The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1901-08-01
LANo suYERa ~ ANeaY.
Secretary Of Interior Raises Values
Of Indian Townsites.

in the Greek nation have been thrown
into q state Of CONSERVATION by a ne.
cent ruling Of the interior department
which will deprive them OF profits ae.
|gregating more than $1,000 As
the lapse of time affords am opportuni-
icy for more mature consideration. so
the spectators are preparing for a
war on the departments rulings
which will first be taken to hte de-
partment On the shape Of the pro est
and If the secretary can not be I'm.
duced TO change his decision. which
is based upon an Interpretation Of the
treaty then congress will be appealed
to to repeal the Objectionable portion
Of the Crock agreement.
The trouble arises over the inter.
probation Of the department Of the
provision Of the agreement relating
10 the time when townslte property
is to be praised under the improved
and unimprovel provisions Of the
treaty. The agreement provides that
unimproved property is to be paid for
at ohe-half Of the assessed valuation
placed thereon, while unimproved
property is % be paid for at the face
value Of the appraisement. Section
1S Of the treaty provides as follows:
"Any person holding lands within
town occupied by him as "A home.
also any person who had at the time of
signing this agreement possessed any
lot, tract, or parcel Of land from any
person in legal possession at the time,
shall have TIE right to purchase the
lot embraced in same by paying one
half of the appraised value thereof,
not however, exceeding four acres"
Immediately after the passage Of
the treaty land spectators went to
the Greek nation and purchased large
tracts of townsite property, announc-
ing their intention TO improve the lots.
This was before the amendments
adopted by congress had been resub-
mtted 70 the Greek council for APP
proval and prior to the signing OF the
document by Chief Porter and the
president The general impression
prevailed that the townsite provision
became operative at the same time all
the other provisions of the treaty did
upon the passage of the act. How
ever a distinct provision was made in
the treaty that the townsite provision
was to become effective, IL the treaty
was ratified, upon the date of the
signing of the instrument by the com
missioners. and not upon the date of
its ratification by congress and the
Creek council. AS the treaty was
signed March s, 1900. and was not
ratified until May 25. 1901. all pur-
chases made of unimproved town lots
within the period covered must be
paid for at the assessed valuation.
Unaware of this provision. capital
lists in Missouri, Kansas. Arkansas,
Texas, Oklahoma and Indian terri
tories purchased large tracts of un-
improved city property, particularly
IN ,he more desirable towns IN the ma
ton ana announced their intention of
improving the land thus acquired. It
was not until recently that they dis-
covered that all Of the land thus ac-
quireG must be paid for at it's face
value instead of at one-half Of the as
sessed valuation Accordingly an ef-
fort was made to have the interior de-
partment hold that as the enactive
clause Of the agreement provided that
It should become operative upon the
ratification Of this agreement" that
this applied to the entire treaty, in
cmding the townsite provision. The
department. however has taken the
opposite view, holding that the town
site feature of the treaty became ef.
fective OH March 8, 1900 Under this
decision the nation will receive nearly
S1O0OOOO which would otherwise
have gone to the spectators.
The question was recently raised by
attorneys at Muskogee. who submit
ted their views to Special Agent J.
George Wright. Mr. Wright called
upon United States attorney for the
northern district Of Indian territory
p. L. soper, for an opinion Mr.
soper responded with an elaborate
brief which formed the basis OF the
departmental action.
II Is estimated that the decision of
the department whi deprive the specu-
lators in townsite property in the
Creek nation OF over s1.OOO.OOO. All
the ,1trrh~eer roa1o ~ ,,f,.,..,,..-..l