The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1910-03-30
PROVIDES FOR THE SALE
OF LANDS OF INDIANS
State Is Given Option on
Minerals ---COnSerVatlCn
Problem Involved

Washington, March Gothic fate OF
the Creager BILL which provides for
the closing up Of the affairs Of The
Five Civilized Tribes and the DISPOSE
ton Of the segregated coal ana as
phalt lands OF Oklahoma Indians, is
still in the hands Of Secretary Bat
linger Of the interior department This
bill would dispose Of the lands TO prl-
yate parties in limited tracts on the
sealed bid system, first however, CIV
ing the state Of Oklahoma an op
ton on the minerals The house com
mittee on Indian affairs does not
want to report this bill favorably un-
less it can get the Endorsement of
the interior department, and Secre-
taty Ballingcr Is said to be afraid Of
the dynamite which he sees in the
conservation problem connected with
the disposition of the coal and asphalt
lands.
Three Ways Considered
Three methods Of dsposing Of the
coal in these lands have been under
consideration.
One is to sell the coal to indivi0
uals, as provided in the Creager bill
and to which the progressives in the
senate are opposed.
A second suggestion is to sell the
coal to the National Government out
right, which The Indians prefer, but
which the Oklahoma congressman op-
pose.
A third method is the one present
ed in the La Toilette bill, to let the
National Government supervise the
disposal of the coal for the Indians
on royalty under permit system.
This. purely and simply, is conser-
vation measure, inasmuch as the Din
seeks to give the Government con,
slant control over the coal fields and
/ the question of prices and comblna'
tions. II is opposed by the Oklahoma
congressman and by others who want
/ the development Of natural resources
| left to individuals, unhampefed by
Federal supervision.
Conferences have been held in the
past few days between members OF
the Oklahoma delegation in congress
and Secretary Balllnger on this I'M
portant feature of the Creager bill
but the secretary Of the interior Is
not inclined at this particular stage
OF the conservation agitation TO IN
dorse the Creager scheme OF selling
the coal to individuals under sealed
bids. The last of these conferences
took place Saturday night. the SUP
porters of the Creager bill we're IN
clined TO take q rather gloomy view
of the prospects of its passage thi'
session. Secretary Ballinger. now
ever decided to confer with Presihen
Taft on the matter before commitllni
/ The department as to a policy to p'
pursued in the premises. i rs expec,
ed that the fate Of the Creaser pll
for winding up the affairs OF th'
Five Civilized Tribes will be know
within very few days.
Wants Bill Amended
Senator Gore today Is ~ recelpt o
q telegram from d. c. McCurlin, gov
ernor of the Choctaw Nation, faVorlh
An amendment to the Creager Wv
tribes hin declaring null and void tn
McMurray contracts with indlyldua
nembers of the Choctaw Na'io'
There are several Thousand OF sue
contracts in existence and j. Is sal
that millions of dollars IN fees vi
he collected hy McAlester attorney
when the affairs Of the FIVE frlpe
arc disposed Of unless some actio
js taken by congress in the premlise
. sceretary pallinger's cooperation
. also asked nv McCurtin