The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1913-04-22
FINAL SETTLEMENT
5 CIVILIZED TRIBES
CONGRESSMAN CARTER INTRO
DUCES SOME VlTAlLY IMPORT
ANT BILLS.

Washington, April 21 .--.Representa
tive Charles ID. Carter Monday in
troduced two bills in the house de
signed to expedite the final settle
ment Of the affairs of the five civil
Ted tribes in Oklahoma. Not only dc
the measures provide for a distrbu-
ton for the tribal funds, but also
provide for a reserve for the benefit
of Indian schools.
The first three sections of the two
bills are identical but the latter tive
sections, four and five, providing for
a division of the tribal estate, differ
materially Both these plans of divi-
sion of the common holdings of these
tribes are original with the Oklahoma
Congressman.
Tribal Estate Enormous.
The tribal estate of the Choctaws
and Chiclasaws consists of coal as
phalt lands, oil lands, timber lands,
agricultural lands and amounting to
from $1O,0OO,OOO to a round billion
dollars. A fair estimate would prob
ably be from $50, 100000 to $4,000, 900,
which should give to each cash ben.
eficiary under either of the Carter
bills, from $1,000 to S1,500. Since it
| Is generally conceded that the sale
of the mineral deposits is impossible
and since the department persistently
refuses to distribute all funds due
them to restricted Indians, these bills
|provide a reservation of same as ii
permanent school fund for certain
members of the tribes of the greater
degree of Indian blood commonly
known as the restricted class.
Both bills direct the secretary OF
shterior to expedite the sale of The
surface of the segregated mineral
land and the remainder of the unal-
lotted lands, and both direct an early
classification and sale of the tribal
reserve in the Choctaw nation as
agricultural, grazing and timber lands
the agricultural lands to be sold for
not less than twice the appraised val.
lie and in tracts not exceeding 1G0
acres each; grazing lands in tracts
not exceeding $40 acres each, aid
timber land in tracts not exceeding
1850 acres. These are purely maxi
mum matters and Either class may
be sold in smaller tracts.
Yearly Division Provided.
Both bills provide for a division
once during each fiscal year of all !
tribal funds on hand until same are
exhausted the same to be made TO all |
members of the tribe and
to a portion of the unrestricted mem
bers while holding the coal and as
phalt as an educatona! fun4 on 6e-
half of a portion Of the 50 called re-
stricted class. The plans of the first
D.'l NIo WI N''A OiL o'Ntldl Ntdi |
ago by Mr.. Carter. 1t gives the
cash to all Indians of loss than three
fourths Indian blood and reserves the
deposits for the school ben
eft Of the others and new measur.
the mineral deposits for
schools of those of one-half or more
Indian blood, but under IS years of
age only, and provides cash payment
to others even including full bloods
over Is years of age.
1t is thought that some disposition
Of the Mississippi Choctaw enrolment
will be necessary before either of the
bills can get favorable action, ana,
indeed. it looks now as if this Mis-
5ssippi Choctaw matter must be
disposed of before any further divi-
sion of tribal funds of the ChoctaN
and Chickasaws will be possible.
rhe Oklahoma delegation in congress,
however, hopes to fight this Missis-
'lrpi Choctaw question out, either OF
he extra session or early in the
lext regular session.