The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-11-25
REPORT OF
THE DAWES
COM MISSION
TamS Bixby on Enrolment of
Five Tribes
TO SECRETARY OF INTERIOR
Enrollmen. of Cherokees, a
Most interesting Story.
TO SECRETARY OF INTERIOR


the secretary OF the interior has been
received IN this city. In Tams Bixbys
report of the Dawes commission, Mr.
Bixby says:
While this report viii indicate but lit
tie accomplished in the reception OF
original applications for enrolment as
citizens by blood and intermarriage OF
the Choctaw and Chickasaw nations and
as Choctaw and Chickasaw freedmen.
nevertheless such progress has been made
curing the past fiscal year IN centralizing
and classifying the work. Almost the
entire time and energy OF this division
for the past year has been devoted 20
placing its records in such condition that
when q date is fixed or agreed upon clos
ing the rolls OF citizenship OF these two
tribes there viii be the least possible loss
OF time in submitting the hnal rolls TO
the department for approval.
There still remains unaccouEted for
few names which appear upon the tribal
rolls submitted by the Choctaw and
Chickasaw nations. and while a constant
effort has been made 10 obtain iuforma-
ton concerning these "delinquents, il
has been with little success. and when
the work OF enrolment is finally com
pleted il is probable that a few names
VIII have to be reported as unaccOunted
for. the result. doubtless, of Implications
and inaccuracies on the part OF the tribal
authorities in the preparation OF their
rolls
The right TO enrollmenc as citizens OF
the Choctsw and Chickasaw nations is
derived from one OF three sources;
The frs. and most important Of these
is through tribal recognition, evidenced
by a tribal enrolment. which status, in
turn, was attainable through birth or ad-
mission. The birthright TO enrolment
will become extinguished upon the clos
ing of the rolls. The right 10 enrolment
throu~h admission ceased to be attain
able through the operation OF lie act Of
congress of June 10. 1896 (29 Stat. L., S2l.)
Second-Adrnission by the commission
to the Five Civilized Tribes. under the
provisions Of the act of congress Of June
10, 1896 GO Stat l.. 22l)
"Thrd-Admission by decree of the
United States court in Indian territory
OH appeal from the decision Of the tribal
authorities or the Commission of the Five
Sivilized Tribes. under the provisions Of
the act of congress above referred 10.
The right to enrolment IS citizens
by intermarriage OF these Two tribes is
acquired under the treaties with and the
laws OF these tribes. The increase OF
membership from this source viii cease
upon the date fixed for closing the rolls.
There has never been maintained by
the tribes any strictly authentic rolls
OF citizenship Of the Choctaw and Chicka-
saw nations. and the 1896 citizenship rolls
of these two tribes which have been used
as a basis IN the preparation of the final
rolls Of the two nations. present many in
accuracies. In numerous instances names
Of persons appearing thereon were placed
there by fraud or without any authority
OF law
Considerable time and labor have been
expended during the past fiscal year in
ascertainfng the exact status OF the per
sons whose names appear upon such rolls
and determining whether they are en-
titled to enrolment by this commission
under the provisions OF the twenty-frst
section Of the act Of congress Of June >.
1893 80 Stat l., 49,
The commission was not aware Of the
inception Of the enrolment OF the citi-
zens Of these two tribes Of the extent Of
inaccuracies and the irregularities that
existed in the tribal rolls which were
used as a basis for enrolment by the
commission. and accordingly during the
first two years OF the progress Of this
work numerous persons whose citizenship
was later to prove questionable applied 10
the commission. were Identified from the
tribal rolls. and regularly listed for en-
roliment.
AT that tine both the Choctaw and
Chickasaw nations had representatives
cooperating with the commission Of the
Five Civilized Tribes IN the person II
commissioners duly authorized by the
tribal authorities to assist IN the prepara-
ton OF rolls of citizenship. II a feE
Instances objection was entered ~ these
representatives. OF the tribes az the time
arplicatiors were made but as they we're
without tangible evidence TO support
their contention. al who were p-iraa facie
eligible to enrolment we're listed sub
jet 70 further Investigation and consid-
Grafton.
During The past year objection has
been urged al asainst q great n1nv 80 listed
on the ground that their mares vTere
placed upon the tribal roHs from which
Trey we're identified by fraud ard with
cut authority of law Whclevr- these
objections hsve heel entered tho arulf-
csnts have been e'siy advised thereof a
date axcs FOR the h-a-irz 81 the corten-
ton Of tho natlens. anf fhen Ho-ice q
such hearing given the applicants n
rnost Instances r. has bee1 very diCscaif
and oftti-uss fnapozsIbIe. - obtain sny re-
Sable information or tes;inony. either
from she nations ~ from ~ anrBcanis
upon whIch such questions cegll he
legally dess-rrfned- u 81 probable that
% finally adscsf fhese casr1 ttr commits
-loE all se oo-upeIled - ce;sI special
rsrreeertsfives 70 obtain ths tesilnnorv
- wel-inforuee 11erzbers = fhe fTgses
10 regard 70 Fzch matter Z = aof s>-
iered necessary. however - take ssch
steps PRIOR = shs d-re rxe1 fs- -losnz
the role o., cf'fzershin
The scfsz-C-hieks-zw enrolment
sivisson hzs - dezi with avs dirfi7cf
clsxses = srpftasssess for e1roiirnert.
and n tnis report ssch wf.i D. - forrh
unS-r the tosfowszg cisssiecstiors. Che
fazs. Chlckzssws Chocfaw sresz3->e-.
chickazsz f1eesncu. Hizsisstppl csoc-
saEa
wife tnsse CLASSES are - clossiY
asuzies 81 - rake szp-act,caa.e se7z-
rate s-e etstlr-t slviri7ns = SEEK ssiH
she cssan - re ursra-z-loa 6. - 81
srzfe rogss - so slgsrens q szch cf ,he~~
classes that Il e~cuz-F =serrsszrT -
e zrr- q 6lstrsass4 snt tssSeraEH-zfe fhls