The Vinita daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1913, 1912-08-13
FISHER CAUSED
PRESIDENTS VETO
Secretary Claimed Many Fraudulent
Titles Would' BE included in
The Bill.

Washington, Aug. 13.-On August 6
President Taft vetoed the bill which
had been passed by congress to re-
move all necessity for securing the APP
proval of the Secretary of the Interior
to conveyances of inherited allotments
of full-blood Indian heirs, members Of
the Five Civilized Tribes, made subse-
quent to May 27, 1908, in cases of al
lottees who had died prior to that date,
and providing that such conveyances
may be declared valid II approved by
the county court of the county where
the deceased allottee was resident
at the time of his death This action
was recommended by Secretary Fisher
of the Interior department, who OBJ
ljected to the bill on the ground that
many fraudulent transactions would be
llegalized by its passage, that there
was 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
lment is now approving deeds executed
by full-blood 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-
ton. 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
if 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
. Iquate that the department has insisted
upon a reappraisal, and the white
claimants are now Offering to pay sub
stantial amounts in addition to those
, which they have already paid. These
, Iare being disposed of by the depart
, ment as rapidly as they can be proper
, ly considered. With regard to the pro
, vision transferring the approval o
such conveyances to the county e0ur
of the county where the deceased allot
tee was a resident at the time of hi
death, the secretary stated that man.
: Indians who would be affected by thi
legislation have removed permanent,
from Oklahoma and the result of thi
{ proyiso would be to transfer all ques
tions relating to the approval of con
l. yeyances in such cases by the heirs 0
l. the deceased -allottees to courts far re
$ moved from the land itself and un
5 familiar with its value and the cond
e tions under which conveyances of thi
g character are made. But the provis
Y has a much more serious effect tha
& that as conveyances already approved
= possibly at time when the court az
e sumed that the matter would be pass
s ed on by the interior department
K would. nevertheless, he valid More
d over. previous approvals of the Okli
u homa courts have been given in man
Ie cases where the conditions subsequen
r ly discovered by the state board {
y charities and corrections of Oklahoma
y and described in a letter from ths
- board, to which reference Is mad
y shows clearly the appalling extent
& which, Indian heirs in Oklahoma hay
been imposed upon.