The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1908-04-20
ON THE REMOVAL OF RESTRlc-
TONS BILL.
ARE NOT BRIGHT
The House Il May Be Said viii Pass
the BILL But No Assurance Has
Been Given That the Senate
Looks Favorably on Plan.

Washington, y. c. April 2O.-Spe.
cial- Now that the removal OF rcstric-
ton bin has been reported out OF
the house committee on Indian af
fairs substantially as introduced by
Representative Mcclure and will prob
ably pass the house Oklahoma will
look to the senate for action. 1t may
be said upon good authority that
the chances of the passage OF the
bill is not as bright as II might
be because the United states senate
1t is said will defeat the measure
and thus carry out the hocus pocus
game the republicans propose 10 work
on Oklahoma at this session of con
gress. and incidentally on the two
senators from that state. Representa-.
tive Mcclure says that the house will
probably pass the bill at an early
dates. that assurances 10 that effect
had been received from the speaker
all of which is well and good But
how about the senate? Let some one
get assurances from the senate lead
ers that the bill will be passed by
that body first before shouting The
fight will be In the senate. Insiders
have all along predicted that there
would be- no trouble I'm passing the
bill through the lower house but that
the real trouble would take place
in the senate where Curtis and Nc
Cumher together with "A contingent
of eastern senator's would block the
passage Of the bill
The iurisdictional provision attach
ed To the bill which seeks To give
to the government jurisdiction in all
Indians matters where a string Is at.
tachcd 10 the alienation of Indian
lands much to the prejudice of the
state courts gives these solons
splendid opportunity to fight from un-
der cover and explain that they could
not possibly vote for "A removal of
restriction bill without some provision
which would give the federal courts
Jurisdictions in all cases above refcrr
ed to. That they will avail them
selves Of the opportunity there can be
no doubt. That is one OF the polite
ways of the United States senate
Senator owen promises to do his best
in defeating that obnoxious provision
but IL is understood will under no
support measure con
tanning that provision. This means
that the Muskogec senator will prob
ably attempt TO defeat all legislation
rather than have congress pass an
reflection on the fair
ness ana competency OF the state
courts In this he will have the sup.
port of majority of the members
of the delegation At the present
writing only one or two members OF
the delegation have announced their
Willingness To accept removal OF re.
striction legislation at the expense
of the dignity of the Oklahoma courts.
and these take the position that con
ditions In Oklahoma are such that
legislation is essential to the prosper
ity and future welfare Of Oklahoma
and that half loaf is better than
none.
As has been previously stated the
bin as reported to the house is sub
stantially as drafted by Representa-.
tive Mcclure. The Jurisdiotional pro.
vision is but thanks To the united op-
position Of the delegation OF the
several amendments the two most
important are the elimination of all
restrictions upon alienation OF freed
mems lands thus putting them on
an equal footing with the ntcrmarricd
white citizens and the amendment
agreed 10 hy the sub committee of
The senate which recognizes the right
of Indians and lesseos excepting fun
blood nd minors, to cancel and
annul ,l gas and mineral leases
upon mutual consent and without
Interference on the part OF the In.
terror department The only hing
eXactcd from both lessee and Indian
in this case being that the agree
ment TO cancel shall be mutual ana
in writing and filed with the secrc.
tary OF the interior department This
amendment is very much TO the liz.
ing OF the oil operators OF East Okla
homa. William Zeycrly who is per
haps the best known attorney re0.
resentiug oil interests in Washlnstor
is particularly well pleased with It
and says that II will bring more cap