The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1902-03-20
AN EMPIkE
Will Be Jefferson
UNDER THE MOON BILL
Committee Makes Thorough
Report and a Change
is Probable

Washington, D. c., Marcn 20
In the favorab,e report submitted by
She committee on territories urging
the passage of the Moon bill, giving
the Indian territory local government
under the name Of the territory Of
Jefferson, the most forcible exposi-
tion of the Indian territory conditions
so far presented to congress has been
submitted after a review of the trea-
ties with the tribes It is pointed out
that the form OF government is en-.
tirely inadequate TO meet the pres
ent conditions
The act Of June %. 1895 says the
report, authorized the organization
Of towns having POO inhabitants or
more, to possess the powers and
rights Of similar towns in the state Of
Arkansas, but made no provision for
the protection OF life and property and
educational facilities outside OF the
corporate limit Of tie towns The
people who live outside Of incorporat
ed towns are afforded no police pro
lection eFcept through the United
States marshals Office. The only ex
scutive government in the territory Is
a government by United States mar
shals.
The Indian territory, which com
priSes an aera Of s1.4OO square miles
by the census of 1900 has a popula
ton Of 3Sl, $50. OF which only about
$4,000 are Indians, or connected with
the Indian tribes. The people are in
telligent, Industrious, enterprising end
law-abiding. accustomed to live in a
different state of society and to par
ticIpate in the affairs of local self gov
ernment.
The Census Figures.
According to the census there are
in the territory 1925 persons Of
school age. OF whom $1,000 are Indian
children ayd the remainder are not
members Of the Indian tribes. OF this
class $4,000 live in the incorporated
towns aad have the advantages of free
school facilities, public schools beius
Mai.atained in incorporated towns un
der power conferred by the Curtis act
and the other 1925 have no free
school facilities whatever, there be
ing no means by which they may be
maintained in the rural districts.
~The real estate in the Indian terri
tory is at present exempt from tax
alton, the title to the whole body of
.he lands outside OF the towns, being
yet in the Indians, but the taxable
property is sufficient TO support ter
ritorial government The following
data, obtained from reliable sources
gives a conservative estimate OF some
OF the property subject TO taxation.
Ninety incorporated towns. includ
ing only about $4,000 OF the popula-
ton. have an assessed valuation Of
taxable property of 20 million dollars.
A conservative estimate Of the taxable
value of unincorporated town is 8
million dollars There are l1a million
head Of cattle, 100000 head OF horses,
10000 head Of mules. about 100000
hogs and 5000 head OF sheep. There
Invested IN coal mining and coke
properties about 4 million dollars.
there are l.4l5 miles OF railroad in
operation and about 100 miles under
construction. A conservative estimate
OF the entire taxable wealth OF the
territory could not be less than 60
million dollars. No estimate is made
Of corn, whea, oats and cotton
which are also extensively produced
ia the territory
harrisons Message.
In 1891 President Harrison in a
message to congress called attention
TO the conditions existing in the In
dian territory and 20 the need for some
organic change in the relation OF
these tribes TO the United States and
recommended that the change In
yolve the acceptance OF citizenship
by the Indians and presentation in
congress
Congress by act approved March
9 1901. conferred citizenship on ey-
ery Indian "a the Indian territory.
with each year there Is large