The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1912-06-20
A S200OO Joker IN THE CIVIL
APPROPRIATION R|LES CARTER

conveyance. The gentleman from New
York may differ with me on the sub
ject, but | have a stealthy, sneaking
notion that | am about as capable oi
taking care of my affairs as the gen
tleman from New York, the secretary
of interior attorney general or any
other man under heavens canopy.
ANY fair, unbiased man, having the
least bit OF familiarity with the ac-
/ ton of the department of justice and
the interior department with relation
| to these suits in Oklahoma will be
forced to admit that it Is one of the
most notorious pieces of Incompetence y
and infringement upon the rights of
the people of which any government
has ever been guilty, and it ought to
cause the blush of shame to mantle
the cheek OF every department official
who has had a part in delaying these
matters, tying up the business inter-
ests of our state, and placing an EN-
barge on the price of the Indians
property.
The restriction bill approved May
y, 1908, authorized the institution of
these suits. The gentleman from New
York made a speech against the bill
and | made a speech for it, not that
favored this provision, but because
tanned therein. In the public hearings
which were held on this bill depart
ment officials appeared before US and
asked that $4,000 be given for clear
ing up titles to restricted lands in Ok
lahoma. We all knew that some fraud
ulent deeds had been given and real
lied the Importance of removing every
cloud from the title before the lands
were finally offered for sale, but we
also had mortal fear of having these
suits brought without proper investi-
cation. These suits could have been
brought under the general law any
way, and these department officials
seemed to think that they had suffi-
cient machinery with which to bring
the same. But hearings will show that
these same officials stated that they
wanted $4,000. not for the purpose Of
bringing suits, but for the purpose
of making an investigation so that
suits could be brought intelisently
ana not in a wholesale manner.
Had Made Previous Remark.
'Now, let us see if these gentle
men have kept faith with this con
sress. To fully olucidate this argu-
ment it will be necessary to repeat
here what have said on two former
occasions on the floor of this house |
and that is the necessary procedure .
lor making an Investigation prepara-
tory to properly bringing these suits. |
The same law which Appropriated /.
this $4,000 provided that the tribal |
rolls, as prepared by the Dawes Com
mis- sion. should be conclusive evidence |
10 the age and quantum of Indian
blood. The test of the allottees right |
o convey was the quantum of Indian
blood and age. These rolls are in
ieXed in alphabetical order. so that
he only thing necessary would be to
20 over the records of the county in
which the land was located. get the
lame of the vendor run down the ap-
lhabetiCal list of the rolls, and right
leSlde the name OF the allOttee you
you'd find his age and Quantum of
'lood. The investigation should re-
luire not to exceed five minutes to the
lame. SO that all necessary examina-
ions could have been made prior to
he sixty days, it, indeed that had
'een necessary. which it was not.
Not only that, this investigation
ould have been made and all spurious
uits dismissed. even after they were
roueht; but was any of these precau-
ions taken? Not on your life. because
he moment the suits are dismissed
hat moment their tenure of Office eX-
ires. Y uodo mont expect one of these
ellows to work himself out Of Job.
% you@ Instead of that, they have
roueht suits in a Wholesale manner.