The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1901-09-15

them and the negotiations Of this
treaty is the first substantial negOtis-
ton By the government Of the United
states. that such DEGREES are wrong
and that the Chickasavs and ChOc-
taws should have the relief they de-
mand
] therefore recommend that you mem
orialize the congress Of the United
states to raiify the pending treaty
in the early days Of the forthcoming
session. and that you suggest fur.
lther in such memorial that in the
event % its ratification by congress
I Il will be Immediately ratified by a
/ vote Of the Chickasaw and ChOctaw
people. in which event the dif.
Iferences which now embarrass both
the government 0f the United States
| and the representative of the tribes
Iin the administration ~ the Atoka
agreement provided that ali coal and
Iasphaltum shall be- reserved from al
/ lo,meut and leased under the direc-
ti0u Of the Secretary of the Interior
for a term Of thirty years and the
royalties therefrom paid into the
treasury Of the United States and
drawn thereir5u under such
rules and regulations AZ shall be- pre-
scribed by the Secretary of the In
terror.
Il further provides however as fol-
lows
That whenever the members of the
Choctaw and Chicsasav tribes shall
be- required 20 pay taxes for the sup
port OF the schools then the fund
arising from such royalties shall be-
disposed Of for the equal benefit Of
the members 's' in such manner
as the tribe may direct"
The Atoka agreement provides that
the tribal government shall continue
for q period Of eight years from
March g. 1855. or at all events until
March :. 1906. Considering the
changes in our affairs which are now
in progress and certain OF consum-
nation In a few years. provisions will
be made for taxing all the people Of
the Indian Territory, Indians and non
citizens alike, for the support Of
general school system. In which event
the clause Of the Atoka agreement
last above quoted will become efec-
tive and the coal and asphaltum again
become subject % disposition by the
ribes for the equal benefit Of the mem
bers Of the tribes
NOW that our tribal governments
are organized and We have an oppor-
tunity 70 consider mis- matter for our
selves. both as members and officials
Of the tribes. IL would seem 20 be the
part o. wisdom 20 devise such a plan
a. will best protect the interests OF
our people in the future. and, further
more. take such steps as viii put
this plan in operation
| therefore recommend that you
make provision for considering this
situation with the ChOctaws with a
view Of agreeing upon some satisfac-
tory plan for the fnal disposition OF
the coal and asphaltum deposits in
the Chlckasaw and Choctaw Nations.
You are aware that. from the time
the Atoka agreement became efec.
| tive until recently a controversy has
existed as % the power OF the Secre-
tary Of the Interior as regards the
royalty fund arising from the mining
OF coal and asphaltum.
The only provisions in the Atoka
agreement defining the powers Of the
Secretary Of the Interior in that con.
nectiou Is that which provides that
the royalties arising from the mining
I Of coal and asphaltum shall be paid
into the treasury OF the United States
and drawn therefrom under such rules
and regulations as shall be prescrib.
cd by the Secretary Of the Interior.
Under this provision it was con.
tended that the Secretary. In addition
10 d.sbursing the money. had absolute
power % take charge OF and control
our schools This tempted assump.
I,lon oi power ! resisted, and. while
We were able 10 retain control of our
schools. our share .u the royalty fund
was withheld
/ ] ann now pleased 20 be able 20 ln-
form sou that the controversy has
been settled by an agreement which
! entered into with the Honorable Sec.
retary OF the Interior az Washington
ON April % of the present year under
| The terms OF which the ChIckasaws re.
. tanned control OF their schools under
tribal laws and their share ln Oh. roy.
ally fund will be paid out upon school
warrants one provision OF this agree.
ment is that a board is created. one
member of which is designated by
! the Secretary OF the Interior. whose
duty IL Is 20 examine an persons de-.