The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1915-12-21
LEGISLATION
IS ASKED FQR
THE INDIANS
OF INTERIOR HAS
MADE RECOMMENDATIONS IN
REPORT - GREATER PRoTEC-
TlON OF RESTRICTED INDIANS.

Washington, Dec. 2O.-The interior
has asked for considerable
legislation in the Indian appropriation
bill, which is soon to 20 before the
Indian committee of the house and
senate, but the disposition of the com
mittcr members is to restrict the bill
to appropriations as nearly as possible.
one of the recommendations covers
the dealings of restricted Indians. The
department has pointed out that, not
withstanding the advancement made
by the wards, they are yet being de
ceiyed through transactions that in
volye patents, mortgages, contracts,
conveyances and like terms of which
they little know the meaning of, and
through such processes the Indian is
relieved of much of his property, or
suffers his land holdings to become in
volved
The department has asked that the
law of 1910 be amended by making 1t
unlawful for any person to induce an
Indian to execute contract, deed, or
mortgage or lease touching land held
under trust or other patent containing
restriction on alienation, or to pro
cure the execution by an Indian of
such instrument or to be party with
any Indian in such transaction, which
is not authorized by law. 1t would al
so be provided that an Indian ire
stricted) or his heirs could not dis
pose of live stock, its increases, or
personal property issued by the United
States, or purchased with trust funds,
either by sale or mortgage, without
consent of the Indian agent or super
intendent having jurisdiction of such
property The transactions would be
void under terms of the proposed bill,
and violations made misdemeanors,
punishable by fine of $500, or impris-
Onment lOf one year.
1t is believed that the law would
cover contracts which ambitious attor-
neys work up for getting Indians on
the tribal rolls, which are presented
to each congress in large numbers.
Asks Repeal Of Laws.
In that portion of his annual report,
dealing with the five tribes, secretary
Lane of the interior department asks
for repeal of the law which permits re-
stricted Indians to lease their lands
for agricultural purposes without de-
partmental supervision; also, for re
peal of the law which provides that
lands of restricted Indians shall be
come unrestricted Immediately upon
death of the allottee; and, in lieu
thereof. make provision for sale under
departmental supervision of inherit
ed restricted lands by restricted heirs.
Repeal of the law which permits
restricted Indian to make valid will
of his restricted property is also
asked
The department wants a law for the
partition of estates of deceased allot
tees, obviating the dissipation OF small
interests of heirs on account of the
expense of guardian sales, and prevent
ing undue control of the entire estate
by a few of the heirs or their gran
tees. Payment of equalization and
per capita funds to heirs OF deceased
allottees should be made, the depart
ment recommends, upon proofs of heir
ship without the expense of admins
tratorship.
Recommendation for disposition of
the coal and asphalt deposits in the
Choctaw and Chickasaw Nations. un-
derlying about 100000 acres, and for
early per capita distribution of tribal
moneys, is asked. The department al
so suggests that survey of the boun-
day between the state OF leNas ana
the Choctaw and Chickasaw Nations
be made as a basis for settlement Of
the numerous disputes which continue
to arise by reason of the uncertainty
as to the correct boundary. Secretary
Lanes report says:
Approximately one-third of the en-
rolled Indians of the five civilized
tribes are restricted. They have been
thus classified according to their guam
tum of Indian blood. Many of these are
able to care for themselves and do not
needs the supervision OF the govern
ment Provision should be made for
the personal determination of those
who need supervision and assistance,
and upon such determination those
capable of attending to their own af-
fairs should be so declared. The speedy
settlement of tribal affairs and dis
tribution OF the tribal funds to those
qualified by determination of compe-