The weekly chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Craig County, Okla.) 1905-1913, 1911-02-10

below:
On January 80, 1911, Mr.. owen in
troduced the following bill in the sen
ate of the United States, which was
read twice and referred to the commit
tee on Indian affairs:
"A bill to authorize William Brown
and Levi B. Gritts to institute and
prosecute suits in the court of claims
in certain case.
"Be 1t enacted by the senate and
house of representatives of the United
States of America in congress assem-
bled, that william Brown and Levi B.
Gritts, or either of them for them
selves, and on behalf of all other Cher
okees who have received allotments
under the act of congress approved
July first, nineteen hundred and two
(Thirty-second Statutes, page seven
hundred and sixteen), be, and they are
hereby, authorized to institute and
prosecute a suit or suits in the court
of claims, as parties plaintiff, against
the United States, the secretary of
the Interior, or against any other Off
Ger vested with authority in the mat
ter of the allotment, management, or
control, or any of the lands of the Cher
okees, under any act of congress- as
parties defendant, to determine any
controversy or controversies between
said plaintiffs of the plaintiffs, in, or
to. the lands allotted to them under
the said act of July first, nineteen hun.
dred and two, or inherited by them in
to control, use, and enjoy the same;
or their right to ALLEVIATE, cucumber,
or lease their individual allotments or
inherited lands free from any right of
supervision or control by the secre-
tary of the interior, or by any other
officer, under authority of any act of
congress passed since the said act of
July first, nineteen hundred and two.
And Richard M. Wolfe and Frank ]
Boudinot, enrolled as Cherokees under
the said act OF July first, nineteen hun
dred and two, or either of them, are
hereby authorized, as parties plaintiff,
for themselves and on behalf of all
other Cherokees enrolled for allotment
under the said act of July first, nine
teen hundred and two, to institute and
prosecute suit or suits in the court
of claims against the United States, as
, trustee. the United States, the secre-
tary of the interior, the secretary OF
the treasury or against any other Off
Ger charged with the performance of
any duty or having any authority in
the matter of the allotment or distribu-
tion of the lands and funds of the
Cherokees, or against any of, them. as
parties defendant to determine any
controversy or controversies between
plaintiffs and defendants, or any of
them, over the claim of the said plain
tiffs to the exclusive ownership of, and
right and title to, the funds in the
treasury of the United States standing
to the credit of the Cherokee nation.
and of and to all Cherokee lands not
allotted to any person enrolled under
the said act of July first, nineteen
hundred and two, or the proceeds
thereof.
Any person claiming an interest in,
or right to. said lands, or funds, under
any act of congress passed since July
first, nineteen hundred and two. may
appear and become party in any such
suit upon application to said court
minors appearing either by natural
guardian or next friend, or by guardian
appointed by the said court; and said
court shall determine whether all and,
If not all, what proportion of said
lands and funds belong to the Chero-
KEGS enrolled for allotment under act
of July first nineteen hundred and
two; and if any such person or per-
sons shall come into court claiming
any right, title, or interest in, or to,
said lands or funds adverse to the
claim of said plaintiffs, the court shall
adjudicate and determine such adverse
claims and render final Judgment in
favor of the rightful claimants there.
for.
Full jurisdiction is hereby conferred
upon the court of claims to hear, de
termine, and finally adjudicate the
suits herein authorized to be brought.
with power and authority as in courts
of general jurisdiction. to issue such
writs of injunction, mandatory injunc-
tion, orders, or other process as may
be necessary or proper to protect the
rights of all parties in the premises
and to render effective the final judg-