves a cash balance on hand Of
! 1926, ,SS3, ,124.
TAFT'S COMMISSION.
The president today signed the follow-