The Vinita daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1913, 1911-02-03


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 it enacted by the senate and
house of representatives of the United
States of America in congress assem-
Ibled, 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 sixteenl, 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
accordance Herewith; or their right
Ito 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 seere-
Itary 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 J..
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-
ltary 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
fright and title to, the funds in the
Treasury of the United States standing
to the credit of the Cherokee nation,
land of and to all Cherokee lands not
lallotted 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
flst, nineteen hundred and two, may
appear and become a 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
Icourt shall determine whether all, and
liz 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
1.-TWO; and ii 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-
ton, orders. or other process rs may
be necessary or proper to protect the
rights Of All parties in the premises
and to render effective the fnal judg-
lments and DEGREES of said ourt.
@Any suit hereunder shall be com
menced son OF before May first, nine