The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1909-04-24

The lDdlan Territory Illuminating Oh
company and other large corporations
which nrYe entered into contracts
with the Usage indian tribe amenahle
to the laws Of the state of Oklah0'
MAJ This IS the very vital and highly
|inie.estmg question raised Today By
the position taken by D. II. brennan
attorney for the Illuminating OIL com
|pany. ~ a letter 90 the snbleEaeea
III lhai company. THE attorney holds
lhat tho state laws on the subject
|pf Oh and gas do not control IN the
Usage reservation. and that the state
has 40 Jurisdiction over contracts on
tered Into between the Usage tribe
aud the corporations which were made
with me sanction Of the interior de-
pastment at Washington prior 70 state
hood.
The llluninatiP* on company has
blauke, lease 6SU,u0O acres 81
he 0saga reservation and has leased
territory 70 hundreds OF oil men. The
legislature has enacted q number on
laws for the regulation Of tle oil and
sas business OK the state. The most
important af these were the gas re-
gulation law Of last winter and ,he
f~eager-Stfain pipe line bill. The II.
n~mlnatlng Oh company, through It's
attorney, now holds .hpt these stat
/ ltea dc moi affect conditions IN the
Usage reservation as the contracts ~
be Prairie OH ~ Gas company and
he Illuminating company We're made
with the tribe before statehood ana
nat these compaples are amenable
Dniy To the acts on Congress aud such
ules and regulations ae the Interior
| department. may make.
II the contention OF the attorney
or the Illuminating OIL company ls
lpheld by The courts. Il will mean
here Is no restrictions against pip
ag gas nll OF The reservation ami no
equations governing the pipe line
ompanies operating there except such
5 Congress or The Interior depart.
lent may make. The letter opens up
bout the biggest argument which has
ct been INDUCED ~ over the status
the affairs Of the 0ll men IN Okla
Dma, fhe letter from Attorney Bzet-
.an 10 the suh.leasees Is as follows;
"Vou are Interested IN the oil or
AS production IN the Usage reserVa'
.0n and as such producers. desire
, assure you that the several laws
naetnd by the state Of Oklahoma are
Operative over The affairs Of Az m
ian tribe doing business on an Indian
c%sefyatian refer 60 House Blll
90. 23S intending b regulate The use
iud preservation Of OH and gas end
ropldlng FOR the appointment Of ln'
speel0rs, The department Of The IA.
terlor has provided rules aud reeula.
IONS covering the same ground and
.As a government Inspector III charge
che slate and government rules con.
iict. You cannot serve two maatera
rhe pipe line bin known aa Chapter
Il, laws OF 1903, belong ID the SAND
ategory. Aside from any other AZ
aek that MAY BIO made on this meas
ire. II Is wholly impossible for the
tate to limit the market Of The Usage
indian tribe for lts gas. Congress
MS sole and exclusive Jurisdiction
yer this tribe and ltA contracts.
TN 1905 Congress hy special act
CneWed the contracts Of lie company
md s%ub.leasees for zen years. Ia 1907
congress reserved The oil aud gas u
be reservation to the tribe for n
ears and the allottees take no Inter
81 ia tha same,
There are the same objections Il
he Yeager.Stfaln law that are urge
igalnsr the other measures. Aside
rom the objections universally urget
lgaInst This piece Of unwise aud I'M
iotent legislative FOLLY it ID clear Ina
40 pipe line company operating IN th'
Usage reservation a refuse 10 taxi
he oil AID plead compliance With TIT
aw as i defense. The pipe Hines ar
hero BY reason Of GOVERNMENT d
ense aud contract and the state coul,
OF even permit new pipe lines y
10 laid IN the reservation. Tho 1rlhN
eceiyes one.elghth uf tho oil aud IN
Division order system and contraciure
Citations between the tribe and tR'
ipe lines or between those who nav
Contracted with the Tribe and The pip
ines cannot Be charged or Interfere
with IN the slightest degree BY az
th0rliy ua the state. Congress ha
ale power to control and regular
commerce. with Indian tribes. Thes
considerations are timely by reaao
If the iAct that the alate lnanecto
may claim jurisdiction over your 9rl
ing operations and In order 70 sliol
he decision Of this Office with re
renee 10 Che YeaEer.slrain Lew.
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