The Washington times., 1915-01-01

Ing 70 the supreme court OF. Okiahoma.
And there his presentation Of facts
he had discovered led to the adoption
list Of rules that had been agreed upon
Ly other State officials and attorneys.
Thus. in spite Of an inimical leEis-
lature, there has been put into effect In
Oklahoma {! home one Of the most rigid codes
exists shywhere in. the United states.
This action Of the supreme court 10
ger,missable ,nh unds, % lection. section Of OF the the
strict accounting Of aii probate transae.
tons, require proper securing Of loans,
and even hx fees which may be charged
by attorneys for such services.
Delves Into Past Wrongs.
But the efforts Of Commissioner Sells
did not stop there. Ever since his Of
hce. through probate attorneys. has
been engaged In the almost herculsan
task Of untangling the skcins Of pro-
v!ous irregularities. a. we'll as prevent
ing any new tmpositions upon Indian
Two typical cases came UP within
the past few weeks. Ono was that
where . jud gment for $4,000 was won
tsree children. This trustes's % report
showed exorbitant charges and inde-
fensible expenses incurred.
Another case Of special interest was
that Of an adventures who had per-
her; Shortly after the marriage The
Indian died. leaving his estate OF
$4,000 in oil lands to be divided be-
tween his white second wife and q
child BY q previous marriage. Through
marriage to the adventursss was
proved to have been irregular and the
entire estate now accrues to the child.
In addition to his other manifold
duties. the Commissioners Of Indian AZ.
that transcends that Of college preS-
ident. For he 10 the head Of I school
system that includes sevcnty-thres
non-reservation boarding schools.
feres:pUasny shsyy to the whss msn sa.,ao: HD
schools. corresponding TO the white
mans high schools, and about 400
day schools. similar TO the grade
schools OF our cities and towns.
School Farms Started.
Two notable features Of the past
years work in connection with these
schools. accommodating about $4,000
Indian children, has been the inauRu-
ration Of series OF teachers insti-
tutes. and q new emphasis on school
farms farms; a system Of college farms. and
for white mems institutions,
already Is established in conjunction
with the Governments Indian schools.
And this is whe Commissioner Sells
letter to surerintendents OF ali schools.
giving careful instructions about rats.
ing live stock. poultry, vegetables, and
farm products. concludi with the
stSte|ent siSs ,sn t,o thst NJ nut IN ist that YOU
farm your most careful attention to
the end that the highest degree OF ef-
nciency and results he accomplished
There is absolutely no excuse for q
waste % acre or overlooked opportunity on
And betw cen the times he scan. tho
reports Of his probate attorneys con-
cerning disposal Of indian estates. Com
mh.ssioner ,ha SELLS goes carefully through
farms. suggesting a new line of work
Keeps Indians Sober.
Another notable feature OF last years
work was Commissioner Sells efforts
for the suppression of the liquor traf-
fc. Here. too. he tired a new and dras-
traffic in oklahoma had failed. The
quarterly payments Of the money by the
vas followed by a general debauch last
September.
In December s27 90 was to be paid.
Comm ssioner Sells. sc ing under :
letter. held UP this payment until the
tribe pa sed rcsolu ions hat no liquor
was to be introduced .nto their terri-
tory about Pawhuska. Triba' chiefs,
town and county offici Is, and other au.
II" "rit es bound the msa We by strong
pledges to keep the law which prohibits
the introuuc Ion or sale Of liuuor in
lndian reservations.
After this ARRANGEMENT had been