The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1904-04-02
Lands sMustPay Taxes
Under the State
hood Bill

week. A number Cf oDleclJns are be-
ing raised TO the bill. however, ana
this may result in some delay 1t is
the intention OF the Republican mem
bers of the committee. however, to ex-
pedite it's passage
Representative Curtis opposition 10
The bill on account Of the provision
therein contained removing all re
strictions on the right to tax Indian
lards. has no. resulted in any cnange
in The present program. The members
OF the committee on Territories are
convinced that if all the Indian alloi-
ments in the Indian territory are to I
remain inalienable and non-taxable for
a period of twenty.one years, that 1t
would seriously interfere with the col
lection OF sufficient taxes 10 maintain
state government They are salts
fed from the evidence submitted to
the committee that as a whole the
members OF the FIVE tribes in Indian
terri ory are capable of managing
their own affairs. II has been shown
by testimony presented to the com
mittee that there is not over seven
or eight per cent of the total member
ship OF the FIVE tribes that are what
might be termed full blcods The
committee is disposed TO protect the
interes.s Of these people, but it IS un-
willing TO go TO the extent of resery-
ing the property of all the members OF
the tribe and hold II not subject to
taxation. particularly when the mem
bers of the tribes would receive the
fun dement's derived from state gov
ernment. These benefits would be in
the nature Of public schools. Of public
highways, of proper government. and
the ccmmittee believes tina. as these
people are equal benefc,aries with the
white people they should be compelled
to bear their proportionate share Of
the taxes.
Another sec ion Of the bill which is
attracting considerable attention is
that relating to the sale CT the school
lands reserved to the territory of Ok
+ llahoma. Under the bin the legislature
: may provide for the sale Ct section 36,
the present lessees to have the frs.
privilege of purchasing the lands uni
er conditions named by the leg.sla'
ture. There are many members OF
congress who believe that there should
be no playing of favorites in this leg
islation and that ali the people a.
Oklahoma ought to have an equal op
p portunl y to purchase these lands The
indications are, however, that the com
mittee will stand by the bill as a
present and that the lessees Of schoo
, lands will have priority rights.
Representative Mccarthy has intro
J. duced a bin in the house authorizini
+ Indian allottees in all Indian reserva
!. tons and nations throughout th'
country 10 sell and convey their allot
ted lands upon their becoming OF age
: and making a proper showing TO th'
h secretary of the interior as to thei
. competency % manage their privat
i affairs. The bill provides
That whenever any adult Indian, L
= whom trust or other patent cor
o ta.nlng restrictions upon alienatio
'e has been or shall be issued for la1d
70 allotted to him. shall make it appea
10 he satisfaction OF the secretary {
the interior that he is sufficiently u
telligent and prudent to control b.
"A affairs and interests such allottee ma
= sell and convey his said allo menL
such portion thereof as the secretar
of the interior may deem advisable
Or under such rules and regulations
E the said secretary may prescribe, an
any conveyance OF lands hereunde
when approved by the secretary a II
interior ana delivered to the purcha
II er. the same as II fina' patent wit
% out restrictions had been issued
* the allottee: Provided, however hi
the secretary Of the interior shall n
- authorize he sale Of any homestei
not exceeding eighty acres 0elongiI
TO the head OF a family
That the secretary Of the interic
:. may at the same time, cause 10
paid 70 such Indians. under such rul
and regulations as he may prescrit
y. their proportion Of all tribal, treal
and trust funds held by the Unit
States. and also, as ihey may be
coIyed, their properties q the pl
ceeds Of .he sale Of their tribal lan'
II any
- That whenever any adult inai
shall make it appear 70 the secreta
81 sha Inierinr fhat be or she IS z