The weekly chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Craig County, Okla.) 1905-1913, 1912-08-16
FISHER CAUSED
PRESIDENTS VETO
Secretary Claimed Many Fraudulent
Titles Would Be Included In
The Bill.

Washington, Aug 1s-on August 6
President Taft vetoed the bill which
had been passed by congress to re-
move all necessity for securing the ap.
prevail of the Secretary, of the Interior
to conveyances of inherited allotments
OF full-blood Indian heirs, members of
the Five Civilized Tribes, made subse-
IQuent to May a7, 1893, in cases of al
lottees who had died prior to that date.
and providing that such conyeyances
may be declared valid if approved by
the county court Of the county where
the deceased allottee was a resident
at the time OF his death. This action
was recommended by Secretary Fisher
OF the Interior department, who OBJ
jected to the bill on the ground that
many fraudulent transactions would be
legalized by its passage, that there
wac no reason for opposition to the
existing law requiring the approval Of
the interior department in such cases,
except by those who seek to avoid the
payment of an adequate consideration
for the lands received, as the depart
ment is now approving deeds executed
by fullblood Indians conveying lands
of deceased allottees of the Five Civil
lied Tribes who died prior to May 27,
1908, whenever it appears that the
transaction has been made in good
faith and for an adequate considera-
tion. The secretary alsos tated that
there are many cases now pending be-
fore the department for approval
which would be validated without ap-
proval by the secretary of the interior
II congress should pass this act, among
which are many where conveyances
have been sanctioned by the local Ok
lahoma courts, but where the price
paid to the Indians has been SO made.
quate that the department has insisted
upon q reappraisal, and the white
claimants are now Offering to pay sub
stantial amounts in addition to those
which they have already paid. These
are being disposed of by the depart
ment as rapidly as they can be proper
Iy considered With regard to the pro-
vision transferring the approval OF
such conveyances to the county court
Of the county where the deceased allot-
tee was a resident at the time of his
ieath, the secretary stated that many
Indians who would be affected by this
legislation have removed permanently
rom Oklahoma and the result of this
proyiso would be to transfer all ques-
ions relating to the approval of con-
7eyances in such cases by the heirs of
he deceased allottees to courts far re-
moved from the land itself and un-
familiar with its value and the condi-
ions under which conveyances of this
character are made But the proviso
las much more serious effect than
hat as conveyances already approved,
possibly at time when the court as
'umed that the matter would be pass
I'd on by the interior department,
would, nevertheless, he valid More
over, previous approvals of the Okla
loma courts have been given in many
Eases where the conditions subsequent
y discovered by the state board OF
charities and corrections OF Oklahoma,
md described in a letter from that
BOARD, to which reference is made.
shows clearly the appalling extent to
which Indian heirs in Oklahoma have
been imposed upon.