The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1908-04-21
TREACHEROUS STAB
EXPECTED IN CONGRESS
When Removal Of ReStrlc.
tiOnS Bill Goes From
House to Senate
special to Daily Leader.
tBy Walter Suhulz.)


(By Walter Senulz)
Washington, April 21-According 20
adyices received here the removal OF
records from the Atoka and Ardmore
land offices continues, despite the et-
forts OF Representative Carter to keep
them intact. The records are being
taken to Muskogee where MT 8.
George Wright, commissioner to the
Five Civilized Tribes proposes 10
keep them in the future. The Atoka
and Ardmore land offices We're opened
In 1902 and 1904 respectively-th lat
Ter office being transferred from TIN
omingo after being open two years
The land offices in question dlfier
from the public land offices OF the
4 country insofar as they are only branch
offices for the Union agency at Mus
kogee and were not created by special
act of congress. Their advent dates
back to the days when the general al
lotment act was passed and when the
Dawes commission saw fit to establish
the Atoka and Tishomingo offices in
or Ter to facilitate business generally
and nj the same time accommodate
the courts. Il Is a mistake to believe
that only an act of congress can re
move the land offices for that reason.
Representative Carter made a brave
fight for the retention OF the two or
fices but lost out because the odds
were against him. Both the depart
ment and Mr.. Wright wer in favor of
consolidating all records at Muskogee.
In recent conference with Commis-
sioner Wright Mr.. Carter endeayored
to comnromise the -matter and suggest
ed that the government prepare copies
of the records and in that way Insure
the continuance of the two offices.
The matter was taken under advise
ment by the department but upon con
sideration was rejected because of the
great cost such work would entail
Removal OF Restrictions Bill.
Now that the removal of restriction
bill has been reported out OF the house
committee on Indian affairs substan-
tally as introduced by Representative
Mcclure and will probably pass the
house. Oklahoma will look TO the sen
ate for action II may be said npon
good authority that the chances OF the
passage of the bill is not as bright as
II might be because the senate,
Il IS said win defeat the measure and
thus carry out the hocus poeis game
the republicans propose to work on Ok
lahoma at this session of congress, and
incidentally on the two senators from
that state Representative -McGuire
says that the house will probably pass
the bill at an early date-that assuf-
ances to that effect had been received
from the speaker all OF which Is well
and good But how about the senate
/. .et some one get assurances from the
senate leaders that the bill viii be
passed by that body first before shout
/ ing. The fight will be in the senate
Insiders have all along predicted thai
there would be no trouble passing
the bill through the lower house but
that the real trouble would take place
In the senate where Curtis and Nc
/ Cnmber, together With contingent Of
eastern senators would block the pass
age OF the bill
The iurisdictional provision attached
to the bill which seeks TO give TO The
government Jurisdiction in all lndiar
matters where a string Is attached Z
the alienation Of Indian lands much &
the prejudice OF the state courts, givei
these solons a splendid opportunity L
fight from under cover and explail
that they copld not possibly vote for 1
removal of restriction bin wlihou
some provision which would give thl
federal courts Jurisdiction IN all case
above referred TO- That they VIII avai
themselves OF the opportunity ther
can be no doubt That Is one of m
polite ways of the United States sen
ate. Senator owen promircs TO d
his best in defeating that obnoxlOu
provision but IL IS understood wi
un her nocircumstances support a mel
sure containing that PROVISION. Thi
means that the Musk0gca senator wi
probably attempt to defeat an legisl'
ton rather than have congress pas
an unwarranted reflection on the fai
ness and competency OF the stat
courts. In this he win have the SUI
port OF majority Of the members ,
the delegation. At the present VIII
ing only one or two members Of th
delegation have announced their vii
ingness TO accept removal Of restri
tion legislation az the expense of th
dignity of tne Oklahoma courts. an
these take the position that coalition
IN Oklahoma are such that legislatio
is essential ~ the prosperity aud 4
ture welfare Of Oklahoma aud that
half loaf Is better than none
AS has been previously stated n
bin as reported 70 the honse Is su
slantially as drafted by Representatil
McGuire The iurladlctional proyisiC
Is out thanks 10 the united opposite
Of the delegation OF the sever
amendments the TWO most importOl