The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-12-21
LONG TASK NEARLY DONE.
Report of Commission to the Five
Civilized Tribes.

Washington, Dec. 21.-The annual
report of the commission to the five
civilized tribes. which for a decade has
been engaged in the Indian Territory
in the task of dissolving tribal gov
ernments, extinguishing communal title
to land. veSting possession and title in
severalty among the citizens of the
tribes and assimilating tribal conditions
generally to American citizenship
standards, says that the appropria-
lions for the execution of the Curtis
act have now amounted to nearly ST.
000, 0e0 and that in administering upon
the five great estates constituting the
lands of these tribes, aggregating TO-
000, 900 acres, the commission has passed
on nearly zoo, 600 applications for citi-
ZenShip enrolment and claims to the
property.
The report says that during the six
months ending June 80 last. 10,079 al
Iotments were made in the Cherokee
nation, indicating that the Cherokees
should all have their homes assigned
to them by the end of 1904. saving un-
expected interruption, and that the
work of the territory will be DISPOSED
of, except such remnants incident to
such large undertakings, involving pro-
tracted contentious" by the end of the
fiscal year 1905. Regarding recent rev.
Citations in the territory the report
saws:
1.-The same interests are opposed to
the completion of this business that
We're opposed to its being commenced.
and as the end draws near they pursue
with redoubled energy the same tao
tics of obstruction. fault-fnding. exag-
geratlon. SANDER and all manner Of
false statements in order to confuse
the situation. muddy the waters. and
embarrass, hinder and prevent the con-
clusion OF the work
But every consideration of legiti-
mate interest calls for the firm and con-
sistent maintenance of the post and
of he nd
we only ask of congress and the admin
iStration, whose instruments we are,
that before they heed these extraordi-
nary statements, yet not more extra
both sides now as then, and we venture
the assertion that inquiry will develop
that they are false in substance and are
voiced by men whom we have foifed or
are seeking 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 segre-
gated from the Cherokees the commits
sion expresses the opinion that those
lands have not been selected with a due
regard for the interests of either the
Delaware Indians generally or of other
citizens of the Cherokee nation and that
further proceedings bearing on the
segregation of these lands will be abso-
lutely necessary to protect the rights of
the citizens concerned.
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 160 acres each have been made to
Il 400 citizens of that tribe and compare
lively few .allotments remain to he made;
Seminole lands and a surplus Of 1850
acres remain in that nation and their
sale under sealed bids is recommended.
To check the speculstion in pine tlfe-
Der on the Choctaw ana Chickasaw ls1ds
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
Chickasaws 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, to become valid SHALL
within thirty days from their date be
recorded in the recording office of the
respective districts.