The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1906-05-18
INDIAN LAND
RESTRICTIONS
HITCHCOCK PREPARES BILL PRO.
vIplNo FOR SEGREGATION.
Which He Declares is the only Plan
for Removal Of Restrictions Which
viii be Acceptable 70 the
Interior Department.

washington. May 17.-secretary
Hitchcock today sent 20 the house IN.
dian comlttoe a bill IN which are
embodied his ideas as 20 when and
how tho restrictions on Indian lands
IN Indian Territory should be re-
moved.
The bin was submitted by the sec.
Rotary in reply 20 a letter from Repre-.
sentative Curtis regarding the bills
removing restrictions introduced 10
the house by Representative Murphy
and DolegatoMcGuiro. and IN the sen.
ate by Senator Warner. Mr. Curtis
asked the secretary FOR his opinion on
those measures Mr.. Hitchcock replied
that they would not do at all because
they provide that the restrictions shall
be removed within the coming year.
lie stated that they had gone over
the Indian Territory situation care.
fully and that he had come 20 the
conclusion that II the lands we're
thrown on the market now they would
be taken by syndicates at prices that
would De practical robbery.
The bin submitted by Mr.. Hitch.
cock approprlates $4,000 10 be eX.
pended by the secretary Of the interi.
or in an investigation TO ascertain
what lands In Indian Territory are
coal. oil or gas lands Having obtain.
cd this information. the secretary IS
10 make a report 20 the president,
who Is then by proclamation 70 DO
clare the lands segregated. After this
segregation has been made inc re-.
strictions are 20 be removed upon the
other lands q mixed blo1ds except
homesteads.
Secretary Hitchcock In his letter in.
dicatod that he expected Mr. Curtis
10 introduce the bill.
The Kansas congressman said this
afternoon that he would not stand
sponsor for Il because he did not IA
vor the proposition It presents. Mr.
Curtis seemed 20 think that such a
method as that suggested by the sec
retary would mean that the removal
OF tho restrictions would be postponed
indefinitely. as the bin fixes no time
within which the investigation Is tC
be completed. He added that he did
not know what the Indian committed
would do with the bill.
The plan Of the secretary Is Ger
tain 10 met with a storm Of protests
from Indian Territory. Not only vii
it be opposed by the land owners. bu
by the oil men and the coal operators
who will contend that under II The
mineral lands Of Indian Territory vii
be placed more than ever under The
control of t-e interior department
The opinion among those interested
In Indian Territory legislation Is tho
owing to the short time before ad
iournment there is slight likelihood
that the bill VIII be passed at tht
session.
The secrotary's letter made II cloa
that the plan he submitted was th'
only plan for the removal Of rostric
tions which would be acceptable % th
interior department
In the house today Chairman shel
man Of the Indian committee intro
ducod a bill providing that the adul
heir OF any deceased Indian 70 WHOM
a trust or other patent containing rC
srictons upon alienation has been i'
sued for lands allotted to him ma
sued for lands allotted 10 himcrthath
sell the lands Inherited from such dc
eedent subject 10 the approval q n
secretary OF the interior