The weekly chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Craig County, Okla.) 1905-1913, 1912-05-17
INDIAN HOMESTEADS
ARE NOT TAXABLE
All 4o-Acre Homesteads in Creek Ma
tion Are untaxedable Until 1927
Indians Enriched.

Washington, D. c., May 14.-Millions
of dollars were saved the Indians of
the Creek, Choctaw and Chickasaw
nations and just as many millions
taken from the state of Oklahoma yes
terday by the United States supreme
court, when it handed down its de-
cision in the Creek. Choctaw-Chicka-
saw tax cases.
The decision is sweeping and far
reaching in its effect. 1t means that
many of tie counties of Southeastern
Oklahoma will be rendered bankrupt.
1t further means that the burden of
taxes in the counties of the old Creek
nation will necessarily fall heavier
upon the white man. Muskogee is
such county
Not only does the supreme court de-
eision mean that taxes upon all these
Indian lands cannot be collected in the
future, but it further means that all
taxes upon these lands collected since
1909 must now be refunded.
The loss of the state of Oklahoma
by the decision of yesterday cannot
be estimated with exactness, but it is
believed that it will easily run as high
as $3O,0O0,000.
The loss to the state in the counties
comprising the old Creek nation alone
amounts to $70O0,OOO.
The question was originally brought
before the United States supreme court
by M. u. Mott, attorney for the Creek
nation. Later question similar, ex-
cept that it referred to all of the allot-
ments instead of merely the home
stead, was brought by w. A. Ledbetter
and associates in behalf of the Choc-
taw and Chickasaw nations That the
question might be decided at once, the
supreme court advanced the ChoctaW-
Chickasaw case, handing down the de-
cision in each at the same time.
The supreme court has held in the
Greek case that for 81 years the home
steads which comprise 40 acres each,
of all allottees are exempt from taxa
ton and in the Choctaw and Chicka-
saw cases that all the lands allotted
to the various allottees, which in most
cases is 320 acres, shall be exempt
from taxation as long as the original
allottee holds possession of the lands.
In the counties comprising the Creek
nation alone, where only the home
steads are exempt from taxation up to
June 9, 1927, this will mean a net saw
ing for the Greeks of over $7,0000O0.
And necessarily it will mean that just
that amount cannot be collected as
taxes by the different counties and the
state. 1t means that just this amount
of money must be raised from property
which is taxable in these counties.
There are some 10000 homesteads
in the Creek nation which have been
taxed since 1909. Some of these were
very valuable and have valuable inn
provements on them Now under the
decision of the supreme court all this
money collected as taxes on this prop
erty must be returned and up until
after June 3, 1927. it cannot be assess
ed again.
OF course under this decision all the
tribes will be affected whether they
had a suit pending or not and it will
affect the Cherokees and Seminoles
just the same as it does the others and
their homesteads will most likely be
free also from taxation providing their
treaty so provides and specifies.
The decision includes negroes, half
bloods, quarter-bloods and in fact
every one who has received an allot-
ment. There is no reservation what
ever Every person who has received
an allotment and still holds it cannot
be taxed upon his homestead
The counties in the southern part OF
the state in the Choctaw and Chicka-
saw nations are more heavily affected
by the decision because in these ma
tions the court has held that the en-
tire allotment is exempt from taxation
as long as the original allottee holds
the title. If the report of the decision
is correct this will mean that the
greater portion in both the Choctaw
and the Chickasaw nations will be ex-
empt from taxation and naturally
means that all the expenses of the
cities and counties will fall upon the
remaining small portion of the prop
erty.
The saving of money to the Indians
and the people of their tribes in these
two nations can scarcely be estimated,
but it would be safe to say that it
would run far beyond $25.OO00OO This
saving again means that just that