The Vinita daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1913, 1905-02-21
INVESTIGATE LEASES.
- indian Appropriation Bill Re-
ported to Senate. Stewart
Amendments Re-
jecred.

Special to The Daily chieftain'
Washington, D. G., Feb 2l.-The
Indian appropriation bill bas been
reported to the senate. The Stewart
amendments were rejected. NO
change from the present law except
an appropriation Of fifty thousand
dollars TO authorize secretary to i'm
yestigate leases Some provisions re-
garding restrictions may be added 10
conference committee. Advocates Of
statehood greatly discouraged. Lead
ers in senate freely predict no legisla-
tion.
Tie senate Indian affairs commit
tee reported Monday the Indian
appropriation bill. It's provisions
have been hotly contested ever
since ii came from the house,
January 81. The subcommittee re-
ported TO the full committee fifteen
days ago, knocking ont the house pro-
vision removing restrictions from all
Indians Of the five civilized tripes ex-
cept fullbloods aud substituting the
most drastic restrictions ever suggest
ed since the Dawes commission was
created for winding up tribal affairs.
/. 1.-THE subcommittee report, which
Mas said to have the approval OF Sec
retary Hitchcock and Commissioner
Leupp, extending the restrictions on
sale of Indians surplus land for
twenty-one years prohibiting the
making OF any agricultural leases; pro
viding for the cancellation Of existing
eases and rejection Of the lessees
whenever the secretary thought the
leases were secured through fraud or
for inadequate consideration. u also
took the estates OF all minors and in
compctenrs out Of the jurisdiction %
the courts and placed them IN the
hands Of the secretary Of the interior
Under the provisions no Indian lands
could be sold except by the Secretary
Of the Interior. and then in S0-acre
tracts at appraising value TO actual
settlers on five years time under rigid
homestead restrictions.
After daily sessions for fifteen days,
including Sundays the sub-commit-
tee amendment was stricken out and
the following substituted, leaving in
force the present law as to restrictions
It shall be tile duty OF the Secretary
Of the Interior TO investigate or cause
to be investigated, any lease Of allot-
ted land inthe Indian Territory which
he has reason TO believe has been OBJ
tanned by fraud or a grossly inadequate
consideration, and IN his discretion,
he may bring suit IN the proper United
States court to cancel the same and
in all cases where It may appear TO
the court that any lease was obtained
by fraud, or for a grossly inadequate
consideration, Judgment shall be rem
dered canceling the same upon such
terms and conditions as equity may
prescribe. and It shall be allowable in
cases where all parties consent thereto !
10 modify any lease and TO continue
the same as modified provided no
lease made by any. administrator, exc
cutor, guardian or curator which has
received the approval Of the United
States court having jurisdiction Of the
proceeding shall be subjected to suit
or proceeding by the Secretary Of the
Interior; provided, further no lease
made by any administrator, executor,
guardian or curator viii be valid with
out the approval Of the court having
Jurisdiction Of the proceeding and the
sub-leasing Of the estates Of minors is
hereby prohibited.
There was a storm Of protest from
Indian Territory when the provisions
OF thesub-committee amendment we're
made public. A bushel basket would
not hold the kilograms and letters
which piled in on the committee in
opposition. Senator Long, Of Kansas.
and Senator Stone Of Missouri, led
the fight in the committee ON the OBJ
iectionable provisions.
The amendment providing courts at
WiIburton. Bartlesville. Duncan, Hugo.
Grove, Tulsa aud other points was
senken from In bin.
ihe amendment Ylaeing on the rolls