The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-12-21
INDIAN POLICY IS WORKING WELL Commission of Five Civilized
 Tribes Makes Report MANY APPLICATIONS HEARD According to the Figures the chero- kees Should All Have Their Homes
 Assigned to Them by the
 End of 1904.
MANY APPLICATIONS HEARD

Washington, December 20-The annual report of the commission of the Five Civ ilized Tribes, which for a decade has been engaged in Indian Territory in the task of dissolving tribal governments, extinguish communal title to the land vesting possession, and title in severalty among the citizens of the tribes, and as- similating tribal conditions generally to American citizenship standards says that the appropriation for the exe- cution of the Curtis act have now amounted to nearly s1,0OO.OOO, and that in administering upon the five great estates constituting the lands of these tribes, aggregating 2O,OO0,OOO acres, the commits sion have passed upon nearly 100000 appli- eants for citizenship enrolment and claims to property.
 The report shows that during the six months ending June 30, last 10,079 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 inter- ruptions, and that the entire work of the
 
 remnants incident to such large under takings, involving protected contentious" by the end of the fiscal year, 1905. Re- garding recent revelations in the terri tory the report says:
 Same Interests Are Opposed.
 ''The same interests are opposed to the completion of this business that was op- posed to its being commenced, and as the end draws near, they pursue with re- doubled energy, the same tactics of ob- struction, fault-fndng, exaggeration, islander and all manner of false state ments, in order to confuse the situation, muddy the waters, and embarrass hln- der and prevent the conclusion of the work. But every consideration of legiti- mate interest calls for the firm and con- slstent maintenance of the past and pres- ent policy 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 develop that they are false in sub stance, and are voiced only by men whom we have foiled, or are seeking to foil in unlawful and predatory practices, or by the credulous and deluged followers of such men,
 Didn't Use Due Regard.
 In view of the facts brought to light since the Delaware lands were segregated from the Cherokees, the commission ex- press the opinion that those lands have not been selected with due regard for the interests of either the Delaware In- dians generally, or of other citizens of the Cherokee nation and that further pro- ceedings bearing on the segregation of those lands will be absolutely necessary to protect the rights of the citizens con- cerned. The commission recommends that congress authorize the disposition of the excess 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 160 acres each have been made to H. 46o citizens of that tribe. and compara- lively few allotments remain to be made Allotments have been completed on the Seminole lands. and a surplus of 1S, 63t acres remain in that nation, and their sale under sealed bids is recommended.
 To Check Speculation.
 To check the speculation in pine timber on the Choctaw and Chickasaw lands, the commission recommends that the sale of the standing pine be made under sealed bids. Recommendations are also made that railroad 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 Choc- jaws and Chickasaws be sold under seal ed bids; that congress authorize the es- tablishment of public highways in the Choctaw and Chickasaw nations and that all leases, contracts or instruments of conveyance be executed by citizens of the Cherokee and Creek nations affecting the titles of their lands to become valid shall within thirty days from their date be re- corded in the recording office of the re- spective districts