The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-03-03
Senator Long Working on Indian
Territory Bill.
Opposed to Extending Time for
Tribal Dissolution.
DEBATE INTERESTING.
Kansas Senator Claimed Rail-
roads Wouldn't Be Benefited.
Indians Would Have the Advan-
tage of the Legislation.

Washington, March 3-Senator Long
has been devoting much time lately. as
a member Of the senate committee on
Indian affairs. to the bill to conclude
affairs in Indian Territory so far as it
concerns the five civilized tribes. the
Choctaws. Chtclzasaws. Creeks, Chero-
KEGS and Seminoles: and has been TAX
ing active part in the debates in the
senate.
The proposition to extend the time
when tribal governme nts of these fve
nauons shall 60 out of existence, from
March Of this year to March A. 1907
OF period not so remote. has met the
stsao1ast opposition of Senator Long
he opposed this in The Indian commit
zee. ana on the floor of the senate He
renewed mat extension Of time when
Lhese governments shall expire simply
furnished means to questionable prac-
Alces IN respect of these tribes and their
governments, and allowed unscrup-
ulous attorneys in Indian Territory to
continue 10 be menace to the proper
conduct of the affairs. Tt also delayed
the time when the whole OF Indian Ter
1itory should be subject to the jurisdic-
tloh OF the government direct, rather
lHan keeping up the shells of the five
naIlonal governments there
ne points involved concerned the
Iahds' generally speaking. of Indian Ter
1ltory, and the coal and asphalt lands
besides. Senators who did not thor
oughiy understand the situation thought
mat If the bill became law and closed
UP the affairs Of the five tribes lands
would revert to the United States to the
aetriment Of the Indians getting moth
ing. Senator Long i'm debates sought
20 snow this would not be the case He /
showed that, under the treaties with the
Indians, the lands would not revert to
the United States until not only the
tribes ceased to exist, but the heirs of
the Indians as well as the members of
the tribes.
Fear was expressed that the old Mis-
souri,, Kansas & Texas railroad grant /
through the Choctaw and ChickasaW
nations would be revived and the In /
dams lose the alternate sections to the /
railroads. This was shown not to be I
q cause for alarm, in the remarks of /
Senator Long.
Section % of the Indian bill provided +
Tor the extension of one year Of the /
time when the tribal governments went /
out of existence. AS stated above this /
was opposed by Senator Long In com /
mittee, and by Senator Clapp of Min I
nesota. chairman of the senate commit /
zee, and by Mr.. Curtis of Kansas. the T
recognized house of representatives /
authority on Indian matters.
me debate in the senate, which last /
ca several days was very interesting
in that ii showed the thorough under
standing Senator Long had Of his sub 4
JecJ and the assuredneFs with which I
he argued that the Indians not the +
railroads, would be the beneficiary of I
the legislation always. excepting the I
Objectionable section 28. part of the
debate is here quoted. beginning shortly
after the point where Senator Bailey of /
Texas had made the statement denied T
by Senator Long, that the bill was
beneficial in respect of land, to the
railroads.
Mr.. Bailey=Afr. President I have
not examined that closely enough to be
certain that I agree with the senator
from Kansas. and would want to be
sure on that point before forego an
objection and permit what [ NAV de-
scribe as forfeiture Of the Indian
lands 20 the railroads. I think that I
would be most undesira Bile result
Mr. Long Certainly I fully agree
mat that would be very undesirable.
A1r. Ba1ley-if the senator from
kansas desires to prevent that result
since he is member of this committee
and has no doubt given deliberate and |
close attention to this matter. I should 7
be disposed to receive his opinion on it.
MT Hale viii say. Mr.. President
that ! felt greatly reinforced in the /
objection I made to section 2S bv the
attitude of the senator from Kansas.
who has examined the subject thor
oughty, who is . mem Der Of the com
nittee, and who. from his situation and
location in the neiEhborhood of these
tribes i'm this territory is competent
10 have q thoroughly intelligent view
OF the matter which I ACKNOWLEDGED II
have not. I thought there was serious
objection to section o. but I am not
prepared to discuss it fully, and the
senator from Kansas is.
The above statement made by Sena-
tor Hale of Maine. the new leader of
the senate, who has recently succeeded
senator Aldrich. was considered to be
quite fitting testimonial to Senator
Longs thorough understanding Of this
question, and his integrity in dealing
with the Indian question.