That the Cherokees have begun a systematic effort to force all imminent legislation is certain. [rest of article about the Supreme Court cases]
The Indian appropriation bill continues to be delayed. This has been due to the protracted absence of Mr. Sherman. He returned yesterday and the bill will go into conference for a final agreement early next week with Messrs Sherman, Curtis and Little as probably conferees for the house. It is understood that there will be no contest over the pending provisions allowing the Dawes commission to revise the tribal rolls, and opening the Comanche, Kiowa and Apache reservation. No change is noticeable as to the contention of the rejected citizenship claimants. It now appears, as it has for the past two weeks, that they will be given the right to appeal to the court of appeals at St. Louis.
There will be a sharp contest in the conference committee over the provision relating to the fraudulent Creek Warrants. ... Chief Rolly McIntosh has just arrived in Washington from the Creek Nation. He comes to defeat any legislation looking for payment of the fraudulent warrants. ...
A story was sent out to some of the western papers last week to the effect that a number of the townsite delegates rushed home to announce their candidacy for mayor, as soon as the Curtis bill was reported and it was learned that the mayors are given jurisdiction coextensive with the United States commissions. The story is untrue, harmless and amusing. In the first place, every townsite delegate here know of the amendment when it was adopted by the committee, and long before the bill was reported, and in the second place, the delegates are here now, as they have been, in discharge of the duties of their various missions. ...
Judge James E Humphrey of Purcell has received from the attorney general the appointment as assistant district attorney for the southern district of the Indian Territory. Judge Humphrey has represented Purcell as townsite delegate at this session of congress, and he is one of those men about whom I write in the preceding paragraph.
Judge M M Beavers, ex-United States commission at Chickasha, has been in Washington for several days and will remain for some time. He represents his town generally on the townsite question, and is also specially interested in getting some legislation in regard to recording mortgages and other instruments in the southern district. Under the present system all recording for that district must be done at Ardmore. Judge Beavers suggests an amendment to the bill establishing a court at Tishimingo, providing for the filing and recording of all mortgages and other instruments susceptible of record, at all the places holding court in the southern district. Judge Beavers will present and press the matter before the judiciary committee and urge that they grant the relief as suggested.
The house this week passed bills extending the charter of the Denison & Northern Railway company one year and granting right-of-way through the territory to the Nebraska, Kansas & Gulf railway. Bills were introduced by Mr. Curtis to amend the charter of the St Louis, Oklahoma & Southern Railway company, and by Senator Pettigrew, extending the charter of the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railway company for a period of three years.
The Dawes commission will remain in Washington for some time yet. Capt McKennon prepared to return to the Territory last week, to resume the work of the commission, but upon conference with the president and the secretary of the interior, he and the other members of the commission were requested to remain until certain features of pending legislation are disposed of.
IMPORTANT NOTICE.
Citizens and Property Owners to Meet in Fort Gibson. -
A meeting of the citizens, and especially the property owners of Fort Gibson will be held tomorrow (Friday) evening at 7:30 sharp in the law office of F J Boudinot for the purpose of deciding upon the metes and bounds of the re-incorporation of the town. It is very important that all property holders be present, that their wishes may be known as to the extend of the boundaries of the proposed incorporation. Those who are not present need not kick hereafter.
YES, OF COURSE.
All Road Now Lead to Fort Gibson.
But There Are Others.
All roads now lead to Fort Gibson and many people are traveling them. People with money and without money are coming in daily.
Wise people, these.
Some of them are putting up at the McLain, the Trent or the McBride hotels, while others are camping on the "Freighter's Midway." All of them, however, have the same object in view. They want to get here in time to avoid the rush.
Depot Agent C H Shaffer is enthusiastic. So is F H Nash, R E Butler, W S Nash, Jesse McLain, Henry Eiffert, F J Boudinot, R M Walker, et. al too numerous to mention.
Carpenters, painters, blacksmiths, a mayor and policemen will soon be in demand in Fort Gibson.
Keep your eye on Fort Gibson.
Watcher grow.
