The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-03-02
la TOILETTE HITS
HARD At ROADS
Wisconsin Senator Espouses the
Cause Of Indians in Coal Land
Lease Controversy.
Journal Special Service.

Washington, March 2.-ttI believe
that the time has come for this govern
ment to declare its policy with respect
to the ownership Of coal lands by trans
portatlon companies and with respect
to any transportation companies going
who must ship. over, their lines Of road.
The highways cannot be open to all
shippers alike when those engaged in
operating the highways are interested
In the products they transport.
Senator La. Toilette Of Wisconsin
practically declared this sentiment yes
terday in Offering an amendment pro-
hibiting any railroad company from Sc
curing coal lands in the Indian Terri
tory under the proposed sale, when the
affairs of the five civilized tribes arc
finally adjusted.
Mr.. la Folletteaspoke in an easy CON
versationa way and was given close
attention by senators on both sides OF
the chamber. tS. ... .. III =,
Millions Involved.
In Offering his amendment, Mr.. La
Toilette said that the lands lnvoived
! comprise 437,754 acres, OF which 104,-
9l0 acres are under lease. The royalties
were formerly 10 cents ton to the In
dian, but this was reduced to the pres
| ent price of cents q ton. At cents
a ton the royalty value Of the land IS
from 5000 to $500 an acre. deol?glsss
declare that $40 an acre is minimum
price for the value Of the royalties. :.
! ttWe are thus disposing of land, -
said Mr.. La Toilette, Hon which the
royalties would aggregate something e
AOf the lands leased, said Mr.. La Fol
| lette, there are 113 separate leases Gov
ering the l04.910 acres. ,.,
been disposed of in this way. -, IN the
! first place, in 1883, when the ChoctaW
| Coal & Railway company secured con a
| Way thru the territory, there was a pro-
vision in the act that the right of-way
! was accepted subject to this condition
that the railroad would not seek to
! terminate the present ownership OF tne
i lands by the Indians. or to influence II
any way. 49, - .-.s.~ ..@.>-.
! Went Back on Pledge.
i "In two years, Notwithstanding this
! pledge. they were back here in 1891
asking the ratification Of congress to
eleven leases of coal lands which they
4 had made with these Indians. Congress
consented to the contamination Of these
leases Since. then, out Of lib Leases
which have been made thru the interior
}, department., this disposition has beer
%The @1choetaw, Oklahoma 8 Gull
Railroad &C company holds thirty Lease ae
/ company, eight leases covering 7,7O'
acres; the Usage Coal and Mining com
pany, seven leases: covering $3.50 acres
, All of the companies are interested u
: the NJ, L. 81 railroad. The Sansbo,
: Coal company. owned by Fort Smitl
, officials. hold seven leases I GOVERN.
/ $3.50 acres. Out of l13 leases, the rail
way Z o1npA1i sysecuredg cantrd Of fifty
aggr9igatiaxs 42 2Ss acres;
survey and by letters that the effect 9
this is to put the control of all devel
opment there in the hands Of the rail
| roads to the entire exclusion Of indie
pendent Operators. a.
Owes Something to Indians.
+ @-"The government owes something
the Indians who must live there afte
these coal lands are sold. It is appal
5 ent that when these lands are offere
: for sale, unless the railroads are e,
purchase coal lands. have letter
from coal men saying that If they ha
equal and even opportunities with tn
railroads they would become bidders. /
"If the railroads can do in the Ind
an territory what they have done
West Virginia and Pennsylvania, cap
e tai will not go in there to develop til
b country. It is but a few days since tt
s senator from South Carolina read lie
j. ter from the government Of West vi
l. ginia showing what conditions exist
J. that state. - - -
l. Mr.. La Toilette read extracts fro
e Governor Dawson 8 letter and sent tv
v communications to the desk which /
d had received from independent coal O.
is orators in the Indian territory. Thei
v showed that conditions exist similar
those described by Governor Dawsc
q and that the railroads are controllir
f many lines. One writer said the Roc
% Island system owns a large number
J. mines in a certain section and the Mi
10 souri,, Kansas & Texas many more
"a another section.
d Customers are taken away from tt
le independent operators and all kinds
Is DETERMINATIONS are practiced again
a them. --~- - .- -, : o :
- Action by the Senate.
r; The senate began it's session tod:
10 by agreeing to the conference repo
a. on. the joint resolution extending t.
1T tribal government of the Indian trib
Or in the Indian territory. AS agre
p upon the resolution reads:
If That the tribal existence and prese
rs tribal government of the Chocta
e. Chickasaw, Cherokee, Greek and Sen
IS mole tribes or nations Of Indians in t
le Indian Territory are hereby continu
t. in full force and effect for all purpos
ii under existing law until all proper
At OF such tribes, or the proceeds theret
v, shall be distributed among the in,
al vidual members of said tribes, unle