The weekly chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Craig County, Okla.) 1905-1913, 1912-03-22
HAST|NGSSAYS|ND|ANF FUNDS
ARE NOT BEING D|SS|PATED
tBy w W. Hastings)

i Washington. March 14-I see from
press dispatches and editorials OF
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 II is not true | would be un-
worthy of being the national attorney
for the Cherokee nation il were TO sit
3 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, scme contingent ex-
penses, but they are trilling. 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
Y 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 Oh 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 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 a general reopening of
the Cherokee rolls. and to resist this
it was necessary that definite informa-
ton might be at hand to place before
the committees of congress. Only a
small sum was used for this purpose,
less than the amount necessary to
aqualize the allotment of one allottee.
MANY Of our Cherokee people know
4 hat our fullbloods opposed enrolment,
opposed allotment. refused to give the
names of their children to enrolling
PARTIES, and that arbitrary appliea-
ions were made for these people, and
We did the best we could to enroll
very one OF them, but we could not
make an arbitrary application for the
minors born since our last census roll
vas made in 1896, because we did not
ave their names. 1t was in the in
estigation of this class of children,
early all fullbloods, that a small
mount of money. amounting to ap-
roximately $500. was expended during
lie past year for stenographic help.
The Cherokee people will remember
lat during the past year large
mount of money has been paid out
the Cherokee tribal funds for equal
alton purposes. Section . OF the
t OF April 20. 1906. provides that
here an enrolled member of the
lbe does not take an allotment of
nd, tie allottee is entitled in lieu of |
e lagd not taken double it's apprais,
value. The department has paid
It considerable money during the
st year equalizing allotments. We
pc to have all allotments equalized I
thin the next six months
The people OF the eastern part of
.lahoma should not be deceived, they
entitled to know the facts This
oort that has been given wide cir
ation to tAe effect that tribal funds
4 being squaBdered Is for purpose.
Is the fight OF land spectators and
alters against the continuance of
district agents They want them
5lished, and they are attempting to
ause the prejudice of the people
ainst them by insinuatiug that they
the means of dissipatng tribal
ds Not single district agent is
d a penny from any tribal fund;
are paid from appropriations
de by congress The district agents
the advisers Of the restricted 5
ian. they assist him in making ag- s
lltural leases. in the collection OF /
is from his lands. in dispossessing II
ants who are trying to hold over, y
district agents receive applica- I
Is for the removal of restrictions |
report upon the same, and if the /
ort upon the same, and If the re- 4
ctions are removed either condi- 5
alfv or incopditionallv they an !