The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1901-07-26
Revenues Bound
ing Upward
CARD SYSTEM
WORKS WELL
Only One Indian Refused
to Pay His Debts Out
Of Last Annuity

Pawhuska, July, 26.--Never before
in the history Of the Usage nation
has an agent rented two years with
out big row. and a protesting dele
CATION in Washington beseeching the
Indian office for his removal Major
Mitscher has broken rule of sixty
years standing and has handled the
tribal Affairs for two years without a
clash
Major Mitschers management OF the
tribal affairs has been exceedingly
successful. the Indians revenues hav-
ing increased amazingly under his
fostering care. AS an instance Of his
business ability. Major Mitscher has
increased the gross rents Of the Ksws
from $4,000 per annum under the form
or plan Of leasing. to $4,000 The
Osages got $4,000 per annum from
pasture rents under the old system;
under Major Mitscher they are gett-
ing $4,000, and the major Is now over
IN the Klowa country endeayoring to
lease 10000 acres for which he be-
lieves he viii get $4,000. The per-
nit tax now brings in $4,000 per an
mum. against nothing formerly. The
gross tax (the tax on small lunches
OF cattle roaming the Usage com
mons now amounts to $4,000 per an
mum. It Amounted to nothing under
the old system.
This great improvement in the rev.
enues Is due to the abolition of the
tribal government and transferring
those business matters TO the agent.
The Indian high sheriff used TO do the
collecting, and he reported just what
It pleased him TO report Everything
collected belonged to the party in
power. Their treasurers never de-
faulted, but when they ran out of mon
ey the Indians would explain that
the treasurer had defaulted. It was a
loose method OF doing business. and
never dollar Of revenues was used
for the benefit of the tribe
Notwithstanding their enormous
revenues, the osages are badly in
debt. Some Of them owe the traders
as much as 10000. There are mum.
erous cases of $4,000 and $4,000 debts.
This indebtedness has been source
OF annoyance to the Indian Office for
a number OF years, but Just before
congress adjourned last March a bill
was passed providing for the auditing
Of those accounts by the secretary Of
she interior ard their payment out Of
the lease moauy held in the United
States treasury Believing that the
indians were getting enough to keep
them ont Of the interest on their
eight million dollar trust fund the see.
retary has for a number OF years with,
held payment OF the grass lease mon
oy. He no wholds over 100000 which
will be used 10 square the trader ac.
counts. Hereafter the Indians will
not be permitted TO 20 in debt, the
traders being forbidden to extend
them credit for more than sixty per
cent o fthelr annuity. II an Indian
fails to pay his debts when he draws
his annuity he rs not given credit
card for the next quarter This sys-
tenn has been In vogue through one
annuity payment and only one Indian
violated the order He Is without his
credit card and must grub along
without mxures until he draws his
next annuity
The Osages generally realize the
value OF land one half breed has a
farm OF 1000 acres under cultivation
and nearly every adult member Of the
tribe has opened npe farm-by
white proxy. But who would perform
the labor OF opening a farm Il he
could set somebody else to do il?
They usually look after the leasing OF
the farm lands themselves. and it is
only when they get into trouble with
tenant that the agent is appealed
TO-
II IS estimated that only ten per
cent OF the Usage nation Is now un.
der cultivation, although sixty per
cent Of the lands are fine for agrlcui-
tnral purposes.