The Vinita daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1913, 1913-01-24
CONGRESS WATCHES
INTERESTS OF REDS
senatos Owen Advises State Lessls.
ture to Protect the Indians
Careless With FuIIbloods.


of legislature were endeavoring to
whitewash the various state depart
ments, now being investigated under
various charges, A. McCrory, of Jeffer-
son county, addessed the members to-
day on a point of personal privilege.
McCrory held in his hand copy of
the Tulsa World of Wednesday morn
ing's issue, which carried headlines
to the effect that the adoption of a
resolution, by the house asking the
senate to join in appointing COM
mittee to investigate the various state
departments at once was an effort to
whitewash the investigation.
In an address before the house of
representatives today, United States
Senator Robert l.. Owen, stated that
until the state of Oklahoma takes ade-
quate steps to protect the fullblood
Indians and minors, the national con-
gress in his opinion will not relinquish
control of Indian affairs.
so long as the state takes no steps
to protect he fullblood improvident
Indians" he said, "just so long will
the United States at large feel that
the obligation rests upon itself"
Senator owens remarks, while
couched very carefully, plainly fol-
lowed his suggestion that the legis-
lature consider the matter Of laws to
protect the fullblood Indians in their
homesteads, and from clouds upon the
same, and to protect the Indian minors
from fraud in the handling of their
estates under guardianship. Senator
owen visited the house to pay his re-
spects to the members, he said, and
to bid them farewell, as he was leav-
ing at night for Washington because
. of some matters being up of concern
to this state. At the expiration of his
Short address, the house recessed ten
minutes while the members gathered
around Senator Owen to shake his
hand in good bye.
In his remarks, the senator said
that he believes there should be some
uniform system of taxation which
would apply to Indian lands as well
as others. Under old treaties, he con-
timed, much Indian land was exempt
from taxation. But he did not think
it wise for fullblood Indians or any
body else to have large farms of fine
land not subject to taxation or utilized
for cultivation, and suggested plan
for cultivation, of a part of the allot-
ment as a homestead to be exempt
from taxation probably and to be inn
proved, the remainder to be sold If
the allottee so desired 1t would be
much better, he said, that the allottee
have a small farm well improved and
producing than to have 8 large area
of land unlmproyed and producing
nothing for its owner
Senator owen then suggested the
idea of a state law to protect fullbloods
in such diminished" and improved
allotment Or homestead so it could not
be clouded in any way, statute to
make it an offense to cloud such
diminished" homestead.
The fullblood Indians, continued
Senator Owen, would be glad to have
such diminished" homestead protect
ed and improved for home. With
such a system perfected, congress un-
doubtedly would be more willing to
wind up the Indian affairs and allow
the great Indian population of Okla
homa to merge and take its place with
the white race, the senator said
In his reference to Indian minors,
Senator Owen mentioned the Mott re-
port and stated that he understood
Governor Cruce shortly will submit
. to the legislature some information
on the subject. probably also with
suggestions as to changes in the pro-
bate statutes SO that minors, Indians
and others, would be better protected
from extravagant guardianships and
loss to their estates.
"Otherwise,' Senator Owen con-
cluded, "the state might be credited
in the national congress as being
somewhat careless in the matter of
statutes relative to the protection of
the affairs Of its children"
Bills introduced by Wyand, of Mus
kogee:
Amending the bank guaranty law as
suggested by state bankers
To abolish the county court at
Forum, Muskogee county, Okla.