The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1916-01-24

CH0CTAWSSEEK
RECOGNITION
INDIAN MEASURE BEING CLOSE
LY WATCHED-OkLAHOMA DEL
EGATION SEE A HARD FIGHT
AHEAD.

w douluSlOl, Jan. -p,-- he luuldH
appropriation bill now being consid-
cred by the house committee on In
dian affairs is the object of the watch
full solicitude of every member of
the Oklahoma delegation in congress-
1t involves more directly the inter
ests of oklahoma than any other
measure, perhaps more than all others
combined.
The big fight will be on the pro
posed Choctaw per capita payment
The delegation will ask for a payment
of 5000 for the Choctaws and 500 for
the Chickasaws. the latter having
been given a payment of 800 by the
last congress. The fight before for
the participation of the Mississippi
Choctaws resulted in the senate kill
ing the ChOctaW payment. a bill
already introduced to reopen the
Choctaw rolls and to hold up the dis
tributio nof all tribal funds pending
the making of new rolls, renews this
fight. 1t may be assumed that the
Oklahoma delegation will use every
legitimate effort in their power TO
secure the payment They convinced
the last congress, but they must make
their arguments all over again to
about one hundred new members.
The success of this project will
mean the distribution of about $4,000,
OOO in the Choctaw and Chickasaw
nations. 1t not only will be boon
to the Indians but the circulation of
such a sum of money naturally inter
ests everybody in that part of the
state. Oklahoma is represented on
the Indian committee by Representa-
tive Carter who is the ranking demo-
cratic member, and Representative
Murray who is exceptionally well in
formed on all Indian affairs, and
whose skill as parliamentarian has
already served to advance the fight
for the Choctaw payment. The dele
cation expects but little trouble in the
committee, but they will have their
heavy batteries ready for the struggle
on the floor of the house,
The Hastings bill to give the SUI
perintendent of the five ciyillzed
tribes at Muskogee final authority to
remove restrictions is also considered
important, but it is not likely that
it will be pushed until after the mat
ter of the Choctaw payments sh%l
have been disposed Of There Will
be no effort 20 make it part OF the
general Indian bill.
The Usage oil and gas lands also
claim a place in the Indian DILL TN
der the existing law the mlnera'
riobts in the Usage nation are uloal
property until 1881. There Is also
question under the existing law aS
to whether at the expiration of TINS
neriod the developed oil ana gas
nronertv would be sold and the pro-
Goods turned to the tribal funds or
whether the developed property would
divert to the owner of the land. Ihe
hill nronoses to extend the trloal
ownership of the land to 1853 and 10
settle the question of ultimate owner
lit, ofter the common ownership
shall have ceased in favor of the own
er of the land.
The secretary of the interior is au-
,bor;zed n spend 100000 of the tribal
funds of the Osages to MAINTAIN
schools and for the expenses OF the
agency. The previous act provides
so oOO for schools and 100000 for
agency expenses. This is modified
50 that the secretary may spend the
aggregate for the two purposes in his
discretion. for period not exceeding
ten wears. from Jan. 1, 1917.
For the relief and settlement oi
the Apaches. formerly held as prison
ers. it is proposed to appropriate
$40 1000 to be spent jointly by the sec
retarv of the interior and the secre-
tary of war. The bill contains pro-
vision to appropriate $4,000 to re-
imburse the women's domestic mis-
sion board of the Reformed Church
in America. for buildings erected for
the education and civilization Of the
Apache prisoners of war.
The Santa Fe railroad is authorized
10 rebuild its line through the Chill
occo Indian school reservation and 10
acquire 200 feet of risht-of-way. sub
fect to the approval of the secretary
Of the interior and the payment for
the property taken.
/ It is proposed that the payments
due from time 10 time to any men,
her of the Osaee tribe who has not