The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1902-04-20

900 acres, the most of which will be
remote from tthe centers Of popula.
tion. and therefore difIicult Of early
sale. making Il both cumbersome, ex-
lpensive and indefinite as to the Anal
settlement of the sale Of these resi-.
due lands. Under this view, sug-
gcst that instead Of 800 acres per cap
tia OF the average allottabe lands
each citizen receive $50 acres and
equalize the allotments out OF the
sale OF the residue lands and proce Dis
ARISING from the sale Of town sites.
Many OF the freedmen are without
funds 20 improve their land or TO live
upon. The Indian citizen Is permitted
TO sell a part Of his allotment. and
think that the freedman should be
permitted to give title in fee TO
part Of his; say. one-half of his forty
acres.
The provision that the Indian
agent shall not be controlled by the
writ or process OF any court. in the
opinion OF every lawyer with whom
] have talked. cannot be applied But.
aside from the prolonged litigation
that will doubtless arise TO test this
question, IL is somewhat too severe.
and should be either amended or
stricken out altogether
The provision granting exclusive
Jurisdiction 20 the allotting commits
sion to settle all matters relative TO
allotment of lands may be regarded
as not very appropriate. Not that
the commission would not try to do
right in the matter. but that. being
human. they are liable TO error. and.
aside from this II is an innate princi.
pie of the American people that the
right OF appeal to higher authority
shall remain inviolate.
That part of the agreement which
provides that the commission shall
allot lands 10 any citizen who does
not file upon lands within twelve
months after his citizenship has been
approved, from one point of view is
hardly proper. for this reason Sup
pose a court citizen. or a Mississippi
Choctaw should become entrapped by
some OF the provisions Incorporated
in this agreement, and lose his citi
zenship. thus throwing upon the pub
| lie domain of the two tribes highly
improved places; and II may be that
sensible citizens would have failed
10 file upon their lands in the mean
time. waiting for the aforesaid class
of persons 10 select this Identical
land, II may happen, indeed, that a
bona hde citizen may pay something
substantial out TO these classes of
persons for the possessory right to
these places, in the event Of such q
contingency.
"rhore sHouid be some provision
inserted in the agreement relative to
the final disposition OF the reserved
school lands and the school property
thereon located, after the dissolution
of the tribal government and the ab.
sorption OF all the school funds be
longing 20 the two tribes.
There are rumors and charges that
in the securing OF judgments admit
ting them 10 citizenship there was
fraud and misrepresentation and lille
gal means adopted by the court citi
GEN. II this be true. no tair.minded
man would contend but that all per
sons resorting 10 such means as a
matter of natural right should be
stricken from the rolls by judicial
process, The position taken by many
Indians relative TO this matter is that
all those who have honestly and fair.
ly proven their rights 20 enrolment
by virtue OF such decree can do so
again, and all those Who cannot must
abide by the consequences. They,
, therefore, contend that there can be
So wrong In letting this provision be-
come law. In my judgment this is
mot true. Personally, ! desire TO
see an persons rightmlly entitled TO
enrolment permitted 70 share in the
distribution Of tribal property The
tribes contend that the only way 10
reach the reopening Il these cases is
the way provided In the agreement,
but these decrees have become final
and should be- forever al rest.
The provision relative 20 the Mis-.
sissipM ChoCtaws is at once satisfac.
tory TO an persons who are rightfully
entitled 70 Choctsw citizenship as
such, and is complete and effective
bar against the great army OF those
seeking rights and who are not en-
titled This provision should by al
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