Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1906-05-16
MANY INDIANS
Sci LANDS.
oNE-THIRD OF THE CITIZENS
OF THE FIVE TRIBES.
AS SHOWN BY The ROLLS
Can ALLEVIATE Their Homesteads at
Will-Townsites Will Soon
Be Located.

Lawton, Okla, May l5,-The town
sites in the bio pasture will be Io-
Gated within a week. Indian Agent
Blackmon and Sub-Agent Silcott left
for the big pasture this week for the
/ purpose Of locatin. townstes to be
set apart by congress down there,
This would indicate that the Ste
/ phens bill providing for opening
these lands to settlement is expect
ed to become law now any day.
and that will naturally start a rush
for this section of the country.
Another sure indication that the
bill is going TO become law is the
fact that the allotments for Indian
children are being taken, an allotting
agent having been here for several
days past. and bday accompanied
Agent Backmon on his trip to the
pasture.
All these steps are being taken
under the direction of Secretary of
the Interior Hitchcock and Indian
Commissioner Leupp. and it isn't
reasonable to suppose that unless these
officials had positive assurance of the
passage of the Stephens bill that they
would at this time permit the Indians
to select their allotments under the
provisions of the bill. and would be
locating the tOwnsites.
While it might seem strange to
some that the townsites should be
selected at this time the reason prob
ably is that some Indian might Sc
lect for an allotment the very land
that is wanted for townslte. hence
the necessity for locating the town
sites at this time.
As to the Stephens bill, it is very
apt to pass the senate any day, now
that the rae bill which has been oc-
cupying all the time of the senate
is so nearly out of the way. and there
is nothing to prevent the bill being
called up and passed.
The land sales system As the Indian
lands are sold has created a unique
situation in that division. 1t has
made Major John r. O'Neill banker
for 242 Indians and this banking ac-
count with national banks runs up
20 over 100000.
In large tin box in the office of
Major O'Neill there are 242 bank
books, each representing the account
of an Indian who has sold his land
through the agency and is drawing
his money according to the rules and
regulations. These rules give Major
O'Neill practically complete super
vision of the Indians affairs and he
pays the Indian as he thinks he needs
it. Each Indian is entitled to $50
per month, which is paid to him as
he demands it. Many Indians, how
ever. let three or four months 90 by
and accumulate before drawing it.
An Indian may draw more money if
Mr. ONeil thinks it is wisely ex-
pended If he is man of unques-
toned intelligence and business abil-
ity. he may draw all of his money.
In most instances. however, the In |
dian runs accounts and the bills come
in to the agency If they are correct
and expended for necessities, check |
is made out and approved by he
Indian agent and this Is papable to
the person to whom the money Is
due. The check is sent to the Indian
who signs it and turns ii over to the
person to whom il is due. There are
many instances where an attempt is
made TO rob the Indians These ac-
counts, Major O'Neill promptly cuts
down to what he thinks they ought to
be. and if they are refused. then he
refuses to pay them at all, and the
creditor has TO collect as best he can.
The indians seems to like this meth
nd.