The Muskogee cimeter. [volume] (Muskogee, Indian Territory, Okla.) 1901-19??, 1904-09-22
THIS LOOKS BAD
DAWES COMMISSION GOOD FOR
TEN YEARS LONGER
STATEHOOD LEGISLATION TO Be DELAYED

Cannot be Completed Short Of q
Decade-May Interfere With, state.
hood Probabilities
WASHINGTON: 1t is now becom.
ing apparent that the promises made
by the Dawes commission last winter
to the effect that the work OF the
commission would be concluded by
June 30. 1905 will not be realized In.
deed, 1t is improbable that the work
OF the commission will be completed
within many years from that time,
and 1t is certain that a great number
OF the disputed citizenship cases
will not be disposed of for several
years.
Reports received at the department
OF the interior indicate that the work
OF the commission is progressing
more rapidly than ever before, but
while this is true, to use the words
OF prominent official of the Indian
office, lit is apparent the work can.
not be concluded within the allotted
time." The candid opinion OF the Of
ficial In question is that 1t will take
nearly ten years longer for the com
mission to clear UP the work origi
nally assigned to it.
What effect this condition will have
upon the statehood bill now pending
before congress IS problematical.
The chances are, however, that 1t will
defer legislation until a future date
beyond that contemplated in the bill
which passed the house last winter.
AS that bill provided for the admis-
sion OF the new states into the union
on March 4. 1906, the probabilities
are that the date OF the admission
will be further postponed, even II leg
islation should be secured.
1t is apparent that the statehood
fight will be renewed at the conven-
ling OF congress with more vigor than
ever before. 1t is the intention of
zthe advocates of single statehood for
'sOklahoma and Indian Territory to
'stry to force a vote in the senate on
3the statehood bill az an early date
during the coming short session.
81 Whether they will be successful or
not depends entirely upon the advo-
Gates OF double statehood. The lead.
Ing exponent Of this theory is Senator
Bailey OF Texas. Senator Bailey.
| however, Is not a prognosticator. He
/, believes In expressing his views, and
: then permitting the senate to act. II
4 Che other advocates of double state
I 1Ood pursue similar course, Q vote
gan be reached during the short ses.
sion. IL they adopt the other tac-
tics, OF opposing the PASSAGE of the
single statehood bill. there Is little
Likelihood of Legislation this winter.
"A With tie great omnibus eppropri-
ation bills before congress for action,
With only seventy.iive Gays in which
70 act upon them, and with several
measures OF national importance be-
Dre the senate for immediate consid.
sratiOn, little time can be given to
hc consideration OF the statehood
Nll. Therefore. the probable action
y congress on this measure Is wholly
ependent upon the attitude of the
N1vocates OF double statehood.
II Marshal Ben Colbert of the
Duthern judicial district of indian
yerritory intends to resign his posi-.
ton as United States marshal and &C.
ept a position as member of the
hoctaw and Chickasaw coal commi-.
ton under Governor johnson, as has
BON recently reported. ne has not
1vtsed the department of his inten.
eu. On the contrary, the impress
pn prevails In Washington official
; Fcles that Mr. Colbert intends to
fye out his full term as marshal,
hich expires In 1907.