The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1906-02-12
THE CURTIS
BILL READY
SENATE COMMITTEE HAS CON
cLuDED ITS CONSIDERATION
Several Changes In the Original
Measure Land end Mineral Rights
to Be Sold separstely-Rights
OF Children Defined.

A Washington special says The
senate committee on Indian affairs
has concluded its consideration OF the
Curtis bill, which prescrlbes the man
ner of closing the affairs OF the fve
civilized tribes, and II will come be.
fore the senate Monday
Several important changes have
been made in the bill by the commit.
tee. The section of the most impor-
lance not only to the Indians, but to
interests dominated by white men is
hat which prescribes the manner Of
iisposng of the coal lands. The Cur
Is bill. as II passed the house, pro.
vided that none of the mineral land
should be sold until existing leases
should expire. The senate committee
las stricken out this provision in its
entirety As prescribed by the sen.
ite, the bill provides that all the I'M.
eased mineral land shall be sold by
he secretary OF the interior at pub.
lc auction or under sealed bids. but
: directs that the surface may be
sold in bulk or in such parcels as the
secretary may determine, If for the
,est interest of the tribes. The leas-
III mineral lend is TO be appraised by
board OF three appraisers, one Of
whom Is TO be appointed by the sec
'etary Of the interior, one by the
essees ard the third by these two.
These appraisers. in estimating the
yalue OF the land are not to take into
account any improvements and their
tppraisements are to be subject TO
he approval OF the secretary. The
most important feature of this sec
ion is that the lessees are to have
preferential rights OF purchase at the
appraised value OF 90 per cent to be
,aid In cash and the balance in an
iual installments OF 90 per cent, roy.
,lties to cease when first premium IS
made.
Another important provision of the
ill as amended by the committee re-
ates to the children of men, who,
mrviving Indian wives. shall marry
i white woman. The amendment gov.
rnlng this matter Is as follows:
q "That no child. the issue OF two
White parents. one of whom is enroll.
ID or claims enrolment by reason
II a prior intermarriage with n mem
Der OF a tribe, shall be entitled to ar.
ollment or TO an allotment Of land
any of said tribes. and all 1pplicl.
ions and enrollmenti heretofore
made or attempted TO b. made In
nch case are herehy de'',red yoid
nd vacated
The date for closing the rolls Is
hanged from June to October 4, as
measure to accommodate those cit
zenship cases now pending In appel
ate courts. The committee has also
dded n provision which may enable
ubSt NlOlANlll'll WIN N'ohlN w 'nAtAb.
ish a game preserve in the Choctaw
alton to accomplish their purpose
directs that the president may
ause to be reserved from allotment
ny land, not exceeding 100000
cres, which In his Judgment is not
principally valuable for agricultural
r mining purposes, 10 be reserved
a hunting or fishing ground for the
lse and benefit of the members OF
he Choctaw and Chlckasaw Indians
" blood and their descendants, the
se thereof by said Indians to be reg
lated by the future state Of which
aid territory may become part and
uch state NAV hereafter purchase
he same upon terms and conditions
be prescribed by congress"