The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-02-23
CURTIS HAS A BILL
To Wind Up Affairs of Five Civ.
ilized Tribes.

Washington, Feb. 23.-Representative
Curtis of Kansas has introduced a bill
which is designed to make a final set
Element of affairs in Indian Territory
and wind up all matters relative to
the five civilized tribes and the Dawes
commission. The bill was prepared in
the interior department, but has been
changed by Mr.. Curtis, especially in
relation to the coal and asphalt leases.
The bill covers every subject directly
or remotely connected with the affairs
of the Indians.
No application for enrolment of an
adult as a citizen or freedman of any
| of the five tribes shall be received by
the commission after the date of ap-
prevail of this act, but the commission
may, for sixty days thereafter, receive
and consider applications for the en-
rOllment of children born prior to Sep
TENDER %, 1902, as citizens of the Choc-
taw and Chickasaw nations, or born
prior to September 1, 1902, as recognized
and enrolled citizens of the Cherokee
nation; also of persons admitted to citi-
zenship of the Choctaw and Chickasaw
tribes under provisions of the act OF
June 10, 1896.
The bill provides that the roll known
as the 1894 strip payment roll. on
which a per capita payment of S265-IO
was made, being VIGOROUSLY fraud
ulent and corrupt" shall not be con-
sidered as evidence in favor of an ap-
plicant. The suit of T. M. Burlington
ct al. VS.. Henry L. Dawes and the
members of the commission, an injunc-
ton suit against the enrolment of GER
tain. persons as freedmen citizens of
the Cherokee nation, shall be advanced
for early trial
When a map showing any portion of
the Enid & Anadarko Railroad COM
panys located line is filed with the sec
rotary of the interior, with the Dawes
commission and with the principal chief
of the five civilized tribes, the company
shall commence grading within six
months. or such location shall be void
The bill provides for the sale of certain
lands at public sale for cash.
All parties now holding approved coal
and asphalt leases shall have the right
to buy such lands covered by their
! leases which are now being worked and
from which coal or asphalt is being pro-
! appraised value, the appraisement to be
made by a commission. The standing
/ pine timber on lands of the Choctav
nation principally valuable by reason OF
such timber, not exceeding 1880
acres, shall be sold under sealed bids
before. March 4, 1906 In the Choctaw
/ Chickasaw and Seminole nations, public
/ highways or roads two rods in Width
may be established along all section
lines without compensation and all per
sons shall take title subject to this pro
vision.
Choctaw and Chickasaw freedmen
may rent their allotments for strictly
| nom mineral purposes, for a term not t
exceed one year for grazing purpose:
and for a period not to exceed five year:
for agricultural purposes. The United
/ States court in the western district o
| Indian Territory is given authority t
separate and set apart from any allot
ment heretofore made, to the heirs of {
/ dead al1ottee in the Creek nation,
1 forty-acre tract as a homestead in al
cases where it may appear that the sale
dead allottee left one or more heirs borI
since May %, 1901.
After the expiration of five years after
the date of patent, Choctaw, Chiclrasaw
! Cherokee and Seminole citizens may sci
their alienable lands without the conseni