The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1908-04-15

was appointed and entered upon The
discharge OF its duties. and under
the sundry Civil Appropriation Act
OF March q 1895. two additional mem
hers we're appointed Pursuant to a
resolution OF che Senate OF tha
United STATES Of March 30, 1884 This
Communication visited the Indian Ter.
ritory and reported back to that body
May Z. 1894 (Senate Report No
377 sd Congress. second SESSION. In
fun as 10 the condition Of the Five
Civilized Tribes.
Afterwards its annual report CSen
Mis- Doe. No "a. 2d sess. b3d Congl
in pari SAYS;
"All the functions of the so.called
governments OF these five tribes have
become powerless no protect the
property rights Of the citizen. The
courts Of justice have become holp-
less and paraly0ed
The day OF isolation has passed
Not less regardless have they been
of the stipulation In their title that
they should hold their uerritory for
common and equal use of ali their
citizens Corruption of the grossest
kind. openly and unblushingly prac-
branch Of the service OF the tribal
governments Al. branches of the
governments are reeking with Il. and
so common has it become that no
attempt at concealment IS thought
necessary
The United States has also grant
ed to these tribes the power
Iof self.goyernment, not TO conflict
onstratec their incapacity TO so gov.
ern themselves, and no higher duty
can rest upon the government that
granted this nmhorlty than to re.
woke 1t when it has so lamentably
failed"
In the Indian Appropriation Bill af
June TO- 1886 the Commission was
Directed to continue the exercise OF
the authority already conferred upon
them by law and endeavor TO accomp-
, lish the objects heretofore pre-
scribed to them and report from
time to time TO Congress *,' and
It was further provided.
That said Communication is fur
ther authorized and directed to pro-
i ceed at once to hear and determine
the application Of all persons who
EIay apply ia them for citizenship
in all of said nations, and after said
hearing the y shall determine the
right of said applicant TO be so ad-
mitted and enrolled.
by the Act of June z. 1897 It was
i provided.
, That said Commission shall con-
Z tinue to exercise all authority here,
tofore conferred on It by law to ne
sotiate with the Five Tribes, aud
any agreement made by il with any
one OF said tribes. when ratified
/ shall operate TO suspend any pro-
visions Of this act in confiici there
with as to said nation"
On September 81 1897. pursuant to
this authority. the Dawes Commits
sion made an agreement with certain
commissioners representing the
Greek Nation, providing for the en-
rollment of its citizens and the al
lotment of its lands in seyeralty
among them.
( This agreement was according to
stipulation afterwards submitted 10
and rejected by the Creek Council.
= and. as such, never became operat-
: i've between the parties. In the mean
time. and in view, no doubt, of the
condition in which the Territory
4, would be left by failure TO ratify
r this and other agreements. pending
with other tribes. Mr. Curtis of the
Indian Committee OF the House, pre-
p pared a bill designed to transfer the
control of the property rights of the
; Five Civilized Tribes from those Ma
2 tions to the United States. The re-
suit was the passage b. congress of
+ an Act entitled, An Act for the pro-
l lection of the people of the Indian
: Territory and for other purposes. ap-
} proved June 2S, 1898, known as the
Curtis Bill" That Aci provides:
Sec 30 That the agreement made
by the Commission to the Five Civil
: ized Tribes with the Commission
representing the Muskogee Tor Creek
Tribe OF Indians, on the 9Th
! day of September, 1897 as
herein amended is hereby ratified
and confirmed and the same shall
, be OF full force and effect If ratified
before the first day of December
1898, by majority of the votes
3 cast by the members OF said tribe al
an election to be held for that pur
?. pose. and the executive Of said tribs
n Is authorized and directed to make
J, public proclamation that said agree
= ment shall be voted on at the nexi
general election, to be called by such
y Executive for The purpose Of voting
on said agreement and If said agree
q ment as amended, be so ratified, The
I provisions of this Act shall then only
apply to said tribe where the same
IS do not conflict with the provisions
D. Of said agreement; but the provisions
e OF said agreement, II SO ratified, shal
& not in any manner affect the provi
q sions OF Section IA OF this act which
d said amended agreement is as fol
p lows.
q (Setting forth the agreement)
a Thus Il viii be seen that In add
tiOn TO Section n which I'm effect
IL provided for the surface allotment %
d the lands of the Greek Nation with
u out the consent OF the tribe. II pro
e. yided for the resubmlssion, with Ger
a tain notifications. OF the agreemen
k of Gapfamrnber g7 1897 for Tal IN