Durant weekly news. (Durant, Choctaw Nation, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 190?-1944, 1914-01-09
COMING OF CATO SELLS.

It has become known that the Hon
orable Cato Sells, commissioner Of
Indian affairs, intends making an in
spetcon OF affairs in Oklahoma, in the
near future, and TO outline the policy
to be pursued by, the Federal Govern
ment with respect to the contorl of re-
stricted Indians and their lands
The administration policies which
have heretofore governed the Indian
Territory portion of Oklahoma, have
been sntagonistic to the welfare Of its
citizenhsip. With the famous Wcker-
sham .opnion, and the now famous 3O,-
900 suits, they have involved our lands
in litigation; barred' the doors of the
State against ncomping capital, ana
have made the tile to a tract Of Land
in eastern Oklahoma a-bugaboo, which
has operated almost as effectually as
an Injunction, the transfer of property.
the procurement of homesteads by
thrifty farmers from adjacent tSates,
and the immigration Of the better
class Of citizens from other States or
at least OF the immigrant who brings
with him his property.
Oklahoma is pre-eminently an agri-
cultural tSate. The tenure holding of
lands, and the duration thereof, are
not only essential but necessary fac
tors for the jupbuilding of a thriving
agricultural community.
Acts of Congress provide, that an
Indian adult of the full blood may not
lease his homestead allotment for a
longer period than one year, except
with the approval Oft secretary Of
the interior. I No nfap coIldiin the ex-
ercise of business Judgment go on the
homestead allotment tf an Indian cit
izen and place improvements of per-
manent natute thereon, clear ad brea5
out the raw land, and then perhaps
be unable toi rent the land for anoth-
er year, ad he thereby loses the inn
prevents he has placed on the lands.
True, an Indian might lease his home
stead for a period of five years with
the approval of the secretary of the
interior, but the red tape incident 20
such approval, and employment of an
attorney to look after his interest, and
his distrust of the Federal officials
having in charge the matter of the ap-
prasement of said land, rental value.
deter him from making application for
departmental approved leases. Few OF
these leases have ever been submitted
for approval through the department.
We should have these leases approved
at home, or rather the rec commendatio"
of the home offices should be accepted
without the delay, which has hereto
fore characterized the offices having
these in charge.
Congress by the act of 1909 surren-
dered the right to the probate courts
of Oklahoma to approve leases TO sur
plus allotments of minor allottees, but
denied the right 10 the probate courts
to approve leases. as to the homestead
aIlotments for longer period than
one year, and homestead leases can,
not be made for a longer period thar
one year except by the approval Of the
secretary of the interior. We under
stand that the department at Musko
gee has never approved as many as 81
agricultural sleases on the homestead
allotments.
To better serve the purposes of the
State OF Oklahoma, and to better serve
the interest. of the.,restriced Indian
and die white citizens, Congress
shoulds pass legislstion permitting the
homestsads to be .leased, for five years
but inasmucR as It is net known when
such legislation wilf'pass, the depart
ment Of the. interior could through
wise administration, undo much of the
evil, by perrnitting leases to be made
at reasonable figures. and by permit
ting the local officers 10 set the price
for its approval and by prompt action
on the e5same
On January the commissioner will
meet with the appointed probate at
torney of the Chickasaw Nation and
the county judges. The personnel Of
these men are pleasing to the state at
large. and we feel confident that they
will work for the true welfare of the
state. II it be the duty of these pro-
bate attorneys to protect the indian