The Vinita daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1913, 1912-03-16
SAYS|ND|ANF FUNDS
ARE NOT BEING DISS|PATED
CBy W. W. Hastings

newspapers throughout the state the
statements made that large sums of
money have been disbursed by the de-
partment of the interior from the tri-
bal funds Of the Cherokee nation. and
other tribes, in payment of the office
force of the commissioner to the Five
Civilized Tribes and the Union Agency
at Muskogee, Okla | desire to chal-
lenge the correctness of this statement
because it is not truef | would be un-
worthy of being the national attorney
for the Cherokee nation if | were to sit
IDLY by and see our tribal funds
squandered There is now being paid
out of the Cherokee tribal funds the
salary of the principal chief, assistant
chief, one secretary and the national
attorney. All of these salaries now
aggregate $500 per annum. There
are, of course, some contingent ex-
penses, but they are triflling. In addi-
ton to this the expense of maintain
ing the Cherokee orphan asylum south
of Tahlequah, together with the Cher
okee school representative is being
paid out of the Cherokee tribal funds.
Congress provided last year that the
expenses incident to the sale of the
unallotted lands might be taken from
the tribal funds, but at the same time
congress provided that the proceeds
of the sales might be deposited in
banks, thereby becoming interest bear
ing. | do not have the exact figures
before me, but the expenses incident
to the sale OF the Cherokee unallotted
lands were very small, and the inter-
est derived from the money deposited
from those sales was very much
greater than the expenses. | might
add also that a small amount was
taken from the Cherokee tribal funds
in payment of stenograuhic help in
the special investigation of citizenship
cases throughout the nation Attor-
neys here at Washington have been
clamoring for general reopening of
the Cherokee rolls, and to resist this
it was necessary that definite informa-
tion might be at hand to place before
the committees of congress. Only al
small sum was used for this purpose.
less than the amount necessary to
equalize the allotment of one allottee.
Many of our Cherokee people know
that our fullbloods opposed enrolment.
opposed allotment, refused to give the
names of their children to enrolling
parties, and that arbitrary applica-
tons We're made for these people. and
we did the best we could to enroll
every one of them, but we could not
make an arbitrary application for the
minors born since our last census roll
was made in 1896, because we did not
have their names. 1t was i'll the in
vestigation of this class of children,
nearly all fullbloods, that d small |
amount Of money, amounting to APP
$500, was expended during
the past year for stenographic help.
The Cherokee people will remember
hat during the past year large
amount of money has been paid out
If the Cherokee tribal funds for equal
zation purposes. Section of the
lct Of April 26, 1906, provides that
where an enrolled member of the
ribe does not take an allotment of
and, the allottee is entitled in lieu OF
he land not taken double its apprais-
ID value. The department has paid
out considerable money during the
'ast year equalizing allotments We
lope to have all allotments equalized
within the next six months.
The people of the eastern part of
Oklahoma should not be deceived, they
ire entitled to know the facts. This
eport that has been given wide cir
ulation to the effect that tribal funds
re being squandered is for a purpose.
t is the fight of land spectators and
srafters against the continuance of I,
he district agents. They want them
and they are attempting to
rouse the prejudice of the people
gainst them by insinuating that they
re the means of dissipating tribal
unds. Not a single district agent is
laid penny from any tribal fund
hey are paid from appropriations
lade by congress. The district agents
re the advisers of the restricted
indian; they assist him in making ag-
icultural leases, in the collection OF i
ents from his lands, in dispossessingl II
enants who are trying to hold over; i
he district agents receive applica-
ions for the removal of restrictions j
nd report upon the same, I'D if the
eport upon the same. and if the re- !
are removed either condi.
Ionally or unconditionally, they ap. /
raise the land from which restrictions .