The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-12-22

WORK WILL BE
DONE in 1905
For Ten Years the Commits
sion Has Been at 1t.
INTERESTS ARE OPPOSED
Conclusion of Work Is Not
Wanted by Certain Party.

| Guthrie, o. T., Dec. IA Washington
dispatch says: The annual report of the
commission TO the five civilized tribes,
which for decade has been engaged in
! Indian Territory in the task of dissolving
! tribal governments. extinguishing COM
munal title to land, yesting possession
and title in severalty among the citizens
OF the tribes and assimilating tribal condi-
tons generally to American citizenship
standards. says that the appropriations
for the execution of the Curtis act have
now amounted to nearly s., ,0e0.0e0 and that
in administering upon the five great eS-
tates constituting the lands of these tribes
aggregating 10000 0o00 acres, the commits
sion has passed on nearly 100000 applica-
tons for citizenship enrolment and claims
to the property.
The report says that during the six
months ending June so last 1903 allot-
ments were made in the Cherokee nation,
indicating that the Cherokees should all
have their homes assigned to them by the
end of 1904, saving unexpected interrupt
ton, and that the work of the territory
will be disposed of, except such rem
rants incident to such large undertakings.
end of the year 1905 Regarding recent
revelations in the territory the report
says:
THE same interests are opposed to the
completion of this business that were op-
posed to its being commenced, and as the
end draws near they pursue with re-
doubled energy the same tactics of OBJ
struction, fault-finding, exaggeration,
SANDER and all manner of false state
ments in order to confuse the situation,
muddy the waters, and embarrass, hinder
and prevent the conclusion of the work.
but every consideration OF legitimate
interest calls for the firm and consistent
maintenance of the past and present pol
icy of the government. and we only ask
of congress and the administration, whose
instruments we are that before they heed
these extraordinary statements, yet not
more extraordinary than those of 1898
they hear both sides now as then, and we
venture the assertion that inquiry will de-
velop that they are false in substance and
are voiced by men whom we have foiled
or are sekng to foil. in unlawful and
predatory practices. or by the credulous
and deluded followers of such men.
In view of the facts brought to light
since the Delaware lands were segregated
from the Cherokees the commission eX-
presses the opinion that those lands have
not been selected with a due regard for
the interests of either the Delaware In
dians generally or of other citizens of the
Cherokee nation and that further proceed
ings beaing on the Segregation of these
lands will he absolutely necessary to pro-
49, -;o,l,f - ~;
The commission recommends that con-
gress authorize the disposition of the ex
cess lands of the Creek Indians under
sealed bids for The benefit of the tribe.
the funds derived therefrom to be used
in equalizing the value of allotments
among the Creeks. Complete allotments
of 100 acres each have been made to
Il, ,460 citizens of that tribe and oompara-
lively few alIotments remain to be made.
Allotments have been completed on the
Seminole lands and a surplus Of 1850
acres remain in that nation and their
sale under sealed bids is recommended.
To check the speculation in pine tim
Der on the Choctaw and Chickasaw lands
the commission recommends the sale of
the standing pine under sealed bids Rec
concentrations also are made that rail-
road companies be required to file with
the commission plats of all lands sought
to be acquired that the coal and asphalt
lands and deposits of the Choctaws and
Chicka saws be sold under sealed bids;
that congress authorize the establish
ment of public highways in the Choctaw
and Chickasaw nations, and that all
leases. contracts or instruments OF con-
veyance executed by citizens OF the Cher
okee and Creek nations affecting the
title of their lands 10 become valid shall
within thirty days from their date. he
recorded in the recording Office of the
rnsnectivn districts