The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1902-04-23
BILL FOR INDIAN RELIEF
THIRTY THOUSAND DOLLARS
SET APART.
choetaw and chiekssaw Governors,
with Others Of Their Tribes, Con-
stituted a Commission with
Authority to Act.
Special to the Ardmoreite.

Special to the Ardmoreite.
Washington, ID. c., April 2i.-The
bill for the relief OF certain INDECENT
Choctaw and Chickasaw Indians in
Indian Territory. reference to which
has been made in these dispatches
authorizes the secretary of the treas
ury. upon request of the secretary
OF the interior, to deposit in the sub.
treasury at ST. Louis, Mo-. to the
credit of the treasurer of the Choc
taw nation. the sum of $50, 900 of the
fund now In the United States treas.
ury to the credit Of the Choctaw and
Chickasaw nations, derived from the
sale of town lots under an act ap
pproved June 2S, 1898. being AN act
for the protection of the people of In
dian Territory. and for other pur.
poses" the sum to be used for Ger.
tain destitute Choctaw Indians in
the manner hereinafter provided, and
charged against the proportionate
share of said fund belonging to the
Choctaws.
The second section provides that
Gilbert w. Dukes, principal chief OF
the Choctaw nation, George w. Scott
treasurer of the Choctaw nation, and
Green McCurtain, ex-principal chief
of the Choctaw nation. are hereby
constituted a commission, with au-
thority to investigate and determine
what Choctaw citizens are destitute
and in absolute need of help and
they are hereby authorized and EN-.
powered to supply to said destitute
Choctaws such food as may be neces.
sary for their maintenance as they
may determine to be right and proper
the same to be paid out of the afore.
said 100000.
The secretary of the treasury is au.
thorized upon request of the secre.
tary of the interior, to deposit in the
United States sub-treasury at st.
Louis. Mo, to the credit of the treas.
ury of the Chickasaw nation, the sum
of 10000 $4,000 of which is to be
taken from the balance of the arrears
of interest of $685., 5,520.54 appropriated
by the act of congress approved June
2S, 1898, and $4,000 out of the Chick
asaw national fund of 100000 placed
upon the books OF the treasury of the
United States by the Indian appro
priation act of March 3. 1901, to the
credit OF the Chickasaw nation.
ID. II. Johnston, governor of the
Chickasaw nation; W. T. Ward
treasurer of said nation, and =. S.
Mosley. ex-governor of said nation,
are constituted a commission with
authority to investigate and deter.
mine what Chickasaw citizens are
destitute aud in absolute need of
help, and they are hereby authorized
and empowered TO supply said desti.
may be necessary for their mainten.
ance, as they may determine to be
right and proper Said commission
is also authorized to reimburse the
governor of the Chickasaw nation for
the actual expenses heretofore incur.
red by him in supplying INDECENT
Chickasaws with necessary food and
raiment. payment to be made from
said fund: Provided, That the mem.
bers of said Choctaw and Chickasaw
commission shall not be allowed any
compensation for their services ex-
cept the actual necessary expenses
while engaged in said work,
In explaining the bill. Representa-
tive Curtis, who submitted the re-
port of the committee, says:
The purpose Of the bill is to grant
relief to certain INDECENT Choctaw
and Chickasaw Indians Of Indian Ter,
ritory, and authorizes the use of
certain funds now in the treasury TO
their credit, for the purpose of pur.
chasing food and raiment for these
Indians.
In certain parts of the Territory
crops were almost a failure last year,
and these people are in destitute cir
cumstances. The passage of the bill
is asked by the representatives of the
tribe. As the bin involves no appro-
priation, and the relief asked for is
necessary and urgent. the committee
hopes that speedy and favorable ac.
tion will be taken thereon.