Glacier County chief., 1939-01-13

Friday. Considerable business
of importance was transacted,
one of the most important being
q meeting with a delegation of
the independent oil operators
from Cut Bank who appeared be-
fore the Council and requested
that they be allowed to pay tri.
bal oil royalty at the rate of 84c
per barrel instead of at the rate
of 81 10 per barrel. the present
posted price. 1t was brought out
during the discussion that the
regulations require the payment
of oil royalty at the rate as paid
for the major portion of oil sold
in an oil field. As the major price
obtained from the Cut Bank field
is 81 10. based on the price paid
by the Texas Co. and the North
west Refining Co., the indepen-
dent having no market have had
to sell their oil for less money
and yet pay the tribe royalty at
the rate of $1.l0 per barrel in.
stead of at the rate of S4c which
they claim they are now receiv-
ing for their crnde. The Council
decided to defer action for the
present until they could receive
certain information from Wash
ington pertaining to this subject.
The allotment of Sl50.000 of
PWA funds for the building of
museum to be located along the
highway at some site on the Fair
grounds was discussed at some
length. Considerable apprehen-
sion was shown by a few that
the erection of the new building
would ruin the faic grounds and
race track. Supt. Graves was
called in and explained the situa-
ton with the result that all
agreed that there was enough
room for both the museum and
the fair grounds and a motion
was adopted approving the site.
A resolution was presented by
Mae Williamson. requesting that
the agency Office be requested to
make available for the informa-
ton of the public and council. the
monthly oil and gas reports as
submitted by the u. S. G s.
An Indian Office circular letter
relative to the depletion of law
and order funds and suggesting
the use of tribal funds, derived
from court fines, etc same to be
used to meet travelling expenses
of the Indian police in attendance
at federal court. The Council
agreed that the majority of
liquor cases referred to the fed
eral courts could be handled in
the tribal court and do away with
q great deal of needless expense.
No action was taken, according
to motion by VIM. Buffalo Hide
until such time as all liquor cases
wherein an Indian is implicated
are handled by the tribal court
and that automobiles aud other
personal property seized and con-
fiscated to the tribe rather than
the federal bureau of investiga
ton.
A recent reduction in the old
age pension benefits by the state
caused some heated discussion as
several we'll known dependent
cases were cut off entirely. Upon
motion, the chairman and l.. j.
Burd were designated to accom-
pany Supt. Graves to the county
seat and confer with the well
fare board in an endeavor to
have the cases restored to their
former status.
The purchase of the so-called
Golf land holdings located on the
Badger-Fisher project was next
considered. This tract approx
mately 1400 acres of alienated
lands has recently been purchas-
ed by the government under the
land acquisition act and is now
under tribal ownership. After
some discussion the superinten.
dent was authorized to separate
this acreage. all of which is un.
der cultivation. into eighty acre
tracts or units to be used for re-
Mobilization purposes.
The matter of relief for the
Blackfeet came up and brought
on q lenp thy discussion. all agree
ing that there must be instant
and immediate steps taken to re
lieve the situation. The Council
agreed. authorizing the superiD.
tendent to draw on tribal funds
now on deposit in the local agency
Office to the extent of $500 pei
month for four months for the
puretase Of fresh beef to be is,