The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1901-03-24

fslaue- treaty vas sgreed to and
ser, 20 washington. Il received the
careful attention Of the committee
on Indian asairs of TIE house and
senate. With tie rsszl, ,aai u Nas
nodded 20 a considerable extent
one provision which vas bone Of
contention. related 70 mineral and
oil leases in the nsaon. In order
that the rights of the Indians n gnt
be f1uy protected, Al anendment
vas included 10 tie treaty Providing
that where leases actually existed
on land taken By the lrdians a. their
auotmeuts. the rsveuaes from TIE
leases sho1ld 20 % tns al.ottess' and
on land which had 10. been taken,
the rsven1s should 70 % TIE trioe
10 order TIA; the oil comp psnies and
individuals interested 10 mining
should b. resir cted 20 the Utmost, a
further provision was Inserted, pro
hioitiug the issuance 90 any addi-
tlonsI leases under either ne Curtis
sct or any other &C; 90 congress.
Finally, il conclusion, another pro
vision vas inserted providing:
"Ths; nothing 10 this act shall be
held or coustrusd 20 change, alter,
modify or impair, or rstiiy, couhrm
recognize or validate any existing
coal or oil rights hereafter acquired
5y lease, location, development or
oiherWiser
The ,cisc; Of this latter provision
vas % further protect toe interests
oi the Cherokee people. Congress
nan Little Of Arksnsss and other
members % the conference commit
tee insisted tia. the leases already
acquired had 10 validity for the res-
son that parties who had already Sc
cured leases bad not complied with
tne provisions Of their contract and
made certain improvements. Other
members of the committee were IN
willing that al Of the equities OF the
oil and coal leases should be de-
stroyed BY act Of congress, i, in
fact q could destroy them, ard in
sisted that this question should be
left 70 the courts 20 decide. This is
practically all the above smsndmen:
means.
But a considerable portion Of the
people Of the Cherokee nation have
been led 70 believe that these amend
uents were contrary 20 their inter
ests and gave tha oil people valuable
concessions. Asa result they have
been urged O. defeat the treaty.
Issked Commissioner Jones wheth-
er there was anything in the claim
that the mineral sections Of the
Cherokee treaty were Injurious 70
The interests Of the Cherokee people.
81 can see nothing whateye 10
them that would inlure the interests
I of a single individual II those oil
companies which have secured leases
have any interests whatever they
could not be impaired by an act oil
congress. a contract cannot be in
validated by congress without com
pensation 20 the injured parties
This is az far a. the mili
vision Of this treaty goes. :: !- go
better for the Cherokee people thar
the Curtis act, for under that law
the secretary can issue addiIlona
leases 70 companies, while under IN,
/ Cherokee treaty no leases can b'
made hereafter under the Curtis oil
any other law"
What will be the effect, Mr. Com
missioner. Of the failure Of the Cher
okee agreement"
1T will mean the enforcement o
the Curtis act beyond doubt"
"In its entirety" ] asked.
eyes, in its entirety,'' said tn,
Commissioner. 1--WE have made re
peated attempts to induce the Cher
oke, people to enter into an agree
ment whereby their tribal form o
government could be abolished
Each Of these attempts in the pas
resulted 10 absolute failure. The ie
partment, realizing the disinclina
tion on the part Of the Cherokee
people to enter into any agreement
has been exceedingly lenient and fol
nearly three years has suspended the