The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-03-03
THE INDIAN BILL
PASSED BY SENATE AFTER DAY OF
 DEBATE.
LaFOIlette's Amendment to Prevent Railroads Buying Coal Lands in the Territory As Laid on
 Table.

Washington, March z.--The Senate today passed the bill providing for the settlement of the affairs of the five civilized tribes.
 Under the guise of considering the bill the Senate spent practically the | entire day in the discussion of the railroad question. The question was amendment to the Indian bill prohibit ing railroad companies and their stockholders from acquiring the coal | lands in Indian Territory and when the question was once before the Sen- 1 ate, it held it's place consistently until almost the close of the session.
 Notwithstanding Mir. LaFollette has sat in the Senate less than three weeks he led the debate and occupied more time than any other senator. He con- tended the prohibition contained in his amendment is necessary to prevent the railroads from controlling the coal business of Indian Territory. He so enlarged his remarks as to cover other territories and thus gave the debate a somewhat general scope.
 Several other senators while express ing themselves in sympathy with tho provision raised constitutional objec- tions to the provision and considerable time was spent in dscussng that phase of the question.
 Late in the day the La Toilette amendment together with all the In- dian committees amendments to the section was laid on the table, The bill has passed both the House and the Senate but as the Senate amended. 1t in many respects 1t will now go into conference. It is a general bill for the adjustment of the affairs of the five civilized tribes Bupon their abandon | af frfh nrcranfzaf{nna lowing are the more important feat ures of the bill:
 Requires the enrolment of the mem bers of the five civilized tribes by March 4, 1907; fixes the rights of the Indian freedmen, continuing h office the present principal chiefs for the execution of tribal deeds, transfers suits from the Indain to the United States courts; authorizes the secre- tary of the interior to assume charge of all the tribal buildings for the benefit of the tribes; gives him con trol of the schools until regular state or territorial school system Is adop- ted: prohibits the sale of the coal and asphalt lands until after the expiration of the present leases of those lands or until authorized by law; authorizes the secretary to sell the unallotted lands for the benefit Of the tribes removes some of the restrictions plac- ed upon allotees in the matter of allen ation of lands; authorizes sectional line roads: give authority for electric roads and light and power companies to locate canals. reservoirs and dams extends some of the Oklahoma laws to Indian Territory and extends the pres ent tribal relations ana government until March |, 1907
 The Senate began It's session today by agreeing to the conference report of the joint resolution extending the tribal government of the Indian tribes in Indian Territory. As agreed upon the resolutions reads: That the tri- bal existence and present tribal gov- ernment of the Choctaw. Chickasaw, Cherokee Creek and Seminole tribes or nations of Indians in the Indian Territory are hereby continued in full force and effect for all purposes under existing law until all property of such tribes or the proceeds thereof shall be distributed among the individual mem bers of said tribes unless hereafter oth- erwise provided by law"
 The bill for the settlement of the