The Vinita daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1913, 1903-04-21
xCESSIvE HOLDINGS.
|Irman OF the Dawes Commission
Answers Queries.

lohn Pickman of Claremore re-
lily wrote letter to the Dawes
omission in quest Of informa-
b regarding excessive land hold
In the Cherokee nation, and
airman Tams Bixby makes the
Towing answer which is print
in full in the last issue Of the
remore Progress.
The commission to the five civ
led tribes is in receipt of your
ter Of March 21, complaining
It catlemen are still holding land
excess Of their respective allot.
hts in the Cherokee nation, and
lbsing to permit other citizens to
ke possession of any Of the ex-
Ss land held by them. You re-
to any alleged ruling Of the
mmission requiring allottees to
bsent bill of sale to the land
Sich they desire to file on, and
lite that the cattlemen are taxi
advantage Of this ruling and
|use to give bill Of sale unless
land is leased for term Of
ars. You ask what is to be
Ne in sucb cases and sshow long
II these vampires be permitted
prey upon poor citizens?" You
yclose list of questions for ans
brs regarding the allotment of
nd in the Cherokee nation.
In reply your attention is called
sections IS and 19 of the Cher
kee agreement proclaimed Aug.
1902, which provides as fol.
Tvs:
I"Sec. IS. 1t shall be unlawful
tier 80 days after the ratification
this act by the Cherokees for
by member OF the Cherokee tribe
inclose or hold possession Of, in
by manner, by himself or through
bother, directly or Indirectly,
5ore lands in value than that Of
t0 acres Of average allottable|
knds Of the Cherokee nation, eth
el~sor himself or his wife, or for
bch of his minor children, III
embers of said tribe; and any
bember of said tribe found in po-
kssion OF lands or having the
hme in any manner inclosed, after
be expiration of ninety days after
be date of the rati ficatlon of this
Jet shall be deemed guilty of
bisdemeanor.
Sec. 10. Amy person convicted
f violating any of the provisions
u section IS of this act shall be
punished by fine Of not less than
BOO, shall stand committed until
Iuch fine and costs are paid (sncb
Commitment not to exceed one day
Spr every 81 OF said fine and costs)
Ind shall forfeit possession OF any
property in question, and each
hay on which such offense is COM
Knitted or continues to exist shall
be deemed seperate offense. The
limited States district attorney for
he northern district is required
see that the provisions of said
ection Is are strictly enforced,
tnd he shall Immediately, after
he expiration Of the 80 days after
he ratification Of this act, proceed
10 disposess all persons OF such
Excessive holdings Of lands and to
4 14osecute them for so unlawfully
holding the same, and .ae conn
mission to the five c'silized tribes
shall have authority to make in
designations Of all violations Of
section IS and make eport there
lon to the United States district
sttorney."
| As the time within which per
icons were permitted to dispose OF
their excess holdings has now ex-
Ipired, all land held at this time
lby citizens of the Cherokee nation
Ia excess Of their prospective al
osmeut has become, in effect,pub-
bic domain, and subject to occu-
cupancy by any citizen not already
in possession Of land equal 10 value