.0 ..- ^ s*.,-^!--'"- 40' <^'^ \ « a , "--^^ ^ ^-^^^ ^^ -i ,4 ^. -^^0^ qO -^ ^T^^>' <^^ .Hq, 0' a'*°y '' J>- V^'^. C^' . V V^ .0//^% o V ^^-^^ ^^<^^ ^^ ^^:' .>^^ -^o^ ^^-n^ 0^ .0 ^x. ^0 .0' ,v r: .^ .^■ <^. 0-^^ ,0' ■^^ '^v'. ,^' c^ />..?-- -7' ■\ .^' .0 ^ ^0 vU >' • ^ c'?^ ♦/ A^ '^ .f u nV' ^ -.^m^.' ^^^ "^^^.^ "^^^^^/ . ^''' ""^ \\ ^ *^ • ' * °' ^ v-0^ .•^°^. -X'^ » " ° -» ^. "■•^ o o 4 CL^ * ^, 0^ . ' ' ,, to .V "*>. •^ ■a? -<• ^ o. .0 '-^^ .^ 4 <<> C,v^ 1%, .^' V 0^ .-^^ .^,<^, O . '^ ' » « o ^ .0' 0' ^^■^<^. o V 4 o^ / Choctaw Citizenship Litigation r //I REPORT OF P. J. HURLEY National Attorney for the Choctaw Nation TO MAJOR VICTOR M. LOCKE, Jr. Principal Chief of the Choctaw Nation MAY. 1916 INDEX. Page Part Amos, Jack, et al.. Case 9 2 " '♦ " " __ 40 11 Acts Choctaw Council - -- 23 to 26 7 (Mississippi Choctaw enrollment.) Acts of Congress -- 44 to 48 7 (Providing for the appointment of Commission to adjust claims under 14th Article Treaty, 1830.) Awarded "Net Proceeds" -.. 16 3 Acts of Choctaw Council 41 and 49 7 (In re settlement of rights of claimants to "Net Proceeds" funds.) Account - - 50 3 (Net Proceeds statement.) Ashurst, Senator Henry F 50 13 (Letter.) 448 12 Agreement, July 1, 1902 15 7 Atoka Agreement (Act of June 28, 1898) 9 7 19 3 Act May 31, 1900... 12 3 Act of June 10, 1896 9 3 Act of June 7, 1897... 9 t? Act of April 26, 1906...-. 16 7 Appendix ; 27 11 Bond, Reford. Statement .....3 to 67 8 Bixby, Tams. Letter 448 12 Barnette, Jackson, et al 338 12 Ballinger, Hon. R. A 7 13 Ballinger, Webster. Contracts 10 5 Cases 306 12 " 324 12 " 344 12 " 350 12 " 55 12 Bowie, Wm. L. Report 55 1o 125 11 (^onnerly, Luke, W 5 5 381 6 Curtis Act 19 3 Crews & Cantwell -• <> 5 Claimants for Citizenship (i 13 11 INDEX Page Part Carter, Hon. C. D 2 9 " " '• 3 to 148 7 " " " 3 to 67 8 Campbell, Hon. P. P 148 7 " " " 2 9 Choctaws. Number of, in 1830 6 3 Consideration for Choctaw Estate West 3 3 Description of Choctaw Land West 3 3 Eubanks, Thomas F., et als 40(5 12 Ferris, Hon. Scott. Statement 3 11 Fourteenth Article Treaty of 1830 5 3 Gift, Jim. Decision 33 7 Goings, James, et al 319 12 Hill, Hon. Robt. P 2 9 Hurley, P. J. Report 1 " " Memorial _ 27 2 " " " Letter to Hon. Franklin K. Lane... 1 4 " " " Address Lake Mohonk Conference... 400 (3 " " " Statement Mississippi Cases 1 to 148 7 " " Ballinger eases 305 to 446 12 " " " Lester Case 316 12 " " Goings Case 324 12 " " Barnett Case 344 12 " " " Ross Case 351 12 " " Mills Case 366 12 " " " Harrison Case 384 12 " " Marcy Case 402 12 " " Eubanks Case 411 12 " " Tolber Case 427 12 " " " Smyers Case — 425 12 History Citizenship litigation 1 to 22 13 Jim Gift Case 33 7 Jack Amos Case 10 7 Jones, Hon. A. A. Letter 8 13 Johnston, Hon. D. H., Memorial 27 3 Lone Wolf (^ase 6 8 Lane, Hon. Franklin K. Report 10 Locke, Hon. Victor M., Jr., Memorial 27 3 Lee, Albert J 10 5 Mansfield, McMurray & Cornish 36 7 (Percentage fee.) McKennon Roll 20 3 McLaughlin, James. Report 5 Mowling, C. B. Letter 8 5 Net Proceeds case 14 3 Net Proceeds Statement of Account 50 7 Money in lieu of scrip and land 40 7 INDEX . Ill Page Part Owen, Senator Robt. L. Statement 13 Patentees (14th Article) 63 7 Patent Choctaw Land West 98 7 10 3 Per Capita payment (1916) 27 14 Resohition Mississippi Choctaw Council 397 6 Report of March 10, 1898 11 7 Report of James McLaughlin 5 Report of Wm. L. Bowie 55 11 Report Hon. Franklin K. Lane 10 Report Subcommittee January 10, 1913 5 2 Report Subcommittee January 2, 1915 9 Rodgers, George D. Memorial 27 3 Script Money (14th Article) 53 7 Script " " 54 7 Scripees " " 67 7 Treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek (1830) 3 7 Part One PART 1. Major Victor M. Locke, Jr., Principal Chief of the Choclaw Natio7i, Antlers, Okla. My Dear Mr. Sells: This report is submitted to you in conformity with the terms of my contract of employment as attorney for the Choctaw Nation. The report is intended to cover specifically the services per- formed by me during the last quarter, and to cover, generally, all the services performed by me in citizenship cases during the entire term of my employment as attorney for the Choctaw Nation. In order to properly defend the interests of the Choc- taw Nation against those claiming right to enrollment, as citizens of the nation, it was necessary for me to make an extensive investigation and study of the records pertaining to the tribal estate and also to study the records in all citizenship cases wherein the applicants had been denied right to enrollment. The records pertaining to the tribal estate which have been investi- gated, cover all transactions in regard to that estate from the date of the Treaty of October 18, 1820, up to, and including, transactions affecting said estate within the present year. We will not consider in this report any of the trans- actions affecting the tribal estate which have been investigated and briefed by me, except those matters involving that estate through the applications of persons claiming right to enrollment as citizens of the tribe. The making of the rolls of citizens of the Choctaw and Chickasaw Nations was commenced by the United States Government under the Act of Congress of June 10, 1S9H, and was continued until -the 4th day of March, 1907. During this period of eleven years every person who claimed right to enrollment was invited to make 0062—1 application and these applications were given thorough and impartial consideration by United States officials. While the rolls were being made an agreement was entered into betw^een the Choctaw and Chickasaw Nations and the United States which was approved by Act of Congress on July 1, 1902, and ratified bj^ a vote of the Choctaw and Chickasaw people on the 25th day of September of the same year. The agreement referred to contains the following provision: "No person whose name does not appear upon the rolls prepared as herein provided shall be entitled in any manner to participate in the dis- tribution of the common property of the Choctaw and Chickasaw Tribes, and those whose names appear therein shall participate in the manner' set forth in this agreement" (32 Stat. L., 641). The Act of April 26, 1906, declared: "That the rolls of the tribes (Choctaw and Chickasaw) affected by this act shall be fully completed on or before the fourth day of March, 1907, and the Secretary of the Interior shall have no jurisdiction to approve the enrollment of any person after that date" (34 Stat. L., 137). The rolls of the Choctaw and Chickasaw Nations were, under the laws quoted, and other laws pertaining to enrollment matters, completed and approved by the Secretary of the Interior on March 4, 1907. Only those whose names appear upon the finally approved rolls have right to participate in the tribal property. Each citizen (freedmen excepted) whose name appears upon the finally approved rolls, was entitled to, and did receive, an allotment equal to 320 acres of the average land. Each freedman received an allotment of 40 acres of land. After each citizen had received an allotment there was a residue of tribal property' remaining. This property consisted of unallotted land, timber reserve, segregated coal and asphalt deposits and segregated coal and asphalt surface land, and was estimated to be worth not less than $35,000,000. During the time in which the rolls were being made a great many persons who had no right to enrollment made application for enrollment and were denied the right to participate in the distribution of Choctaw and Chickasaw property. After the rolls had been closed, those who had been denied citizenship, together with a great many others who had never made application for enrollment, sought to have the rolls re-opened in order that they might again seek the right to participate in the dis- tribution of the residue of tribal property which remained vested in the tribes after each citizen had received an allotment. To procure the reconsideration of cases of applicants who had been denied enrollment, and to permit the filing of applications of other persons claiming right to enrollment, a great number of bills were introduced in both the House and the Senate. It was the investi- gation of the cases referred to in these bills that made necessary the preparation of the documents and the records which we are herewith transmitting. The principal matters pending before Congress which commanded our attention during this period were: First. House Bill No. 19213, presented by Representative Harrison of Mississippi, providing for the re-opening of the rolls of the Choctaw- Chickasaw Nations for the enrollment of the Mississippi Choctaws and House Bills, Nos. 3389, 3390, 6537, 792(5, 7974, 8007, 10066, 10141 and 12586 — all of which bills pertained in some manner to enrollment matters of the Choctaw and (vhickasaw Nations. Second. A great number of amendments offered by different members of the House and the Senate to the different Indian Appropriation Bills which were pending during the years 1912 to 1916, inclusive. These amendments provided for the re-opening of the rolls and for the reconsideration of appli- cations of Mississippi Choctaws, and others, for enrollment as citizens of the Choctaw Nation. Third. Issue was joined with those who sought the re-opening of the rolls when the representa- tives of the Choctaw and Chickasaw Nations presented an amendment to the Indian Appro- priation Bill providing for a distribution among the enrolled members of the Choctaw and Chicka- saw Nations, of the funds arising from the sale of the residue of tribal property. This demand was made under the provisions of the Agreement of July 1, 1902 (supra). The documents which are to follow hereafter will show conclusively that no one had legal or equitable right to participate in the distribution of the tribal estate whose name does not appear upon the rolls as prepared, completed, and approved by the United States Government. These records will also show that the Choctaws and Chickasaws, whose names appear upon the approved rolls, are entitled, under the Agree- ment of 1902, to have the Government of the United States immediately sell the residue of their tribal prop- erty and distribute the funds arising from the sale per capita among the enrolled members. The great residue of tribal property remaining undis- posed of seemed to be a tantalizing object to many men who set about to devise means whereby they could, through some subterfuge, participate in the distribution of that estate. A corporation known as the Texas Oklahoma Com- pan}^ was organized and the contracts made between claimants for citizenship and certain firms of attorneys, through their agents and runners, were transferred to this corporation. The corporation sold stock and used the money derived from the sale of its stock to maintain representation in Washington to force open the rolls of the Choctaw and Chickasaw Nations and to prevent a distribution of the residue of tribal property among the enrolled members of the tribes as provided for in the Agreement of 1902 (supra). The transactions of this corporation, the agents and attorneys associated with it and the nature of the con- tracts held by them, will be more fully considered hereinafter. The questions involved in this controversy before Congress were of serious importance to the members of the Choctaw and Chickasaw Tribes. The entire residue of the tribal estate was involved. It was to combat the efforts of the syndicate and the attorneys and runners and agents referred to, and to procure a fulfillment by the United States Government of the terms of its Agreement of July 1st, 1902, with the Choctaws and Chickasaws, that made necessary the investigation which was made by us. An historical outline of the controversy between the representatives of the tribes and the representatives of the citizenship syndicate and claimants, is fully set forth in the documentary evidence which is attached hereto in its regular order. Mississippi Choctaw Claims. At the time I was appointed attorney for the Choctaw Nation, there was pending before Congress the Harrison Bill above referred to. Shortly after my appointment the Committee on Indian Affairs of the House took the bill under consideration. I was appointed to succeed Mr. Ormsby McHarg. At the time that Mr. McHarg was serving as general attorney for the Choctaw Nation, Messrs. McCurtain & Hill, attorneys at law, of Mc- 0002—2 6 Alester, Oklahoma, were also serving as attorneys for the nation. Mr. D. C. McCurtain of the firm had been engaged in citizenship cases during the time that the rolls were being made and had special knowledge of the issues involved in citizenship litigation. On account of Mr. McCurtain's familiarity with the questions involved, the Principal Chief of the Choctaw Nation directed that the argument on behalf of the nation should be presented by Mr. McCurtain. The argument on behalf of the Chickasaw Nation was presented by Mr. George D. Rodgers, then attorney for that nation. I was present at the hearing but did not participate in the argument except to concur in the arguments of Mr. McCurtain and Mr. Rodgers. The subcommittee which had the bill under consideration conducted extensive hearings and then took the matter under consideration for quite a long period. PART 2. On January 10, 1913, the subcommittee made a report to the Committee on Indian Affairs. This report was unfavorable to the Oklahoma Choctaws and Chicka- saws and favorable to the contentions of the claimants for citizenship. The report was accompanied by state- ments made by Hon. J. J. Russell, chairman of the subcommittee, and Hon. C. B. Miller, a member of the committee. The report, together with the statements accompany- ing the same, is hereinafter set out and marked Part 2. PART 3. After a full review of the history of the estate of the Choctaw Nation, and a thorough consideration of all the treaties and litigation affecting the rights of the Mississippi Choctaws, I became convinced that the report of the subcommittee was erroneous and that the same would not be adopted by the entire Committee on Indian Affairs if the members of the committee could be made to understand the nature of the questions involved. Some of the applicants who still resided in Mississippi were undoubtedly Choctaw Indians. Almost all of the applicants were, of course, imposters. I was convinced that even the Mississippi Choctaws who had remained in Mississippi had no legal, equitable, or moral right to enrollment in the Choctaw Nation. For the purpose of enlightening the members of the Committee on Indian Affairs of the House, as well as the entire membership of the House and Senate, Mr. George D. Rodgers, then attorney for the Chickasaw Nation, and myself, as attorney for the Choctaw Nation, together prepared a memorial which was printed by the Committee on Indian Affairs of the House and a copy of which was given to each member of the House and Senate. This memorial seemed to have much effect on the members who read it. It at least raised a question in their minds as to the correctness of the conclusions set forth in the report made by the subcommittee. In fact, it was not long until it became evident that the Committee on Indian Affairs of the House was inclined to hear the matter further before taking action on the report of the subcommittee. The memorial referred to is hereinafter set out in full and marked Part 3. PART 4. On behalf of the (Tioctaw Nation I re(|uested a rehearing of the case before the committee. A rehearing was granted but a subcommittee for the purpose of conducting the hearing was not appointed until the next session of Congress. In the meantime, in the course of my investigation I 8 " discovered that the coi'i)orati()n known as the Texas Oklahoma Company, above referred to, had been organ- ized for the purpose of holding contracts made with attorneys by claimants for enrollment. I had sufficient information to convince me that the stock of the Texas Oklahoma Compan}^ was being sold upon representations that the company would derive vast sums of money in case the rolls of the > Choctaw and Chickasaw Nations could be forced open and. the Mississippi Choctaw claimants, and other claimants, allowed the right to participate in the distribution of the estate of the Oklahoma Choctaws and Chickasaws. The money pro- cured from the sale of the stock in this company was being used to maintain a lobby in Washington to prevail upon Congress to reopen the rolls. I knew that the contracts held by the Texas Oklahoma Company were not valid. They were not executed by persons who had any right to enrollment in the Choctaw or Chickasaw Nations. I knew that the Texas Oklahoma Company was spending the money received from the sale of its stock to maintain representation in Washington. I knew that the representatives of the Texas Oklahoma Company, and the claimants for enrollment, had been successful in their efforts to prevent a distribution among the Okla- homa Choctaw^s and Chickasaws of the funds arising from the sale of the residue of their estate. While I was in possession of this information I did not have it in such form as to enable me to substantiate a charge of the nature stated. For the purpose of securing the necessary information to combat the efforts of the Texas Oklahoma Company, and its associates, I wrote a letter to the Hon. Franklin K. Lane, Secretary of the Interior, asking him to detail an inspector for the purpose of procuring additional information on the subject. The letter which I addressed to the Hon. Franklin K. Lane is dated, June 12, 1913, and is hereinafter set out in full antl marked Part 4. PART 5. The Secretary of the Interior first assigned the inves- tigation of Mississippi Choctaw contracts to Mr. E. B. Linnen. Mr. Linnen was withdrawn from the work, to complete another important .assignment which he had theretofore commenced. After Mr. Linnen had been taken from the work the assignment was given to Mr. E. P. Holcombe. The untimely death of Mr. Holcombe occurred before he had completed the investigation. After the death of Mr. Holcombe, Maj. James Mc- Laughlin, an inspector in the office of the Secretary of the Interior, was detailed to make the investigation. Maj. McLaughlin's report is one of the most thorough and complete reports of its nature that I have ever read. The McLaughlin report is hereinafter set out in full and marked Part 5. PART 6. Before the McLaughlin report had been filed, I was invited to deliver an address at the Lake Mohonk Con- ference of Friends of Indians and Other Dependent Peoples. In this address I suggested the existence of a syndicate which was holding citizenship contracts and furnishing money to maintain representation in Wash- ington to reopen the rolls of the Choctaw and Chickasaw Nations. The papers carried an account of this state- ment. The statement was immediately taken up b}^ the attorneys for the Mississippi Choctaws, their runners and agents, and all those associated with the Texas Oklahoma Company, in an attempt to discredit my statement. A resolution, which was probably prepared in the office of Messrs. Crews & Cantwell, attorneys at law of St. Louis, Missouri, was sent to Mississippi and signed by the alleged members of the Council of Missis- sippi Choctaws. (Under the law no such organization could exist in Mississippi.) 6062—3 10 This resolution was printed and scattered broadcast. It used the names of prominent members of the House of Representatives and the Senate — asserted that my statements were false and that they were a slander not only upon the attorneys involved but on all members of the House and Senate who were honestly in favor of considering certain citizenship cases. Later, however, Mr. Luke W. Connerly, an agent of Messrs. Crews & Cantwell of St. Louis, assumed the responsibility of having pre- pared the resolution. He appeared before the committee and admitted that the statement I made before the Lake Mohonk Conference was true and that the state- ments contained in the resolution circulated by him and his associates were untrue. As shown by the McLaughlin report, Messrs. Crews & Cantwell had, prior to the appearance of Mr. Connerly before the committee, admitted the existence of the syndicate and the existence of the conditions as charged by me. This admission was made after my address at the Lake Mohonk Conference and before Connerly' s testimony was taken. Lately A. P. Powell, a former agent of Messrs. Crews & Cantwell, was convicted at Shrevesport, La., on a charge of using the United States mail to assist in perpetrating a fraud in connection with these matters. A copy of the Mississippi Choctaw . Resolution, and a copy of my address at Lake Mohonk, New York, are hereinafter set out and marked Pari 6. PART 7. Many of the briefs filed by attorneys for the claimants, during the hearings before the Committee on Indian Affairs of the House, contain statements which, if true, would undoubtedly entitle their clients to a right to participate in the tribal property of the Choctaw and Chickasaw Nations. Many members of both the House 11 and the Senate were misled by the erroneous statements made by the attorneys for the claimants. When we were permitted to meet these attorneys before a special committee, which was. appointed to hear the case, we were able to show all the fallacies of the briefs and arguments that were made by the attorneys for the claimants. The committee, before which the case was finally heard, was composed of Hon. Charles D. Carter, of Oklahoma, chairman; Hon. J. D. Post, Ohio; Hon. R. P. Hill, Illinois; Hon. P. P. Campbell, Kansas, and Hon. C. B. Miller, of Minnesota. The bills pertaining to citizenship matters in the Choctaw and Chickasaw Nations, which were considered during tht hearings before the above named committee were numbered as follows: . Nos. 3389, 3390, 6537, 7926, 7974, 8007, 10066, 10140, 12586. The testimony and arguments on the bills above referred to are contained in a document which was printed upon the request of the Committee oh Indian Affairs of the House of Representatives during the third session of the Sixty-third Congress, 1915. This record is too voluminous to be set out in full here but may be obtained by application to the House Document Room. My argument in opposition to the claims of the Mississippi Choctaws, which appears in the volume last above referred to and which was afterwards reprinted from said document for the use of the Committee on Indian Affairs of the Senate, is hereinafter set out and marked Part 7. PART 8. The title of the Choctaw and Chickasaw Nations to the residue of tribal property is such that each member of both tribes is entitled to an equal share of all the property of the two tribes. In order that the reader 12 may understand thoroughly the nature of the title of the Choctaw and Chickasaw Nations to the tribal estate, I call attention to the fact that on October 18, 1820 (7 Stat. L., 210), the United States Government entered into a treaty with the Choctaw Nation, then in Missis- sippi, whereby the nation ceded to the United States 4,000,000 acres of its land in Mississippi, and in con- sideration of the cession on the part of the Choctaw Nation of 4,000,000 acres, and in part satisfaction for the same; the United States Government ceded to said nation a tract of country west of the Mississippi River — situate between the Arkansas and Red Rivers, and bounded as follows: Beginning on the Arkansas River, where the lower boundary line of the Cherokee strikes the same; thence up the Arkansas to the Canadian Fork and up the same to its source; thence due south to the Red River; thence down Red River three miles below the mouth of Little River, which empties itself into Red River on the north side; thence a direct line to the beginning. It is not necessary to go into detail here to show that all the land embraced in this grant was not at that time within the territorial limits of the United States. The title to this land was more definitely defined in the Treaty of September 27, 1830 (7 Stat. L., 335), commonly known as the Treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek. Under the terms of the Treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek a patent was issued to the Choctaws. The patent is dated March 23, 1842, and contains the following language: In fee simple to them and their descendants, to inure to them, while they shall exist as a nation and live on it, liable to no transfer or alienation except to the United States and with their consent.- By the Treaty of January 27, 1837 (11 Stat., 573), the Chickasaws purchased an interest in th(^ Choctaw 13 estate west of the Mississippi River "to be held on the same terms that the Choctaws now hold it . . . (which is held in common with the Choctaws and Chickasaws)." By the Treat\^ of 1855 the United States guarantees the title to all the lands within the confines of the Choctaw and Chickasaw Nations to the tribes in the following language : To the members of the Choctaw and Chickasaw Tribes, their heirs and successors, to be held in common, so that each and every member of either tribe shall have an equal undivided interest in the whole. Section 29 of the Atoka Agreement between the Choctaw and Chickasaw Nations and the United States, approved by Act of Congress, July 28, 1898 (30 Stat. L., 495), provides that the land belonging to the Choctaw and Chickasaw Nations shall be allotted to the members of said tribes so as to give to each and every member of these tribes, as far as possible, an equal share thereof. The Supplemental Agreement which w^as approved by Act of Congress, July 1, 1902 (32 Stat. L., 641), provided that the coal and asphalt deposits, so reserved from allotment, should be sold at public auction for cash, under the direction of the President and by a commission created under the provisions of the treaty and provided further: That the proceeds arising from the sale of the coal and asphalt land, and coal and asphalt deposits, shall be deposited in the Treasury of the United States to the credit of said tribes to be paid out per capita to the members of said tribes (freedmen excepted) with other moneys belonging to said tribes in the manner provided by law. By reason of the nature of this tith^, the enrollment of anyone as a citizen of the Choctaw Nation would u dimmish the interest of the individual members of the Chickasaw Nation in the same proportion as the interest of the individual members of the Choctaw Nation. The same would be true as to the individual members of the Choctaw Nation in case of the enrollment of members of the Chickasaw Nation. For this reason the Chickasaws are as deeply interested in the defense of the Choctaw Nation against claimants for enrollment as the Choctaws.. A very able and comprehensive argument in defense of the Chickasaw Nation and against the Mississippi Choctaw claimants, was presented by Mr. Reford Bond, attorney for the Chickasaw Nation. Mr. Bond had been appointed to succeed Mr. George D. Rodgers, who was representing the Chickasaw Nation, when I was appointed attorney for the Choctaw Nation. A copy of Mr. Bond's argument is hereinafter set out in full and marked Part 8. PART 9. After the close of the arguments on the Mississippi Choctaw claims, the subcommittee above named took the matter under advisement and on January 2, 1915, they reported to the Committee on Indian Affairs of the House of Representatives. The report of the sub- committee was in favor of the Oklahoma Choctaws and Chickasaws and against the Mississippi Choctaws. The report of the subcommittee was adopted by the com- mittee. This report reversed the report of the subcom- mittee which had reported favorably on the claims of the Mississippi Choctaws on January 10, 1913. A copy of the report is attached hereto and marked Part 9. PART 10. In considering these matters to the present point, we have, of course, eliminated all arguments, briefs, and correspondence, not essential to a general history of the 15 Titigation. We have not submitted the various reports of the different kSecretaries of the Interior, all of which were favorable to the Oklahoma Choetaws and against the Mississippi Choetaws. In order, however, that the attitude of the Interior Department on the subject may be clearly defined in this report, I am attaching hereto the report of Hon. Franklin K. Lane, Secretary of the Interior. After having considered the claims of the Mississippi Choetaws at great length, the Secretary reported adversely upon the claims. The report is a strong argument against the Mississippi Choetaws and in favor of the Oklahoma Choetaws and Chickasaws. A copy of the report of the Secretary of the Interior, dated January 8, 1915, is hereto attached and marked Part 10. PART 11, While the Indian Appropriation Bill, carrying appro- priations for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1916, was pending before the Committee on Indian Affairs of the United States Senate, arguments were presented by Mr. Walter S. Field, and Mr. Webster Ballinger, both attorneys at law of Washington, D. C, in favor of an amendment which was offered by Senator Robert M. La FoUette of Wisconsin, providing for the recon- sideration of cases which were alleged to have been hurriedly considered, and in which the applicants were denied enrollment, during the so-called "Rush Period," immediately prior to the closing of the rolls on March 4, 1907. During the course of the arguments the attorneys for the claimants presented to the committee the names of many applicants, whose cases the attorneys alleged merited reconsideration. In each specific case the attorneys stated that the claimants were legally entitled to enrollment and had been denied right to enrollment 16" through no fault of theirs but by reason of the inefficiency of the United States Government in determining the rights of the applicants. The amendment was refused by the committee. It was offered again on the floor of the Senate.. The Indian Appropriation Bill did not come before the Senate for consideration until a few hours before the adjournment of Congress. The passage of the bill was greatly delayed by a filibuster conducted by Senator Gronna. Senator Gronna, and others, opposed the provision in the bill authorizing a distribution of Choctaw and Chickasaw funds. They stated that no distribution should be made until after a great many claims for citizenship, enumerated by them, had been reconsidered. I will omit the details in regard to the procedure prior to the passage of the bill. The bill finally passed the Senate carr\nng a provision authorizing a per capita payment. The provisions authorizing the payment had theretofore passed the House. After the bill had been agreed to in conference and had again passed the Senate it did not reach the House of Representatives in time to be acted upon before the adjournment of Congress. This was the second Indian Appropriation Bill that failed of passage by reason of the opposition to the provision authorizing, a distribution of Choctaw and Chickasaw funds. I have examined the Choctaw cases referred to by Mr. Ballinger and IV^r. Field, in their arguments before the committee, and I have not found among the applicants, to whom they refer, one person who is legally or equitably entitled to enrollment as a citizen of the Choctaw Nation. I have written briefs in each of the cases which they referred to. These briefs have not been called for by the committee. The committee seemed to be satisfied in regard to the merits of these cases. The briefs are too numerous and too voluminous to be set forth in this 17 report t)ut are available in the event these cases are hereafter considered. During the year, 1915, Mr. Webster Ballinger and his associates, through their agents and through the firm of Ballinger, Lindley efiinnins on the Clioclaw homidary. east of Pearl River, at a point due south of the White Oak Si>rin,i,'. on the ohl Indian path; tlience nortli to said spring: tlience northwardly to a i)lack oak standing on tlie Natchez road, about 40 poles eastwardly from IJoake's fence, marked A. .T. and blazed, with two large pines and a black oak .standing near tliereto and marked as pointers; thence a straight line to the head of Black Creek, or Bouge Loosa ; thence down Black Creek or Bouge I.oosa to a small lake; tlience a direct course so as to strilve the Mississippi 1 mile below the mouth of the Arkansas River; thence down the Mississippi to our boundary ; thence around and along the same to the beginning. Art. 2. For and in consideration of the foregoing cession on the part of the Choctaw Nation, and in i)art satisfaction for tlie same, the commissioners of the United States, in behalf of said States, do hereby cede to said nation a tract- of country west of the Mississippi River, situate between the Arkansas and Red Rivers, and bounded as follows: Beginning on the Arkansas River where the lower boundary line of the Cherokees strikes the same; thence up the Arkansas to the Canadian Fork, and up tlie same to its source; thence due south to the Red River; thence down Red River .j miles below the mouth of Tattle River, which enii)ties itself into Red River on the north side; thence a direct line to the beginning. * :;= * * « * =:■ Art. 4. The boundaries hereby established between the Choctaw Indians and the I'nitesippi shall remain without alteration; that is. the Indians shall retain their 10.000,000 aci'es intact until such time as the Indians shall become so civilized and enlightened as to be made citizens of the United States. It then contemplates that Con- gress shall allot to each family a portion of this territory. Article 5 provides something for the removal of those who are to o-Q west. It appears to contemplate that the poor Indians are the ones likely to remove, and provision is made to give each of these Indians a feAv things that may help him to make the journey. Article O makes provision for organization of Federal aid to the Indians who remove beyond the Mississippi River, jDroviding, as it does, for the establishment of an agent there, also a blacksmi.th and other officers. Article 7 contemplates that lands shall be sold, specifying the lands, the proceeds from which are to be used for the support of Choctaw schools on both sides of the Mississippi, three-fourths of the fund to be expended for the benefit of schools east of the Mis- sissippi Eiver and one-fourth for the benefit of those west of the Mississippi River. If this can be taken as a basis of what was then contemplated by the parties should be the respective portions of the Indians residing east and west, it would show that three-fourths were expected to remain in ^lississippi and one-fourth to remove west. In 1825 the United States Government, desiring to secure a strip of land forming the eastern extremity of the lands ceded to the Choctaw Indians west of the Mississippi River, entered into a treaty with that nation by which all of that ceded territory which is now within the State of Arkansas was ceded to the United States Gov- ernment. Since that time the western boundary of Arkansas has been the eastern boundary of this Indian country west of the Mississippi River. During this period a rapid development in the Southwest has taken ])lace. The United States had secured Florida, which then extended clear up practically to the Mississippi RiA^er. It was trying to re- move, and had removed westward, many of the Seminoles. who were removed to a section of territory near to that ceded to the Choctaws west of the Mississippi River. \A^liites were pressing into the South- west. After the Louisiana Purchase of 180;Uthe Southwest region had become generally known to people in the East, and inmiigrants were pouring in that direction rapidly. As a consequence of this influx of white settlers there was a desire on the part of the United Staters, responding to the wishes of these settlers, to remove all of the Indians Avest of the ^Mississippi River. The State of Mississippi desired to relieve itself of the Indians within its borders. Conse- quently, the Government undertook a treaty with the Choctaw Na- tion looking to a cession of all their Missi.ssipjii lands. The negotia- tions for this proceeded for many years without any success, the 8 REPORT AND STATEMENT OX H. R. 19213. Indians, obstinately and with complete accord and determination, re- fusing to give up their Mississippi lands or to remove West. F'inally, in the extremity of the situation, one of the Indian leaders, whose name was Greenwood Le Flore, came to the United States commis- sioners and said if they would let him formulate a new paragi-aph in the treatv' he could get the whole ratified within a A'ery few hours. They asked him what his paragraph was. He thereupon suggested, and there was written, what became paragraph 14, or article 14, of the treaty of 1830. This article is as follows : Each Choctaw head of a family, being desirous to remain and become a citizen of the States, shall be permitted to do so by signifying his intention to tlie agent within six months from the ratification of this treaty, and he or she shall there- upon be entitled to a reservation of one section of 640 acres of land, to be bounded by sectional lines of survey; in like manner, shall be entitled to one-hiilf tliat quantity for each unmarried child which is of age and a quarter section to such child as may be under 10 years of age, to adjoin the location of the par- ent. If they reside upon said lands, intending to become citizens of the States, for five years after the ratification of this treaty, in that case a grant in fee simple shall issue. Said reservation shall include the present improvement of the head of tlie family, or a portion of it. Persons who claim under tliis article shall not lose the privileges of a Choctaw citizen, but if they ever remove are not to be entitled to any portion of tlie Choctaw annuity. After the insertion of this article the treaty was quickly ratified by the Indians, and Avas finally approved September 27, 1830, and thus became the basis of the rights of the Choctaw Nation. This article is the important one of the treaty. It provides that any Choctaw In- dian who desires to remain in Mississippi and not remove west can elect to do so within six months; by making application so stating his desire to remain he shall be entitled to receive 640 acres as head of his family; each adult member of his family — or, rather, each person over 10 years of age unmarried — to receive 320 acres and each child under 10 years 160 acres. After a continuous residence upon such selected tracts for a period of five years patent in fee was to issue. Further, and especially, it provides that any such Indian elect- ing to remain in Mississippi shall not lose his Choctaw citizenship ; the only thing he ever will lose is his right to share in the annuities coming from the Government to the Choctaw Nation, and these he will lose only if he removes from his then Mississippi home west of the Mississippi River. Just what these annuities consisted in, their source and amount, have not been ascertained at the present time with definiteness. At my request the Secretary of the Interior is making a thorough in- vestigation, and subsequently he will report all the information obtainable by his office on this point. The only annuity that I can find that must have been contemplated by the Indians and the Gov- ernment was an annuity of $20,000, payable under the terms of this treaty of 1830 for a period of 20 years thereafter. At all events, it seems to be generally agreed by both parties to the treaty and by all who have commented u]:>on the treaty since, that the amount of these annuities was small — in fact, so small as not to be of serious consideration. It nnist thus be clearly understood that those Indians who elected to I'emain in Mississippi continued to be Choctaw citizens, with all of the rights possessed by Choctaw citizens anywhere. REPORT AND STATEMENT ON H. R. 19213. 9 At this point it may be well to observe that while the Choctaw Nation has made many treaties subsequent to the treaty of 1830 with the United States Government, when those treaties were made the irreat bulk of the Choctaws had removed w^est of the Mississippi River — not all on the lands ceded to them by the treaty of 1820, some of them beinc; scattered in other sections; but the great ma- jority were west of the river, and the treaties were really between the representatives of the western Choctaws and the United States; in fact, there is not to be found any evidence that the Mississippi ChoctaAvs remaining east of the river since 18?>0 have ever made any kind of an agTeement or been a party to any kind of an agreement Avith the United States Government. They were in the nature of individuals outside who were not directly consulted in the making of the subsequent treaties, although many provisions in these treaties were for their benefit. By the terms of this treaty of 1830 the Choctaw Nation ceded to the United States Government all their remaining lands east of the river. These lands comprised about 10.200.000 acres. After these heads of families who had elected to remain east of the river should I'eceive their respective allotments or tracts of land, becoming theirs by ])atents in fee after a residence of five years, the remainder should be entirely the property of the United States, and no longer should there be Indian territory in Mississippi. Nowhere in this treaty was there any consideration mentioned as ]iassing from the United States to the Indians for this last cession of their 10.000.000 acres. It was undoubtedly contemplated by the United States Government to remove all the Choctaws west of the river. The object in negotiating the treaty, in the first place, was to get them all west of the river. The provision allowing certain ones to remain east of the river had only been inserted to secure an ado]:)tion of the general treaty. Apparently they had no idea of the number who w^ould elect to remain and take advantage of article 14. At all events, nothing was done by the United States Government to enable those who desired to make application to remain east of the river until the following spring. At this time the Indian affairs of the country were under the jurisdiction of the War Department and officers of the Army were generally Indian agents. The Indian agent for this region in Mississip])i was Col. William "Ward. ■^On May 21, 1831, the Indian Office forwarded to Col. AVard in- structions to receive applications from Choctaws who desired to elect under article 14. His instructions were as follows : You \vi]] he careful in koei>inff a re.iristor of the reservatious taken under the Iburteenth article of the treaty, a fair copy of which to he made, duly certitied. and transmitted for the information of the dei)artnieni. This is the official instruction and the only one that can be foiuid. It has been said — or surmised, perhaps, Avoidd be a better term — that, apart from this official instruction of Col. Ward, was a secret instruction, not made public, to the effect that he should get as many Indians as possible to remove west ; and in doing that, of course, pre- vent, as far as ])Ossible, the Indians from availing themselves of the provisions of article 14. At all events the testimony of all j)arties who have investigated the acts of Col. Ward is unanimous respecting his conduct. He certainly did everything in his power to prevent Choctaw Indians from remaining in Mississippi. It is to be under- 10 REPORT AND STATEMENT ON H. R. 1921:]. ^tood thixt the Intliaiis had six months from and after September 27^ J 830, in whicli to make their aj^plication. There Avas no Avay in Avhich they could make their applications prior to the latter part of May, 1831. No applications were permitted to be made after the latter part of Au^'ust, 1831. The register which Col. AYard prepared hhows that the first application was registered April 18, 1831 ; the last August '23, 1831: and his certificate is of date August 24, 1831; thus not longer than four months did the Indians have in whicli to make application. The Indians began to come in in large numbers to make their ap- ]:)lications. Apparently the number was vastly gi-eater than had been anticipated or was desired. They were treated in an outrageons manner by Col. Ward. He often angrily drove them from his pres- ence. He either started or at least sanctioned the circulation among the Indians of stories that those who remained would be subjected to persecution by the whites, and would even lo^e their children. To an Indian his child is his dearest i:)OSsession. He may not think much of his father or his mother and have no regard whatever for his grand- father or grandmother, but he thinks everything of his child. This would strike terror to an Indian if anything on earth would. These Indians were, of course, unlettered, and while they have been called civilized, the term can hardly be applied to them without being given a very liberal interpretation. They could not speak English and, after Indian fashion, conveyed their ideas symbolically. For in- stance, a common method of making application by the head of a family would be for such head to appear before Col. Ward with a bundle of sticks — one long stick representing himself; somewhat shorter sticks representing the members of his family above the age of 10: then some little short sticks representing the children under 10. The colonel generally received these sticks and promptly made bon- fires of them. It was. of course, expected that he would keep a record of the names of the applicants and the members of their family for whom application Avas made. It seems that something like a list was kept. It AA'as kept on loose sheets of legal-cap paper. It Avas not found for some tinw afterAvards, and Avhen found many pages Avere gone; and the testimony of those present showed that the missing pages werejir(;bably those the colonel had used as shaving paper. It seeiiia that a large number of the sheets of this list were used for that pur- pose. It further appears that CoU Ward Avas often intoxicated, and at siu-h times was exceedingly harsh and abusive to the Indians. In sh< rt, his treatment probably forms as bad a chapter as can be found anyAvliere in the history of Indian affairs since the wdiitcs settled America. The ChoctaAvs Avere not hostile to the Avhites, had never made Avar against the Avhites, but had been the staunch friends of the whites. They had remained sturdy AA'hen a general Indian uprising had been fomented by certain Indian tribes a feAV years after the Ivevolutionary War. UpAvard of 2,000 ChoctaAv Avarriors are said to have marched under Andrew Jackson and fought at the Battle of XcAv Oi'leans. There certainly Avas no stigma to be cast upon the Indians because they chose to remain in Mississippi, where had been the homes of their fathers, and Avhere their other ancestors weie buried. Under the treaty of 1830 they had an absolute right to eleci. EEPORT AND STATEMENT OX H. R. 19213. 11 to remain if they saw fit. and, in fact, Avoukl not ha^e made that treaty Iiad this opportnnity not been accorded them. Therefore it seems to me that tlie treatment extended to these Indians by (\ol. Ward at this time was such as to recjuire that most careful attention he given to any rights that can clearly be ascertained in favor of these Indians who were at that time defrauded. In ISoT, and again in 1842, investigations were had of th.e conduct of Col. Ward. These investigations were rather extensive, and re- l)orts thereof were duly filed. It is from these reports that the fore- going statements h.ave been made respecting the conduct of Col. Ward. A Government agent, Mr. (jeorge W. ]\Iartin, under date of Sej)- tember 11, 1833, made a report to the department respecting the con- dition found among the Choctaws in Mississippi, as far as the fourteenth article claimants were concerned. In this report he said: I am unich disappointed in not being able to secure such copies and infornia- liou as seems to have been anticipated by tlae department. Col. Ward says there are no entire and perfect copies of the re.sjisters and reservations retained here, and advised me to a]iply to the department. I shall secure such papers here as may enable me to proceed in the loeatiu-.ir. but I am certain the work can not be done in a complete and perfect manner unless I am furnished with a more full re,i;ister. as the one here is incomplete. Again, under date of October 3, 1833. this same agent made a report to Andrew Jackson, tlien President of the United States, in which he said : I am pro.ffressiug with the Itusiness by means of the register obtained from < 'ol. Ward, but it is probal)le there are many names omitted on this reuister which are entitled to land agreeably to the register or list of reserves for- warded to the War Dejjartment by Mr. Armstrong. Such was the opinion of -Mr. William Armstrong, who was present at the time I applied for and re- ceived the register on which I am now acting, which I adverted to in my com- munication to you of the 11th ultimo. Again, under date of December 20, 1834, the Government agent reported to the War Department in the folloAving language : In obedience to instrncticms, 1 have caused all the testimony ottered lo be taken in writing, under oath, and in due form of law. A list of the names of the witnesses is annexed to this report, and copies of the deixjsitions them- selves are herewith transniilted, the originals being retained for the use of Ibis otlice. The instructions reipiire that I should report the facts and circumstances submitted to me. P>y a reference to the ]ia]»ers it will I)e seen that the deposi- tions estalilish the following facts, xiz: First. That within tlie tim(> limited l)y the treaty for registration, on one iiccasion a numlter of Indians, then living on Snckenatchie. and some of them living yet that the small book or sheet of paper on which their names were entered has lieen either lost by the agent or destroyed ))y those who might possibly wish the Indians to emigi-ate. It ajipears that a iior- tion of these Indians have since gone away, while others remain on their lands and now c<»ntend for liieir claims. Second. That there are instances where individuals went forward and had their names enteied down on the book, and yet they were aftei'wai'ds erased or blotted oat by i)ossiltly those who had free access to the agent's Itooks. Third, It further a])i)ears from the testimony of several witnesses of un(pies- lionable character that in the month of .June, l.s;jl, a number of ln final awards of all claims of snch i)arties nnder the fonrteentli article of Slid ti'eaty by the proi)er national anthority of the t'hoctaws in such form as ?hall be prescribed by the Secretary of the Interior. Now,thewords,"If they receive the $872,000 thereby appropriated a release in full of all claims, individual or national, shall be given to the United States Government,'' are of the utmost importance. That was in 1852. I will say that this $872,000 was paid to the Indians, as neai' as I can make out ; at least the C^ourt of CMaiuis, when the case was before them, so found. The Chairman. Was that recuiii-ed to be ])aid per cai)ita or to them as a band? Mr. Miller. That was an in(|uiry that I si)ent a gi-eat deal of time on. and not until i-ecently could I I'cach a decision: I lunc made out that it was j)aid per capita. Mr. Carter. AVas that paid to the Choctaws in Okdahouia or the Choctaws in Mississippi, or any division of it? Mr. Miller. Paid to all of theui. Mr. Carter. All together ( Mr. Miller. Yes, sir. 16 REPORT AXD STATEMENT OX H. R. 19213. Mr. Carter. Was it paid per capita ? You .say your belief is that they were paid per capita. Mr. MiLLKR. I will read Avhat the Court of Claims said. Besides everythino the said heads of families and their children, oi- tlieir legal representatives, under the provisions of an act of Con- gress ajijiroved .July 21. 1852. Mr. Burke. What was involved in that case? Mr. Miller. This is the great Choctaw case. Mr. Carter. Is that '' Choctaw Nation v. United States " ? Mr. Miller. Yes. sir. The Chairman. Please give the style of the case. Mr. jNIiller. The style is " Choctaw Nation v. United States." (119 U. S.. p. 18.) The Chairman. Proceed, Mr. Miller. Mr. jNIiller. And yet the matter was not disposed of. In 1855, still being undisposed of. and the Indians claiming that they had not l)een properly benefited, a treaty was entered into betAveen the Choc- taw Nation and the United States. From this point on it must be borne in mind that the Choctaw Nation as such was an organized body west of the Mississippi Elver. When we started out the main body of Choctaws were in Mississippi, but gradually migration has been taking place until the main body of the nation is located west of the Mississippi River, and all official acts of the nation are performed by the officially organized Choctaw Nation west of the Mississippi River. And prob- ably it is only fair to state that while the Choctaw Nation west on every occasion and at all times manifested entire friendliness to the Choctaws east, and often invited them out to the AYest and to share the western wealth with them, yet it does not appear that they ever considered or took into consultation with them those Choctaws in Mississippi. In other words they assumed to act for their own benefit largely. 1855 the Choctaw Nation and the United States entered into another treaty containing many provisions, but one of which is important. Mr. BiRKE. I do not want to disturb your argument, but you stated a nionient ago that you were going to read something that the National Council did and before they heard from the Court of Claims. Mr. jNIiLiJiR. I am going to come to that later. Mr. Burke. All right. " Mr. Miller. .In 1^55 the treaty made between the Choctaws and the I"^nited States (iovernment agreed that the whole matter should be submitted to the United States Senate as a court of arbitration to take into consideration all claims, individual and national, that the Choctaws had against the United States, they to make a thorough investigation and report, which should be final and complete. The REPORT AXD STATEMENT OX H. R. 19213. 17 United States Senate did proceed and did have extended hearings on the matter, and in 1851) made a finding. I think we onght to read that finding. Perhaps it woukl be wise to pnt into the record the provisions of the treaty nnder which this was siibmitted to the United States Senate. Article 11 of the treaty provides: The Govornnieiit of the rnited States not being i)rej):ired to assent to the claim set up under tlie treaty of Spjiteniher 27. 1880, and so earnestly contended for by the Clioctaws as a rult^ of settleuient. but justly aijpreciatinsr the saeri- tiees. faithful services, and .m-neral liood conduct of the Choctaw i>eople, and l)eing desirous that their riiihrs and claims r.gainst the United States shall receive a jusl. fair, and liberal consideration, it- is thei'efore stipulated that the following (piestions be submitted for adjudication to the Senate of the T'nited States: First. Whether the Choctaws are entitled to or shall be allowed the proceeds nt the sale of the lands ceded by them to the T'nited States by the treaty of September 27, 18.30. deducting therefrom tlie cost of their survey and sale, and :ill just and proper ex]ienditures .and iia.vments imder the provisions of said treaty, and. if so, what price per acre shall be allowed to the Choctaws for llie lands remaining unsold, in order that a final settlement with them may be promi»tly effected; or — Second. Whether the Choctaws shall be allowed a gross su.m in further and full satisfaction of all their claims, national and individual, aginst the l^nitetl State-;; and. if so, how much. Art. 12. In case the Senate shall award to the Choctaws the net proceeds of the lar.ds ceded as aforesaid the same shall be received by them in full satis- faction of all their claims against the T'nited States, whether national or indi- vidual, arising under any former treaty — Now this, gentlemen, is the particular treaty stipulation of im- portance — and the Choctaws shall thereupon become liable and bound to pay all such, individual claims as may be adjudged by the proper authorities of the tribe to be equitable and just — the settlement and payment to be made with the advice and under the direction of the United States agent for the tribe: and so much of the fund awarded by the Senate to the Choctaws, as the proper authorities thereof shall ascertain and determine to be necessary for the payment of the just liabilities of the tribe, shall, on their requisition, be i)aid over to them by the United States. But should the Senate allow a gross sum in further and full satisfaction of all their claims, whether national or indi- vidual, against the United States, the same shall be accepted by the Choctaws, and they shall thereupon become liable for and bound to pay all the individual claims as aforesaid, it being expressly understood that the adjudication and decision of the Senate shall be final. In other words, it is contemplated in this treaty that if the Senate awards a linnp sum. after hearing all the evidence, both as to claim.s of indi\iduals and the nation, a lump sum shall be awarded to tlie Choctiiw Xation. and then the Choctaw Xation as an entity in itself shall become liable to the individuals for the individual claims which form ])art of the whole. Mr. Burke. Was that treaty made with all the Choctaws? Mr. MiLLEif. It Avas made with the Choctaw Xation. As I have figured it out it consisted of the Choctaws West. The Choctaws in Afississippi were never consulted, as far as I can find, or became parties to any treaty witli the TTnited States aft^r September 27, 1830. The CiiAiH.-vrAX. When was tliat treaty made? Mr. MiLLEK. In 1855. The Chairman. In the Five Civilized Tribes of Oklahoma? Mr. Miller. Yes. sii-: it was in 1855 some time, T can not give the e.xact date. 7r)ir,8— 1.3 2 18 REPORT AND STATEMEXT ON H. R. 19213. As a result of the United States Senate sitting as a court of arbi- tration and hearing the matter from beginning to end, on the 9th of March, 1855, they made their finding as follows : RcHolved, That the Choctaws be allowed the proceeds of the sale of such lands as have been sold by the United States on the 1st day of January lasK deductius therefrom the costs of their survey and sale and all proper expendi- tures and payments under said treaty, excluding the reservations allowed and secured, and estlmatinc; the scrip issued in lieu of reservations at the rate of $1.25 per acre: and, further, that they be also allowed 12^ cents per acre for the residue of said lands. That was the decision of the United States Senate. They at the same time called upon the Secretary of the Interior to make a state- ment of accoimt showing the quantity of land sold, the amount for which it had been sold, also showing the amount unsold. Mr. Carter. And was this the Senate Avhich you are si)eaking of noAV ? ilr. Miller. Yes, v-Xv^ I am speaking of the Senate. Xow, for the benefit of some who were not here the other morning when Mr. Rus- sell and I discussed this, it might be well to state that for the lands ceded by the treaty of 1830. consisting^of a little over 10,000.000 acres in the State of Mississippi, no specific consideration was stated in the treaty itself. Mr. Stephens of Nebraska. This is the first price made on the land; this Senate act of 185.")? Mr. Miller. Yes, sir, Xow. under the direction of the Senate the Secretary of the Interior did state a complete account, and in that it was found that adding together all proceeds derived from sales there- tofore made, and estimating the amount unsold at 12^ cents an acre, the aggregate sum was $8,070,614.80. Now, the}' had a whole lot of charges against that for removal, cost of subsistence, cost of selling, and other charges, which aggregated $5,097,367.50, leaving a residue or balance due to the Choctaws of $2,981,247.30. Mr. Burke. Were they charged for the $782,000 that was paid them ? Mr. Miller. Yes, sir: that comes in just a minute. Now, the Sen- ate of the United States at once appropriated $250,000 as the first payment on this $2,981,247.30. and I will sav that on that $2.98 1,247.30 interest was to l)e i)aid. The act of March 2, 1861, the Indian appropriation act, provided for an issue of $250,000 in bonds as a part payment on this balance due the ChoctaAvs. At this time the war broke out. The ChoctaAvs and other Indians were on differ- ent sides, and naturally all interest stopped. All that was paid was this sum of $250,000. The bonds were never issued. That remained until 1881. when, by act, this was sent to the Court of Chxims. By this I mean the entire claims of the Choctaws against the' United States, and it was fought out there, and the Court of Claims came to this decision, that inasmuch as the Choctaw Nation and the Choctaw individuals received and accepted $872,000 under the terms of the appropriation act of 1852, and executed therefor a release in full to the United States, they could not adjudicate or award any claim in damages to the ChoctaAvs by reason of the items that were included in the $872,000: that is, growing out of the lands. (Choctaw Nation v. United States. No. 12742. Court of Claims. REPORT AND STATEMENT ON H. R. 19213. 19 "When appealed to Supreme Court it became Choctaw Nation v. U. S., 119 U. S., 1.) Now it will be appropriate to see the exact nature of the Choc- taw national act. yiv. Stephens of Nebraska. In other words, the Court of Claims repudiated the action of the Senate? ]Mr. Miller. I have not come to that yet. I will in a moment. The Choctaw^ Nation, by its proper authorities, on November G. 1852. executed and delivered to the United States the following in- strument — under the provisions of the act to wdiich I called attention and cjuoted from, the act of July 21, 1852 — for the purposes therein specified : Whereas by jin act of Congress entitled "An act to supply deficiencies in the ii])ini)iiriations for the service of the fiscal year ending the 30th day of June, is."(2."" all payments of interest on the amount awarded Choctaw claimants under the fourteenth article of the tre.ity of Dancing IJahljit Creek for lands on which they resided, hut which it is impossible to give them, shall cease, and that the Secretary of the Intericu' be directed to pay said claimants the amount of the principal awards in each case, respectively, and that an amount neces- sary for this inirjiose be appropriateresent case are those which govern public treaties, which, even in case of controversies between nations equally inde- liendent. are not to be read as rigidly as documents between private persons governed by a system of technical law. but in the light of that larger reason which constitutes the spirit of the law of nations. And it is the treaties made lietween the United States and the Choctaw Nation, holding such a relation, the assumptions of fact and of right which they presuppose, the acts and conduct of the parties under them, which constitute the material for settling the c.v snid n.-ition or individunls thereof or to which the.v were entitled nnder the treaties and legislation heretofore made and had in connection with it shall be and are liereby declared to be in full force, so far as they are consistent with the provi- sions of this treaty, to the end that such Choctaws and (''hick;'saws as yet remain outside of the Choctaw and Chickasaw Nation may arbitrarily remain and exercise rights heretofore given to the Choctaws and Chickasaws, ])ro vided that before any such absent Choctaw or Chickasaw shall be permitted to select for him or herself or others as hereinafter provided, he or she shall satisfy the register of the land ofiice of his or her intentions or the intentio)i of the party for whom the selection is to be made, to become bona tide residents of the said nation within five .vears of the time of selection, and should said absenlee fail to remove into the said nation and occup.v and connnence an im- lirovement of the land selected within the time aforesaid, the said selection shall be canceled and the land hereafter be discharged from all accounts thereof. That simply looks to the removal of those. Here is another por- tion of that same treaty, where it provides that a certain notice re- quired in one article " shall be governed not only in the Choctaw and Chickasaw Nations (as notice to the Choctaws that they can go and take their lands and get their rights), but by publication in news- papers printed in the States of Mississippi, Tennessee, Louisiana. Texas, Arkansas, and Alabama, to the end that such Choctaws and Chickasaws as yet remain outside of the Choctaw and chickasaw Nations may be informed and have oj^portunity to exercise the rights hereby given to representative Choctaws and Chickasaws." Then follows that portion which I have just read. Again, in 1880, the Choctaw Nation, by its regular legislative body, sent this to the United States Congress. It was never trans- mitted to or reached the Mississij^pi Choctaws. but it shows the proper attitude on the part of the Choctaw Nation. It is as follows: Whereas there are large numbers of Choctaws yet in the S ales of Mississi])pi and Louisiana who are entitled to all the rights and iirivilcges of citizenship in the Choctaw Nation ; and Whereas llie.v are denied all rights of citizenship in said Stales; and Whei'eas they are invited to migi-ate themselves into the Choctaw Nation: Therefoie be it Rrsiilvctl by (Iciicrdl (Joiiiiril of tlir CJiochiir Xnlion (isnciiihlcd. That the IJniteer of any tribe in Indian Territory who has not been a recofrnized citizen thereof and duly enrolled oi- jidniitted as such, and its refusal of such applications shall be final when approved by the Secretary of tlie Intei'ior : I'roriilcil. That any Mississipiii Chcctaw duly idenlitied as such by the United States Connnissiou to the Five Civilized Tribes shall have the right at any time prior to the apiiroval of the final rolls of the Choctaws and the Chickasaws by the Secretary of the Interior to make settlement within the Choctaw-Chickasaw country, and on proof of the fact of bona tide settlement may be enrolled i)y the said United States connuis- .sidu and by the Secretary of tlie Interior as Choctaws entitled to allotment : rrorUJed fiifthcr. That all contracts or agreements looking to the sale or incum- brance in any way of tlie lands to be allotted to said Mississiiipi Choctaws shall be null and void. I call s])ecial attention to those acts as they show that the neces- sity of removal into this new country west was essential to enroll- ment or being recognized as entitled to the benefits of Choctaw citi- zenship, Mr. SiMTTir. Before you get away from that point, have you the figures showing the number of applications to the DaAves Commis- sion for identification by the United States, showing how many they refused to identify as Mississippi Choctaws? Mr. Miller. Yes, sir; T can give those exact figures. The report of the Commissioner to the Five Civilized Tribes in 1907, which was after the rolls were closed, shows that 24,634 persons applied to the Commission to the Five Civilized Tribes for identification. Of these 2,534 were identified and their names were placed upon schedules and forwarded to the Secretary of the Interior. As above stated. 1,44.5 only were really enrolled. Mr. Stephens of Nebraska. There Avere 24.G34 that applied? Mr. Miller. Yes. sir. Then we come to the last act of Congress that has any importance and particular bearing upon this matter. That is the act of 1902. which some of the connnittee have become very familiar with. That is what some call the McMurray Act. Article 41 provides as follows: All persons duly identified by the Coiiuuission (n the IMve Civilized Tribes undtn- the provisions of section 21 of the act of Congress ai)])roved ,Iune 2Si. 1S!»S (80 Stat.. 40,5), as Mississippi Choctaws entitled to benefits under article 34 of the treaty between the United States and the Choctaw Nation conclude! September 27, IsriO. may. at any time within six months after tlie date of their identification as Mississijiiti Choctaws by the said commission, make bona fide settlement within the Choctaw-Chickasaw country, and upon proof of such settlement to such commission within one year after the date of the said identification as Mississippi Choctaws shall be eurolletl by such commission as J*Iississippi Choctaws entitled to allotment as her(>in i)rovided for citizens of the tribes, subject to special provisions lierein provided, as to Mississippi Choctaws. and said enrollment shall be final wlien approved by the Secretary of the Interior. In other words, that provision says that to become enrolled they would have to remove, and they were given six months in which to do it after the date of their identification. Then it goes on in this most remarkable language: The application of no person for identification as a ^iississiiipi Choctaw shall be received by said commission after' six months subsequent to the date EEPOET AND STATEMENT ON H. R. 19213. 25 of the final ratification of this agreement and in the disposition of such application all fnll-hlood Mississippi Choctaw In4 of the Choctaw and Chickasaw Nations for a period of rbree years, inclurounds of residence — ^was confirmed by the Federal court, and appealed from the Federal court on the grounds of jurisdiction to the United States Supreme Court, and the decision of the lower court was affirmed. Mr. Warburton. That was the original treaty, and there never has been any other treaty since that time. They have never rescinded their rights. Mr. BiRKE. Before we adjourn, I assume that Mr. Miller is re- ]iorting the results of this investigation made by this subcommittee, and 1 understand that the subconnnittee concurred in what he has said, and he has made a very elaborate and, I think, convincing argu- ment. Now. I think ^Ii-. Carter, who is very familiar with this subject, ought to have an opportunity to examine the report of the subcom- mittee and the statement made by Mr. Miller, and that we hear Mr. Carter as to what he may have to say. I think before we discuss it, ]f we could get the other side of it we would have it printed. The Chairman. Yes; but have it printed first. jVlr. Hayden. We haA'e here the two governors of these tribes, who are very familitir with this, and likewise these tribal attorneys, who are familiar with it. and I think there are a lot of things that ought to be taken up in connection with it, and I think that Mr. Carter is sure the}' ought to be heard. Mr. Burke. I think, from what I have heard from Mr. Miller, that the subcommittee has handled this matter quite fully. Mr. Ferris. Of course; but, as I understand, they do not propose to recommend this particular bill. They merely gave us this informa- tion looking to the framing of some particular bill. Mr. Mieeer. I wdl say this: "\Ve do not believe that this bill should joass at all. In fact, this bill requires eveiy applicant to identify himself as a descendant from an ancestor Avho received or was entitled to receive land under article 14, and yet the testimony of everybody who is familiar with the situation is that if we should require most of the full bloods to establish such ancestry it is something which they can not do. Mr. Burke. Mr. Miller, I would suggest that before the statement you made to-day is printed that you insert references to the Su])reme Court decisions and the Court of Claims. The CiiAiRAiA^. I would suggest that we have this all ]n-inted as hearing No. 11. jMr. RissELE. I will come down during the day and dictate in sub- stance the statement 1 made to the whole committee at our last meet- ing. There was no stenographer here then for that ]^urpose. Mr. Smith. Then, will you have the time fixed for the statement? The CiiAHniAN. AVc will get the statement from the Interior De- partment. Thereuj^on. at 1'2.10 o'chx'k p. m., the connnittee adjourned. X Part Three MEMORIAL OF THE CHOCTAW AND CHICKASAW NATIONS RELATIVE TO THE Rights of the Mississippi Choctaws SUBMITTED FOR CONSIDERATION IN CONNECTION WITH H. R. 19213 r WASHINGTON 1913 MEMORIAL OF THE CHOCTAW AND CHICKASAW NATIONS RELATIVE TO THE RIGHTS OF THE MISSISSIPPI CHOCTAWS, SUB- MITTED FOR CONSIDERATION IN CONNECTION WITH HOUSE BILL 19213. Any claim which the Mississippi Choctaw Indians may have to share in the lands and other property of the Choctaw Nation in the State of Oklahoma is based on the fourteenth article of the treaty of September 27, 1830, commonly known as the treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek. In order to fully understand the history of this ques- tion it is necessary to start with the treaty of October 18, 1820, be- tAveen the United States and the Clioctaw Nation, under which the title of the Choctaws to their lands west of the Mississippi was acquired. The purposes of this treaty are stated in the preamble, which is as follows : VVIaereas it is an iriiportaut object witli the President of the United States to promote the civilization of the Choctaw Indians by the establishment of schools amongst them and to perpetuate them as a nation by exchanging for a small part of their land here a country beyond the Mississippi River, where all who live by hunting and will not work may be collected and settled to- gether ; and Whereas it is desirable to the State of Mississippi to obtain a small part of the land belonging to said nation : For the mutual accommodation of the parties and for securing the happiness and protection of the whole Choctaw Nation, as well as preserving that harmony and friendship which so happily subsists between them and the United States, James Monroe, President of the United States of America, by Andrew Jackson, of the State of Tennessee, major general in the Army of the United States, and Gen. Thomas Hinds, of the State of Mississippi, commissioners plenipotentiai'y of the United States, on the one part, and the Mingoes, headmen and warriors of the Choctaw Nation, in full council assembled, on the other part, have freely and voluntarily en- tered into the following articles, viz: * * * (7 Stat. L., 210.) By article 1 of said treaty the Choctaw Nation ceded a portion of their land in the State of Mississippi, amount inoj to about 4,000,000 acres, to the United States, in the following words: ARTirr.K 1. To enable the President of the United States to carry into effect the above grand and humane objects the Mingoes,- lieadmen and warriors of the Cliof-taw Nation, in full council assembled, in behalf of themselves and the said nation, do by these presents cede to the United States of America all the land lying and being within the boundaries following, to wit: * * *. Here follows a description by metes and bounds of the ceded ter- ritory. Article 2 of said treaty is as follows: For and in consideration of the foregoing cession on the part of the Choctaw Nation, and in part satisfaction for the same, the conunissioners of the United States, in behalf of said States, do hereby cede to said nation a tract of country 3 4 MEMOEIAL OF THE CHOCTAW AND CHICKASAW NATIONS. west of the Mlssissipi)! Kiver situate between the Arkansas and lied Rivers, and bounded as follows: Be.i,'inninfr on the Arkansas Kiver where the lower boundary line of the Cherokees strikes the same; thence up the Arkansas to the Canadian Fork, and up the sr.me to its source; thence due south to the Red River; thence down Red River 3 miles below' the mouth of Little River, which empties itself into Reil Itiver on the north side; thence a direct line to the beginning. The land therohv iic(|uire(l by the Choctaw Nation in exchange for the 4.000,000 acres of tlieir hind in the State of Mississippi embraced all of the land that the Choctaw Nation ever acquired west of the Mississippi River. During the decade following the date of this treaty the Southeast- ern States were being raj)idly settled by white persons, and it was determined by the authorities of the United States that it was de- sirable to effectuate the removal of all the Indians residing in that locality to a territory to be set apart to them west of the Mississippi River. The Choctaws by their treaty of 1820 had already acquired a large domain west of the river, and commissioners were sent to Mississippi to treat with them and to obtain, if possible, their removal to their lands west. Accordingly the treaty of September 27, 1830, was negotiated. On behalf of the United States John H. Eaton and John Coffee were appointed commissioners, and they were instructed to proceed to Mississippi for the purpose of entering into a treaty with the Choctaws. On the 18th day of September, 1830, the said commissioners met the chiefs and headmen of the Choctaws and de- livered to them a " talk," as it is called in the journal of the commis- sioners. This talk was for the purpose of inducing the Indians to enter into negotiations with the commissioners, and as showing the representations made to the Indians will be here quoted. The mate- rial parts of it are as follows: By direction of your great father we have come amongst you. It is not your lands we seek, but your happiness. If you remain you will be subject to tlie jurisdiction of courts, pay taxes, etc.. and if you are satisfied that In such a condition you would be imhappy, then agree to remove beyond the Mississijipi, where you will be able to live under your own laws. Record the votes of your headmen and let us know who is w'illing to move and who are opposed. In 1820. by a treaty, a fine country was given you for the use of your people. It was the understanding at that time that the Choctaws would remove. Ten years are passed and you are still here. If you prefer to live here, sui'- render the lauds west or otherwise remove to them. Hereafter we will not treat with you. (21 C. Cls. Rep., p. 61.) Even to the imtutored mind of the Indian this language could not be misunderstood. There was presented the alternative of re- maining in Mississippi, forfeiting the lands which they had acquired by solemn compact in the West, becoming subject to the white man's laAvs, to the jurisdiction of his courts and to taxation, or leaving their homes in Mississippi and removing to their territory in the AVest. The Choctaws were surprised at the proposition and representa- tions of the commissioners in regard to the forfeiture by them of their lands in the West if they did not remove to them, as no such condition had been placed in the treaty of 1820, and at first refused to treat with the commissioners of the United States. The com- missioners thereupon threatened to withdraw and no longer treat with them, and a few days later the Choctaws, being fearful of the consequences of their refusal, presented certain proposals for a treaty of their own accord. The}'^ agreed that their people would MEMOEIAL OF THE CHOCTAW AND CHICKASAW NATIONS. 5 remove to their lands west of the Mississij^pi, but demanded that those who had improA^ements in Mississippi and were willing to remoAe should be granted certain reservations, the amount of the i-eserve being dependent upon the acreage under cultivation, and insisted that those who desired to remain should also be taken care of, Avith the understanding that the}^ should become citizens of the State in Avhich the}' resided and thereby subject to all the laAvs of said State. That part of their proposal bearing on this subject is as follows : Also, such persons wishing to become citizens, and who are Iieads of families, shall be entitled, for himself or herself, to a section of land; and having lived npon and cultivated the same for six years after the ratification of this treaty, shall receive a grant in fee; the location shall be bounded by sectional lines aiid include his or her dwelling. (21 C. Cls. Rep., p. 63.) The treaty was finally concluded on September 27, 1830, and the proposals of the Choctaws were in a measure adopted. Tayo classes of reservations Avere provided for by the treaty. Article 14, under Avhich the Mississippi ChoctaAv claim arises, is as follows : Art. 14. Each Choctaw head of a family being desirous to remain and become a citizen of the States shall be permitted to do so by signifying his inten- tion to the agent within six months from the ratification of this treaty, and he or she shall thereupon be entitled to a reservation of one section of 640 acres of land, to be bounded by sectional lines of survey ; in like manner shall be entitled to one-half that quantity for each unmarried child which is living with him over 10 years of age, and a quarter section to such child as may be under 10 years of age, to adjoin the location of the parent. If they reside upon said lands, intending to become citizens of the States, for five years after the ratification of this treaty, in that case a grant in fee simple shall issue; said reservation shall include the present improvement of tlie head of the family, or a portion of it. Persons who claim under this article shall not lose the privi- lege of a Choctaw citizen, but if they ever remove are not to be entitled to any portion of the Choctaw annuity. (7 Stat. L., 335.) This article provides for those who desired to remain and become citizens of the States. Article 19 provides for reservations to those who intended to remoA'e and had improvements in Mississippi. The treaty Avas not ratified until February 24, 1831, and on May 21, 1831, the War Department, then having charge of the Indian affairs, advised Col. Ward, Indian agent in Mississippi, to open a register of claims under the fourteenth article and another list for those Indians claiming under the nineteenth article. Ward advised the department on June 31, 1831, that he had opened such registers and Avas receiving the claims of the Indians. The history of these transactions shoAvs clearly that the authorities of the United States as Avell as the State authorities of Mississippi did all in their poAver to get the Indians to move and discouraged as much as possible registrations under the fourteenth article. The six months provided by the treaty Avithin which the Indians could signify their intention to remoA^e expired on August 24, 1831. and the records kept by Col. Ward shoAv that comparatiA^ely fcAV Indians Avere regis- tered by him as being desirous of remaining in the State. It Avas afterAvards chargccl. hoAvever. that the Indians had not been fairly dealt Avith, and that many of those Avho appeared before AVard for the purpose of registering under the fourteenth article Avere turned aAvay Avithout their names being listed. Accordingly, by acts of Con- gress approved March 3, 1837, and February 22, 1838 (see Appendix No. 1), commissioners AA-ere appointed for the purpose of proceeding 6 MEMORIAL OF THE CHOCTAW AND CHICKASAW NATIONS. to Mississippi and investigating the complaints lodged against the conduct of Ward. By the year 1838 a greater part of the Choctaw Tribe had removed west of the Mississippi Eiver. In the report of the Commissioner of Indian Affairs dated December 1, 1836, it is stated that the whole number of Choctaw Indians in Mississippi at the date of the treaty of 1830 amounted to 18,500 persons, and he estimated that 15.000 of these had emigrated to Indian Territory at the date of his report. In the report of the Commissioner of Indian Affairs dated November 1, 1838, he shows that 177 Indians had emigrated since his report of 1836, making the total number who had removed to Indian Territory amount to 15,177 by November 1, 1838. In the report of F. W. Armstrong, special agent, submitted in 1834, and found in American State Papers, volume 7, at page 139. the whole number of Choctaws in Mississippi in 1830 is given as 19,209. The commissioners who went to Mississippi under the acts of 1837 and 1838 reported that there were yet remaining in Mississippi on the 31st day of July, 1838, about 5,000 Choctaw Indians. So from these figures it is probable that the enumeration of Special Agent Arm- strong is more nearly correct than that contained in the report of the Commissioner of Indian Affairs above referred to, and that in the j-^ear 1838 about 5,000 still remained in Mississippi. In spite of the fact that so many Indians were still in Mississippi, and that probably many of them were fourteenth article claimants, patents were issued under the fourteenth article to only 143 heads of families. The total number of persons to whom patents were issued, including the children, amounted to 276. To afford relief to the large number of Indians who had been denied their rights under the four- teenth article, by act of Congress approved August 23, 1842 (5 Stat. L., 513), a new commission was appointed to proceed to Mississippi and adjudicate the claims of all ChoctaAv Indians who yet remained ihere and claimed that they had been deprived of their rights under the fourteenth article by reason of the arbitrary action of the agents of the United States. (See Appendix No. 2.) The number of heads of families Avho established their rights under the act of 1842 is 1,155, the total number of persons whose claims were thus favorably adjudicated, including the children, amounted to about 4,000. In House of Eepresentatives Document No. 898. Sixty- first Congress, second session, is given a list of the patentees under the fourteenth article and a list of those persons whose claims were favorably adjudicated under the act of August 23, 1842. This latter (lass, under the terms of the act referred to. were to receive scrip in lieu of the land to which they would have been entitled as fourteenth article beneficiaries. This scrip entitled the holder to take up un- occupied ])ublic domain in the States of Mississippi, Arkansas, Ala- bama, and Louisiana equal in quantity to the amount of land the holder thereof would have been entitled to under the fourteenth article, not exceeding one half of the same to be issued to the claimant in Mississii)pi and the other half to be issued upon his removal west of the Mississii)pi River. jMan\ of the Indians still remaining in Mississippi, as shown b}^ the report of the commissioner in 1838, emi- grated to the Choctaw Nation west between that year and the year 1 855. There are on file in the office of the Commissioner of Indian Affairs nnister rolls of emigrating Choctaws which show that during MEMOEIAL OF THE CHOCTAW AND CHICKASAW NATIONS. 7 the period stated — that is, from 1838 to 1855 — more than 3,400 Choc- taws removed to the Indian Territory. It will thus be seen that, taking the figures of the Commissioner of Indian Affairs to the effect that 15,000 Choctaws had emigrated i^rior to 1836, the total number of Choctaws who were in Indian Territory at the date of the treaty of 1855 was over 18,500, leaving in Mississippi not more than 1,000 of the original members of the nation. The first half of the scrip was delivered to those persons found entitled thereto under the act of 1842, or to their representatives, withiii a few years after the adjudication of their claims. How- ever, by act of Congress of March 3, 1845 (5 Stat. L., 777), it was provided that the balance of the scrip, being the second half of the payment, should not be paid to the Indians, but that it should be capitalized at $1.25 per acre and the interest accruing thereon, at the rate of 5 per cent per annum, should be paid to the Indians or their representatives. This was done, and no change took place in the law until July 21, 1852, Avhen by act of Congress approved that day (10 Stat. L., p. 19) it was provided that the amount yet due these Indians in scrip under the original act should be paid to them in money instead of scrip, and the sum of $872,000, which was the value of the scrip undelivered, by estimating the land at $1.25 per acre, should be paid to the Choctaws in cash. (See Appendix No. 3.) It has been intimated in the arginnents submitted on this bill that this money did not reach the hands of the persons for whom it was intended, but that it was paid out to the Choctaw Nation in Indian Territory. The records relative to this payment are easy of access. They are found in the office of the Commissioner of Indian Affairs i'.nd the Auditor for the Interior Department, and show that the sum of $872,000 was delivered by the Government to Philip H. Kaiford, Indian agent, under date of September 11, 1852. Agent Raiford, in the month of November, 1852, turned this money over to Indian Agent John Drennen, and in the same month Dr'^nnen turned the money over, by requisition, to William Wilson, Indian agent, who paid out the greater part of same to the persons entitled thereto under ihe award made by the commission appointed under the act of 1842. Wilson's accounts are a matter of record in the auditor's office and show that prior to June 4, 1853, he paid out of this monev to indi- vidual claimants, under article 14, $680,300 principal and $36,530.63 interest. Tliis money was paid to 2,983 persons, whose names appear on his pay roll. Wilson turned over the balance of the money in his hands to Doug- las H. Cooper, agent to the Choctaws, in June, 1853, and Cooper's accounts on file in the same place show that by August, 1854, he had paid out $59,533.94 of this money to 300 individual claimants. The accounts of Cooper for the last two quarters of 1854 and the first quarter of 1855 can not be found, but it is presumed the balance of this money was paid out to individual claimants in the same manner. It is impracticable in this l)rief to give a list of all the persons to whom this money was paid. However, it can be stated that avo have compared a number of the names on these pay rolls with the list of scripees and find that the persons to whom this money Avas paid are persons whom the commission of 1842 found entitled to scrip under the terms of said act, they being fourteenth-article beneficiaries or their descendants. b MEMORIAL OF THE CHOCTAW AND CHICKASAW NATIONS. There was probably very little emigration from Mississippi to Indian Territory from 1855 until after the Civil War. However, a study of the Choctaw law books will show that there was a continu- ous emigration of small parties from Mississippi and Louisiana to Indian Territory from 1866 until the Government of the United States took over the affairs of the Choctaw Nation and prohibited the nation from any further admissions to citizenship. These books contain numerous acts admitting to full rights and privileges of citizenship persons emigrating from Mississippi to Indian Territory during these years. A few of these acts are hereto appended, which will show that they have not only received the emigrating Choctaws into full rights of citizenship, but in many cases appropriated money out of their national funds to pay the expenses of their emigration and to assist them in subsisting in the nation until they could become self-sup]Dorting. (See Appendix No. 4.) On at least one occasion, in the year 1889, the Choctaw Council memorialized Congress to assist in the emigration of the Choctaws in the States of Mississippi and Louisiana to the Choctaw Nation, and on another occasion, in the year 1891, by act of the Choctaw Council a commission was appointed to proceed to Mississippi and take what steps seemed advisable in order to obtain the affiliation of the Eastern Choctaws with the main body of the tribe in the West and the emi- gration of the former to Indian Territory. A large number of such Indians were emigrated by reason of the activities of the commission. This is the history, in brief, of the Mississippi Choctaws up until 1896, when the United States took charge of the enrollment affairs of the Choctaw and Chickasaw Nations and undertook to allot their lands in severalt3^ That the Choctaw Indians who had voluntarily separated them- selves from the tribal government and citizenship were not entitled to share in that government or the distribution of the tribal property while residing outside of the jurisdiction of the Nation seems never to have been questioned until within recent years. An examination of the provisions of the treaty of 1830, and the history relative to the making of that treaty, shows conclusively that the principal object of the treaty was the removal of the Choctaw Indians from Missis- sippi to their lands in the West. In the treaty of 1820, under which the Choctaws acquired title to their western domain, there was no limitation imposed requiring them to live upon- the land. In spite of this fact, such a limitation was placed in the treaty of 1830, and they were compelled to agree to remove beyond the Mississippi as early as practicable after the ratification of said treaty. These pro- visions contained in the treaty are as follows : Articli: 2. The United States, uiuler a srant specially to be made by tbe President of the United States, shall cause to be conveyed to the Choctaw Nation a tract of country west of the IMississiinn River, in fee simple to them and thoir descendants, to inure to them while they shall exist as a nation and live on it. Here follows a description of a part of the land ceded bv the treaty of 1820. Article 3 of said treat}^ is as follows : In consideration of the provisions contained in the several articles of this treaty, the Choctaw Nation of Indians consent and hereby cede to the United States the entire country they own and possess east of the Mississippi River; MEMORIAL OF THE CHOCTAW AND CHICKASAW NATIONS. 9' aud they agree to reuiove beyond tlie Mississippi River early as practicable, aud will so arrange their removal that as niauy as possible of their peoiile. not exceeding one-half of the whole number, shall depart during the falls of 1S31 aud 1832, the residue to follow during the succeeding fall of 1S33; a better opportunity in this manner will be afforded the Government to extend to them the facilities and comforts which it is desirable should be extended in conveying them to their new homes. This enforced removal of the ChoctaAvs as a nation to the West t was not agreed to by them until article 14 was placed in the treaty, which permitted Choctaw Indians who desired to renounce their •Choctaw citizenship to remain in the States and become citizens thereof. That this was the purpose of the fourteenth article is shown by all of the available records bearing upon the drawing up of this treaty. The Choctaws themselves proposed this provision, and it was incorporated in the treaty for the express purpose of permitting Choctaw Indians who desired to do so to become citizens of the States and as such to have a reservation of land set apart to them in the State of Mississippi. The only part of that article which is in any way subject to dispute is the last sentence thereof. The Indians had been threatened by the commissioners of the United States with the forfeiture of their lands in the West which they had bought and paid for unless they speedily removed thereto and took up their homes thereon. They were told that if they re- mained in Mississippi they would be stibjected to the jurisdiction of the government of the State, and that their lands and other property would be taxed. There is no doubt but that those who elected to re- \ main knew they were renouncing their Choctaw citizenship and were becoming citizens of the State in which they took up their residence. The last sentence of said article, therefore, was inserted with the idea that those who remained in the States and took up their citizenship therein would be guaranteed the privilege of removing to their nation if conditions became too harsh for them in the States, and upon such removal were to be entitled to all the privileges of a Choc- taw citizen, except the right to share in the annuities. This construction is well set forth in the decision rendered in the ^ United States court for the central district of Indian Territory in the year 1897, in the case of Jack Amos et al. v. The Choctaw Nation. (See report of Commission to the Five Civilized Tribes of June 30, 1809, p. 92.) In discussing this provision the cdurt states as follows: In the third article of the treaty the Choctaws agreed to move all of their people within three j^ears, aud the United States intended that tliey should go. But, by the fourteenth article of the treaty, provisions were made whereby those who should decide to remain and become citizens of the State of Missis- sippi, in the event that, because of the intolerance and persecutions of the whites which they themselves had so bitterly experienced, or for any other cause, they might become dissatisfied with their altered conditions and their new citizenship and desire to follow them to their new liomes, and thereafter exercise with them in their own country the privileges of citizenship, they could do so, except that they were not to participate with them in their annuities, the lands which they were to receive in Mississippi being deemed a compensation for that. When the fourteenth article of the treaty was framed the negotiating parties understdod that the policy of the United States was that Ihe Choctaws were to be removed. The Choctaws. in article 3, had just agreed that they should all go. The ink was not yet dry in article 2, whereby the condition was placed in this grant to the lands that they were to live ui)on them or they should be forfeited, aud that no privilege of citizenship could be conferred or enjoyed 10 MEMORIAL OP THE CHOCTAW AND CHICKASAW NATIONS. outside of the territorial jurisdiction of their newly located nation. Under standing these conditions, the latter clause of article 14 was penned: " Persons who claim under this article shall iiot lose the privilege of a Choctaw citizen, but if they ever remove — that is, if they ever place themselves on the land and within the jurisdiction of the nation whei-eby those privileges may become operative — are not to be entitled to any portion of the Choctaw annuity." In other words, if they ever remove, they are to enjoy all of the privileges of a Choctaw citizen except that of participating in their annuities. If this he not the meaning to be attached to the word ''remove" as useer 0, 1888, provision was made for the payment of these claims. The acts of October 21. 1859, and of November 6, 1888, are hereto attached, marked Appendix No. 5. A copy of the acts of 1872 and 1875 can not be obtained, but their purport is shown by reference thereto in the act of 1888. It will thus be seen that the Choctaw Nation in receiving this money and undertaking to settle all claims arising under the treaty of 1830 and properly chargeable against the moneys received from said aAvard. made ever}" offort to ascertain to whom the award was due, and paid out the money to the original claimants or their heirs or representatives, if they were dead, under the supervision of the United States authorities. It has been argued by those in favor of this bill that not one cent of this award was paid to the Choctaw Indians in Mississippi. Whether or not this is true, we are not prepared to say. We have, however, already shown that 3,400 of the fourteenth-article claimants emi- grated to Indian Territory betAveen the years 1838 and 1855, and that many more of them emigrated west from the close of the Civil War to the year 1896. It is undoubtedly true that at the time this award was paid, which was in the year 1889, at least 80 per cent of the original fourteenth-article claimants or their descendants had removed to Indian Territory. If those who still remained in Mississippi at that date made no claim to this money, and received no part thereof, it was not the fault of the Choctaw Nation, which provided ample machinery for the determination of individual claims included in this award. The fact that the Mississippi Indians did not participate or attempt to participate in that part of the award which covered the net proceeds derived from the sale of the Choctaw tribal lands in Mississippi is referred to by the court in the Amos case as a strong argument against their right to participate in the distribution of the tribal property of the Choctaws in the Indian Territory. In any event if the Mississi]:)pi Indians have any legal or equitable claims against the Choctaw Nation for any part of the net proceeds judgment, and we think we have shown that they have not, the relief granted them should only be the amount to which they were entitled, with interest, and this could only be determined by a readjudication of their claims. They would in no case be en- titled to citizenship in the Choctaw Nation simply because they had failed to get their part of the original judgment. We will now proceed to a consideration of more recent legislation on this subject. The Commission to the Five Civilized Tribes was created by the act of Congress approved March 3, 1893 (27 Stat. L., MEMORIAL OF THE CHOCTAW AND CHICKASAW NATIONS. 19 645), for the purpose of treating with tlie several nations in the Indian Territory in an endeavor to procure an allotment of the lands of the said nations in severalty to the Indians belonging to each such nation or tribe, to procure agreements with the tribes for this purpose, and to obtain a winding up of the tribal affairs with a view to the ultimate creation of the territory embraced by said tribes into a State of the Union. By the act of June 10, 1896 (29 Stat. L., 321), the commission was authorized and directed to hear and determine the applications of all persons who might apply to them for citizenship in any of the said nations, and in passing on said applications was instructed to give due force and effect to the rolls, usages, and customs of the tribe in which the applicant claimed citizenship. An appeal was provided for from a decision of the commission on these applications to the United States courts in Indian Territory. Under this legis- lation the commission received and passed on several thousand ap- plications, among which was that of the Jack Amos Band of Missis- sippi Choctaws, and out of the commission's decision in their case arose the decision of the United States court in the case of Jack Amos et al. v. The Choctaw Nation, which has heretofore been re- ferred to, and in which the court held that Mississippi Choctaw Indians were not entitled to citizenship in the Choctaw Nation or to participate in the distribution of the tribal property of the Choctaw and Chickasaw Indians unless they removed and took up their resi- dence within the boundaries of said nation. The first mention of the Mississippi Choctaws in this enrollment legislation is found in the act of June T. 1897 (30 Stat. L., 83), in which appears the following: Thnt the commission appointed to nearotinte with the Five Civilized Tribes in tlie Indian Territory slial! examine and report to Congress whether the Mis- sissippi Choctaws nnder their treaties are not entitled to all the rights of Choc- taw citizenship, except an interest in the Choctaw annuities. Under this provision of law the commission proceeded to the State of Mississippi and thoroughlv investigated the riglits of this class of Indians, and under date of January 28. 1898, submitted a report to Congress wherein the whole question was discussed and the follow- ing finding was made: It follows, therefore, from this reasoning, as well as from the historical re- view already recited, that the nature of the title itself, as well as all stipula- tions concerning it in the treaties between the United States and the Choctaw Nation. Ihat to avail himself of the "privileges of a Choctaw citizen" any person claiming to be a descendant of those Choctaws who were provided for in the fotirteenth article of the treaty of 1S.30 must first show the fact that he is such descendant and has in good faith joined his brethren in the Territory with the intent to become one of the citizens of the nation. Having done so, such ix'rson has a right to be enrolled as a Choctaw citizen and to claim all the privileges of such a citizen, except to a share in the annuities. And that other- wise he can not claim as a right the " privilege of a Choctaw citizen." Under the act of June 28. 1898 (30 Stat. L., 495), Avhich is known as the Curtis Act, the commission was authorized— To determine the identity of Choctaw Indians claiming rights in the Choctaw lands under article 14 of the treaty between the United States and the Choctaw Nation concluded September 27. IS-^.O, and to that end may administer oaths, exanune witnesses, and perform all other acts necessary thereto, and make report to the Secretary of the Interior. 20 MEMORIAL OF THE CHOCTAW AND CHICKASAW NATIONS. Tliis act provided for the enrollment of the citizens and freed- men entitled to allotment in the Five Civilized Tribes. But it will be noted that no anthority Avas given for the enrollment of the Mis- sissippi Choctaws, the commission being directed to determine the identity of such Indians claiming rights under the treaty. This act also provided that no person should be enrolled as entitled to an allotment in any of the five tribes unless he had in good faith removed to and settled within the Nation, in which he claimed citizenship, on or before the date of the approval of said act. But a proviso was in- serted that this provision should not be construed as militating against any rights or privileges Avhich the Mississippi Choctaws might have under the laws or treaties of the tribes. Under this authority the commission again proceeded to Missis- sippi, and numerous hearings were had in that State and the States of Alabama and Louisiana. These hearings were well advertised, and an o]iportunity Avas given to everyone who claimed any right as a Mississippi Choctaw Indian to appear before the commission and assert his claim. Under this laAV a list was made up of Indians claiming rights under the fourteenth article of the treaty of 1830. This list contained the names of 1,923 persons, and has been desig- nated the McKennon roll. But it must be borne in mind that this was not a roll of citizenship, but was prepared under the authority contained in the act of June 28, 1898, which only authorized the com- mission to determine the identity of ChoctaAv Indians claiming rights under the treaty of 1830. The next legislation on this subject is found in the act of Mav 31. 1900 (31 Stat. L., 221), which is as folloAvs: That any Mississippi Choctaw duly identifiod as such by the United States Commission to the Five Civilized Triljes shall have the right, at any time prior to the ai)proval of the final rolls of the Choctaws and Chickasaws hy the Secre- tary of the Interior, to make settlement within the Choctaw-Chieknsaw country, and, on proof of the fact of bona fide settlement, may be enrolled by the said United States conunission and by the Secretary of the Interior as Choctaws entitled to allotment: Provided further, That all contracts or agreements look- ing to the sale or incumbrance in any way of the lands to be allotted to said Mississippi Choctaws shall be null and void. lender this law the commission continued to receive and consider the applications of Mississippi Choctaw Indians. The next legislation on the subject is found in the act of July 1, 1902 (Stat. J J., 641), Avhich is known as the supplemental agreement between the Choctaw and Chickasaw Nations and the United States. It was found in the previous investigation of the commission that many of the Choctaw Indians residing in jVIississippi were full bloods, and through ignorance and lack of information as to their family history Avere unable to prove that they Avere descendants of persons Avho had complied or attempted to comply Avith article 14 of the treaty of 1830. Accordingly, Avhen the supplemental agree- ment Avas draAvn up, a rule of evidence Avas established in favor of these persons to the effect that all full-blood ChoctaAv Indians should be deemed to be Mississippi ChoctaAvs entitled- to the benefits of .said article, and proof of the fact that they Avere full bloods was all that Avas required of them in order to entitle them to the indentifica- lion. It has been charged in the hearings had on the matter that a mixed-blood applicant Avas compelled undei- the act to prove that he MEMOEIAL OF THE CHOCTAW AND CHICKASAW NATIONS. 21 or his ancestor had complied with the provisions of the 14th article, and as only 143 heads of families had received patents most of the applicants were cut off from identification by reason of this require- ment. This charge is not true. In the identification of applicants under the acts of June 28, 1898, and July 1, 1902, proof that the ap- jDlicant was a descendant of one of the scripees, of whom we have shown there were more than 4,000,' was sufficient to entitle an appli- cant to identification, and any other proofs which the applicant could submit tending to show that his ancestor had attempted to comply with the 14th article was received and considered in the adjudication of his case. (See Appendix No. 7.) The report of the Commissioner to the Five Civilized Tribes for the year ending June 30, 1907, shows on page 12 that 24,634 persons applied to the commission for identification as Mississippi Choctaws under the act of June 28, 1898, and of July 1, 1902. Applications were received from all over the United States, and the record made up in these cases shows that in the large majority of the same the prsons were basing their right to enrollment simply on the fact that they had some Indian blood in their veins, in most cases the amount claimed being very small. Every opportunity was given to the ap- plicants to prove their claim. These records, which are now on file in the Department of the Interior, are the most voluminous of all the enrollment records passed upon by the commission and the de- partment, and in many cases rehearings were granted two or three limes, and the decisions were held open for a period of four or five years, in order to give the applicants every opportunity to prove their contention. Under this legislation the total number identified was 2,534, and by the terms of the act of July 1, 1902, a copy of which is hereto at- tached, marked "Appendix No. 6," the persons so identified were given six months after the notice of identification within which to remove to the Indian Territory. Many of the Indians so identified were full bloods and did not have the means or inclination to remove them- selves. Accordingly, by the act of Congress approved March 3, 1903, there was appropriated the sum of $20,000 to assist in the removal of these Indians to Indian Territory and their subsistance after removal. Two hundred and ninety full-blood Indians were removed at the expense of the Government under this appropriation, and many hundreds of others either removed at their own expense or were removed by others and filed on allotments. One thousand and seventy-two persons who were identified failed to remove to Indian Territory, or, if they removed, returned to their former homes without submitting proof of their removal and settlement within the time required by law. Several reasons may be assigned for the failure of these persons to take advantage of their indentifica- tion. The commissioner in his report states some of these reasons as follows : First. That many of them did not appreciate the value of allot- ment in the Choctaw-Chickasaw country; Second. That some of them were very poor and had no uieans for transportation; Third. Tliat some of them who had removed became sick and died during the first winter after I'cmoval, and 22 MEMORIAL OF THE CHOCTAW AND CHICKASAW NATIONS. Fourth. That those who survived advised their friends and rela- tives in Mississippi and Alabama of their experiences, Avhich dis- couraged them in making- attempt at removing. As a matter of fact, most of the persons who failed to remove were full bloods, and would not remove at the present time if given an opportunity to do so. One of the writers of this brief has had occa- sion to visit the fuII-blood Indians remaining in Central Mississippi and Louisiana on several occasions. He found them poor, but con- tented with their lot. In conversation with them it Avas stated by them in man}'^ cases that if the}' had to remove to Oklahoma in order to get allotments they did not care to have them, as they preferred the home of their fathers to the new land in the West. It was also ascertained from conversation with intelligent planters in the vicin- ity in which these Indians live, that the white inhabitants of Mis- sissippi and Louisiana discourage the removal of the Indians as much as possible, as the Indians constitute the most satisfactory labor which the white men can find in these States. Many of those noAv in Mississippi have gone to Indian Territory and, after staying a short time, returned voluntarily to their former homes. These have reported to those who have not emigrated and all are satisfied to re- main where they are. If they were removed to Oklahoma, and we do not understand how anyone can contend that they are rightfully entitled to share in the lands of the Choctaw and Chickasaw Nations without removing, their action would probably be similar to the action of other bodies of Indians who have removed to Oklahoma from time to time, and just as soon as they were able to get enough money to do so, they would return to their homes in the East. This disposition of the Mississippi Choctaw Indians is well exemplified in the report of the Commission to the Five Civilized Tribes, sub- mitted to the vSecretary of the Interior under date of March 10, 1899. A portion of that report is as follows : The Choctaw soverniuent in Indian Territory made repeated efforts to secure the removal of the ^lissi^^sipiji Choctaws to the Choctaw country, the last effort in this direction occurring in 1891, when the National Council of the Choctaw Nation, hy act approved October 20, 1S91, generously made an appro- priation for the purpose of paying the expenses of certain Choctaw families therein named, and providing for the appointment of two commissioners to proceed to the State of Mississippi to collect said families and conduct them to the Choctaw country. Said connnissioners performed tliis duty and a number of families removed to Indian Territory and remained there until after the payment of the "leased district" money, when, as we are informed, they re- turned to the State of Mississippi. It will be impossible to force these Indians to remove to Oklahoma, and if it were possible or practicable there would be no way of keep- ing them there, and as soon as they were able to do so, they would sell or abandon their allotments and return to their haunts in the East. Sentimentalists may deplore the condition of these Indians, but it is doubtful whether their lot would be as desirable or happy from their standpoint if they were removed from their present environ- ments. The Mississippi Choctaw Indian, by reason of long separa- tion from the Indians of the West, has come to be a class by himself. These Indians present as distinct characteristics and difference from the Choctaw Indians in Oklahoma as though they were members of an entirely different tribe. In traveling through Oklahoma the Mis- MEMORIAL OF THE CHOCTAW AISTD CHICKASAW NATIONS. 23 sissippi Choctaw can always be distinguished from the descendants of the early emigrants. In Oklahoma they adopt the same manner of living as they at present have in Mississippi, that is, they remain in an isolated state, huddled together in small bands, making no effort to associate with or become a part of the Choctaw citizenship of the West. The First Assistant Secretary of the Interior, on July 2, 1912, sub- mitted a report to the chairman of the Committee on Indian" Affairs of the House of Representatives, in which the Mississippi Choctaw question is discussed at length. In that report he refers to the bill imder discussion and states : I am advised that if the worlv of reinvestigating and readjudicating the claims of Mississippi Chootaws he undertal^en along the broad lines outlined in the hill introduced by Mr. Harrison, the work can not be accomplished within the time prescribed therein ; that if the applicants are required to establish that they or some one of their ancestors were beneficiaries under article 14 of the treaty of 1830, a vast amount of evidence will necessarily have to be taken covering the family history of the applicants for more than 80 years; and that this work would be a repetition of work which has already been accomplished and in the great ma.iority of cases would be of no benefit what ever to the applicants. He further says in said report: With respect to the 1,070 persons who were identified as Mississippi Choctaws, but who failed to prove the facts of removal and settlement in the Choctaw and Chickasaw country, it may be said that, irrespective of their unfortunate condition of poverty and ignorance, there is grave question whether there is .iust ground, legal or equitable, for holding the Choctaw and Chickasaw Na- tions responsible for (his failure to comply with the law. In fact, it may be urged by the tribes that responsibility, if any, rested upon the United States instead. After fulh' going into the question from all standpoints, the Sec- retary concludes with the following: In view of the facts stated above, I am of the opinion that the bill should not be enacted into law. As stated by the Secretary, this bill provides for a general reopen- ing of this whole subject, and the readjudication under an identical law of the rights of these parties. As a matter of fact, many per- sons who were entitled to iclentification under the act of July 1, 1902, would be wholly unable to prove their claim under the provisions of the Harrison bill, and we can conceive of no case which would re- ceive favorable consideration under the Harrison bill but what would have received a favorable decision, upon the submission of proper proof, under the former enrollment acts. The only difference is that the enrollment acts required the removal to and settlement within the Choctaw-Chickasaw country, which the Harrison bill does not require. IVe believe that a careful consideration of the foregoing argument and citations will convince any fair-minded man that the Mississippi Choctaw Indian has been given every opportunity under the several laws and treaties to obtain a share of the tribal jn'operty of the Choc- taw and Chickasaw Nations; that the Choctaws and Chickasaws liave always been willing to meet these Indians more than half way, and that these two tribes have done all in their power to obtain the affiliation of their absentee brothers with them. However, if this argument has not succeeded in entirely convincing the Members of 24 MEMORIAL OF THE CHOCTAW AND CHICKASAW NATIONS. Coiifrress, there is one other phase of the matter which has not here- tofore been touched upon, but which absolutely settles the whole con- trovers}^ The treaty of 1830 was entered into between the Choctaw Indians and the United States more than 82 years ago. So far as we know, no one of the beneficiaries of the fourteenth article of this treaty is still alive. The last clause of that article, under which this claim arose, is as follows: Persons who claim under this article shall not lose the privilege of ii Choctaw citizen, but if they ever remove are not to be eu'itled to any portion of the Choctaw annuity. We contend and we believe that an analysis of this article will bear out this contention: That the rights guaranteed the Choctaws taking advantage of the fourteenth article were personal rights. Those identical Choctaws who desired to remain in the States and become citizens of them were permitted to do so by complying Avith certain provisions therein set forth, and upon doing so were entitled to reservations in Mississippi, and the further right was given to such persons to remove to the Choctaw Nation west and become citizens of said nation, with all the rights of citizenship, except to share in the annuities. No word appears in said article granting any rights or benefits to the descendants of the fourteenth-article beneficiaries. The purpose of the removal of the nation to the west has been clearly shown. It Avas intended to remove all of the Indians out of the States, so that conflicts betAveen the United States and the States Avould not arise oA'er the government of the Indian country. The Indians Avould not agree to the treaty until provision Avas made for those Avho desired to remain and become citizens of the States, but an asylum Avas provided for those Avho remained, provided they should ever find conditions too hard for them in the States. They could reaffiliate themselves Avith the ChoctaAv Nation and again be- come citizens of that nation Avith all the privileges of citizenship, except a share of the annuities. But it is inconsistent Avith the Avhole theory of removal of these Indians to the west to construe article 14 as holding out the right of removal perpetually. When the scheme of the allotment of lands and distributions of tribal property Avas taken up, it became necessary to make rolls of citizenship. Of necessity some period had to be fixed for the closing of these rolls. Before "the act of July 1, 1902, Avas assented to by the tribes, it was insisted that a clause be incorporated providing that the rolls of citizenship be closed. The Avork of enrollment had been going on since the passage of the act of June 10, 1806, and a comprehensive scheme Avas provided by the act of Jidy 1, 1902. for the reception of the applications of any persons Avho have not sub- mitted their application under the former act, and for the final com- pletion of the rolls. After thus taking every precaution to see that ample opportunity had been given CA^ery one desiring to submit an application for enrollment there was inserted in this act the f olloAving provision : Sec. 35. No person whose name does not appear upon the rolls as herein pro- vided shall be entitled to in any manner participate in the distribution of the common property of the Choctaw and Chicksaw Tribes, and those whose names appear therooi^ shall participate in the manner set forth in this agreement. MEMORIAL OF THE CHOCTAW AND CHICKASAW NATIONS. 25 This provision was one of the inducements held out to the Choctaw and Chickasaw Indians to obtain their assent to the preparation of the rolls of citizenship of their tribes by the United States and the scheme for the allotment of their lands in severalty and the gradual incorporation of their domain and citizens into a State of the Union. By this agreement no new applications for the identification of persons as Mississippi Choctaws could be received after six months after the ratification of the agreement. This gave to the Mississippi Choctaws until March 25, 1903, within which to submit their appli- cations for identification, which was three months more time than was granted to any other class of applicants for citizenship. Ap- pointments were made b}'- the commission for hearings in Mississippi and Louisiana for the purpose of receiving any belated applications during the six months provided by this last act, but nearly all of the Mississippi Choctaw applications had already been submitted under the former law. Evidence was received in the cases already presented until the closing of the rolls, and they were all decided under the law set forth in the Gift case (Appendix No. 7), which permitted the identi- fication of the descendants of scripees. Congress fixed the period for the closing of the rolls as March 4, 1907, thus giving Mississippi Choctaws a period of 11 years after the first enrollment work was started within which to prove their claims and make settlement within the Choctaw-Chickasaw country. It is true that descendants of fourteenth-article beneficiaries have been from time to time in large numbers admitted to citizenship in the Choctaw Nation upon their removal to and settlement within the boundaries of said nation, and it is also true that in the treaty of July 1, 1902, the right of full citizenship upon removal was granted by the tribe for a definite time to these persons, but there is no war- rant of law or merit in the contention that the Choctaw Indians yet in Mississippi, who did not avail themselves of the benefits granted by the agreement of July 1, 1902, are as a matter of right now enti- tled to a share in the distribution of the property belonging to the Choctaw Nation in the West. Even admitting that the fourteenth article of the treaty of 1830 meant all that is claimed for it by the proponents of this bill, the rights of these claimants would be barred by the provisions of the act of Congress of July 1, 1902. That Congress had the right to pro- vide hoAv the rolls of citizens should be made up and how citizen- ship should be determined is too well settled now to permit of serious contradiction. The mere expectation of a share in the tribal lands and moneys of the Choctaw and Chickasaw Tribes is not a vested property right. The Supreme Court, in the case of Stephens v. Cherokee Nation (174 U. S., 445-488), uses the following language: But in .any aspect wo are of opinion tliat the constitutionality of tliese acts in respect of tlie deterniination of citizenslii]) can not be successfully assailed on the ground f)f the inii)airuiont or destruction of vested rights. The lands and moneys of these tribes are public lands and public moneys, and are not held in individual ownership, and the assertion by any particular ai)plicant tliat his right 1 herein is so vested as to preclude inquiry into his status involves a con- tradiction in terms. Congress, in providing for the preparation of rolls upon whicli the tribal property was to be distributed, gave ample time to every ap- 26 MEMORIAL OF THE CHOCTAW AND CHICKASAW NATIONS. plicant to siilimit his case. It also made residence in the tribe or removal thereto within a definite time a prerequisite to citizenship and provided that applications must be submitted within a specified time and that the rolls be closed on a definite date. The time during which the rolls were in preparation extended over a period of 11 years, and it was provided that " no person whose name does not apj)ear upon the rolls as herein provided shall be entitled to in any manner participate in the distribution of the common property of the Choctaw and Chickasaw Tribes." That this legislation is a proper exercise of the power of Congress over the Indians is shown by a number of decisions of the Supreme Court. (See Choctaw Nation r. United States, 119 U. S.,1; Stephens r. Cherokee Nation, 174 U. S.. 445 ; Cherokee Nation v. Hitchcock. 187 U. S.. 294; Lonewolf v. Hitchcock, 187 U. S., 553; Wallace v. Adams. 204 U. S., 415; Gritts v. Fisher, 224 U. S.. 640.) The Choctaws and Chickasaws have always been ready to deal with great liberality toward their absentee brothers. During all the time that they maintained their own governments they have stood with open arms to welcome these absentees into their midst. But we do not know of any single case in all the history of these tribes where anyone has been considered or found entitled to citizenship or to any of the benefits arising therefrom without taking up his residence in the Choctaw-Chickasaw country and showing his desire to affiliate with them. All of the Mississippi Choctaw legislation since 1896, when the United States took over the control of the affairs of these two tribes, has been purely in the nature of a gratuity, except in rare instances where one of the original fourteenth-article beneficiaries might have applied, and we do not feel that after our affairs were administered by the United States for a period of 11 years and rolls of citizenship were made and the allotments have all been completed that the Clioctaw and Chickasaw Indians should be called upon to do anything further toward this class of Indians. if there is any relief which the United States desires to give thom. we will not be heard in any wa}^ to object, provided the United States furnishes this relief from its own land and funds, for we do not believe that any benefits which can be given by Congress to any Indians can repay the debt which our Government owes in general to the North American Indian. If there were any wrongs done the Choctaw Indians under the treaty of 1830, and history ,^hows that there Avere many and flagrant wrongs perpetrated, they Avere not done by one Indian against another or one class of Indians against another, but were done by the Government of the United States or its officers. If these people, then, j^et remaining in Mis- sissippi are entitled to any relief, it is not the part of justice to right one wrong hy committing another, and the Congress of the United States can not in good conscience repay any debt owed to the Mis- sissippi Choctaw Indians by forcing the Choctaw and Chickasaw Indians, who breasted a wilderness and suffered untold hardships in fonquoring that Avilderness and making possible the rich and populous State of Oklahoma, to share the comparatively small rewards of their labor and suft'ering with the Mississippi Indians, who took so little interest in the struggle a?^d hardships of their brothers in tlio West as not even to be willing to move there after the MEMOEIAL OF THE CHOCTAW AND CHICKASAW NATIONS, 27 wilderness was overcome and assist in the maintenance of the tribal governments. If this legislation is enacted into law, it will mean a delay in the final winding up of the aifairs of these two tribes of at least five years; it will necessitate the reception and consideration of thousands of applications of persons whose cases have already been thoroughly adjudicated or who had an opportunity to have them adjudicated under former acts; and it will be another case of violated treaty obligations with these two tribes, of which history shows too many alread}', and will be an act of oppression and injustice visited upon them such as we can not believe Congress Avill seriously consider when all the facts in the case are placed Ijefore it. We therefore ask for careful consideration of the facts and argu- ments herein set forth and request that the bill under consideration receive unfavorable action. Respectfully submitted. Victor M. Locke, Jr., Principal Chief of the Choctaiu Nation. By P. J. Hurley, National Attorney for the Choctaw Nation. Douglas H. Johnston, Governor of the Chickasaw Nation. By Geo. D. Rogers, National Attorney for the Chichasaw Nation. Appendix No. 1. CiiAP. XXXIX. An act for the appointment of commissioners to adjust the chiims to reservations of land under the fourteenth article of the treaty of eighteen hundred and thirty with the Choctaw Indians. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of Amei'iea in Congress assembled, That tliore shall he appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, three commis- sioners whose duty it shall be to meet in the State of Mississippi at such time and place, as the President shall appoint and designate, and there proceed to ascertain the name of every Choctaw Indian who was the head of an Indian family at the date of the treaty at Dancing Rabbit Creelv, who has not already obtained a reservation under said treaty, and who can show by satisfactory evidence that he or she complied or offered to comply with all the requisites of the fourteenth article of said treaty, to entitle Iiim or her to a reservation under said article; and also the number and names of all the unmarried chil- dren of such heads of families who formed a part of the family and were over ten years of age, and likewise tlie number and names of the children of such heads of families as were under ten years of age, and report to the President, to be by him laid before Congress, all the names of such Indians, and the' dif- ferent sections of land to which such heads of families were respectively enti- tled, together with the opinions of the commissioners, and whether any part of said lands have been sold by the Government, and the proofs applicable to each case. Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That before entering upon their duties each of said connnissioners shall, before some judge or justice of the peace, take an oath faithfully to discharge the duties inuiosed by this act. Sec. 3. A7id be it further enacted, That said commissioners are hereby au- thorized to appoint a secretary, whose duty it shall be to record correctly all the proceedings of said board and faithfully preserve the snme as well as all depositions and other papers fded before said board, and who shall take an oath to discharge the duties imposed on him by this act. 28 MEMORIAL OF THE CHOCTAW AND CHICKASAW NATIONS. Sec. 4. And he it further enacted, That u])on the request of the commis- sioners it shall be the duty of the district attorney of the State of Mississippi to attend said board and give liis assistance in procuring tlie attendance of wit- nesses, and Ills aid and advice in their examination, the better to enable the commissioners to ascertain the facts correctly in each case. Sec. 5. And he it further enacted, That each of said commissioners shall receive, while in the discharge of the duties hereby imposed, a salary at the rate of three thousand dollars per annum, the secretary a salary at the rate of fifteen liundred dollars per annum, and the district attorney a salary at the rate of two thousand dollars per annum, to be paid quarterly out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated. Sec. G. And he it further enacted, Tliat said commissioners shall have full power to summon and cause to come before them such witnesses as they may deem necessary, and to have them examined on oath, and if any witness shall testify falsely, with an intention to mislead said connnissioners, such witness shall be guilty of wilful and corrupt perjury, and shall upon conviction before any jurisdiction having cognizance thereof sulTer the punishment by law in- flicted on those guilty of that offence. Sec. 7. And he it further enacted, That nothing contained in this act shall be so convStrued as to sanction what is called contingent locations which have been made by George ^I. Martin for tlie benetit of such Indians as were sup- posed to have been entitled to other lands which liave been sold by the United States, such contingent locations having been made without any legal authority, it being the true intend of this act to reserve to Congress tlie power of doing that which may ai>pear just when a correct knowledge of all the facts is obtained. Sec. 8. And he it further enacted. That this act shall be in force to the first day of March, eighteen hundred and thirty-eight, next, and no longer. Approved, March 3, 1S:57 (5 Stat. L., 180). Chap. XIII. An act to amend an act entitled " .\n act for the appointment of commis- sioners to adjust the claims to reservations of land under tlie fourteenth article of the treaty of eigliteen liundred and thirty with the Choctaw Indians." Be it enacted hy the Senate and House of Reprcsentatircs of the United States of America in Conyress assemhied, That the commissioners provided for in the act hereby amended, or a majority of tliem, shall have full power and autliority to adjourn their sessions to such place or places, within the State of Missis- sippi, as in their judgment the interest of the Government and of the claimants may require such sessions to be held. Sec. 2. And he it further enacted. That in the case of the death, resignation, or absence of any one of the said commissioners the remaining two commission- ers shall have full power and authority to proceed and execute the powers given by this act or the act hereby amended. Sec 3. And he it further enacted, That the said connnissioners shall have all the powers of a court of record for the purpose of compelling the attendance of witnesses, administering oaths, touching matters depending before them, pre- serving order, aiul punishing contemiUs; an. And he it further e)iacted,Th:\t when the said commissioners shall have ascertained that any Choctaw has (■omi)lied or offered to comply witli all the requisites of the fourteenth article of the said treaty to entitle him to any res- ervation under that article, which requisites are as follows, to wit: That said Choctaw Indian did signify his or her intention to the agent in person, or by some person duly authorized and especially directetl by said Indian to signify the intention of said Indian to become a citizen of the State, within six months from the date of the ratification of the said treaty, and had his or her name, within the time of six months aforesaid, enrolled on the register of the Indian agent aforesaid for that purpose; or shall prove to the entire satisfaction of the said coinniission(M-s and t<» the Secretary of War that he or she did signify his or her intention, witlnn the term of six months from the date of the ratifi- cation of the treaty ;iforesaid, if his or lier name was not enrolled in the reg- ister of tlie agent aforesaid, lint was omitted by said agent; and, secondly, that snid Indian did, at the dale of making said treaty, to wit, on the twenty-seventh day of Seiit('ml)er, eighteen Inmdi'ed and thirty, have and own an improvement in tlie then (Choctaw country; and that having and owning an iini)rovenient at the place and time aforesaid did reside upon that identical improvement, or a 30 MEMOKIAL OF THE CHOCTAW AXD CHICKASAW XATIOXS. part of it, for the term of five years coiitiiuiously next after tlie ratification of said treaty, to wit. from the twenty-fourth of Fehrnary, eiiihteen hundred and thirty-one, to the twenty-fourth of February, eisjliteen hundred and thirty-six, unless it shall he made to appear that such im]trovement was, before the twenty- fourth day of February, ei.shteen hundred and thirty-six, disposed of by the United States, and that the reservee was dispossessed by means of such disposi- tion: and, thirdly, that it shall be made to appear to the entire satisfaction of said conmiissioners and to the Secretary of War that said Indian did not receive any other grant of land under the provisions of any other article of said treaty; and, fourthly, that it shall be made to appear in like manner that said Indian did not remove to the Choctaw country west of the Mississippi liiver, but he or she had continued to reside within the limits of the country ceded by the Choc- taw Indians to the United States by said treaty of twenty-seventh September, in the year eighteen hundred and thirty, it shall be the duty of said commis- sioners, if all and each of the above requisites shall be made clearly to appear to their satisfaction and the Secretary of War shall concur therein, to proceed to ascertain the quantity of land to which said Indian, by virtue of the four- teenth article of said treaty, is entitled to, which, when ascertaineJ, shall be located for .said Indian, according to sectional lines, so as to embrace the im- provement, or a part of it. owned by said Indian at the date of said treaty; and it shall be the duty of the President of the United States to issue a patent to said Indian for said laud if he or she be living, and if not to his or her heirs and legal representatives; and in like manner shall the commissioners afore- said ascertain the quantity of laud granted by said article to each child of said Indian, according to the limitations contained in said article, and locate said quantity for said children contiguous to and adjoining the improvement of the parent of such child or children ; and the President shall issue a patent for each tract of laud thus located to said Indian child if living, and if not to the heirs and legal representatives of such Indian child. But if the United States shall have disposed of any tract of land to which any Indian was entitled under the provisions of said fourteenth article of said treaty, so that it is now impossible to give said Indian the quantity to which he is entitled, including his improvements, as aforesaid, or any part of it, or to his children on the ad- joining lands, the said commissioners shall thereupon estimate the quantity to which each Indian is entitled and allow him or her for the same a quantity of laud equal to that allowed, to be taken out of any of the public lands in the States of Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama, and Arkansas, subject to enti'y at private sale: and certificates to that effect shall be delivered, under the direc- tion of the Secretary of War, through such agent as he may select, not more than one-half of which shall be delivered to said Indian until after his removal to the Choctaw territory west of the Mississippi River. The said commissioners shall also ascertain the Choctaws, if any, who relinquished or offered to relin- quish any reservations to which he was entitled under the nineteenth article of the said treat5', or whose reservations under that article had been sold by the Unitefl States; and shall also determine the quantity to which such claim- ant was entitled, and the quantity of land which should be allowed him on ex- tinguishment of such claim at the rate of two-fifths of an acre for every acre of the land to which said claimant was entitled, said laud having been esti- mated under this article at fifty cents per acre: Provided, ncrerthcles>i, Ttiat no claim shall be considered or allowed by said commissioners for or in the name or behalf of any Indian claimant whose name does not appear upon the lists or registers of claimants made by Major Armstrong, special agent for that purpose, in conjunction with the three chiefs of the three Choctaw districts, and returned to the Department of War in January, eighteen hundred and thirty-two. and who does not appear from those registers to be entitled to a reservation under said nineteenth article. Sec. 4. And he il further enaeted. That the said commissioners, within two years from the time of tlieir entering ui)on the duties of their ofhces. and as often as shall be required by the President of the United States, shall report to him their proceediugs in the iiremises, with a full and perfect list of names of all the Chocta.ws whom they shall have determined to be entitled to reserva- tions under this act: the quantity of land to which each shall be so entitled, the number of claims which can be located according to the provisions of the fourth section of this act, and such as cannot be located according to the pro- visions of the fourth section of this act; and the powers and duties of the MEMOEIAL OF THE CHOCTAW AND CHICKASAW NATIONS. 31 saifl couimissioiiers shall cease at the expiration of two years from the time of the first organization of the board: and their proceedings may he terminated by the President at any time previous to the expiration of tlie said two years. Sec. 5. And he it further enacted. That the commissioners to be appointed under this act shall also ascertain and determine the quantity of land to which any Choctaw or other person named in the supplement to the said treaty of Dancing Ilabbit Creek was entitled by virtue thereof, and which such person has by any means been prevented from receiving. Sec. 6. And be it furtlter enacted. That if the President of the United States shall approve and confirm the determination of the commissioners heretofore appointed to investigate the claims existing under the fourteenth article of the said treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek, in any case, he shall cause to be delivered to the claimant, if he be a Choctaw Indian, his legal representatives or heirs, certificates, as provided by the fourth section of this act, for the quantity of land to which such claimant shall appear, by such determination, to have been en- titled., in full satisfaction and discharge of such claim : Provided, Such determi- nation was made by adhering, in every instance, to the requisites contained in the fourth section of this act: And provided, also, That said claims, nor either of them, cannot now be located, according to the provisions of the fourth section of this act. Sec. 7. And he it further enacted, That distinct accounts shall be kept of the certificates issued in satisfaction of the claims provided for by this act. and of ?11 expenses attending the execution of the same; and the amount thereof shall be retained and withheld from any distribution to the States. Sec. 8. And he it further enacted. That notliing in this act contained shall be so construed as to autliorize the said commissioners to adjudicate any claim which may be presented by a white man who may have had, or now has, an Indian wife or family: and any patent to land which shall issue on any Indian claim under the provisions of the treaty aforesaid shall be issued to tlie Indian to whom the claim is allowed if living, and if dead to his or her heirs and legal representatives, any act of Congress or usage or custom to the contrary not- withstanding. Sec. 9. And he it further enacted. That no claim shall be allowed under the fourteenth article of said treaty if the said commissioners shall be satisfied by such proof as they may prescribe that said claim had been, previous to the expiration of five years from the ratification of said treaty, assigned, either in whole or in part: and in case of a partial assignment or agreement for an assignment thereof the same shall be allowed so far only as the original Indian claimant was at that date the bona fide proprietor thereof. Sec. 10. And he it further enacted. That all claims under either of the articles of said treatj' mentioned above, or the supplemental articles thereof, which shall not be "duly presented to said commissioners for allowance within one year after the final passage of this act shall be thereafter forever barred. Approved, August 23, 1842 (5 Stat. L., 513). Appendix No. 3. Act of Congress approvi^^l March .", 184,5 (5 Slat. L., 777 1. That of the scrip which has been awarded or which shall be awarded to Choctaw Indians under the provisions of the law of twenty-third August, one thousand eight hundred and forty-two, that portion thereof not deliverable East by the third section of said law in these words, "not more than one-half of which shiill be delivered to said Indian until after his removal to the Choc- taw territory, west of the Mississippi River." shall not be issued or delivered in the Wcf-t, but the amounts aw.-irded for land on which they resided, but which it is impossible for the I'nited States now to give them, shall carry an interest of five i)er cent, which the Unitefl States will pay annually to the reservees under the treaty of one thousand eight hundred and thirty, resiiec- tively, or to their heirs and legal representatives forever, estimating the land to which they may be entitled at one dollar and twenty-five cents per acre: Provided further. That so nnich of the law of twenty-third August, cue thousand eight hundrero!iriatio!i for tl:<' relief of Matt Sakki et al. He it enacted hy the General Council of the Choctaw Nation a.s.'m Yark. lately arrived from Mississippi, and to e:iable them to iiay their board and traveling expeises while attending the general con !cil tor the purpose of having themselves recognized as citizens of this iKition. an of any kind; and this act shall take eti'ect and be in force from and after its passage. Approved, April 4, 1891. W. X. Jones, Principal Chief of the Choctaw Nation. No. 8. An act admitting certain Mississippi Indians to citizenship. Be it ennrted hy the General Council of the Choctair Nation aasenihled. Thai Mrs. Anna Boyd, Mrs. Lenas Southerland, Mrs. Ozie Travis, Mrs. M. William, Choctaws lately from the State of Mississippi, and full sister of C. A. Bilbo, who has been heretofore admitted, and their de.scendants lie, and they arc hereby, declared citizens of the Choctaw Nation. Be it further enacted that this act talce effect and be in force from a. id after its passage. Approved, April 8. ISDL W. N. JOXKS. I'rinciiial Chief of tin Clioetmr Nation. No. l.j. An act admitting certain Choclaws from Mississippi to citizensliip in the Choctaw Nation. Be it enacted hy the General Council of the Choctaw Nation a.-ee and Serena Willis. Thomson Bar- nett, J:;mes Snkki and Thomas Sakki. and Wallace Sam and his wife Fannie Sam and their children Milley, Jeruzy. Luke, Silley, Lizzie, Liza, and Era Sam. all liaving just come from the old nation in Mississippi, are hereby admitted to all of the rights and ])rivileges of citizenshii) in the Choctaw Nation, and this act shall take effect and be in force from and after its pass.-igi'. Ai.i.roved, April 8, 1891. W. N. JONKS. I'rincijtdl Chief of the Clioctui'- Naiion. No. 10. .\n act reco^nizinir tlic citiz(>nship of certain Mississippi Choctaws. Be it enacted hy the General Council of the Choctaw Nation a.^.-!(nihled. That following Mississipjii Choctaws. late arrival, to wit: 1. Cornelius Hickman; 2, Klizi .' im Hickman; 8, Jeff Ilickinan; 4, Presley Isham: 5, Ellen Isham: ('., William Isham; 7, Nat Sakki: 8, Dixon Uii)ley; 9, Taylor Bell; 10. Alex Sakki: 11, Jane Sakki: 12, Lee Nobbe; 13, Henson Haltenstyle; 14, Phoebe Hal- tcnstyle; 1.^), Milton Haltenstyle: Hi. Jesse Haltenstyle; 17. Fall Haltenstyle. are hereby recognized .-is citiztMis of this nation and are entitled to all the rights and privileges ami immunities of other citizens of this natii>n; and this act take ef-ect and be in force fi em and after its passage. Ajiproved. April 9, 1891. W. N. Jones. I'rinciiini Cliiif of the Choctaic Nation. MEMOKIAL OF THE CHOCTAW AND CHICKASAW NATIONS. 35 No. 17. An acl for the rrlirt' of certain Mississippi Clioctaws. ' fiv it enacted hy the Oeneral CoiineU of the Choetaic Ndtioit (is.se in bled, That tlu> sum of $300 be. and the same is hereby, appropriated out of any money in the treasury, not otherwise aiipropriated, as a relief for tlie following late arrivals from Mississippi, to wit: 1. Joe Willis; 2, Nancy Willis; 3, Frank Willis; 4. Taney Willis; .j, Billy Willis; 6. Liza Willis; 7. Serena Willis; 8, Thompson Kurney; 9, Wallace Sam; 10. Fannie Sam; 11. Jenizy Sam; 12. Luke Sam ; 13, Sally Sam ; 14, Liza Sam ; 15. Lizzie Sam ; IG, Asa Sam ; 17, Henson Haltenstyle; IS. Phoebe Haltenstyle; 1!). Milton Haltenstyle; 20, Jesse Haltenstyle; 21, Fall Haltenstyle; 22. Sanders Amos; 23, William Amos; 24, Ann Amos; 25, John Amos; 2(i. Solomon Amos; 27, Puss Amos; 2S, Cassou Wilson; 29. Belson Wilson; 30, Mednrial Wilson; and this act to take effect and be in force from and after its passage. Approved, April 9. 1891. W. N. Jones, Principal Chief of the Clioetan- Xatioii. Laws Passed ry the (tEnkrai. Council of the Choctaw Nation at Its ItEGULAR Session Convened in October. 1891. No. 14. An act for the relief of twenty-six Chottaws lately from Mississii>pi. Be it enacted by the (leneral ('(HineU of the Clioetan- Nation assembled. Section 1. That the sum of two hundred and sixty dollars is hereby appro- priated for the relief of James Phillips and twenty-five others, whose names are heretoto attached; that the national auditor sh: 11 issue his warrant on the treasurer and he shall pay the same. Sec. 2. That this act take effect and be in force from and after its passage. Approved, October 21, 1891. W. X. Jones, Priiicitial Chief of the Choctair Xation. No. 27. An act conferrin'4- citizenship on Henry Lewis. Mississippi Choctaw. lie it enacted by tlie (lenera! Council of the Choctair Nation assembled. That one Uein-y Lewis, late of the State of Mississippi, is hereby recognized as a citizen of this nation, and eiditled to all the rights, privileges, and imnuinities of a citizen of this nation, and this act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage. Approved, October 27, 1S9L W. N. Jones, Prineiyal Chief of the Choctaw Xation. No. 13. Au act in n^lation to the appointing comnussioners to remove tlie Choctav.s from t'n' St'.te of Mississippi. Section 1. Be it enacted bij the (leneral Council of the Choctair Xatinn assembled. That there is hereby appro])riated. out of any money in the national treasury n<»t otherwise ajipropriated, and i)laced in the hands of connnissioners (to be "ai»pointed by the principal chief), the sum of seventeen InrnlrcMl an!"cl!i(>f to the national auditor, then the auditor shall issue his wiM-rant to tli(> iidional treasurer, and the national treasurei- shall pay the sanu^ for the l>ur]i(-se of paying the expenses of the following-named Clu)ctaws wlio now re- si('r> i'l the State of ;Mississi|ipi ; that is. Wesley Williams and in family. liufus York and in family. Ch.irley York and 5 in f-mily. Tim York and 2 in family. Samps^ou York anil 3 in family. 36 MEMORIAL OP THE CHOCTAW AND CHICKASAW NATIONS. Oixoii York ;uh1 <» in family. Scott Hiiruie and 3 in family. Ttobert Anderson and 4 in family. Kdmond ^Farrin and .'5 in family. Ben Sakke and 8 in family, John Sakke and ."» in family. William Cnltio and 5 in fanuly, Martin Worlai'k jind 8 in family, Dixon Willis and 4 in family. Tom Cheto and 11 in family, Tom Davis and 7 in family. James Battiest iuid 1 in family, Davis Welch and 4 in family. Sakkee Snsan and 7 in family. Sis Simm and 3 in family. Jack Columbus and 2 in family, Thomas Benton and 3 in family. Willie and 4 in family, W. E. Martin ami 4 in family, Joe Yale and 3 in family. Billy Gipsou and 1 m family, Thomiison Bakei- and I in family, making in all one hundred and fourteen persons. Skc. 2. fU it finilicr oiarfcd. That the princiiml chief shall ainioint two com- juissioners. who shall i)i'oceed at once to the State of Mississippi, collect up said Choctaws. and bring them to this nation. Said commissionei's to be a])- pointed and commissioned Ity the principal chief and to take the required oath of office bef(n'e any judge of a court of record of this nation, and to give bond, payable to the i»rincipal chief, to he approved b,t the said .indge. in the sum of seventeen hundred and ninety-two dollars and fifty cents (1.702.50) for the faithful j)erformance of their duties, and that the sum of eight hundred dollars (800) is hereby api)ropriated, out of any money in the national treasury not otherwise appropriated, to said conunissioners. and upon presenting their com- mission to the national anditoi- he shall diaw his warrant on tlie treasury for tlie sum of eight hundretl dollars in favor of said commissioners, and the national treasurer shall pay the same. Skc. 3. Be it further rnaetcd. That the said eight hundred dollars- ($800) — that is, $400 each to said commissioners — shall be in full compensation for their service as such conunissioners. Skc. 4. Be it fiirtlirr enacted. Tliat^ sai; John Whittle, age 14: Arthnr Whittle, age 11; Alma Whittle, age 7: Madge Lamar Whittle, age "i : and Clarence Whittle, age 3, are hei'eby admitted to all the rights, privileges, and innnnnities of citizenship in the Choi-taw Nation, and this act take effect an 1 be in force from and after its passage. Approved, November 5. 18'.t."). Jeff ({ardneu, Prineipal Chief of the CJi'xidir Xation. ' Bill No. 38. A'l act adniitlins' Itctty A. Lewis and others. Section 1. Be it enacted hi/ the Ceneral Council of the Choctair Xation a-s- i!ges in said .Xiition. of oth<>r Cluwtaws. Sec. 2. Be it further enacted, That this act take effect and Ix' in force from and after its passage. Approved. November 8, 189.J. Jeff (Jaruner. Principal Chief of the Choctaw Nation. 38 MEMORIAL OF THE CHOCTAW AND CHICKASAW NATIONS. RiLi. No. 44. All net admitting Louis Trahpon and his cliildiin to citizf-iisliiii. SiX'Tiox L lie it rnactcfl hii the General Cokih-H of tlic Choctdir Xation as- sembled, Tli;)t Louis Traheon and his cliildicii. Willie May Tralieon. age 2 years: F. Tralieon. ajie months, be adniitled to all the rifihts. privilejios. and innniinities with other Choctaws. and that this act take effect and be in fin'ee from ans the Senate of the Ignited States has awarded to the Choctaws the net proceeds of the land ceded by them to the United States by the treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek. September, A. D. 1S30, deducting therefrom the proper exjiendi- tnres for surveying, selling, &e. Sec. 2. fie it further enacted. That whereas the Choctaws. by the 12th article of the treaty of June 22d. isnr). .acci'])ted the same in full s;ttisfactlon of national and indivi(bial claims, thereby becoming liable and asstnning tlie payment of individual claimants. Sec. ;>. Be it further enacted. That the thrf>e cummissioners now appointed luider ('»th section of the constitution and two others to be appointed by the governor, who, after being commissioned and cpialitied according to law, shall be. and the same are hereby, constituted a court of claims, who. before entering upon the duties of their office, shall take the oath of office prescribed in the constitution, which oath may be administered by the governor or ,iuerson or by attorney: provided, that none shall be attorneys except those legally qualified to ])ractic(> before the courts of this nation, being citizens" thereof. Sec. <;. lie it further enacted. That said court of claims shall, as well as claimants, have the p«wer to sunnnon any person or persons as witnesses on the part of the nation, and in case the personal attendance of the summoned can not be had depositions may be taken by either party before any judge or other officer legally qualified to administer an oath, sufficient notice being given to the adverse party of the time and place of taking the same. Sec. 7. Be it further enacted. That the court of claims shall choose from among themselves the presiding commissioner, who shall be styled the chief MEMORIAL OF THE CHOCTAW AND CHICKASAW NATIONS. 39 coiuiuissioner. and enter the same on the minutes of the court, and said eliief commissioner shall have power to sign the minutes and certify any matter of fact of record in said court. Sec. 8. Be it furthtr eiKictcd. That the court of claims shall have power to appoint a clerk, by and with the advice of the governor, to hold his ofBce as long as business may require, but may be removed for any good and sutlicient cause from office. Said clerk shall take the oath of office prescribetl in the constitution before any judge of a court of record, and shall be allowed for his services three dollars per day, payable quarterly out of the national treasury l.y certified certiiicate from under the hand and seal of the chief commissioner of the court. Sec. 9. B- it further enacted. That for preventing errors in entering upon the Judgment or orders of said court the minutes of the proceetlings every day- shall be drawn up by the clerk before the next day's sitting of the court, when the same shall be read in open court and such corrections as may be necessary made and then signed by the chief commissioner of the court, and carefully jireserved in a well-bound book to be kept for the purpose, if necessary, of making a pro rata payment on adjudicated claims of judgment rendered, and the last day of each sitting of said court the proceedings of the day shall be drawn up. read, correc-ted. and signeayable quarterly out of any funds in the National Treasury not otherwise appropriated — a certificate, tinder the hand ;uid seal of the chief commissioner, of the number of days and the amount shall be presented to the Auditor, who shall issue his warrant on the National Treas- urer for the same. And he it further enacted. That the witness or witnesses appearing in behalf of the nation in the court of claims will be allowed two cents per mile and fifty cents iier day in attending the above said court, out of any money in th» Treasury not otherwise api)ropriated, on the order or certificate of the chief commissioner, to the National Auditor for the same. Sec. 11. Be it further enacted. That in case any vacancy shall occur in the court of claims, either by death, resignation, or removal from office^^the gov- ernor shall have power to fill such vacancy by appointment. Sec. 12. Be it further enacted. That in case of necessity the court shall have power to ajipoint a bailitf who shall execute all orders of said court and for his services shall receive the same as that of constable foi- like services. Sec 13. Be it further enacted, That the said court shall hold its session at ilie following ]ilaces. to wit: Skullyville, one month, commencing 1st Monday in .January, 1800: John Riddle's, two weeks, commencing 1st Monday in Feb- iiiary. iscO; Hoggy Depot, commencing third Monday in February, to hold two weeks: Mayhew, three weeks, commencing first Monday in March, 1800; .Tno. Caffrey's, three weeks, commencing 4th Monday in March, 1860; Doaks- ville. one month, commencing third Monday in April, 1860; Lukfatah, one month, commencing third Monday in May, 1860: Jessee McKinney's, two weeks, commencing third Monday in June, 1860. Be it further enacted. That in case the said court of claims shall not com- plete the adjudication of claims enrolled within specified times then additional terms shall be held by said court; times and place to be fixed by said court for final and entire adjudication. Approved, October 21, 1859. An act makins; distribution of tlio " net proceeds " monev arising under judgment of til'' Court of Claims of the United States rendered on tlie IGtli dav of December, A. D. 1886. Section 1. B< it enacted Inj the (ieneral Council of the Choelaw \ation a>f office jirescribed by the const ilution. and tliey shall elect one Jiniong tljemselves ciiief commissionei-, and shall aii|)oint a clerk and bailiff, and a majority of I lie cnnimissioners shall const Kute a (juorum for the dis patch of business. 40 MEMORIAL OF THE CHOCTAW AXD CHICKASAW NATIONS. Skc. 2. Jic it further enacted. That the duty of these CDinmissioners shall be to proceed as soon as ju-actk-ahle to ascertain the leual heirs of the individual chiinis that have been adjudicated liy the court of claims of the Choctaw Nation nncU'r acts of the (Jenei'al Council approved 1.S72 and May. ISTo. which :(d.judicat ion amounted to eijfht hnn(h"(Ml and twenty-five thousand dollars ($s2.",(i(io.. lie it fiirtJier enacted. That the ruited States Indian ayent for the Five Civilized Tribes is hereby authorized to make requisitions on the proper lUithorities of the TTnited States on behalf of the Choctaw Nation for sufficient sums of money to pay the lialnlities of the Choctaw Nation to the individual claims that have been adjudicated, or may hereafter be adjudicated, by the proper authoi'ities of said Nation, and claims so adjudicated shall be reported to the I'nited States Indian aujent for the Five Civilized Tribes by the com- mission. The first requisition shall be for eijiht hundred and twenty-five thousand dollai's (.$S2r).0(X).0O). to be !)aid to said asient out of the sum of one million four hundred aiid thirty-six thousand two hundred and seven and 15/100 dollars ($].4.'>().207.3r)). balance due tlie Choctaw Nation under jud.itment of the Court of Claims of the United States, rendered on the Itjth day of Decem- ber. ISSC). for the i)urpose of settling the individual claims that liave been adjudicatepear before said lio.ird the c(!nunission shall hold thirty business days at Tushkahomma. which shall be the tin.:il meeting of said commission. Sec. 5. lie it further enacted. Tliat the clerk shall keeti a fair and correct record of the proceedings of the commission, and the bailiff shall serve all ordei-s and commands of the commission and keep order during business hours. an. lie it fiuilier enacted. That said commission slmll. inider no circum- stances, inake ailow.-ince to juiy person v.-hose claim has been rejected by the revisory board held at Atoka in the year TS7(;. but may. and are hereby reipiired to. exanune any new claim that may be presented and. if ju.st. allow the same. Sec. 7. lie it' further enacted. That if a vacancy occurs by death or refusal to serve the vacancy shall be filled by appointment of the principal chief: the princi])al chief shall set the time for the first meeting of the connnission. to be held at I'oteau Station. l)y giving fifteen days' notice to the conunissioners, and the connnission«>rs shall give fifteen d.-iys' notice before nu'eting ;it each pl.-ice of meetiug after the first meeting. Skc. S. I{( it furtlier enacted. That said cDiumission shall receive fur their services herein the sum of five dollars each per day ;uid mileage ten cents per mile actually traveled in going to and from each place of meeting. The clerk and bailiir shall receive the same pay as a commissioner. The chief commis- sioner shall issue certificate on the national auditor for the pay of the officers of the conuuission. and tlie treasurer shall pay the same. Sec. 9. lie it further enacted. Tliat said commission shall procure at the expense of tl:e Choctaw Nation all stationery necessary to run the business of the commission: the chief commissioner sliall i.ss\ie his certificate on the national auditor for the amount necessary to pay iuv the stationery, and the auditor issue his warrant on the treasurer for the saiin'. For the guidance of the commission in examining claims and issuing certifi- cates, tlu' principal chief is hereby authorized to immediately procure the roll of the individual claimants that appears of record in tlie Interior Deiiartment at MEMOEIAL OF THE CHOCTAW AXD CHICKASAV^^ NATIONS. 41 Washington, D. C. at tbe expense of the Choctaw Nation, payable on the certitieate of the princiiial chief on the national auditor, and he shall issue his warrant on the treasurer for the same. All expenses incnrred by the Choctaw Nation on account of the (\)urt of Claims shall be refunded out of the net proceeds money after individual claims are paid. Si:c. 11. He it furthrr citdctaJ. That th(> national secretary is hereby directed to furnish a certitied copy of this act, one to the Coinmissioner of Indian Affairs, one to the Secretary of the Interior, and one to the United States Indian agent for the Five Civilized Tribes: and all acts coming in conflict with this act are liereby repealed, and this act shall take effect and l)e in force fi-om and after its nassage. Apjn'oved. Nov. ('>. isss. B. F. Smallvvood. I'l-iiicipii! Chief of the Choetaw Natian. This is to certify that the above and foregoing (pages Nos. 1-5) is a true and [•direct copy from the original a<-t now on file in this office. Witness 'my hand and the seal of the Choctaw Nation this November 26. 1888. A. Telle. Xiitioiidl Secretary Choctaiv Nalion. Appendix No. 0. SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND T£iK CHOCTAW AND CHICKASAW NATIONS AI'PROVID BY ACT OF CONOBESS OF JULY 1, l',)02 (32 STAT. L.. P. 641). MISSISSIPPI CHOCTAWS. 41. All persons duly identified by the conunission to the Five Civilized Tribes' under the provisions of section 21 of the act of Congress approved .June 28, 1898 (.^>() Stats., 495), as Mississippi Choctaws entitled to benefits under article 14 of the treaty between the I'nited States and the Choctaw Nation, concluded Sep- tember 27, 1830. may. at any time within six months after the date of their identification as Mississipjii Choctaws by the rtiid commission, make bona fide settlement within the Choctaw-Chickasaw country, .and upon proof of such set- tlement to such commission within one year after the date of their sjiid identi- fication as Mih'sissiiipi Choctaws shall be enrolled l)y such conunission as Mis- sissippi Choctaws entitled to allotment as herein ])rovided for citizens of the tribes, sul).1ect to the special provisions herein provider representatives, if he be dead, fails to make proof of such continuous bona fide residence for the period so i»rescribed, or up to the time of the death of such Miss'issippi Choctaw, in case of his death after enrollment, he and his heirs and representatives, if he be dead, shall l>e deemes issued. The actinj? com- nn'ssioner .sets forth at considerable length bis reasons for believiui; that the testimony of Jim Gift is reliable, and could not possibly be a fabrication. In respect to the point of law involved, the acting commissioner is also of the opinion that persons entitled to identification before the act of July 1, 1902, supra, were not, by virtue of that act. barred from identification. He is of the oiiinion. however, that sec-tion 41 thereof is in itself sufficient authority for the idenlitication of seripees and their descendants as Mississiiipi Clioctaws. Whether the acting commissioner's view as to section 41 is correct or not, the ".■esult of tills case will be the s;inie. The department lias compared the testimony furnished by the applicants and their witnesses with the information furnished by the Indian Office, and is satisfied that if the testimony is to be accepted as reliable it is sufficient to establish the conclusions of the Indian Office as to the questions of fact iuAoIved. The testimony connected with the parentage of Jim Gift showing his mixture of Afric-ui and CTioctaw blood, his mother's name and her various residences, her appearance before the Indian agent at " Yazoo " City, the date of her death. Jim Gift's place of birth, and his various places of residence, the restiniduy concerning his twin sister and tbe name of his other relatives, agrees substantially in so many respects with the testimony of a like character rela- tive to the Jinuiiy and Luc.v of recoi'd and the various members of the family to which tliey belonged: that the identity (.f Jim (Jiff with said Jinnny of record can not be reasonabl.v rpiestioned. There remains to be considered the question of law involved relative to tlie I'iglits of seripees and their descendants. Concerning said section 41 of the act (if July 1. 1902, the Attorney General of the United Slates, in an opinion ren- dered June 19, 1903, used the following language: "This agreement must, of course, be construed in the light of the circum- stances under which it was made, and with a jiurpose to ascertain tlie intention of the parties thereto. Manifestly the parties did not intend to abridge the rights of any person theretofore entitled by law t(» identification as a Mississippi Choctav\-. hut they did intend to perjuit the identification of some persons wlio had not prior to that time been able to bring themselves within the requirements of the rules established by the commission — persons, the evidence of whose rights under the treaty of 1830, could not be secured, but who the Government of the Unitetl States and the Choctaw Indians, 'in their generosity.' desired should share in the benefits arising out of the provisions of that treaty. * * * "In my opinion, paragraph 41 of the agreement of 21st March. 1902. does not require the identification of part-blood cliildren of Mississip]ii Choctaws them.selves idt>ntified solely by reason i>f full blond. Sm-h children must in some other wa.y, if ])ossible, establish tlieir claims to participate in the benefits arising from the treaty of 1S30. They have not been deprived by the agreement e under 10 years of age, to a, patents were to be issued to them covering in whole or in part improvements made by them at the date of the treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek. In cases where it ap[)eared that applicants had done everything within their power to comply with the treaty but had failed to maintain continuous resi- dence for five years after the ratification of the treaty upon the lands claimed liy them, such failure being due to the fact that the Government had before the expiration of the five-year period patented said lands to others, a substi- tute iirr.-mgement was made whereby their claims were to be settleil by the issuance of certificates entitling tliem to select an equal amount of public land in the United States open to selection in the States of ^lississippi, Ala- bama. Louisiana, and Arkansas, the acceptance of such certificates by the ;ipplicants to operate as "a full satisfaction and discharge" of their claims against the Touted States to land under article 14 of the treaty of ISJjO. It will thu>) be seen that patentees and scripees stood on e.x;ictly the same footing, so far as the merits of their c.-ises were concerned, but the l.-itter were compelled to -icceiJt as the fi'uits of their compliance with the treaty ;i substituted perform.-ince on the [)art of the Government, by which they received other lands than those which they were promised by the treaty. Can it be held that this substituted i)ei'form;ince pro|iosed by the Governn)ent as a settlement of the land claims of fourteenth-article applicants and accepted by them in full satisfaction of such claims, operates in any respect to alter their claims against the Choc taw Nation to a portion of its lands west of the ]Mississi]ii)i, claims founded lipon the guaran.ty in said article 14 that " persons who claim under this article shall not lose the privilege of a Choctaw citizen '"? The department does not s(t consider. The only relation existing between patents and scri]) and land riglits in the Choctaw Nation is this: So far as the rights of fourteenth-article claimants to Choctaw lands west of the Mississippi is concerned, patients and scrip serve only as evidence that the persons to whom they wei'e issued elected for themselves and for persons claiming through them, not to relintptish their rigl ts as Choctaw citizens. excei)t to the amiuities. Other than this the acti'.n of the Ignited States in ad.1udicating the claims of these people against it for lands under ;irticle 14 has nothing whatever to do with their claims against the Choctaw Nation for a sh;ir(» of its lands lying west of the Mississii)pi. The depjirtment 1s therefm-e of the opinion that scriiiees and tlu'ir (U'si-end- ants come within the rule referred to al)ove .as being persons or descendants of persons who attempted to comply with article 14 of the treaty of September 27. 18.30. In this connection it should be noted that it is not the intention of the (lei)artnient to hold that this is the only form of attempted conqtliance which can be recognized, or that othei' forms of attemiited coini)li:ince will be recog- nized. Other r.-ises of ntteniitfed comiilianc(> must be determined as jtresented. Yon are accordingly directed, in accoi'dance with the riu-onnnendation of the Indian OtHce, lo identify these applicants as ,"\Iississipi)i Choctaws. and lo so .advise them .-iud their attorneys. In so doing you are reipiesled to inform them respecting the time limit within which they are recpiired to remove to the Choctaw N.ition after receiving notice from you. A copy of the acting conuius-ioner's letter of November 2. 1'.X)4. is inclosed herewith. Respectfully, Thos. Ryan, Acting Xccrclniii. o Part Four [Copy.] The Portland, Washington, D. C, June 12, 1913. Hon: Franklin K. Lane, Secretary of the Interior. Dear Sfr: The matter of the reopening of the Choctaw and Chickasaw rolls has reached a serious condition. As attorne}^ for the Choctaw Nation, I find myself somewhat handicapped in the fight to prevent the rolls from being reopened by not knowing definitely who is behind the movement. There are, of course, a great number of attorneys who appear before the committees of Congress and before your office in these matters but there are definite rumors to the effect that these attorneys are not the only parties interested. Contracts have been taken from a great number of persons who claim to have a right to enrollment and, it is rumored, that these contracts have been turned into a syndicate and capitalized and that the money derived from the sale of the contracts is being used to lobby a provision through Congress to reopen the rolls. There are many other rumors in connection with this matter which are not as definite as the one I have stated. I have not enough information to make a charge of the nature suggested and be able to establish the charge after it became public. It would be ruinous to any man to make a charge of this nature and not be able to substantiate it. For this reason 1 respectfully request that you detail an inspector to investigate this matter and report the facts relative thereto. This is a matter in which your office is deeply inter- ested as well as the Indian Tribes. It was under the supervision of the Secretary of the Interioi- that the rolls of these nations were made and completed. If the rolls are thrown open, the Indians will suffer great and irreparable injury and we appeal to your office for the assistance which the Government owes in the protection of the rights of the Indians. I will be glad to confer with you on this matter at your convenience. We desire your office to assist us in ascertaining the facts before a public charge is made. If the facts do not warrant it the charge need not be made. I wish it to be understood, however, that this letter is not to be construed to implj' that I think any member of Congress or the Senate is financially interested in these contracts as I have no information to that effect. Very respectfully, (Sgd.) P. J. HURLEY, National Attorney for the Choctaw N^ation. Part Five ._6 ENROLLMENT WITH THE FIVE CIVILIZED TRIBES HEARINGS BEFORE SUBCOMMITTEE OF THE COMMITTEE ON INDIAN AFFAIRS HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES SIXTY-THIRD CONGRESS Second Session ON BILLS FOR ENROLLMENT WITH THE FIVE CIVILIZED TRIBES JULY 2, 1914 WASHINGTON GOVERNMENT PRINTING OmOE 19U SUBCOMMITTEE. CHARLES D. CARTER, Chairman. J. D. POST. PHILIP P. CAMPBELL. ROBERT P. HILL. CLARENCE B. MILLER. ENROLLMENT WITH THE FIVE CIVILIZED TRIBES. Mr. Carter (interposing). Right along that line, how many con- tracts have you with these people ? Mr. Cantwell. I have, in all, contracts with 4,200 persons. Mr. Carter. What compensation do those contracts provide? Mr. Caxtwell. They provide that the fee shall be fixed by act of Congress or subject to change by act of Congress and by the Secre- tary of the Interior. They provide for from 25 per cent to 35 per cent. A part of them provide for 35 per cent. Mr. Post. If these 4,000 persons were enrolled as citizens of the Choctaw Nation, and if they were entitled to all of the emoluments that you claim for them, what would be the aggregate amount com- ing to them ? Mr. Caxtwell. They are not claiming under this bill the distri- butions which were made per capita that they did not go out there to be identified for; that is, those cash distributions that were made during the time the tribe was in existence of lease money or of the net proceeds of them. They are simply equitably entitled to them, but they are claiming instead of the lands that those now on the rolls have gotten or this bill provides that they shall get a full and equal quantity of land at twice the nominal appraised value. That amounts, so far as these lands go, to about $2,000 apiece. It would amount to an equal distribution if awarded those rights Mr. Post (interposing). What do you estimate that to be? Mr. Cantwell. The estimates vary. Everyone now on the rolls has gotten his 320 acres at a nominal appraisement, and those lands are in many cases worth $100 per acre to-day. There would probably be. at a low estimate, $25,000,000 or $30,000,000 worth of property left; that is, at the very lowest estimate. Mr. Carter. I have here what purports to be a copy of a contract, printed with the name of Cantwell & Crews on it, which contains the following provision : Fiftli. To collect ami receive all .sums of money, lands, and property that may lawfully be collected, selected, and received by reason of said rights here- after, and to faithfully pay over and account to the party of the first part for all such sums of money, lands, and property after deducting (he compensation herein jirovidcd for. ******* Mr. Carter. I notice here an affidavit by A. P. Powell, in which he sets out, I believe, that he has taken, through Milton J. Turner, Robert L. Fortune, and others, contracts for about 2,300 people. He states in that affidavit that he has taken 2,300 of these contracts and turned them over to Cantwell & Crews. Mr. Cantwell. I do not know what the contents of that affidavit are. but that is probably true. If that is what he says, that is prob- ably true. I think, if you desire any information in regard to those 3 4 ENROLLMENT WITH THE FIVE CIVILIZED TRIBES. contracts — I only want to say this to you, that we had some diffi- culty with Mr. PoAvell. Mr. Powell was sent to Mississippi under a salary of $150 per month and expenses to take these contracts for our firm. He chariied in his expenses for notary fees and everything else. We learned that he was charging some of these people small sums of money, and I got him to St. Louis and asked him about it and jacked him up about it. Then we bought Powell's interest entirely out. There is an affidavit which was made on the Cth day of November, 1911. You understand that these contracts taken by Powell have no connection with these others. Mr. Carter. Let us see what it is. Do you say that this provision, authorizing you to collect and receive all sums of money, lands, and })roperty that may laAvfully be collected, etc., is not in your contract with the Mississippi Choctaws? Mr. Cantwell. I will send you an exact copy of the contract with the Mississippi Choctaws. I believe there was a copy of the form fur- nished in that investigation of Indian contracts made by the commit- tee, but if there is not I will send you a copy of it. Mr. Carter. Now. then, Mr. Cantwell. I notice that Mr. Powell tes- tifies to having turned over about 4.200 contracts with Mississippi Choctaws to Crews & Cantwell. Then another gentleman states that he has tiu'ned over — I have not that affidavit here with me — but he states that he has turned over to Crews & Cantwell about 1.300 con- tracts with Mississippi Choctaws in addition to the ones turned over by Powell. That was a gentleman by the name of Luke W. Conerly, of Gulfport, Miss. Mr. Cantavell. If the committee desires, I have all the contracts, except about 400 which are in the possession of Mr. Luke W. Conerly, of Gulfport, Miss., in a safe deposit in Washington, with a memoran- dum of the evidence made by each claimant, and they are open to the inspection of the committee at any time. Mr. Carter. IMr. Powell says that he charged each applicant from $1.25 to $2.50. He says: After the 4,000 were registered, more applicants came in, and I ctiarged them $1.25 each. I made this charge because the money that had been advanced by Crews. Cantwell, and Hulbert was exhausted, and they refused to put up any more money for taking applications. This charge by me was to cover expenses of continuing the work of getting applications. I sent all these claims that I was making a charge for to Crews & Cantwell. I went from Bay St. Louis to Washington to see Mr. Cantwell, and he tried to get Hulbert to put up more money, and Hulbert notified me at Jackson, Miss., that he had put up $7,000, and that we had to take proof of the same, and that he was willing to put up the $7,000 for that purpose. He has not put it up yet. Then he says : I went to INIonticello and took applications for Crews and Cantwell and charged $2.50 each there. I took about KK) names there. I took a few names at Riloxi and charged $1.25 for each apiilicaut there. These claims were for Crews and Cantwell. I also visited Meridian and took about 88 applications there for Crews and Cantwell. but for whicli no charge was made. Mr. Cantwell. I Avant to say unqualifiedly and as strongly as I can say it that if Mr. Powell or anybody else says that we ever authorized him to charge $2.50 and knew he was charging $2.50, or ENROLLMENT WITH THE FIVE CIVILIZED TRIBES. 5 any sum whatever, for any of these contracts, he is an unmitigated perjurer. Never, with our consent, was there one dollar of money charged; and, furthermore, as this affidavit which T submit to you shows, when we discovered that he had done it, we paid Powell a large sum of money to get rid of him. Mr. Carter. lATien did you sever the connection ? Mr. Cantaveli.. This circular which was sent out on the 16th of February, 1912, shows our full connection with Mr. Powell. Mr. Carter. Does it show the date? Mr. Cantaveijl. Yes, sir. Mr. Carter. Do you know what the date is? Mr. Cantwell. Some time in January or February, 1912. Mr. Carter. That was after the time he had made this affidavit. This was on April 27, 1911. Mr. Cantwell. He is an unmitigated liar if he ever says that any charge was ever made, because he charged us with all the expenses and we got vouchers for them. Our instructions to him were not under any circumstances to permit anybody to pay him anything. I would like to have this made a partof the record. IVIr. Carter. Yes, sir. Since the time that you severed connection with him you have not authorized him in any way to act for you or Mr. Crews? Mr. Cantavell. No, sir. Mr. Carter. Has he continued to take contracts? Mr. Cantaat^ll. I do not know who he has taken contracts for. I understand he has been down to Mississippi. The only contracts taken for us were contracts taken by Mr. Luke W. Conerly, at Gulf- port, Miss. Mr. Carter. He is your agent ? Mr. Cantwell. Yes. sir. Mr. Carter. He is still continuing to take contracts? Mr. Cantavell. I believe so. Mr. Carter. When you separated from Mr. Powell, did you give him any letter of recommendation? Mr. Cantwell. Yes, sir; I committed the unpardonable folly of writing a letter to Powell — he is a very peculiar human being, you Icnow, very active — in which I complimented him for staying here and keeping open the Mississippi Choctaw matters. He and Nichols, as you know, stayed around in this Capitol and haunted everybody for montlis and months wlien practically everybody in Olclahoma and Mississippi had given up hope, and T Avrote a letter to Powell which gave Powell entirelv too much credit and which he immediatelv had lithographed. He changed one part of it, one sentence in the original copy, and spread it all over Mississippi. There is nothing in that to be ashamed of except that T was proliably too generous in giving him something to which he was not entitled. Mr. Carter. You found out at the time you made this settlement and turned him off that he was a man of bad repute? Mr. Cantwell. At the time we made this settlement? Mr. Carter. Yes, sir. Mr. Cantwell. Mr. Carter, after we made that settlement with Mr. Powell and engaged Mr. Conerly, Powell, T was afraid, would go down to Mississippi and go to taking contracts. T was afraid that we r-ould not keep liim quiot. T did not want him to take any more con- 6 ENROLLMENT WITH THE FIVE CIVILIZED TRIBES. tracts. I agreed to pay Powell a small salary if he would go down there and stay there under the direction of Conerly. After we bought him out, simply to dispose of him, we agreed to pay him $50 or $00 a month. Mr. Carter. So he did work for you after that? Mr. Cantwell. No; he went down there with the understanding that he was not to take any contracts at all. Mr. Carter. But was to draw a salary? Mr. Cantwell. Yes, sir. He telegraphed me from some point down there that the deal was off, and the next day he went to taking contracts. Mr. Carter. On his own hook? Mr. Cantwell. On his own hook, I suppose. I got out this circu- lar. That was the occasion for getting out this circular. Mr. Carter. Do you not think that giving him this letter from a firm of lawyers like yourself and Mr. Crews might give a certain standing that would enable him to take contracts that he could not possibly have gotten without that letter? Mr. Cantwell. I am inclined to think that that is probably true. * * * * * * * Mr. Carter. How much does the Harrison bill provide shall be paid to each claimant? Mr. Cantavell. Double the appraised allotment. Mr, Carter. Two thousand and eighty dollars? Mr. Cantavell. Approximately. Mr. Carter. It is stated here that 9,558 of these contracts are con- trolled by CrcAvs & Cantwell. Without regard to whether that is or is not true, a calculation of 9,558 multiplied by $2,000 would be $19,116,000, and if the fees set out in your contracts AA^ere paid to you, you would get about one-third of that sum. Some of them are 30 per cent and some 35 per cent ? Mr. Cantavell. I do not think there are any 35 per cent. Mr. Carter. This one here is 35 per cent. Mr. Cantavell. That is not a Mississippi ChoctaAv contract. Mr, Carter. It provides for the enrollment of the people ? Mr. Cantavell. Yes, sir; but that would include freedmen and all. Mr. Carter. That would aggregate a fee of $6,338,000. That would be a great deal more than Mansfield, McMurray & Cornish CA'er dreamed of, and their fee of $750,000 seemed excessiA^e. Mr. Cantavell. That predisposes that all are going to be enrolled. In the next place, it includes in your estimate a great many people who are not Mississippi ChoctaAvs, who could be eliminated from consideration. Mr. Carter. If they were enrolled, they Avould be entitled to the same consideration ? :\: :^ ^. ^ 4: H: H< Have you hypothecated any of those contracts? Mr. Cantavell. Xo; I have hypothecated none of those contracts. There has never been a hypothecation of any of those contracts, so far as we are concerned. There are some gentlemen in Texas AAdio are in- terested with us in those contracts and in what sum may be recoA^ered who have adA'anced money for taking those contracts and haA'^e agreed to advance some money for the necessary expenses whene\"er we get an opportunity to be heard. ENROLLMENT WITH THE FIVE CIVILIZED TRIBES. 7 Mr. Carter. How much have they advanced? Mr. Cantavell. They have advanced altogether — I do not know the exact figures, but it is probably $15,000. Mr. Carter. What security did they take? Mr. Cantwell. They took an agreement from us that they should have an interest in whatever we might recover. Mr. Carter. That would practically be a hypothecation? Mr. Cantwell. That is not hypothecation ; it is a declaration that they shall receive a certain proportion. Mr. Carter. How^ much are they to receive for financing it? Mr. Cantwell. My recollection is that in the case of the Mis- sissippi Choctaws it is 60 per cent, whatever it may be. Mr. Carter. Whatever your fee is? Mr. Cantwell. Yes, sir. Mr. Carter. What is the name of the concern that is financing these contracts? Mr. Cantwt:ll. It was incorporated by these people under this agreement and called the Texas-Oklahoma Investment Co. Mr. Carter. Who compose the corporation? Mr. Cantavell. A number of gentlemen in Houston, Tex. ; friends of Mr. Harris Masterson. Mr. Carter. Do you know any of the other names ? Mr. Cantwell. t do not know any except Mr. Masterson and Mr. Hulbert. Mr. Carter. Are those the only people you have negotiated with concerning these contracts for the purpose of raising money? ]Mr. Cantwell. Those are the only people with whom we have ever signed a contract assigning any interest called the Texas-Okla- homa Investment Co. Mr. Carter. Did vou have any business with a fellow named C.B. Moiling in Ohio? Mr. Cantwell. No, sir. Mr. Carter. With Mr. Dechant? Mr. Cantwell. No, sir. Mr. Carter. Did you have anj^ correspondence with him ? Mr. Cantwell. No, sir. He may be a stockholder in the Texas- Oklahoma Investment Co. He may have sold his stock to somebody else, but so far as my knowledge goes Mr. Carter (interposing). It was an organized stock company? Mr. CANinvELL. Yes, sir. Mr. Carter. And the stock w^as sold ? Mr. Cantwell. Yes, sir Mr. Carter. AVhat is the capital? Mr. Cantwell. I think the capital is $100,000. Mr. Carter. What was the capitalization based upon? Mr. Cantavell. It was based on the assignment of the contract. Mr. Carter. What was the relative value between the capitaliza- tion and the fee? Mr. Cantavell. There was an agreement to put up $25,000, and to give Mr. Crews and myself 40 per cent of the stock. In other words, the contracts were assigned to the Texas-Oklahoma Investment Co.; they agreed to provide a fund of $25,000. Mr. Carter. And you take GO per cent? Mr. Cantwell. Forty per cent. 8 ENBOLLMENT WITH THE FIVE CIVILIZED TRIBES. Mr. Carter. And they 60 per cent? Mr. Cantwell. Yes, sir. Mr. Carter. They to pay in $25,000 for the 60 per cent? Mr. Cantwell. Yes, sir. Mr. Carter. Then there has been really $25,000 paid instead of $15,000? Mr. Cantwell. You asked how much had been spent. Mr. Carter. There is still $10,000 to be paid in? Mr. Cantwell. Yes, sir. Mr. Carter. And they were to have 40 per cent? Mr. Cantavell. Sixty per cent. Mr. Carter. Then, for $25,000, if these contracts should go through, they would expect to realize $3,802,000? Mr. Cantavell. Of course, Mr. Carter, I have not speculated on anything of that sort. AVhen the time comes it will be found, of course, that a great many of these people are not entitled to rights. We probably will determine that ourselves. ******* Mr. Carter. How long was Powell in your employ ? Mr. Cantwell. Until February, 1912. Mr. Carter. Was Milton Turner in your employ? Mr. Cantavell. Not on the Mississippi Choctaw work. Mr. Carter. Was he in your employ? Mr. Cantwell. Yes, sir. Mr. Carter. Was Robert Fortune? Mr. Cantwell. Robert Fortune helped Turner on some of the Freedmen's contracts. Mr. Cari-er. Are any of those gentlemen Indians? Mr. Cantavell. No, sir; not that I know of. I do not know Robert Fortune at all. Turner is a negro. Mr. Carter. How about Powell? Mr. Cantwell. Powell claims to be an Indian. Mr. Carter. A^Hiat do you think about it? Mr. Cantwell. My opinion of the Indian would be very much lessened if Powell is an Indian. That is all I can say from what I have seen of him. When I wrote him a letter, which I think any white man or any Indian would have considered a generous letter, he simply used it to hui't the cause, I thought. Mr. Carter. Rolwrt Fortune is a colored man, and for a number of years was a deputy marshal in the Indian Territory. Mr. Cantwell. I do not know him. Mr. Carter. Did you have anyone else at that time working for you in this matter? Mr. Cantwell. Except Conerly; no, sir. Mr. Cartior. Conerly was employed since that time? Mr. Cantwell. Conerly was employed in the beginning, but with Powell. * * * * *_^* * Mr. Hltrley. I would like to ask Mr. Cantwell if he knows whether these gentlemen are connected with the company or syndi- cate that now liolds the Mississippi Choctaw contracts. He has spoken of Mr. Harris Masterson, of Houston, Tex., and Mr. E. L. Hulbert? ENROLLMENT WITH THE FIVE CIVILIZED TRIBES. 9 Mr. Cantwell. Mr. S. L. Hulbert? Mr. Hurley. Is Mr. W. A. Smith, of Houston, Tex., also a direc- tor of the company? Mr. Cantwell. My recollection, Mr. Hurley, is that Mr. Smith is the secretary of the company. That is my recollection. Mr. Hurley. Mr. J. B. Crews, your partner or former partner • Mr. Cantwell (interposing). It is T. B, Crews. Mr. Hurley. And yourself, Mr. H. J. Cantwell Mr. Cantavell (interposing). Yes, sir. Mr. Hurley. That constitutes the board of directors of the com- pany, does it not ? Mr. Cantwell. Not now, because I resigned as a director for the pur])ose of giving them the control of the directory in Texas when they might have meetings. Mr. Hurley. Do you know whether or not the following-named persons are the principal stockholders of the company : Mr. H. J. Cantwell, Mr. T. B. Crews, both of St. Louis; Mr. Clifford Green, of El Campo, Tex.; Mr. S. L. Hurlbut, of El Campo, Tex.; Mr. H. Masterson, of Houston, Tex. ; J. H. Gavenan, of Galveston, Tex. ; H. Gavenan, of Galveston, Tex. ; L. Bryan, of Houston, Tex. ; J. J. Sweeney and W. H. Gill, of Houston, Tex. ? Mr. Cantavell. That is my recollection. Mr. Hurley. I think all of those gentlemen are stockholders in that company. Mr. Hurley. Now, state what connection, if any, Mr. C. B. Moi- ling, or C. B. Moiling & Co., of Houston, Tex., has vnth this company that has all these Mississippi Choctaw contracts. ]SIr. Cantwell. I do not recollect his name. Possibly he may be a stockholder. Mr. Hurley. You do not know whether or not he is authorized to sell stocks or shares in the company that is holding these contracts? Mr. Canta\'ell. Mr. Hurley, any man who owns a certificate of stock in a corporation is entitled to sell his own shares. There is not any sold by the company, so far as the company is concerned, but if he has a certificate of stock he can sell it. Mr. Carter. Mr. Cantwell, the organization of this company is founded upon Mr. Cantwell (interposing). Whatever fees- Mr. Carter (continuing). The value of the contracts? Mr. Cantwell. Yes, sir. Mr. Carter. And unless these ])eople are enrolled the stock is value- less? Mr. Cantwell. Absolutely. Mr. Carter. Then you aud your stockholders are in just exactly the same attitude with i-clation to aiding those people to be enrolled as the firm of Mansfield, McMurray & Cornish was in endeavoring to keep the people off the roll ? Mr. Cantavell. Except that we do not occupy a fiduciary relation — • there is no question about that. Mr. Hurley. I want to ask you about the statements in this com- munication. I am reading now from a letter from Mr. C. B. Moiling, dated Houston, Tex., June 12, 1911 : It is ostiiiinted thnt each Indian's share of the estate is worth ipS.OOO. The attorneys' rontracls call for 30 per cent of this, or $2,400, of which we are to get one-half, or $1,200. We are organizing a syndicate to talte over 1.000 of 10 ENROLLMENT WITH THE FIVE CIVILIZED TRIBES. those conti-MCts at $25 ])er contract. We will not accept subscriptions for less tliau 20 contracts, or $500. The estimated value of 20 contracts, if we win, will bo ai)proxiniatol.v $24,000, or a profit of $.28,500 upon each $.')(X) invested. ^Ir. Cantwell, I never .saw the article nor authorized any such statement a.s that. I never saw any such letter, and T have no knowl- edge of any such letter beino^ sent. I can not imagine why it should have been sent or who could have sent it. Mr. Cartek. For the information of ]\Ir. Cantwell I wdll tell him that the letter Avas sent to me by a former Congressman, with the suggestion that I had better look into the matter. Mr. BoM). AVas this corporation organized before you acquired the contracts or after? Mr. Caxtwell. That corporation was organized after we acquired quite a number of contracts. Mr. Bond. The relation of attorney and client exists between you and these Indian claimants, does it not? Mr. Cantwell. Yes, sir. Mr. Bond. How many of these claimants came to you and em- ployed you as an attorney of their own volition ? Mr. Cantwell. Of our ow^n volition Mr. Bond (interposing). How many of them came to you of their own volition? Mr. Cantwell. I should say probably 250 or 300. Mr. Bond. Then, how many- Mr. Cantwell (interposing). That I had never heard of before — maybe 500. Mr. Bond. Did they come to St. Louis and employ you at your office? Mr. Cantwell. No, sir; by correspondence, Mr. Bond. Then how many did you acquire by solicitation or by hiring agents? Mr. Cantavell. .Vll the rest of them. ******* Washington, D. C, June 29, lOH. The Secretaky or the Interior. Sir: i;^nder departmental instructions of the 13th ultimo, I have the honor to report my investigation concerning the representations made and methods adopted by certain solicitors in securing contracts from individual Indians Avho claim the right to enrollment as mem- bers of the ChoctaAv-ChickasaAv Tribe of Indians, and respectfully submit the folloAving conclusions relatiA'e to same: In my tour of investigation I visited Columbus, Ohio; St. Louis, Mo.: Muskogee. Poteau, Wilburton, and McAlester, Okla. ; San An- tonio and Houston, Tex.: Lake Charles. Baton Rouge, and Ncav Or- leans. La.: and Gulfport, Miss., in(|uiring into the matter and inter- rogated numerous persons Avho had knoAvledge of the representations made and uiethods adoi)ted by the soliciting agents in obtaining contracts from the class of claimants referred to. From my investigation I ascertained that during the past four years .several jiersons have been engaged in soliciting contracts from Choctaw and ChickasaAv Indians and freedmen of those tribes, and ENROLLMENT WITH THE FIVE CIVILIZED TRIBES. 11 that one Alexander P. Powell, who claims to be a Choctaw Indian and a lineal descendant of one of the parties to the Dancing Rabbit Creek treaty of September 27, 1830, has been actively engaged in canvassing a large extent of coimtr}^ chiefly in the States of Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas, in procuring the names of unen- rolled persons who claim to possess Choctaw or Chickasaw Indian blood, and obtaining contracts from them to prosecute, on a con- tingent fee, their right to share in the distribution of the funds and property of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma; and while, as above stated, there were several persons engaged in procuring contracts of similar character from unenrolled Indians of these tribes, it appears from the record that said A. P. Powell obtained more contracts from the class of claimants referred to than all of the other solicitors combined, notwithstanding the fact that Tie did not solicit contracts from any of the freed men. I failed to meet this man Powell during my tour of the localities in Avhich he has been operating very extensively the past four years, and therefore can not speak of him from personal knowledge, but have been told by many who know him that he shows a decided strain of Negro blood, is large of stature, prepossessing in appearance, shrewd and plausible, which, with his posing in the communities he visits in soliciting contracts as a very important person, has succeeded in arousing great enthusiasm among the people of the localities can- vassed by him, and has thus procured contracts with little or no difficulty from all persons who believed they possessed or were led by Powell to believe they possessed, any Choctaw or Chickasaw Indian blood. From what I was told by reputable persons at Lake Charles and Baton Eouge, La., and Gulfport, Miss., it would appear that said Powell was interested chiefly in procuring a large number of con- tracts, regardless of the ancestry of the applicants, as Mr. Luke W. Conerly, of Gulfport, Miss., told me that to his personal knowledge Powell obtained contracts from several families, the ancestry of whom as supplied by Powell was absurdly erroneous. It is also alleged that Powell took contracts from anj^ persons claiming to have Indian blood, and from many who had never claimed to pos- sess Indian blood until told by Powell that they were descendants of Indians who were i)arties to the Dancing Rabbit Creek treaty of 1830 and therefore entitled to certain benefits under that treaty, Mr. C. R. Cline, an attorney of Lake Charles, La., and Hon. Isaac C. Boyd, of Leesville, La., also an attorney, a membei- of the present Louisiana Assembly, and who claims to possess Choctaw Indian blood, both informed me that there are al)out 300 persons living in the neighborhood of Kinder, Allen Parisli, La., who are of mixed descent, being of French, Spanish, Portuguese, and negro blood, with a very few of them possibly possessing some Indian blood, and the name " Red Bone " was given those of them who were supposed to have any Indian blood; that prior to Powell's visit to Kinder solicit- ing contracts with Indians it Avas regarded a great insult to be called a " Red bone,'' thus classing them as of Indian blood, but a number of them were advised by Powell that they were of Choctaw descent, as shown by a book which he possessed and by which he traced their ancestry, as eligible to eni'ollment, and it is alleg'ed that he thus obtained contracts from all of them, and since Powell thus 12 ENROLLMENT WITH THE FIVE CIVILIZED TEIBES. recognized those people, the name '' Red Bone " is no longer objec- tionable, but, on the contrary, all are desirous of being thus classed, and to be now called a " Red Bone " is exceedingly pleasing to each and all of them, as they believe that the cognomen fixes their status as of Indian blood, and entitles them to share in the property of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma. Hon. Isaac C. Boyd, of Leesville, Vernon Parish, La., above re- ferred to, stated to me that in 1911 he was induced by one Mrs. Ella Taylor, of leesville. La., to enter into contract for Mississippi-Choc- taw rights, said Mrs. Taylor representing herself an authorized agent of A. P. Powell and Luke W. Conerly, whose headquarters were then at Gulfport, Miss., engaged in obtaining contracts from Choctaw claimants, for the prosecution of their right to participate in the funds and property of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma; said jNIrs. Taylor stating to him that each beneficiary would be entitled to receive 320 acres of land or double the value of it in money, also anywhere from $5,000 to $10,000 in cash from the Choc- taw funds, but that in order to participate in this distribution, claim- ants must enter into contracts without delay, as the time limit would soon expire, therefore promptness in executing contracts for same was absolutely necessary. Mr. Boyd, who is of Choctaw blood, a lawyer by profession with quite a lucrative practice, and who is also a member of the State Assembly of Louisiana, feels chagrined in having fallen to the (lattei'ing presentation of the matter by Mrs. Taylor, resulting in his entering into a contract for himself and his sister and for which he i)ai(l Mrs. Taylor $7.50 for executing each of said contracts. Mr. Boyd stated that Mrs. Taylor procured a great many similar contracts at Leesville, La., and surrounding country, and that he has little doubt but that she thus realized in the neighborhood of $3,000 from her charge of $7.50 to applicants for each contract obtained. Mr. Boj'^d further stated that after realizing he had been victimized ij) the sum of $15, through the enthusiasm aroused by a plausible talk, he, in order to have the solicitors prosecuted, if possible, made diligent inquiry of ]iersons who had entered into similar contracts to ascertain if any of them had represented themselves as Government officials, and was unable to find any person to whom they represented tiiemselves as being in any way connected with the Government or an official of the Choctaw Nation, but that the impression prevailed among the claimants that A. P. Powell and his assistants were fully emj)owered to procure the contracts they were engaged in soliciting from ChoctaAv claimants. Mr. Boyd still further stated that having talked a great deal against these solicitors, denouncing them as frauds and fakirs, that Powell Dever visited Leesville, La., to solicit contracts, but established him- .self for a short time at De Ridder, 21 miles distant, and sent notices to Leesville applicants to proceed to De Ridder for that purpose. I made i)articular in(iuiry as to Avhether or not I*owell or any of the other solicitors had been ever heard to represent themselves as Government officials or officials of the Choctaw Nation, but did not meet any person who stated that they had ever heard any of those soli(>itars make such a statement. On the contrary, many of the persons whom I interrogated with reference thereto stated that they ENROLLMENT WITH THE FIVE CIVILIZED TRIBES. 13 liad frequently heard Powell say that he was fitrhtins: the Govern- ment to have the riohtful claims of the Choctaw and Chickasaw Indians allowed; but notwithstandinc: the fact that Powell when questioned regardiniz; the matter invariably denied that he had any connection with the Government in the work he was engaged in, the impression prevailed, as expressed by Attorneys Cline and Boyd and Mr. Luke AV. Conerly. especially among the more ignorant persons, that Powell represented some high authority in the premises, he being engaged in executing contracts with claimants, usitig printed blank forms therefor, and this impression prevailed as to the several other solicitors engaged in obtaining similar contracts. When assigned to this investigation, the Indian Office furnished me, for my information, a voluminous file of correspondence with reference to this matter, which file embraced report of Special United States Indian Agent W. W. McConihe. dated May 2, 1911, with ac- companying exhibits, from Avhich record, together with Avhat I ascer- tained in my investigation, the facts appear to be as follow^s: 1. The citizenship rolls of the Choctaw Nation, embracing those Indians entitled to share in the property of the tribe, was closed March 4, 1907 (act of Apr. 26, 1906; 34 Stat. L., 137, sec. 2). 2. That there were possibly some persons omitted from the citi- zenship rolls who, because of the limitations imposed by the law as to time, were unable to produce the proof of their right to participate in the funds of the Choctaw Nation under article 14 of the treaty of September 27, 1830. 3. The possibility that there were some Mississippi Choctaw^ In- dians whose right to enrollment had not been recognized induced a firm of attorneys — Messrs. Crews & Cantwell, of St. Louis, Mo. — to undertake the securing of legislation that would permit the re- opening of the rolls for the purpose of establishing the rights of those who had previously failed to establish their right or had failed to take advantage of the opportunity to do so. 4. Messrs. Crews & CantAvell employed Alexander P. Powell, who asserts that he is a Choctaw Indian, to procure the names of unen- rolled Mississippi Choctaw Indians and produce evidence by tracing the ancestry to establish their right to enrollment, and to obtain con- tracts from them for the prosecution of their claims. 5. Associated with Messrs. Crews & Cantwell was one S. L. Hurl- but, a banker residing at El Campo, Tex., who financed the project in the beginning by paying Powell $150 per month salary and his expenses. 6. Powell, while employed by Crews & Cantwell, procured the names of about 4,200 persons who claimed, or were led to believe by Powell, that they were entitled to participate in the funds of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, and from each of wdiom he obtained a contract authorizing Crews & Cantwell to act as their attorneys in all legal proceedings in presenting to the Interior Department or any court such evidence as he or she might be able to produce in estab- lishing a right to participate in the distribution of the fund and property of the Choctaw-Chickasaw Indians of Oklahoma, which contracts provided that Crews & Cantwell were to receive 30 per cent of all sums of money, lands, and property that might be re- ceived by reason of the right claimed. Powell did not make any 14 ENROLLMENT WITH THE FIVE CIVILIZED TEIBES. charge to the daimaiits while oporatino; under the above stated salary, until a short time pi'evious to severin/r his connection with Crews & Cantwell, when he commenced charging the claimants $1.25 for each contract executed, and while engaged in this work in the employ of Crews & Cantwell it ajipears from the record that Powell received $2,1»71.02 from them, $000 of which was for salary and remainder for expenses incurred by him as shown by letter from Mr. S. L. Hurlbut's office, dated March 8. 1911, copy herewith Exhibit A. 7. Powell's connection with Crews & Cantwell appears to have terminated in March, 11)11, and he then commenced soliciting con- tracts for William P. Matthews, an attorney of Washington, D. C., with office in the Evans Puilding, and the contract procured by Powell in the name of Mr. Matthews are similar in every respect to those he obtained for Crews & Cantwell, except as to name of the attorne_y. The CreAvs & Cantwell contracts contain the stipulation that their appointment as attorneys is joint, and that in the event of the death of either, the survivor shall succeed to all rights and benefits, and perform all the duties imposed by the contract upon the attorneys. This same stipulation is contained in the printed form of contract taken in the name of W^illiam P. Matthews [copy herewith], and the fact that it does so appear would indicate that Mr. Matthews had nothing to do with the drafting of the form, but that the wording of the Crews & Cantwell contract was probably adapted by A. P. Powell, simply substituting the name of W^illiam B. Matthews, as attorney, for that of Crews & Cantwell, and Powell thus continued procuring contracts from any and all persons whom he met, who believed, or were led to believe, that they possessed Choctaw or Chickasaw Indian blood, and from each of whom he collected $2.50 for his services in executing the papers. 8. After Powell discontinued securing contracts for Crews & Cant- well and started soliciting for Attorney William E. Matthews and charging applicants $2.50 for each set of papers executed, it is al- leged he procured contracts from a number of persons residing in and around Kinder, Allen Parish, La., who did not claim to be of ChoctaAv descent, but were advised by Powell that he possessed a book which enabled him to trace the ancestry of every living person who possessed any Choctaw blood, and that he had traced those people entitled to enrollment as descendants of certain persons ap- pearing as beneficiaries under the Choctaw treaty of 1830. As to the book referred to as possessed by Powell, which is said to have been produced in evidence by him very frequently, I was informed by Mr. Luke W. Comerly, of Gulfport, Miss., who was for some months associated with Powell, that he carried with him for reference in tracing the ancestry of applicants for enrollment a copy of volume 7, "American State Papers", which contains the names of 19,554 Choctaw Indians who were parties to the Dancing Rabbit Creek treaty of 1830, as per roll made by F. W. Armstrong, special agent, under date of September, 1831, wliich volume was published in 1860. 10. Crews & CantAvell, as attorneys for a number of these claim- ants, with evidence as to some of the unenrolled Mississippi Choc- taws to an equitable right to share in the funds of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, have sought legislation to reopen the rolls to ENROLLMENT WITH THE FIVE CIVILIZED TRIBES. 15 permit them to prosecute the claims of these persons with whom they have contract. 11. The financing of the project to secure reimbursement of Crews & Cantwell and S. L. Hurlbut for previous expenditures was effected by incorporating the " Texas-Okhihoma Investment Co.," chartered under the laws of the Territory of Arizona, November 14, 1911. The articles of incorporation provide for a capital stock of $100,000, or 1,000 shares of the par value of $100 each, the directors of the company as incorporated being S. L. Hurlbut, of El Campo, Tex. ; H. Masterson and W. A. Smith, of Houston, Tex. ; and T. B. Crews and H. J. Cantwell, of St. Louis, Mo.; and the principal stockholders are T. B. Crews and H. J. Cantwell, of St. Louis, Mo. ; Clitl'ord Greve and S. L. Hurlbut, of El Campo. Tex. ; H. Masterson, L. Bryan & Co., J. J. Sweeney, and W. H. Gill, of Houston, Tex.; and J. H. Kempner, of Galveston, Tex. Two hundred and fifty shares of the 1.000 shares of the stock of this company were sold at par value of $100 per share, thus realiz- ing $25,000 in cash, with which Crews & Cantwell and S. L. Hurlbut were reimbursed for previous expenditures and a contingent fund created to meet future expenses as incurred. 12. Crews & Cantwell turned over to the Texas-Oklahoma Invest- ment Co. the contracts procured for them by Alexander P. Powell, numbering about 4,200, and received in cash from the fund realized from the 250 shares of the stock sold, reimbursement for their previous expenditures in connection with their Mississippi Choctaw contracts, and leaving the 750 unsold shares in the treasury as common property of the company. In promoting the organization of the Texas-Oklahoma Invest- ment Co. flattering figures of prospective returns to investors therein appear to have been sent out to prominent persons throughout the country, as evidenced by letter of Mr. C. B. Moling, of Houston, Tex., under date of June 12, 1911, to Hon. W. L. Dechant, of Middletown, Ohio, which reads as follows : Houston, Tkx., June 12, 1911. Hon. W. L. Dechant, Middletoicn, Ohio. Dear Sir : In 1820 the United States Government made a treaty with the Choctaw Indians, then living in Mississippi, vi^hereby the Government bought 5,000,000 acres of the Indians, and in return gave to the Indians all the lands lying in the Indian Territory north of Red River up to the Canadian and east of the ninety-eighth meridian, and paid for moving as many of the Indians out to this land as desired to go. The Choctaws still had 10,000,000 acres left back in Mississippi, and in 1830 the Government made another treaty with them whereby the Government pur- cha.sed the i-emaining lands for $8,000,000. In this treaty it ivas agreed that the reynaininy Indians irere to be protected in the community property or the original lands in Indian Territory granted them hy the treaty of 1820. The Government still holds approximately .3,4.'i0.000 acres of these original Ter- ritory lands, as well as several millions in cash, in trust for the Choctaws who have not as yet been allotted their share. A reputable and responsible firm of attorneys, with offices in St. Louis and Washington, D. C, have secured contracts with 4,200 Choctaw Indians to se- cure them their allotment of lands and money upon a percentage basis. The contracts provide that the attorneys are to receive 30 per cent of all lands and money received. These 4,2(M) contracts are one signed by the Indian, two wit- nesses to his signature and acknowledged before a notary piiblic. 16 ENROLLMENT WITH THE FIVE CIVILIZED TRIBES. These contracts, providinfr for this conthiseut fee. have' been recognized by the Government, and Congress i>asse(l a resolution nialving all such contracts a first lien ujm)!! the property of the Indian. This insures direct payment to us of our fee. For financing the jiroject. such as hunting up the Indians and securing the proof of each individual Indian to his right of participation and the attorneys for working the hill through Congress, one-half of the profits to go to the attor- neys and the other half to those who financed it. It is estimated that each Indian's share of the estate is worth $8,000. The attorneys' contract calls for 30 per cent of this, or $2,400, of which we are to get one'-half. or $1,200. ^^'e are organizing a syndicate to take over 1.000 of these contracts at $25 per contract. We will not accept subscription for less than 20 contracts, or $r)00. The estimated value of 20 contracts, if we win, will be approximately $24.(H^). or a profit of $2;!.nO0 upon each $500 investment. The proofs of these claims for these 4.200 Indians has all been secured and has been presented to the c(mgressional Committee on Indian Affairs and reported favorably. This committee consists of 19 Members of Congress. At this next session of Congress the bill will be introduced and voted upon, and as there are several i)recedents identical to this proposition wherein the other Choctaws secureil their rights, we have every reason to believe that the bill will pa.ss. Senator Owen has but 1.500 of these contracts with another batch of Choc- taw Indians, yet he secured a fee of $6,000,000; he had a contract for one-half of what he secured, while ours is but 30 per cent. Other similar contracts have been made, and all of them have been passed by Congi'ess; and as the Government is holding the lauds and money belonging to this tribe and have i.o interest in it either way, we see no just reason why they should not act upon these claims favorably at the next session. We are unable to go into all the details of this proposition in this letter to .von. but I have spent several days investigating it, and conclude that the chances for defeat are no greater than in the ordinray course of business. I believe the estimated results herein will be obtained, or substantially so. I expect to give the matter my attention and to look after the interest of those who come into the deal at my request, and to take a proper assignment of the contracts and i)lace them in the hands of some local trust company or bank with authority to make the collection and disburse the receipts to the subscribers in the amounts to which each subscriber would be entitled at same; it will be safer for the subscribers. My charges will be about 20 per cent of whatever profits you may make on the deal, if none are made, you ow'e me nothing. I would like to have you take a flier in this, say, for $500 or $1,000, and to notify me of your intentions promptly. Should you happen to lose. I think you will agree wnth me that it was .-It least a good bet as the prospective returns justify taking the chance. Awaiting your prompt reply, either by letter or wire, I am, Yours, very truly, C. B. Moling. To the foregoing coiuimiiiication of Mr. Moling, Mr. Dechant re- plied as follows: Minni^i-nowN, Ohio, July 2^, 1911. C. B. Moling, 'fli Mil sou Building, Houston, Tex. Mv Dk.mj .Mk. Mor.iNo : Your letter of June 12 was receiveen enrolled by .iudgments of tiie United States courts, rendered in cases appealed from the action of the connnission to the Five Civilized Tribes under the provisions of the act of June 10, 1896. This action was Investigated by the committee of Congress, and. with respect to the persons enrolled by .iudgments of the United States courts, this counnittee said: "There was no way by which persons so enrolled — locally known as court citizens — could be eliminated lawfully from participation in the tribal estate." 20 ENROLLMENT WITH THE FIVE CIVILIZED TRIBES. These tribal iittoincys siicfeedeu. liowevor, in eliniiar.tiiig fruiu the citizen- ship rolls tlie persons "plneecl thereon by judgment of the United States courts by lobbying through a provision of law which becroceedings notice to each of said nations was indispensable, and they claimed and insisted that the proceedings in the X'uited States courts in the Indian Territory, under the act of June 10, 1896, should have been confined to a review of the action of the commission to the Five Civilized Tribes upon tlie record in each case and should not liave ex- tended to a trial de novo of the ques-tion of citizenship. These sections author- ized the two nations jointly, or either of said nations acting separately and making the other a party defendant, by a bill in equity filed in the citizenship court, to bring a suit for the purpose of testing the validity of all such decisions of the rnitwi StiUes courts. It further provided that 10 persons admitted to citizenship or enrollment by the United States courts, with notice to but one of said nations, should be made defendants to a suit iiS representatives of the entire class of persons similarly situated. In other words, it authorized the bringing of a test suit, and provided that in the event said citizenship judg- ments or decisions were annulled or vacated, any party thereto, within 90 days thereafter, by a written application, might have his case transferred to the citizenship court by the court where the judgment was entered nnd that the citizenshii) court should have jurisdiction therein as if no judgment or decision had been rendered by the United States court. It was providetl tliat the judg- ment of the citizenship court should be final. This act provided that it should not be effective until submitted to and rati- fied by a vote of the two nations, but exception was made as to sections 31, 32, and 33, creating the citizenship court, but whicli became effective upon the passage and approval of the act. Immediately following the passage of the act ratifying the agreement of 1902. the judges authorized to be appointed to constitute tiie citizenship court were a]»i)ointed, as follows: Spencer Adams, of North Carolina; Henry S. Foote, of California; and Walter L. Weaver, of Ohio. Judge Foote ai>pears to have been appointed upon the reconunendatiou of Senator Stewart, who was then chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, and Judge Adams, on the lecommendation of Senator I'ritchard, of North Carolina. Judge Foote was the brother-in-law of Senator Stewart. The law creating this court is without legislative parallel; the manner of its enactment was extraordinary, and the authority which it conferred upon the court it ci-eated is without precedent in American jurisprudence. As soon as this court was created and organized, the firm of Mansfield. Mc- Murray & Cornish i)roceeded to bring before it a very large number of claims of " court citizens," and they succeeded in eliminating from the rolls between 3.5(H» iuid 4.000 persons. They tlien claimed a fee of 9 per cent on a basis of $4.S00 per i)erson, as jn-ovldetl in the contingent-fee contract made in 1901. before referred to. which had not been approved in accordance with law. (H. liept. No. 2273. (Jlst Cong.. 2d sess.) It was reported, and commonly accepted as a fact, that Jud.ges Foote and Adams received a part of the fee paid INIansfield, McMurray & Cornish, and in the case of Adams v. Rutler, in which case Adams sued ex -United States Sena- tor Butler, of North Carolina, for libel, it was shown that Adams received $r)0.O(K» of the fee. While the committee was considering the evidence upon which the above reiwrt was made. Judge Adams cut his throat with a razor. Judge Foote died shortly after the fee was paid. Foote was a confirmed drunkard. 5. Theie are many other reasons impossible of explanation in this .short statement. ENEOLLMEXT WITH THE FIVE CIVILIZED TEIBES. 21 CONGRESS NOW CONSIDERING CLAIMS. Siuoe the closing of the rolls those whose names appear thereon and the Representatives in Congress from Oklahoma have constantly i)ressed for legis- lation directing the Secretray of the Interior to finallj wind up the affairs of the tribes and to distribute the funds to those enrolled. This Congress has refused to do, and at each session has considered the enactment of legislation that would place upon the rolls all meritorious cases. The hearings upon such proposed legislation has progressed to the point where it now seems certain that action will be taken at the coming session of Congress. The Secretary of l!ie Interior, on February 12. 1910, recommended that Congress give him anthcuit.T to add to the rolls two classes of persons who had been omitted. (App. Hearing on H. R. 19279, 61st Cong., 2d sess.) And durhig the last ses- sion of Congress the Secretary advised Congress that there were several dif- ferent classes of eases which should be reheard before the estates were finally wound up. and suggested that Congress give him authority to hear the cases and to add the names to the rolls of those persons found entitled to be placed thereon. It is our purpose to continue the fight for our clients until definite action is taken l>y Congress. We have been strong enough at all times to prevent a final settlement and distribution of the property. The opposition now realizes that, in order to get their own shares of the property, they must consent to legisla- tion giving our clients their rights. I have spent a great deal of money and have given all of my time since Marcli 4, 1907. in the work of securing justice for our clients, and I shall continue to do so until some final action is taken by Congress. ESTIMATED VALUE OF EACH CLAIMANT'S SHARE OF PROPERTY. As the lands have all either been allotted or ordered to be sold, the persons added to the rolls will have to take their share of the estate in cash, and it has been tentatively agreed that each person so enrolled is to receive $3,000 in cash. Yours, very trul.v. Albert J. Lee. CLAIMS IN CFI0CT.\W AND CHICKASAW ESTATE. Below is the list of the number of persons claiming a sha.re of the Choctaw and Chickasaw tribal estates, represented by Ballinger & T.ee, attorneys, and the basis of their employment. The value of an individual share in the est;!te is estimated at $3,000 in cash. Number of individual claimants: 3,73^, more or less. Of tlie above numlter 2,<).")1 persons, more or less, are represented under written contracts and powers of attorney, for a contingent fee of 40 per cent of claims recovered; 4S7 are represented by agreement with other attorneys who hold contracts for 25 per cent of recovery, the share of Rallinger & Lee being 12^ jer cent of the amount recovered. One thousand two hundred persons, more or less, are represented by Ht'llinger & Lee under 50 iier cent contract, of which Ballinger & Lee's sliare will estimate $500 per person. Lee's proposed sale of 40 per cent of his individual shares, or fee. is figured as follows : 2,051 i)ersons. $3.0f)0 A'aluc of individual sh;ire. $0,153,000 Total value of shares of 2,051. persons. 40 per cent basis of fee. $2,461,200 P:stimated fee. 487 persons. $3,000 Value of share. $1,461,000 Total value of shares of 487 persons. 12^ per cent basis of fee of Rallinger & Lee. 22 ENROLLMENT WITH THE FIVE CIVILIZED TEIBES. $183,023 Total estimated fee of Balliugei- & Lee for 487 persons. 1.200 persons. .$500 Balliuger & Lee's fee per person. $600,000 Total estimated fee for 1,200 persons. .$2,401,200 1 83.023 GOO.OOO $0,244,223 Total of Ballinger & Lee's fee. Less 150.(100 Estimated expense of collection. $3,094,223 45 per cent with which assistance was contracted. $1..392,400 Estimated cost of assistance. $3,094,223 Net fee. Less 1.392.400 Cost of assistance. 2) $1,701,823 Net fee to Ballinger & Lee. 850,911 Net fee to Lee. 40 per cent proposed assignment. $340,304 Fee which will go to owners of the 40 ]ier cent to be sold. In addition to the above cases, we represent about 10.0etrated upon the class of Indians whom he represents. It would be impossible for him to fully deal with the merits of these claims in a brief letter. The records in these cases are so plain and so clearly disclose fraud and incompetent administration that I am firmly convinced that Congress will restore the claimants to their rights. I therefore believe that money advanced to Mr. Lee in aid of his cases will return a big profit within the next two years, and that such profits will not be less than a return of $20 for every dollar advanced him. On the 7th day of this month I furnished $2 000 to Mr. Lee in order to afford him temporary relief in connection with the Indian claims represented by him. and in addition thereto I am sub.scribing $2,000 to the fund of $16,000 which he is now endeavoring to raise, notwithstanding the fact that I am largely interested in similar claims of the Choctaw Indian descendants. Of my own knowle and was for 16 years, terminating in 1906, a deputy United States marshal for the eastern district of Indian Territory, now a part of Oklalioma, and that about three years ago lie was employed by a negro lawyer, named J. Milton Turner, to canvass certain localities in eastern Oklahoma and procure contracts from Choctaw freedmen for Crews & Cantwell, of St. Louis. Mo,; that said Turner employed two other colored men as subagents in this work, whose names were J. E. Eubanks and H. A. Guess, respectively, and that Turner, in directing the woi'k, maintained an office first at McAlester, Okla.. and subsequently at Fort Smith, 24 EXKOLLMEXT WITH THE FIVE CIVILIZED TEIBES. Ark. ; that he ( Fortune) procured about 700 contracts for Crews & Cantwoll from Choctaw freednien, inchuling- mmors. but took no contracts froui minors except when executed by legal guardians; that he delivered all of the contracts thu.s procured by him to J. Milton Turner, who paid him $1.25 for each dul}'^ executed contract delivered, and that the contract provided for a 35 per cent contingent fee to Crews & Cantwell. Said Kobert L. Fortune stated that in no instance while engaged in this work did he represent himself as a Government official, but invari:d)]y as a subagent of J. Mihon Turner, in procuring contracts for Crews & Cantwell, of St. Louis, Mo.; that H. A. Guess, another of Turner's subagents, who Avas a negro attorney, then residing at McAlester, Okla., was given a much larger and better territory to operate in than that assigned to him by Turner, in consequence of which, as stated by Fortune, Subagent Guess procured about double the number of contracts that he (Fortune) obtained, and which, with the contracts procured by J. E. Eubanks, another of Turner's sub- agents, a colored man, and said to be a lawyer, Avhose field of opera- tion was in the southeastern part of Oklahoma and adjoining terri- tory in Arkansas, and Fortune stated, as an estimate, that about 2,?>00 contracts were obtained for Crews & Cantwell from Choctaw f reed- men by himself and the two other subagents operating under the direction of said J. Milton Turner. On the 23d ultimo I called upon Mr. Harris Masterson, attorney at law, at his office in the Chronicle Building, Houston, Tex., and had a very pleasant interview with him relative to his connection with certain attoi-nevs engaged in prosecuting ]Mississippi-Choctaw Indian claims, and he was exceedingly courteous throughout our conference. Mr. Masterson is a very affable gentleman and stated quite freely his interest in the claims handled by Crews & Cantwell, in which he said he became interested by having the case presented and explained to him by Mr. S. L. Hurlbut, of El Campo, Tex., and that after investigating the u\atter he concluded to go in on it as a speculative investment, and that he took an active part in promoting the organ- ization of the Texas-Oklahoma Investment Co. to finance the project. The organization of said company and financing of the project is set forth on pages 12 and 13 of this report, based upon the statements of Mr. Masterson to me with reference thereto. Mr. Masterson further stated that he also promoted the raising of a fund for Attorney Albert J. Lee, of Ardmore, Okla., to enable him to continue the prosecution of certain Choctaw-Chickasaw Indian claims that are being handled by Ballinger & Lee, which do not con- flict with those handled by Crews & Cantwell. Luke W, Conerly, of Gulfport, Miss., being frequently referred to in the communications contained in the file of papers furnished me by the Indian Office for use in my investigation, and his name ap- pearing in the correspondence as an active solicitor in obtaining contracts from Mississippi Choctaws, therefore I proceeded to Gulf- port, Miss., to meet him. I reached Gulfport the afternoon of the 27th ultimo, and learning that Mr. Conerly lived out in the country about 3 miles from Gulf- port, I got into tele])hone comnnniication with him and he imme- diatelv <^ame in to meet me at the Great Southern Hotel where we ENEOLLMEXT WITH THE FIVE CIVILIZED TRIBES. 25 wore over 3 hours in conference, and he returned about 9 o'clock the follov\4no" morning, accompanied b}^ Henry Wilson and Carl Wilson, two prominent members of the iMississippi-Choctaws, and remained until near noon discussing Choctaw matters generally and A. P. Powell particularly. The said Luke W. Conerly is 73 years of age and a lawyer by pro- fession, but has not practiced in the courts for several years past. He is quite intelligent, bears a good nane in the community, and is well spoken of by those who know him. Pie claims to be a lineal descendant of one of the leading Choctaw families who participated in the Dancing Rabbit Creek treaty of 1830, and stated that he is now regarded by all the Choctaws living outside of Oklahoma as their captain and recognized leader; also that it was he who first interested Congressman Harrison, of Mississippi, in Choctaw matters and got him to introduce the bill for reopening the Choctaw rolls; that he had interested United States Senators Williams and Varda- man, of Mississippi, in the Choctaw claim; also Congressman Mor- gan, of Louisiana, in whose district many Choctaws reside. I had a very pleasant interview with Harry Wilson, president chief council. Society of Mississippi Choctaws, together with his son. Pearl L. Wilson, secretary of said council, both of whon reside in Gulfport. Miss., and they corroborated substantially the statements of Luke AV. Conerly regarding Mississippi Choctaw matters. Mr. Conerly stated that he assisted A. P. Powell in writing up contracts with Mississippi Choctaws in 1910, when Powell was working on a salary for Crews & Cantwell, and that again in March, 1911, he commenced assisting Powell in writing up contracts for W. B. Matthews, an attorney of Washington, D. C. and for whom Powell procured 2.258 contracts and liad charged the claimants $2.50 each for executing. He further stated that he was in Wash- ington, D. C. in February, 1912, and suggested to Mr. Cantwell, who was also in Washington, the advisability of Crews & Cantwell purchasing the Matthews contracts, as Mr. Matthews had never done anything toward furthering the Choctaw case l>efore the com- mittees of Congress or elsewhere, and that Mr. Cantwell was so favorably impressed with the pro]50sition that he authorized him (Conerly) to call upon Attorney Matthews and endeavor to bring about a transfer of his contracts to Crews & Cantwell, which he (Conerly) proceeded to carry out, resulting in Mr. Matthews trans- ferring the 2.258 contracts that were procured in his name to Crews & Cantwell for a cash consideration of $1,300, together with Mr. Matthews retaining a certain per cent interest in the contingent fee provided in the contracts, and that he (Conerly) supervised the legal transfer of said contracts from jNIatthews to Crews & Cantwell and carried tliem from Mr. Matthews' office in the Bond Building to Crews & Cantwell's office, then in the Munsey Building. Mr. Conerly further stated that A. P. Powell in his deal with W B. INIatthews was to receive a certain per cent of the contingent fee provided in the contracts, and in order to eliminate Powell, and that he would have no further interest in these 2,258 contracts, Mr. Cantwell paid Powell $300 in cash; this payment to Powell, as stated by Mr. Conerly, was that he might thus be gotten rid of in a friendly way and wnth the understanding that he (Powell) was not to re- 26 EXROLLMENT WITH THE FIVE CIVILIZED TRIBES. turn to Mississippi to engage in soliciting contracts with Choctaw or Chickasaw chiiniants. Mr. Conerl^y stated that he was then engaged by Crews & Cant- well to procure conti'acts for them, and that arrangements were sub- sequently made by which Powell assisted him for a time, and that during 1912 and early part of 1913 he (assisted by Powell) pro- cured about 1,300 contracts for Crews & Cantwell and turned the same in to them; that Powell then commenced taking contracts in his own name, and his present whereabouts are unknown to Conerly. Mr, Conerly still further stated that since March. 1913. lie has been in the employ of Mr. T. B. Crews, of the firm of Crews & Cantwell, in procuring Choctaw contracts, and had on the 28th ultimo about 1.800 executed contracts all indexed and ready to turn in, thus ap- proximating about 9,558 of this class of contracts controlled by Crews & Cantwell, apart from any they may have obtained through jjarties whom he (Conerly) has no knowledge. To the above-stated total may be added the 2.300 Freedrnen contracts as estimated by Robert L. Fortune, of Wilburton, Okla., who was one of the solic- itors obtaining contracts from Freedrnen for Crews & Cantwell. Mr. Conerly stated to me that he had obtained contracts from Mississippi C'hoctaws residing in 15 different States and that there are now so many influential persons interested in this claim that he has great hope of the early enactment of legislation directing the reopening of the Choctaw and Chickasaw rolls. With reference to the representations made and methods adopted by A. P. Powell in obtaining contracts from Mississippi Choctaw applicants Mr. Conerly stated that he had been associated with Powell at intervals, from 1910 to the early part of 1913, in writing up contracts for Choctaw claimants, and that during all that period he had never heard Powell represent himself as a Government official; on the contrary, had often heard him tell applicants that he was in no way connected with the Government, but that the impression pre- vailed among the people in general that Powell represented some high authority in canvassing for and executing the contracts he was obtaining: that he never heard Powell state that he was a lawyer, but knows that the impression prevailed in general that he was an attorney. Mr. Conerly stated that he has not met Powell during the past year and did not know where he is at the present time, but^iad heard that he is still engaged in soliciting contracts from Choctaw claim- ants, taking the contracts in his own name on a 20 per cent con- tingent fee and charging each applicant $2.50 for executing their papers, and he (Conerly) expressed the belief that PoAvell has realized several thousand dollars through the $2.50 fee invariably re- ceived by him from each of the many claimants from whom he obtained contracts since severing his connection with Crews Sz Cant- well in 1911. ]Mr. Conerly remarked with reference to A. P. PoAvell that he re- garded him as a shrewd individual who made a good impression upon persons meeting him casually, but that from having acquired a very thorough knowledge of Powell's characteristics, he^ Conerly) would not wish to he associated with him in any business transaction. As pertinent in the premises. I transmit herewith as " Exhibit B " copy cf statement of said Luke W. Conerly, made under oath to ENEOLLMENT WITH THE FIVE CIVILIZED TEIBES. 27 Special Indian Agent W. W. McConihe at Jackson, Miss., on April 26, 1911; the original of which I submitted to Mr. Conerly at Gulf- port, Miss., on the 28th ultimo and which he verified as true and a correct statement of matters therein referred to up to the time the said statement was made and sworn to by him. There is also transmitted herewith as " Exhibit C " letter of Luke ^y. Conerly. of Gulfport, Miss., addressed to me under date of I7th instant, to which is attached a printed circular of Crews & Cantwell, date Februar}' 16, 1912, accompanied by printed copj'' of an affidavit of A. P. Powell, dated November 6, 1911, which has reference to the discontinuance of A. P. Powell by Crews & Cantwell and the employment by them of said Mr. Conerly to continue the work of procuring contracts from Choctaw claimants Avho desired to be rep- resented b}^ Crews & Cantwell. I also transmit, as " Exhibit D," copy of affidavit of .aid A. P. Powell, acknowledged at Jackson, Miss., by W. W. McConihe, special United States Indian agent, on April 27, 1911, wherein Powell states that he took about 4,000 applications and made no charge for them, after which he charged applicants $1.2.5 each; that he made this charge because the money that had been advanced by Crews. Cantwell & Hurlbut was exhausted ; that he sent all these claims lie was making a charge for to Crews & Cantwell ; that he took about 100 applications at Monticello, Miss., for Crews & Cantwell and charged ^2. .50 each there ; that he took a few names at Biloxi, Miss., and cliarged $1.25 for each applicant there, and that these claims were for Crews & Cantwell; that he also visited Meridian, Miss.; and took about 88 applications there for Crews & Cantwell, but for which no charge was made; and that he had taken no applications for Crews & Cant- well after his association with Matthews (meaning Attornev W. B. Matthews, of Washington. D. C). From the foregoing statements of Powell in his said affidavit he doubtless took contracts for Crews & Cantwell from approximately 4.200 claimants, as stated on page 13 of this report, and also as shown on page 14 hereof, by copj^ of Mr. C. B. Moling's letter of June 12, 1911, to Hon. W. L. Dechant, of Middletown, Ohio, which, with the 2,258 contracts taken by Powell for W. B. Matthews and sub- sequently transferred to Crews & Cantwell, and as stated by Luke W. Conerly"^ (assisted by Powell), 1,?>00 turned into Crews & Cantwell during 1912 and early part of 1913 (see p. 37 of this reports together with about 1,800 additional contracts which Mr. Conerly has re- cently procured and read,y to turn in to Mr. Crews (see also p. 3T of this report), approximates 9,558 of this class of contracts on a 30 per cent contingent fee, controlled by Crews & Cantwell and their associates of the Texas-Oklahoma Investment Co., and which, with about 2,300 contracts obtained for Crews & Cantwell from freedmen on a 35 per cent contingent fee. as stated by Eobert L. Fortune (see pp. 30-32 of this report), brings the number of claimants repre- sented by them up to 11.858, approximately. I transmit herewith five forms of blanks used in executing these contracts, " Exhibit E " being the form used by A. P. Powell in pro- curing contracts for Crews & Cantwell while working on a salary for them. " Exhibit F " was the form used by said Powell while procuring contracts for ^Y. B. Matthews. " Exhibit G " is the form 28 ENROLLMENT WITH THE FIVE CIVILIZED TEIBES. now being used by A. P. PoAvell in taking;? contracts in his own name. " Exhibit H " is the form used by Luke W. Conerly in writing up contracts for T. B. Crews. " Exhibit I " was the form used by the throe subagent^ of J. Milton Turner in ]3rocuring contracts from Choctaw and Chickasaw Freedmen for Crews & Cantwell, and " Ex- hibit J '' contains copies of five notices ciiculated by A. P. Powell in soliciting contracts ; also specially prepared press dispatches for dis- tribution, with the evident object of thus arousing enthusiasm in the Mississippi Choctaw matter. In conclusion I desire to state that from a careful perusal of the numerous letters of claimants, from whom A. P. Powell had obtained contracts, seeking information with reference thereto, as contained in the file of papers furnished me by the Indian Office for reference in this investigation, together with my having interrogated numerous persons as to the representations made to claimants by Powell and other solicitors, it appears that Powell did not represent himself as an official of the Government nor of the Choctaw Nation, and thus therefore avoided violating the statutes in that respect, not- withstanding which, as stated by many persons, the impression un- doubtedly prevailed, especially among the more ignorant, that he was a lawj'er and represented the Government in some manner in soliciting contracts from Choctaw claimants. Many persons whom I interrogated regarding the matter asserted that PoAvell had invariably denied being in any way connected with the Government, and Avas only endeavoring to get the rolls reopened that the unenrolled Choctaws might receive their rightful shares, which, as stated by him, would be 320 acres of land and about $2,500 in cash to each claimant, less 30 per cent contingent fee to the attorneys. I return herewith the file of papers furnished me by the Indian Office for reference in this investigation. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, James McLaughlin, Inspecto7\ Exhibit A. [S. L. rinrllmt, presidt'iit : L. II. Beal, secretary. Alfalfa, com, oats, cotton, rice, cane, and truck lands.] Gulf Coast Land & Investment Co.. State Bank Building, El Campo, Tex., March 8, 1011. A. P. Powell, Bay St. Louis, 2Iiss. Deak Sir: Your letter addressed to Mr. Hurlbut, under date of March 6, has just reached us. and as Mr. Hurlbut is away from the office at this time and as you seem to have a wrong idea of the amount that has been spent for contracts, or ratlu^r for the actual expense of taking contracts up to the pres- ent time, we think it advisable to supply you with the figures, as shown on our books, for the money already paid out for field work, for the actual expense of taking the contracts, not to say anything of that used by Crews & Cantwell, In getting ready for proving up. Powell has received, to cover expen.ses, to date $2,006.02 Powell has received salary for taking contracts 900.00 IJickols has received for helping in taking Oklahoma contracts 12.",. 00 ENROLLMENT WITH THE FIVE CIVILIZED TRIBES. 29 Turner hns receiveti fur liclpiug in t;;kinj.'; Okluliouia coiitracts .^1(55. 00 Hurlbut lias been to an expense in going to Oklahoma and taking contracts there 327.00 Or there has been a total spent on t.-.king contracts of 3, 523. 02 So yon will see that, instead of as yon say. when you make the statement that you have used only $1,800 yourself you have really used .$2.90(5.02, and Ihis does not include the ,$G.5 given you liy Cantwell while you wei'e in Wash- ington the last time. And you will see by this that ^Ir. Hurlbut w.is exactly right when he stated that about $7,000 has already been spent. Mv. Hurlbut will no doubt answer the pjtrt of your letter whei'e you refer to his piiying you $122 when he returns to the office, and I think this matter will be fixed up between you and him in a satisfactory manner, as he wishes to do exactly what is right by you. Yours, very truly, L. S. IIiRi.riUT. PerL. II. I'.EAL. STATEMENT OF JIR. LUKE WARD CONERLY. Mr. Luke Ward Conerly, of Gulfport. Miss., station "A." made the following statement to Special Agent McConihe at Jackson, Miss., Ai)rll 2G, j911. under oath : I know A. P. Powell. He is engaged in writing up Choctaw claims in Mis- sissippi. I am working with Mr. Powell now. Have been with him at Tyler- town. Pike County. Bny St. Louis, and I am now engaged at McComb City, Pike County. I was not with him all the time at Bay St. Louis. I have been pres- ent when large numbers of persons appeared before ^Ir. Powell, and I never heard him sny he was a Government official or agent, or make any statement that could lead others to think so. I met Powell about .Inly and asked him what he was doing, and he said he was getting up claims for Mississipin Choctnws luider the treaty of 1830. I understood that he hiul been before Congi-ess with the chiims. He said that Crews & Cantwell were getting up the claims to present to Congress, the courts, or the department. Powell said he was getting the claims for that firm. I do not know what he gets out of it. I have never heard Powell stty that he was representing the Government, nor have I ever heard anyone say that they heard or was told by Powell that he was a United States official, or was repre- senting the Government. At Bay St. Louis he was making no charges at first for his work. Powell required every applicant to show up his ancestry. At Bay St. Louis he ran out of blanks and had some more printed, and after- wards charged them $1.25. including notary fee. Powell sent me to Tylertown to work thei-e getting up claims, and I made a charge of $2..50 for each appli- cation written up and paid him $1 for blanks. I wrote up about 150 applica- tions. The charge was to cover expenses. I represented to the i)eoiile that they were entitled to ])ut in claims against the Government under the provi- sions of the treaty of 1830, subject to such legislation by Congress as might be determined, and that they would have to enter into a contract if they wanted lo put in a chiim on a 30 per cent contingent fee, as shown by the' contract with Crews & Cantwell. who were the lawyers having charge "of the matter.' who would present the cl;iims to Congress. I have been at McComb City work- ing up claims since March 21. and making a charge of $2. .TO for each jipjilica- tion. I pay Powell $1 for a set of bliinks of two, and keej) $1.25 and pay the notary 25 cents. I am taking all these applications in the naanie of William B. Mathews, of Washington. I). C. Last December 19 I closed at Tylertown and went to Bay St. Louis and brouglit him all the applications I had left. These were the last I wrote up for Crews & Cantwell. I wrote no more after that until about March 13. when I met him at Columbia, wliere he was writing up claims for W. B. .Mathews. He .gave me to understand that he no longer rejire- sented Crews & Cantwell. but gave me no reason for the change. He gave me 100 sets of blanks to take to McComb and oi>en an office there. Our agreement was that I should write 25 clain)s and send them to him with the $25. T have sent him 50 contracts and $50. I was not at Jackson with Mr. I'owell. I made 30 EXKOLLMEKT WITH THE FIVE CIVILIZED TRIBES. $1.25 on each application at McComl). I tell the people this is for luy expenses. I certify that the above statement was made to me nnder oath. W. W. :\IcCoNiHK, Special Indian Agent. Exhibit C. GuLFPOHT, Miss., June 11, IdlJf. Alaj. James McLaughlin, Ini^pcctor, Indian Office, Washington, D. C. Dear Sir: While yon were in Gnlfport I promised yon I would send yon a circnlar sent out by Crews & Cantwell from Washington in reference to A. P. I'owoll and also my employment by them in February, 1912. You will note that during the engagement of myself by Crews & Cantwell in which Mr. Mastersou was concerned I was forbidden to charge e\en a notary fee against those who appeared before me. Mr. Masterson refusing, after the 1st of February, 1913, to furnish any more money to cover my expenses, I took contracts during that month for that firm at my own expense. After February, 1913, say 1st of March, 1913, I entered into an agreement with Thomas B. Crews to take contracts in his name, he to cover my expenses, except I reserved the right under the [Mississippi laws to charge my notary fee of 50 cents each against those able to pay, and I have made it a rule not to charge a widow or a woman dependent on her own re- sources for a support, nor a cripple, nor any one else not able to pay the 50 cents notary fee. Not being allowed any traveling money in 1912 by Crews & Cantwell and Mr. Masterson, in some instances, in order to save the expense of coming to Gulfiiort. where there were groups of claimants, they volunteered to cover my expenses to their neighborhoods and return. In no instance whatever have I made a charge against persons putting in claims through me; neither have I appointed any subagent, nor allowed anyone, if I could help it, to charge for making out proof and contracts for others where I furnished the blanks, but I can not say this was not done in some instances without my knowledge. I have always been careful to explain the situation of our case before the Committee of Indian Affairs, as I was present at the opening of the case before the subcommittee, February, 1912, and understood the situation, and have tried to impress upon the minds of all that the rolls could not be opened ; nor could the Secretary of Interior do anything without the enactment of a law to author- ize it: and especially have I urged people not to annoy the Interior Department, nor our lawyers and Congressmen, with letters — to be patient and wait. So anxious have our people been to get their claims in and to secure their rights that they would willingly have paid me a cash fee for the work of getting up their ancestral records and proof and preparing their papers for their attorneys, and I could have reaped thousands of dollars in the last two years; but, instead. I have expended a thousand dollars of my own earnings going to them to do the work for them free of charge, besides money furnishetl me by my associates and employers. Crews & Cantwell. Knowing the hard contest before us in Congress on account of powerful opposition. I was opposed to the charge of a petty fee against the claimants when their attorneys were doing their work for a contingent fee sub.iect to modification and approval of the Secretary. By a special arrangement with Mr. Cantwell and also with Thomas B. Crews, I own a number of contracts in my own right, taken in the name of Crews & Cantwell. and I am trying, and have been all the time, to conform to my instruc- tions from them as outlined in the circular inclosed sent out by them in February. 1912. Yours, sincerely and truly, Luke W. Conerlt. Office of Crews »& Cantwell, 420 Munsey Building, Washington, D. C, Fchrnary 16, 1912. To the Mississipjn Choctatvs: We inclose herewith a copy of an affidavit made by A. P. Powell which explains itself. The occasion for sending this affidavit to yon and for the statement which follows arises by reason of the fact that all relations between A. P. Powell and the firm of Crews & Cantwell are now severed. ENROLLMENT WITH THE FIVE CIVILIZED TRIBES. 31 A short history of our relations with him may not be improper. In the mouth of May. 1010, Mr. Cantwell had some business before the Committee on Indian Affairs with relation to citizenship claims In the Choctaw-Chickasaw Tribe, and made an argument before the committee on that day. At the con- clusion of his argument Powell made to the committee a stntement of his claim as a Mississippi Choctaw. (A copy of the statement of Mr. Powell made at that time, is herewith inclosed for your information.) Mr. Cantwell had had no occasion to investigate the claims of the Mississippi Choclaws prior to that time, but upon a casual examination of the matter he became impressed with the idea that there was much more foundation for the claim of rights of the Mississippi Choctaws than had been stated by ]Mr. Powell before the com- mittee, and upon a full investigation he became convinced that the claim of rights of the Mississippi Choctaws was well founded, iuid thereupon our firm employed Powell upon a salary to go to Mississippi and secure contracts for us and in our name as attorneys to represent the claimants. Powell gave us to understand at that time that the number of claimants would be about 2,000, and the money was provided for all the expense of taking that number of contract.s. There were many more claimants than we were led to believe existed, and after nearly 3,000 contracts had been taken, the money provided for that purpose became exhausted. Mr. Cantwell requestetl Powell, who was then in Washington, to return to Mississippi, and stop the work of taking contracts until arrangements could be provided for funds to pay the expenses of taking more contracts, and Powell was paid his expenses to return to Missis- sippi. Powell at that time suggested to Mr. Cantwell tliat the claimants would pay the expenses themselves, but as no bill had been introduced for the relief of the Mississippi Choctaws and as it was uncertain at that time whether any legislation would be enacted. Mr. Cantwell felt that to charge claimants for making out the papers, or to permit them to pay the cost of doing so, might cause the enemies of the Mississippi Choctaws to designate the efforts to get them together as a scheme of graft for these fees, and our firm was not willing to have the cause injured by permitting any occasion for such charges. Powell then went to Mr. W. B. Matthews, a lawyer of Washington, D. C, and represented to Mr. Matthews that there were a large number of claimants in Mississippi who were willing to pay for writing up their contracts, provided they could get a lawyer to represent them. Mr. Matthews consented to repre- sent them in the event that Powell could secure the contracts, and quite a num- ber of contracts were taken by Powell in the name of W. B. Matthews under this arrangement, the claimants paying a fee for writing the contracts. The firm of Crews & Cantwell had absolutely no connection with this whatever, and during all this period Powell was not in our employ and not in any wise connected with us. During all this time, however — that is, while Powell was taking contracts for :Mr. Matthews — no contracts were taken for us or in our name, although we were doing all the work of preparing the law governing the case of the Mississippi Choctaws. Powell had up to this time still ret.nned a contingent interest in the fee which might be eventually recovered by us, and desiring to eliminate him from all connection with our contracts, he was paid the sum of $2,400 in cash and he then relinquished all interest, contingent or otherwise, in the contracts which he had secured for us. This payment was in addition to the sum of $150 per month and his expenses, which had been fully paid him during the time he was taking contracts for us. Later, that is. within the last two months, Mr. Matthews, having then investigated the mat- ter, became convinced that we were in a better position to present the case of the Mississippi Choctaws and to handle their interests than anyone else, trans- feri"ed all the contracts which had been secured in his name to us and sub- stituted our names as attorneys in accordance with tlie power given him by each individual contract. From the beginning of this work we have been entirely willing to give Powell all the credit to which he may be entitled by reason of the fact that, without knowing upon what legal ground the rights of the Mississippi Choc- taws depended, he remained in Washington almost friendless and alone (up to the time that he met Mr. Cantwell), insisting that he, as a Mississippi Choc- taw, had some rights which luid been disregarded. We have always regarded Powell as the instrument of Providence in keeping alive the claim of at least one Mississippi Choctaw after the closing of the rolls in 3907 up to the time when the work was commencetl at our expense in Mississippi. For his energy after his return to Mississippi in keeping up the interest of the people there in their rights (although he was paid therefor a mncli biglu>r s.ilnry thin he 32 ENROLLMENT WITH THE FIVE CIVILIZED TRIBES. had ever earned before iu his life), we have always beeu willing to concerinting of blanks which I furnish him. I have paid expenses of Conerly out of this money when he was traveling, board bill, telegraphing, and other incidental expenses he has incurred. No one is working for me in Oklahoma or Arkansas. I do not know J. Eu- banks, and he is not associated with me in any way in the work I am doing. I have never at any time, or to any person, said that I was a Government ofiicial in any respect. I have only represented that I am acting and represent- ing my people before Congress, and I am getting up these claims for that purpose. When at Jackson in June, 1910, I had a circular sent out and meant to say that I was a representative of my tribe and obtaining applicants for their rights as Choctaws and Chickasaws, but by an error my clerk said that I was a practicing attorney before the committees of Congress. That was not my intention to have it so stated, and I am not responsible for the error. ENROLLMENT WITH THE FIVE CIVILIZED TRIBES. 35 The contract forms used by me were worde0 per cent of all sums of money, lands, and property that may be received by reason of the right claimed, and hereby irrevoc;il)ly appoints the parties of tlie second i)art his true and lawful attorneys in fact, to do any and all acts in liis name, i)lace, and stead as fully and completely as he might do in person in and about (he subject matter of this agreement, and to execute such receipts, discharges and releases as the party of 36 ENKOLLMENT WITH THE FIVE CIVILIZED TRIBES. the first part misht lawfully do, hereby ratifying and confirming all that his said attorneys in fact and in law may do in the premises. The party of the first part hereby revokes all powers of attorney, if any, here- tofore made by him to any person or persons whomsoever, touching said rights or interests, and requests that the Interior Department of the United States recognize the parties of the second part as his exclusive agents and attorneys in the premises. And it is hereby specifically agreed that the appointment herein of Thomas B. Crews and Harry J. Cantwell is joint, and that in the event of the death of either the survivor shall succeed to all rights and benefits of this agreement, and shall perform all of the duties hereunder. It is further agreed that by reason of the legal services rendered prior to and at the signing of this agreement, in advising the party of the first part as to his legal rights, and in consideration of the services heretofore rendered by A. P. Powell before the committees of Congress in presenting the claims of the class of persons to which the party of the first part belongs, said parties of the second part having compensated said A. P. Powell therefor, and in further consideration of the absolute agreement herein of the parties of the second part to perform the services herein, that the powers herein granted are powers coupled with an interest; and it is agreed that the parties of the second part may jointly designate, substitute, and appoint, in writing, any competent attor- ney or attorneys at law to assist in the performance of the duties of the parties of the second part hereunder, and to clothe said person or persons with all the powers herein granted to the parties of the second part, the parties of the sec- ond part hereby guaranteeing the efficiency and integrity of any and all per- sons who may be tlius appointed, it being distinctly understood that the com- pensation of such persons for such assistance shall not be paid by the party of the first part. It is further understood and agreed that, in the event it becomes necessary under any law now existing or hereafter enacted, that this contract shall be approved by the Secretary of the Interior ; then, in that event, the Secretary of the Interior may, in his discretion, modify the terms of this contract as to the compensation to be paid the parties of the second part, without invalidating this contract, and said contract as modified by said Secretary of the Interior shall be binding upon the parties hereto, provided always that the compensa- tion fixed by the Secretary of the Interior shall in no event exceed the per- centage above stated. Executed in duplicate. In witness whereof the parties hereto have hereunto set their hands the day and year first above written. Signed and delivered in presence of: State of , county of , ss. Before me, , a , in and for said county and State, on this day of , 191 — , personally appeared and . ; to me known to be the identical person who executed the within and foregoing instrument, and /icknowledged to me that executed the same as free and voluntary act and deed for the uses and purposes therein set forth. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and official seal at said county tlie day and year last above written. Exhibit J. To whom it may concern : This is to certify that I, Alexander P. Powell, a representative of the Choc- taw Tribe of Indians now engaged in soliciting contracts with ilississippi Choctaws for services to be rendered in prosecuting their claim before the different branches of the Government, in order to secure for them a reopen- ing of the rolls of those entitled to share in the tribal property belonging to the Choctaw Tribe in the State of Oklahoma, am acting in my individual capacity and for the benefit of myself and those associated with me in this effort to secure the right of said Indians in said property. ENEOLLMENT WITH THE FIVE CIVILIZED TRIBES. 37 I further certify tliat I am in no manner employed or engaged by the United States Government to solicit any contract with said Indians or perform any duty in connection therein. Respectfully, Alexander P. Powell. NOTICE TO INDIANS. This is your last chance in connection with William B. Mathews, attorney at law, Evans Building, Washington, D. C. I am engaged in writing up claims of all Mississippi Choctaws and their descendants who remain in Mississippi after Dancing Rabbit Creek treaty with the United States Government in 1830. I will remain here for a few days only ; I will be glad to write up all bene- ficiaries; we intend to submit all claims to the Sixty-second Congress, which convenes in Washington, D. C, April 4, 1911. I am Indian and Spaniard, and my grandfather was a signer of the great treaty concluded September 27, 1830. Alexander P. Powell. Philadelphia, Miss. NOTICE TO INDIANS AND THEIR DESCENDANTS — IN CONNECTION WITH HON. HAREY PEYTON, ROOM 420 BOND BUILDING, WASHINGTON, D. C. This is your last chance to secure benefits under the bill Introduced by Hon. Pat Harrison, of the sixth district of Mississippi, now pending before the Sixty-second Congress, for the relief of Mississippi Choctaws and their descendants who remained in Mississippi after the treaty of 1830. I am an Indian and a Spaniard and my grandfather was a signer of the treaty of 1830. I will be glad to write up all beneficiaries, and I have in my possession a record that will enable you to trace your ancestors back to 1780, Those with negro blood need not apply. I will be at Miss., on the ■ day of 1912. Alexander P. Powell, No. 106 Fourth Avenue, Laurel, Miss. Office: Room Ji20, Bond Building, Washington, D. C. (This paper was sent to Indian Office by Mrs. Viola Strickland, of Meridian, Miss., No. 1400 Tenth Ave., under date of Sept. 16, 1912.) THIS IS YOUR LAST CHANCE — NOTICE TO THE ONCE MIGHTY TRIBE OF RED MEN WHO ONCE OWNED THIS COUNTRY AND TO THEIR DESCENDANTS. In connection with Hon. Harry Peyton, room 408, and Hon. Oliver A. Phelps, room 619 Bond Building, Washington, D. C, I am still engaged in writing up all Mississippi Choctaws and their descendants who remained in Mississippi after the Dancing Rabbit Creek treaty with the United States Government, concluded September 27, 1830. The treaty of 1830, known as the treaty of "Perpetual friendship," pro- vides tliat the Indian Territory shall go to the Red Man and his descendants "as long as water runs and grass grows"; the treaty furtbermore provided that our descendants that did not see fit to go to the Territory then, at any time that they may take a notion to come on and join the tribe in the Territory, they shall share in this distribution as long "as water runs and grass grows." If your ancestors were born east of the Mississippi River, call on me; it is possible tbat some of them may have been at the treaty mentioned above. I am an Indian and a Spaniard, and my grandfather, Nita, was a signer of the treaty of 1830. I have in my possession a record of the old aboriginal that will permit you to trace your Indi.in ancestry back as far as 1780. .Ml Mississip])! Choctaw cases are now pending before Committee on Indian Affairs, Sixty-third Congress, first session, waiting for report and decision. I will 1)0 g];i(l to write up all beneficiaries. 38 ENEOLLMENT WITH THE FIVE CIVILIZED TRIBES. Those with negro blood need not apply. I will be at W. J. Nelson's. S02 Second Street, Lake Charles. La., on Sep- tember 5. Alexandeb p. Powbxl. notice to mississippi choctaws. In connection with Harry J. Cantwell, Thos. L. Crews, and William B. Mat- thews, attorneys of Washington, D. C, I am still engaged in writing np claims for the Choctaw-Chickasaw Indians and their descendants who remained in Mississippi after the Dancing Rabbit Creek treaty with the United States Government. I am a member of the Choctaw Tribe of Indians and my grand- father was a signer of the great treaty made September 27, 1830. I will be glad to communicate with any beneficiary at my office in Bay St. Louis, Miss. A. P. Powell, Seahrook Hotel, Bay St. Louis, Miss. " INDIANS " LIVING IN OLD MISSISSIPPI. "All Mississippi Choctaw Indians and their descendants are asked to meet at the county courthouse next Sunday afternoon at 2 o'clock. The object of the meeting is to further the rights contained in the treaty of 1830 between the Unitetl States and Choctaws. (Biloxi Herald.)" To which is answered : Such a meeting as is scheduled as per the above would be " nuts " for some moving-picture company, provided such meeting is attended by all the people who have filed claims as descendents of the tribe of red men known as Choctaws. They are of all shades and color, running from the real Indian to the coal-black, thick-lipped, flat-nosed, kinky-headed negro, with a good sprinkling of whites, in whose veins no one but themselves ever suspected that a drop of Indian blood flowed. But anything goes in this day and gener.-ition when the thought of "easy money" presents itself. Uncle Sam's coffers will scisrcely be opened for the motley crew, however just may be the claims of some of the pure-bred Choctaws. (Gulf Coast Progress.) HOUSTON INVESTORS MAY GET MILLIONS FROM INDIAN CLAIM. A Houston organization, in which more than .$2. .500,000 is at stake and the hereditary rights of the Choctaw tribe of Mississippi is the merchandise, has received quite a boost in a telegram received by Judge Harris Masterson. Many Houstoniaus are interested in the enterprise. The telegram reads as follows : " Subcommittee i-eport of Friday last was unanimous and recommends ad- mission of all full bloods, also all others who can prove descent from one who either received or should have received patent under fourteenth article treaty of 18.30. .Meetings are extK-utive and no arguments being hejird." To those who are not interested in the venture the telegram neotls inter- pretation. It comes from Washington and has to do with a bill introduced by Mr. Harrison of Mississippi in behalf of the admission to enrollment of the Mississippi Choctaw Indians and their descendants to partici]>ation in the money and lands helonuing to the Choctaw tribe. Some time ago Judge Masterson was instrumental in forming .•in organiza- tion to urge the claim of the Choctaw tribe in a particip.ition of certain lands in the territories and moneys in the United States Treasury. Many of these Indians were his clients. Going rather deeply into the matter he banded over 4,000 of these claimants together and became their representative and legal advisor. Money was needed to carry the enterprise through, ami a company was formed. Between 50 and GO men came into the company, and many of these are prominent Houstonians. Judge Masterson says that the venture is one which ])roinises tremendous returns for the amount invested by the stockholders, and that he is confident Congress will give assent to the recommendation of the subcommittee. ENEOLLMENT WITH THE FIVE CIVILIZED TRIBES. 39 WOULD RESTORE CHOCTAW INDIAN PENSION BILLS. [Associated Press.] Washington, December 13. The bill introduced in the House last session by Representative Harrison, providing reopening of rolls of the Chickasaw-Choctaw Indian Tribes, came up for consideration in the House yesterday. A vote was not reached. In his speech in favor of the bill Mr. Harrison said, in part: " The Mississippi Choctaws have been woefully neglected and unmercifully treated. They acquired rights under the fourteenth article of the treaty of 1830 that the United States Government has never faiily and .iustly recognized. Every act of Congress passed with resi)ect to the Mississippi Choctaws has vio- lated the spirit and the letter of that article of the treay. " The Oklahoma Choctaws were permitted by act of Congress in ISSl to sue the United States Government, in which suit they recovered from the Govern- ment $8,000,000 for damages done to the Mississippi Choctaws in Mississippi. Scheming attorneys, representing the tribe, dictate agreements, suggest, lobby foi-, and have passed laws that not only make it impossible for the Mississippi Choctaws to be enrolled upon tribal rolls, but through their influence they have actually created courts to prevent or exclude the Mississippi Choctaws from being enrolled. One of the blackest spots in the history of the administration of the Choctaw Nation is the escapades practiced in the citizenship court. "The Mississippi Choctaw is a part of that great Indian nation which never i-aised a tomahawk against an American citizen. Thousands of her warriors displayed their heroism under Jackson at New Orleans." [Alexander P. Powell, representative Mississippi Choctaw Indians ; office, room 408, Bond Building. Washington, D. C. ; 331 Pine Street, Laurel, Miss.] Shrevepobt, La., Oetobcr 28, 1912. Mr, Columbus Overman, Dexter, Kans. Dear Sir : Yours of recent date to hand. Beg to advise that I have already written up a number of your relatives under their great-great-grandmother Delilah, who was an Indian woman, and if you wish to be written up, on receipt of $2.50, which I require for recording fee, etc., I will send you blanks to be filled out. I do not charge you any fee, but when I collect for you I get 20 per cent of collections. I am also inclosing you a Pat Harrison bill and other literature and you can see for yourself how the case stands. Yours, truly, Alexander P. Powell. , WIS. Hon. Alexander P. Powell, Dear Sib : Being a Choctaw descendant and desiring to make application for compensation for the violation of my rights under the treaty of 1S30, between the Choctaw Nation and the United States Government, and being unable to go to your office for that purjiose, I do hereby request that you come at your earliest convenience to . my place of residtMice. for that purpose, and I agree to reimburse you the necessary expense of your trip to and from said Iilace, provided the same shall not exceed the sum of $2.50. Witness : MEMORANDUM OF EVIDENCE. In the matter of — , Mississippi Choctaws. Full name, . Post-office address, . When and where were you born? . Is there any official record of your birth or baptism? If so, state where. 40 ENEOLLMENT WITH THE FIVE CIVILIZED TRIBES. Father's name, . If living, state post-office address. If dead, state date and place of his death. Mother's maiden name, . If living, state post-office address. If dead, state date and place of her death. When and where were yonr parents married? Is there any record of the marriage? If so, state where. What was the name of your father's father? When did he die, and where? . What was the name of your father's mother? When and where did she die' What was the name of your mother's father? . When and where did he die? . What was the name of your mother's mother? . When and where did she die? . What is the name of ancestors who received land or script under the treaty of 1830? . How can you prove your descent from him or her? . Give name and address of all witnesses as to your descent from such ancestor, and refer to all church records which can give any information. -. Did you ever go to Oklahoma to make application for enrollment on Choctaw rolls? ' . Have you ever made settlement on any lands in Oklahoma? If so, describe same. . Where were you denied enrollment? . Have you any documents proving your pedigree? Where are they? If so, attach or submit them. . Are any of your relatives now on the rolls of the Choctaw? Give names of friends and neighbors who can testify to any matter of interest regarding your pedigree. Are any of your relatives now on the rolls of the Choctaw-Chickasaw tribe as a Mississippi Choctaw? If so, give names and address and number on roll. If you can, give a description of the land your ancestors received in Misis- sippi under the treaty of 1830. . State of Mississippi, , County of being duly sworn upon h — oath, deposes and says that the matters and things set forth in the foregoing statement are true to the best of h — knowledge and belief. Subscribed and sworn to before me this day of , 191 — . , Notary Public. Part Six ENROLLMENT IN THE FIVE CIVILIZED TRIBES. 381 the authorities that I can gather say that full-blood Choctaw means nothing more than a full-blood American. Mr. Hurley. I would like Mr. Cantwell present when I address the committee, because I make some comment concerning the argu- ment he has made and the statements he has put forth as facts. Mr. Cantwell. Anything you may say will not worry me, Mr. Hurley, and I do not care whether I am present or not, unless it is something of an attack on my integrity, which 1 reserve the right to hold you responsible for somewhere else. If you have nothing of that sort to say, I do not care whether I am present or not. Mr. Hurley. About the apparent challenge to hold me responsible for what I may say, I am responsible and will be prepared to answer to you at any place, at any time, and under any circumstances for anything I say. I will attack your statement of what you say are facts, but which I think are not facts. Mr. Cantwell. Those matters can all be verified. Whatever I have stated as a fact I have tried to give my authority for. There- fore I do not think it is absolutely necessary that I should be here when Mr. Hurley makes his statement. Mr. Hurley. I thought it was only fair to tell you I think you ought to be present. I can not defer my statement any longer. Mr. Carter. We will meet to-morrow morning at half past 10 o'clock to go on with the hearing. (Thereupon, at 2.40 o'clock p. m., the committee adjourned to meet to-morrow, Thursday, August 6, 1914, at 10.30 o'clock a. m.) Subcommittee of Committee on Indian Affairs, House or Representatives, Thursday, August 6, ,191^- The subcommittee met at 10.30 o'clock a. m., Hon. Charles D. Carter (chairman) presiding. . STATEMENT OF MR. LTJKE W. COIOilELY, OF GULFPORT, MISS. Mr. Conerly. Mr. Chairman, Mr. Cantwell could not be present before the committee to-day and requested me to appear to make some corrections with reference to the item of contracts in his state- ment. There is an item of 4.200 contracts mentioned in his state- ment, and that is incorrect He wants that corrected. The fact is that it should be approximately 3,800 contracts or approximately less than 3,900 contracts. Mr. Cantwell inadvertently got 400 con- tracts, it seems, mixed up with that 3,800. It seems that they were contracts that were rejected by the Court of Claims and were thrown out, and that item was mixed up in his statement with these con- tracts, or 3,800 contracts, taken for him in 1910. Mr. Carter. T do not know, Mr. Conei'ly, that the difference of the 400 contracts is material, but T find here a statement from the inspector's report to the effect that there are 4,200 — that he has found that there are 4,200 of these contracts. Then I find here a statement or letter from Mr. C. B. Moling, of Houston, Tex., to W. I>. Dechant. 382 ENROLLMENT IN THE FIVE CIVILIZED TEIBES. of Middletown, Ohio, attempting to hypothecate those contracts, in which he states that there are 4,200 contracts. He says: A reputable and responsible firm of attorneys, with offices in St. Louis and Washington, D. C, have secured contracts with 4.200 Choctaw Indians to secure them their allotment of lands and money upon a percentage basis. The con- tracts provide that the attorneys are to receive 30 per cent of all lands and money received. These 4.200 contracts are one signed by the Indian, two wit- nesses to his signature, and acknowledged before a notary public. Now, that was on June 12, 1911, and it exactly corroborates the other evidence that the inspector found with relation to these con- tracts. This man Molinoj seems to have been the agent of the Texas- Oklahoma Investment Co.. who was tryinff to sell some stock in that company, and undoubtedly if the Texas-Oklahoma company had contracts he knew how many there were. ]\Ir. C()NERLY. In explanation of that, Mr. Chairman, I might say this: That I worked in Mr. Cantwell's office some 30 or 10 days in the early part of 1912, and my knowledge of his office, of the contracts in his office at that time — that is, of Mississippi Choctaw contracts taken for him — was that there were 3,800, or something over, and I will say approximately less than 3,900. Mr. Carter. Were vou working in Mr. Cantwell's office on June 12, 1911? Mr. CoNERLY. No, sir. I want to explain right there that those 400 contracts were evidently mixed up in his calculations in some way, but they did not belong to the 3,800 contracts mentioned in his report, and he wants that explanation made. Mr. Carter. Now, let me read to you what the contracts are. I read form page 27, from the third paragraph from the top, as follows : From the foregoing statements of I'owell in his said affidavit he doubtless took contracts for Ci'ews & Cantwell from approximately 4,200 claimants, as stated on page 13 of his report, and also as shown on page 14 hereof, by copy of C. B. Moling's letter of June 12, 191L to Hon. \V. L. Deohant, of Middletown, Ohio, which, with the 2,258 contracts taken by Powell for W. B. ^Matthews and subsequently transferred to Crews & Cantwell, iuid as stated by Luke W. Conerly (assisted by Powell), 1,300 turned into Crews & Cantwell during 1012 and the early part of 1913 (see p. 37 of this report), together with about 1,800 additional conti-aets which Mr. Conerly has recently procured and is ready to turn in to Mr. Crews (see also p. 37 of this report), approximates 9,558 of this class of contracts on a 30 per cent contingent fee. Mr. Conerly. I want to make a statement here in regard to that report. The contracts I had taken, mentioned here, for William B. Matthews were taken in 1911. In 1911 Powell opened his office at Columbia, Miss. That was in February, 1911, and he wired me to meet him there. I met him there, and he employed me to assist him that year. I assisted him in taking these contracts for William B. Matthews, but I was not with him. He sent me to McCombe City, and I was there three months. I then spent the remainder of the time in Gulfport getting contracts under his direction. I understand from this item of 1,300 contracts taken by Crews & Cantwell that the inspector inferred that I was assisted by A. P. ]*owel] in taking these 1,300 contracts for Crews & Cantwell. That is an error. The fact is that Crews & Cantwell employed me in the latter part of February, 1912, while I was with them here in Washington City, just before the opening of the Mississippi Choctaw case before the subcommittee presided ENROLLMENT IN THE FIVE CIVILIZED TBIBES. 383 over by Mr. Russell, Powell left Washington previous to February 16, 1912, which is the date of the circular letter sent out by Crews & Cantwell saying that they had severed their connection with him. JNIr. Carter. Do you know that Mr. Cantwell himself admitted here before the committee that he had not severed all connection with him, and that after that time he paid him a salary. Mr. CoNERLY. Let me explain it to you on that Mr. Carter (interposing). He said at first himself that he had severed all connection with Powell, but afterwards stated that they had paid him a salary to keep him quiet. What he wanted to keep him quiet about I do not know. Mr. Conerly. Let me tell you wdiat I know about that. I want to say what I knovv^ about that. While I was in Crews & Cantwell's office in the Munsey Building here, Mr. Masterson, of Texas, was there, and they employed me to go to Mississippi and take charge of their business. They had no connection at that time with A. P. Powell, because they had severed all connection with him in Feb- ruary or January, 1911. Mr. Carter. Here is what Mr. Cantwell said : Mr. Carter. How long was Powell in your employ? Mr. Cantwell. Until February, 1912. Mr. Conerly. After Crews & Cantwell employed me, in February, 1912, the question arose as to what they would do with A. P. Powell. Mr. Carter. You mean in 1912 instead of 1911 ; I understood you to say 1911? Mr. Conerly. Now, you are getting that mixed up. Mr. Carter. Maybe I am. Mr. Conerly. I want to be exact in what I have to say. Crews & Cantwell severed their connection with A. P. Powell in February. 1911. That is the fact. Mr. Carter. Then, how do you account for Mr. Cantwell's state- ment saying that Powell was in his employ until February, 1912 ? Mr. Conerly. That is w^hat I want to come to. I was in Wash- ington in February, 1912, as I explained awhile ago, and they era- ployed me to take charge of the business in Mississippi. The ques- tion then arose as to what would be done with Powell. They were afraid that Powell would make trouble. I suggested to him that it would be well, perhaps, to retain him under a salary and put him under my direction, so that, perhaps, I could keep him out of trouble. Mr. Harrison, What do you mean by keeping him out of trouble? Mr, Conerly, Keeping him from making trouble, Mr. Harrison. What do you mean by saying " keeping him from making trouble"? Mr. Conerly. We were afraid at that time that Powell might do something to militate against the interests of the Mississippi Choc- taws. Mr. Carter. What was there that he could do to militate against the Mississippi Choctaws? Mr. Conerly. Mr. Powell, while under the employ of William B, Matthews, or while taking contracts for William B. Matthews, charged a fee for taking those contracts — a fee of $2.50 — and Mr. Cantwell objected to anything of that kind being done by anyone under his employ. Now, it was feared that Powell would go back to 884 ENROLLMENT IN THE FIVE CIVILIZED TRIBES. Mississippi and open an office down there, and begin taking contracts and charging those people fees for the same, and we were opposing such a proceeding. I suggested to Mr. Cant well that if he could re- tain Powell at a small salary and send him down there under my charge, so that I might control him, perhaps it w^ould be best, and he employed Powell for that purpose. Mr. Carter. What do you know about Powell? Is he a straight felloW' or is he a crooked fellow ? Mr. CoNERLY. I would not care to have any business transactions with him. Mr. Cari'er. You had the same opinion of him then that you have now? Mr; CoNERLY. I had at that time. Mr. Carter. And yet, having that opinion of him, you were willing to take him into this work under you so long as he was left subordi- nate to you? Mr. Conerly. The point w^as to keep him from doing as I said we were afraid he w^ould do, and that is opening an office and charging a fee for contracts. Mr. Carter. How would that operate against you? Plow would that affect you? If you were taking contracts for nothing, couldn't you get as many contracts as Powell could if he was asking them for money? How could that interfere with the plans of Cantwell & Crews or yourself? Mr. Coi>sERLY. There was policy in that. We did not want any- body to be coming in and charging fees for taking these contraf-ts. Mr. Carter. Well, you could not control everybod}', and anybody who wanted to could charge fees. If Mr. Powell didn't do it some- body else might do it. There certainly must have been some other cause. Mr. Conerly. There was nothing that I know of. Mr. Carter. I can not see the force of that argument. You say the only reason you kept Powell under your subordination, attempted to keep him subordinate to you. was to try to keep him from charging fees for the contracts he might take from the Mississippi Choctaws? Mr. CoKERLY. It was to keep him from doing indiscreet things. He had done things that created feeling in Mississippi, and wo wanted to avoid those kinds of troubles. Mr. Powell did not serve under me a single day, because he went back to Mississippi to straighten up some matters in Philadelphia, and he telegraphed Crews & Cantwell that the deal was off with him and that settled the question. He was not under me and did not assist me in taking a single contract in 1911, nor did anybody else. Every contract that was taken for Crews & Cantwell in 1912, up to February, 1913, and every contract taken for Thomas B. Crews was taken by myself. Mr. Carter. I see here an affidavit from you, taken by Special United States Indian Agent W. W. McConihe. in which this state- ment is made : I met Powell abonl July nnd jisked him wh;it ho wns doinji, and he said he was getting up claims for Mississii^pi Choctaws under the ti'eaty of 1030. I understood that he had been liefore Congress with the claims. He said that Crews & Cantwell were getting up the claims to present to Congress, the courts, or the department. Powell said he was getting the claims for that tirm. I do not know what he gets out of it. I have never heard Powell say that he was representing the Government, nor have I ever heard anyone say that tliey ENROLLMENT IN THE FIVE CIVILIZED TEIBES. 385 heard or was told by Powell that he was a United States official or was repre- senting the Government. At Bay St. Louis he was making no charges at first for his work. Powell required every applicant to show up his ancestry. At Bay St. Louis he ran out of blanks and had some more printed, and after- wards charged them $1.25, including notary fees. When was that ? Mr. CoNERLY. When he made those charges at Bay St. Louis? Mr. Carter. Yes. Mr. CoNERLY. In the latter part of 1910. Mr. Carter. That is, while taking contracts for Crews & Cantwell? Mr. CoNERLY. Yes, sir. His contract was severed in 1911, only a few months afterwards. Mr. Carter. That was while taking contracts for Crews & Cant- well. This affidavit further states: Powell f-ent me to Tylertown to work there getting up claims, and I made a charge of $2.50 for each application written up and paid him $1 for blanks. • Mr. CoNERLY. That was by Powell's direction. Mr. Carter. How do you reconcile your statement that you did not want these Mississippi Choctaws to be imposed upon by being charged a fee with the fact that you yourself, in collusion with Powell, had charged them fees? Mr. CoNERLY. I had no control of the matter. I could do no more than your clerk could do without your concurrence. Mr. Carter. You said you believed it was wrong, and that in order to prevent it you were willing to pay Powell a salary ? Mr. Conerly. I was simply a clerk working under his orders. Mr. Carter. You are a lawyer, are you not? Mr. CoxERLY. I would say, Mr. Chairman, that a clerk or stenog- rapher in the employ of any one is not responsible for the action Mr. Carter (interposing). Pie is responsible for his own action to his own conscience. Mr. CoNERLY. He is goA^erned by orders. Mr. Carter. Suppose they told you to kill a man ? Mr. CoKERLY. Let me refer you to one thing, and that is, that I served in the Confederate Army as a soldier, and I. learned to obey orders. If my officer gave me an order to do a thing it was my duty to perform it and to carry out that order, and as the employee of anyone in a legitimate business T would have no control. ]Mr. Carter. I want to ask you this question : Is it your notion that if the man you are working for should direct you to do a thing that you thought was unconscionable and wrong it would be your duty to do it? Is that your notion of ethics? Mr. CoNERLY. I was a stranger to these proceedings. Mr. Carter. T would like to have an answer to that question. 1 want to know what your position is. Can't we have a direct an- swer to that question, yes or no? Mr. CoxERLY. Ask it again, please. Mr. Carter. Is it your idea of ethics that if some one by whom you are employed calls upon you or directs you to do any questionable work it is your dutv to do it? Mr. CoNERLY. Of course not. Mr. Carter. Well, that answers the question. I heard what you stated with reference to your service as a Confederate soldier. My 649G9— 15 25 386 ENROLLMENT IN THE FIVE CIVILIZED TRIBES. father was a captain in the Confederate Army, anvl I have a very hieh regard for the Confederate soldier, but it is doubtful if the ethics of army discipline, strict as they are, would require a man to do an illegal act simply because his superior officer orders him to do it. Mr. CoNERLY. Conditions were different then from what they were two years afterwards. I did not know anj'thing about that business. I W'as simply employed and was directed to go to Tylertown to take contracts and to charge a fee up there. That fee of $2.50 was fixed by Powell, and I was required to make that charge. Mr. Carter. At that time he was working for Crews & Cantwell? Mr. CoMERLY. No, sir. Mr. Carter. When was that? Mr. Con ERLY. That was at the time Powell was working for Cant- well & Crews Mr. Carter (interposing). You say he was taking contracts for Cantwell & Crews? Mr. CoNERLY. That was in November, 1910. That was in Novem- ber and a part of December, 1010. It w-as then that I Avas in Tyler- town under Powell's direction. Mr. Carter. You took contracts for Cantwell & Crews, didn't you? Mr. CoNERLY. Yes, sir; in their name. I was working under Powell's direction. Mr. Car'itsr. And Powell was working for Cantwell & Crews? Mr. CoNERLY. He was taking contracts for their law office up at St. Louis. Mr. Carter. Do you know what he was being paid? Mr. CoNERLY. No, sir ; I did not know anything about his business with Crews & Cantwell. Mr. Harrison. Mr. Conerly, on or about the 1st of July Mr. James McLaughlin, an inspector in the India) * Office here, was sent to investigate into this matter of contracts of Crews & Cantwell, Powell, and ethers with these Choctaw claimants. I notice in the report that was filed about that time by Mr. McLaughlin, which report I have not read at all, a statement on page 25. Now, Mr. McLaughlin is making this statement, and he says that you stated : Also that it was he [meaning you] who first interested Congressman Har- rison, of Mississippi, in Choctaw matters :ind got him to introduce the bill for reopening the Choctaw rolls; that he [meaning you] had interested United States Senators Williams and Vardaman, of Mississippi, in the Choctaw claim; also Congressman Morgan, of Louisiana, in whose district many Choctaws reside. Now, I want to ask you this: Did you make that statement to Mr. McLaughlin; and if so, on what facts did you base such a statement? Mr. Conerly. I met Maj. McLaughlin in the Great Southern Hotel by his request Mr. Carter (interposing). Why don't you answer Mr. Harrison's question ? Mr. Harrison. I think he will do that. Mr. Conerly. I remained with him about three hours, and we had a running conversation about these matters. I have no recollection whatever of making the statement as reported there. I may have stated, which was a fact, that I met' Mr. Harrison on one occasion in Gulfport, in May, 1011, and incidentally inquired of Mr. Harrison ENROLLMENT IN THE FIVE CIVILIZED TRIBES. 387 if he had seen Mr. A. P. Powell, and Mr. Harrison said, " No," and asked. me what Powell wanted to see him about, and I told him that Powell remarked to me that he Avoiild like to see Mr. Harrison to see if he could not interest him in introducing the bill. Mr. Harrison. You do not know whether you made this state- ment exactly in this way? Mr. CoNERLY. No, sir; I did not make it that way. It is a mis- understanding on the part of the inspector. I might go further with that. "When I came to Washington City I did express the opinion that Mr. Harrison and ]Mr. Wickliffe, of Louisiana, would be the logical Congressmen to take up the fight for the Mississippi Choc- taws before Congress. I discussed that matter with Mr. Cantwell. I did not talk with Mr. Harrison on that question at all while I was in "Washington City. I do not think I ever mentioned the question to him. It is a misunderstanding, brought about by the general running conversation between the inspector and me. Mr. Harrison. Did the inspector take your statement down at the time? Mr. CoNERLY. No, sir; it was a running conversation. If he took it down, I did not see him do it. Mr. Carter. You are interested in having the Mississippi Choc- taws enrolled, are j^ou not? Mr. CoNERLY. Yes, sir. Mr. Carter. You are an attorney? Mr. CoNERLY. I am not in the practice of the law, but I was an attorney by education and by profession. Mr. Carter. I mean that you represent the Mississippi Choctaws in some capacit3^ Mr. CoNERLY. Yes, sir; as an employee of Crews & Cantwell. Mr. Carter. You expect some remuneration for representing them, don't you? Mr. CoNERLY. I own individually a number of contracts that were transferred to me through an arrangement with Judge Crews. Mr. Carter. That is what I mean. You are representing them for a consideration, just as any other attorney might do? Mr. CoNERLY. Yes, sir. Mr. Carter. Now, do you want this committee to understand that while you were representing the Mississippi Choctaws you ha^-e had no conversation with Mr. Harrison and that you have made no at- tempt in any way to have bills introduced and passed seeking their enrollment? Mr. CoNERLY. That I have never had any conversation Mr. Carter (interposing). That you have never had a conversa- tion with Mr. Harrison in reference to this matter, urging the intro- duction or passage of a bill, and that you have not in any Avay tried, through Congressmen and others, to promote the interests of the Mississippi Choctaws? Mr. CoNERLY. I do not recollect ever approaching Mr. Harrison. Mr. Carter. Then, you have taken money from the Mississippi Choctaws, you have taken some of their money and made contracts with them to represent them and take more, and yet you have not even suggested to their Congressmen that a bill ought to be intro- duced or that a measure should be passed for their relief, notwith- standing the fact that you collected $2.50 in fees for many contracts? 388 ENROLLMENT IN THE FIVE CIVILIZED TRIBES. Mr. CoNERLY. That matter was in the hands of our lawyers, and it was a matter that they had control of. I had no control af it. I have since become interested in these contracts, and I own this pres- ent 3^ear and I have received Mr. CxVRTER. What is your duty, under your contracts, to your clients? Mr. CoNERLY. I have received no compensation whatever from any Mississippi Choctaw whose contract I have taken Mr. Carter (interposing). Why? You have stated here in this affidavit that you received $2.50 from some of them. Mr. Conerly. Not since I have been in the employ of Crews & Cantwell. I received $2.50 for taking contracts while a clerk of A. P. Powell. Mr. Carter. I do not care at what time you did it. The point I make is that you did Mr. Conerly (interposing). I emphatically state that I have never received any fee from any Mississippi Choctaw or anybody else • Mr. Carter (interposing). But you stated in your affidavit that you charged $2.50 for contracts. Mr. Conerly. As clerk for A. P. Powell. Mr. Carter. Well, just let me ask you this: You say you did that as a clerk for A. P. Powell — do you know of what nationality A. P. Powell is? Mr. Conerly. I do not know anything about his pedigree. Mr. Carter. A man would not have to know anything about his pedigree. He could just take a look at him and tell. He is a negro. Mr. CoNERLr. I did not know it. Mr. Carter. Anybody who looks at him can tell that he is a negro. Now, then, I want to ask you this: While you were a clerk of A. P. Powell and were taking $2.50 from these Mississippi Choctaws, what was your duty ? Mr. Conerly. It was my duty to take contracts in the name of William B. Matthews. Mr. Carter. What afterwards happened to those contracts taken for William B. Matthews ? What became of them ? Mr. CoNERLr. The contracts I wrote up in the name of Matthews were turned over to Powell. Mr. Carter. Wliat eventually became of them? Mr. Conerly. They were turned over by Powell to Mr. Matthews. Mr. Carter. What did Mr. Matthews do with them? Mr. Conerly, He transferred those contracts to Crews & Cantwell. Mr. Carter. Did you have anything to do with the transfer of those contracts? Mr. Co>;erly. I assisted him in it. Mr. Carter. You persuaded Mr. Matthews to do it? Mr. Conerly. I talked to Mr, Matthews on the question and talked with Mr. Cantwell on the question, and they got up between them negotiations for the transfer of those contracts, and they were trans- ferred by Mr. Matthews to Crews & Cantwell. Mr. Carter. What did you get for your services in securing the transfer of these contracts ? Mr. Conerly. Nothing. Mr, Carter. You took no interest in the contracts ? ENROLLMENT IN THE FIVE CIVILIZED TEIBES. 389 Mr. CoNERLY. I was assisting Mr. Cantwell in his office. I was here at his office with Mr. Cantwell, assisting him in his office and doing office work. Mr. Carter. You are working, then, under the employ of Cant- well & Crews? Mr. CoNERLY. Yes, sir. Mr. Carter. And were no longer under the employ of Powell? Mr. CoNERLY. I did not get anything for the part I took in trans- ferring those contracts. Mr. Carter. Except your regular salary? Mr. CoNERLY. I did not have any regular salary. Mr. Carter. Didn't you get anything at all while working for Crews & Cantwell ? Mr. CoNERLY. They paid my expenses, but they gave me no salary. I have not received one dollar in salary from Crews & Cantwell nor from Judge Crews since I have been engaged in this business. Mr. Carter. You just worked for your expenses and boarded your- self ? Is that what you would have us to understand ? Mr. CoNERLY. In 1912, when they employed me to take contracts for them in Mississippi, they allowed me a small amount to remain at home and to take contracts by correspondence and from those who would come to see me. Mr. Carter. Was not that a salary? Mr. CoNERLY. They did not allow me any travel money. Mr. Carter. But was not that a salary? Mr. CoNERLY. You might call it a salary. Mr. Carter. Then, you did receive a salary ? Mr. Conerly. Since that time there has been no agreement about any salary. Mr. Carter. Since that time you have been working for your ex- penses ? Mr. Conerly. I have been doing most of the work and Judge Crews has been furnishing money to pay expenses. Mr. Carter. Since then you have been working just for your ex- penses? Mr. Conerly. Yes, sir. Mr. Carter. What did you get when you worked for Powell? Mr. Cois'ERLY. On the $2.50 charge Powell required $1 for himself and he allowed me $1.50 to pay notary fees and for my own expenses 8nd to pay clerk hire, such as that. My services and my expenses had to come out of the $1.50 that was charged. Mr. Carter. Now, Mr. Conerly, your statement to the committee is that with a slight exception you have never received any salary as compensation for your work, but that you have worked for ex- penses alone and that you do not expect anything, any remuneration from those contracts, except those which you have taken in your own name. Mr. Conerly. There is no agreement for anything. Mr. Car'tor. Do you expect to get anything out of the conti-acts which Cantwell & Crews have? Mr. Conerly. I have no right to expect anything. Mr. Carter. You want the cH>mnnttee to understand tliat you have simply put in your time on these matters, working to get up these 390 ENROLLMENT IN THE FIVE CIVILIZED TEIBES. contracts and placed tlieni in the hands of Cantwell & Crews expect- ing nothing on earth but your expenses to be paid? Mr. CaNERLY. I think you carry it a little too far, Mr. Carter. Then how are we to understand you? Mr. CoNERLY. I had other means of support besides taking the contracts and I was not dependent on them furnishing money to pay my expenses. The only salary I received was $50 a month, which was allowed me for living. Mr. Carter. How long did you receive that? Mr. CoNERLY. I received $50 a month from about February 20, 1912, up to August, 1912. There was March, April, May, June, July, and August. Mr. Carter. Six months; that is $300? Mr. CoNERLY. Yes, sir. Mr. Carter. You say that I am carrying you too far. You went into an agreement with Mr. Cantwell and Mr. Crews and this fellow Powell by which you were to take contracts, put in your time, and work for them without any hope of any consideration or reward except $300, and for that amount you were willing to place in their hands contracts which looked to giving them millions of dollars in fees? Mr. CoNERLY. That was not the stipulated amount. The stipulated agreement — that was a verbal agreement — between Mr. Masterson, Mr. Cantwell, and myself was that they would allow me living ex- penses — you might call it a salary — simply a stipend to remain at home and take contracts until we could get the bill through without furnishing me with any means whatever to pay expenses to go to see these people. Mr. Carter. You said " until we could get the bill through." When the bill went through you were to get something else? Mr. Conerly. No, sir. Mr. Carter. And you never expect anything? Mr. CoNERiA'. No; there is no written contract to expect anything from them. The case is in the hands of our lawyers. Mr. Carter. Why can you not say what you expect? Mr. Conerly. I do not expect anything out of these contracts ex- cept that I am a claimant myself. Mr. Carter. You are a claimant? Mr. Conerly. Yes; I am a claimant myself. Mr. Carter. And that is all you expect ? Mr. Conerly. All I expect to ever realize except my own expenses, which these lawyers agreed to give me. Mr. Hurley. Hoav many contracts do you hold at this time? Mr. Conerly. In my own name? Mr. Hurley. Yes, sir. Mr. Conerly. The only contracts that I have any claim on are contracts that were transiterred by ^Ir. Crews to me in this way: In Februarjr, 1913, the firm of Crows & Cantwell failed to pay me any money for my services ; in other words, failed to send me any money to pay my expenses. In February I took about 110 contracts in the name' of Crews & Cantwell for tliem at my own individual expense. While I was taking contracts for Crews & Cantwell in 1912, Mr. Cantwell wrote to me and told me that I might take a number of contracts in the name of Crews & Cantwell and that I might have EISTEOLLMEZSTT IN THE FIVE CIVILIZED TRIBES. 391 the benefit of the contingent fee under those contracts as compensa- tion in lieu of salary that had not been paid to me, Mr. Hurley. Hoav many of those contracts did you take? Mr. CoNERLY. I took 110 at my own expense, I think 119 in the name of Crews & Cantwell. 50 of which I was to have the benefit of, and then there were 140 contracts taken with Senator Bond, of Mis- sissippi. Mr. Hurley. What are his initials ? Mr. Co^'ERLY. I do not remember his initials. Mr. Carter. Is he a United States Senator ? Mr. CoNERLY. No, sir; a State senator — Senator Bond. I do not remember his initials. Mr. Bond took 140 contracts. Now, you have 140 contracts and 119 and 110 contracts, approxi- mately, maybe a few more or less, but that was the number. Judge Crews failed to furnish me any money to pay my expenses after Jan- uary, 1914. Since that time I have taken about 600 contracts for Judge Crews and paid all the expenses myself. Mr. Hurley. I beg your pardon for interrupting you just now, but what I asked you was how many contracts you now hold as your own or how many are you interested in with others, just state the number ? Mr, Conerly. I will tell you in a minute. That I have a personal interest in ? Mr. Hurley. Yes, sir. Mr. Conerly. I can not give you the exact number. Mr. Hurley. Approximately ? Mr, Conerly, One hundred and ten and 119 — my recollection is 229 and 140, 364, Mr. Hurley. You have a personal interest in 364 Mississippi Choc- taw contracts? Mr, Conerly. I own those absolutely now according to an agree- ment with Judge Crews. Mr. Hurley. You said to Mr. Carter a little while ago that you did not expect any return from the enrollment of these persons, ex- cept that which you might get from the fact that you are a claimant for citizenship ? Mr. Conerly. That was a matter that occurred years before. This is a recent matter. At that time I had no interest. Mr. Carter. I asked you the question, what interest you had in the matter, and you replied that you had not any interest except the interest of your own enrollment aa an Indian. Mr. CoNERLr. You did not understand me. After January, 1914, Judge Crews failed to send me any more money to pay my expenses. I had taken 110 contracts for Crews & Cantwell at my own expense, and they .never paid me. Mr. Carter. Are those the contracts you charged $2.50 for? Mr. Conerly. No, sir. Mr, Carter. You were taking them at your own expense without any remuneration ? Mr. Conerly. Except as to the notary fee where they appeared be- fore me. Mr. Carter. How much ? Mr. Conerly. Fifty cents. Mr. Carter. How many? 392 ENROLLMENT IN THE FIVE CIVILIZED TRIBES. Mr. CoNERLT. One hundred and ten. Mr. Carter. You took 110 contracts for Crews & Cantwell, paid your own expense, wrote up the contracts, and delivered them to Crews & Cantwell without receiving any compensation whatever or the hope of any compensation? Mr. CoNERLT. No, sir; I did not deliver them. Just let me try to explain that. Mr. Carter. I am trying to get you to explain. Mr. CoNERLY. I have stated that in February, 1912, the firm of Crews & Cantwell failed to furnish me with any money to pay my expenses, and I took the contracts in their name without any com- pensation at all, at my expense, but I stayed at home. Mr. Carter. It does not matter whether you stayed at home or not. It took effort, it took paper, it took pens, it took ink, it took postage stamps for the correspondence; you could not have done the work without expense and without individual effort. Now, the thing I want to understand is this : Why is it that you are willing to devote your time, your work, your energy, and your money to pro- cure contracts for Cantwell & Crews without any hope of recompense or reward? Mr. Conerly. I did not. That is not settling this point at all. I want to make a statement which is a fact and the chairman will not allow me to do it. Mr. Hurley. I understood you to say that in part of those con- tracts you had no fee except the notary fee where they appeared before you ? Mr. Conerly. Yes, sir. Mr. Hurley. Is it permissible under the laws of Mississippi for a notary to take the acknowledgment on an instrument running to himself or from which he expects to derive profit? Mr. Conerly. They were not taken in my name. I had no interest when I took the contracts. They were transferred to me subse- quently on account of a failure of Judge Crews to pay me for my services in 1914; they were transferred in consideration of that. That is a recent transaction. I had no interest in those contracts any more than you had at the time they were taken. Mr. Hurley. Is this Senator Bond that you speak of the same gen- tleman who was prosecuted in Mississippi for some alleged mis- conduct in regard to the records of the State senate ? Mr. Conerly. Yes, sir; the same man. Mr. Hurley. AVere you in the service of Crews & Cantwell in 1913? Mr. Conerly. Yes; up to the 1st of March, 1913. Mr. Hurley. Did you know of the organization of the Texas- Oklahoma Investment Co., which noAv holds the Crews & Cantwell contracts? Mr. Conerly. I knew nothing about it and heard nothing about it until I read the discussion in the House of Eepresentatives since I have been in Washington this month. I did not know a thing about it. Mr. Hurley. Mr. Conerly, on the 22d day of October, 1913, I delivered an address before the Lake Mohonk Conference of Friends ENROLLMENT IN THE FIVE CIVILIZED TRIBES. 393 of the Indian and other Dependent Peoples at Lake Mohonk, N. Y., in which I made this statement : The great delay on the part of the United States Government m beginning the sale of the residue of the tribal estate and the distribution of the funds arising therefrom after the allotment of tiie Indians and after the closing of the rolls caused all the unsuccet-sful ai)[)licants for enrollement to believe that {IS long as there was a grest residue of tribal property remaining there was still hope for them to secure citizenship in the tribes. These applicants em- jiloyed attorneys to resubmit their claims for citizenship, and at the present time, according to the statements made by the attorneys for claimants who have appeared before the Committees on Indian Affairs of Congress, there are prob- ably not less than 50,000 persons throughout the United States who have em- ployed attorneys to present their claims for rights of citizenship in the Choctaw and Chickasaw A'ations. The contracts which attorneys have taken from the claimants for citizenship provide that if the attorney is successful in securing enrollment for the claimant he shall receive a free ranging generally from 25 to 50 per cent of the amount the claimant would obtain by reason of citizenship, I said further : I am advised and believe that some of the attorneys have capitalized these citizenship contracts; that is to say, they have pledged their contracts for money with which to maintain representation before the committees of Con- gress to continuously urge the reopening of the rolls, the persons who furnish the money of course to share in the fees in case the claimants are successful. Did you know that I made that address at the Lake Hohonk Con- ference ? Mr. CoNERLY. I learned about that from an article taken from the St. Lous Globe-Democrat, which is included in the resolution which was passed by the Society of Mississippi Choctaws. Mr. Hurley. Where was the Society of Mississippi Choctaws as- sembled at that time? Mr. CoNERLY. At Gulfport. Mr, Hurley. Who were present at that assembly ? Mr. Conerly. The Society of Mississippi Choctaws was organ- ized Mr. Hurley (interposing). I did not ask anything about the organization, but who was present when the resolutions to which you refer were passed? Mr. Conerly. The chief council of the Mississippi Choctaws pre- sided over by Berry Wilson, the president. Mr. Hurley. Who was present at the council to which you refer? Mr. Conerly. I do not remember. Mr. Hurley. Who were the members of the chief council ? Mr. Coneuly. I do not remember. Mr. Hurley. Give us the names of some of the persons present, some of the names of the chief council of the INIississippi Choctaws. Mr. Coneuly. Berry Wilson is the president. I can not remem- ber those names. It is impossible for me to remember all those names. Mr. Hurley. You presented a resolution, which was passed, and you do not know who passed it or who was present? Mr. Conerly. It was passed by the chief council of the Missis- sippi Choctaws. Mr. HuRLKY. You do not know anybody else who was present ex- cept yourself and the president? Mr. (.'oNERLY. When a meeting of council is held there are more or less people there. 394 ENROLLMENT IN THE FIVE CIVILIZED TRIBES. Mr. Hurley. How many people were present? Mr. CoNERLY. I can not tell you ; I do not know. Mr. Hurley. Was there anybody present except yourself and Mr. Wilson? Mr. CoNERLY. Yes, sir. ]\Ir. Hurley. Who^ Mr. CoNERLY. There was Benjamin Franklin Bulloch, who lives in Gulfport. Berry Wilson is the president of the chief council of the Mississippi Choctaws. We have several hundred members. I can not remember the names of those present. The meeting was called and that ai'ticle published in the St. Louis Globe-Democrat was read; I read it. Mr. Carter. How did you come to see it ? Did anybody call atten- tion to it? Mr. CoNERLY. The article was sent to me; the clipping was sent to me, taken from the St. Louis Globe-Democrat. Mr. Carter. Who sent it to you ? Mr. CoNERLY. Judge Crews sent it to me. Mr. Carter. Was there anybody at this meeting except the mem- bers of your association? Mr. Conerly. None that I know of. Mr. Carter. Ts this association a secret society? Mr. CoNERLY. No, sir; it is a historical, social, and literary so- ciety. I founded it myself in 1912. Mr. Carter. Do you know whether there was anyone else present except the members of the society? Mr. Coxerly. If so, I did not know it. Mr. Hurley. Are the proceedings of that organization conducted in English or Choctaw? Mr. Conerly. In P^nglish. Mr. Hurley. You can not state to the committee approximately hov many people were present at that meeting or where the meet- ing was iieldf Mr. (\)XFRLY. The meeting was held — we do not have a particular pla-je of meeting, we have been too poor to hire a place for the .'■leet- ing, and we have the meetings at the residence of our secretary, Mr. I'earl Wiktu.. Mr. llri.'i.r.y. Can you state approximately how .many persons were present? Mr. Conerly. I suppose there were 12 or 15 present when the resolution was read. Mr. Hurley. They were claimants for citizenship as Mississippi Choctaws. Mr. Conerly. Yes, sir. The resolutions were inspired by that article published in the St. Louis Globe-Democrat. Mr. Hurley. What degree of Choctaw blood do you claim to have? Mr. Conerly. It is hard for me to tell that. I am the great- great-grandson of Turner Ward. His daughter was Letitia Ward, who was my great-grandmother, and my grandmother was a Choc- taw woman. I learned through correspondence that has been sub- mitted to me from the Interior Department that her mother Avas a Choctaw woman and her father was connected with the Choctaw Nation. ENROLLMENT IN THE FIVE CIVILIZED TRIBES. 395 Mr. Hurley. You do not know just what degree, if any, of Choctaw blood you have? Mr. CoNERLY. The best information I have on the subject is that my father was one-fourth, or about one-fourth, Choctaw. - It is hard to tell that. It is hard to tell that because I do not know what degree of blood his mother had. Mr. Hurley. Did you have any intimation of the fact that you were supposed to have Indian blood before this man Powell, whose name has been before the committee this morning, suggested it to you Mr. Conerly. It has been a family tradition all my life. I was born in 18H in Marion County Mr. Carter (interposing). Did you say it was a tradition? Mr. Conerly. It was family knowledge handed down to us, and we have a Bible record. Mr. Carter. Does your Bible record show that you are part Indian ? Mr. Conerly. No, sir; there is no Bible record that shows that. Mr. Carter. How would your Bible record be able to connect you with the rolls? Mr. Conerly. My grandfather knew who he was. Mr. Carter. Do you say that the Bible record shows that he was an Indian? Mr. Conerly. No, sir; but his children said he was. Mr. Carter. In the Bible record? Mr. Conerly. No, sir; the Bible record does not show anything like that. Mr. Carter. What has the Bible record to do with it, then ? Mr. Conerly. The Bible record shows descent. I want to ex- plain to you that according to the correspondence submitted to me and that came from the Interior Department my grandmother was a Choctaw woman, the w^ife of Owen Conerly, who was my grand- father. I do not suppose that any man could get up and testify that he was the descendant of any particular person or race of people. No man can swear to that. Mr. Hurley. Is Col. Ward, who you say was an ancestor of yours, the same Col. Ward Mr. Conerly (interposing). It was not "Colonel" Ward, but '•Turner" Ward. Mr. Hurley. Referring to this meeting of the Mississippi Choc- taws, where you claim to have presented this resolution, as a mat- ter of fact that was held in a livery barn in Gulfport, Miss., was it not? Mr. Conerly. No, sir. Mr. Hurley. Did not Crews & Cantwell prepare this resolution? Mr. Conerly. No, sir; they knew nothing about it until after it was prepared. I am responsible for every word of it myself. It is based upon that article published in the St. Louis Globe-Democrat. Mr. Hurley. You used this language in the resolution, referring to that part of my address before the Lake Mohonk Conference, which I have read to-day into the record: Resolved, by the chief council of the Society of Mississifipi Choctaws, sitting in council in GulfF'ort. Miss., November 7, 1913, for nnd in behalf of the Mis- sissippi Choctaws, that we denounce snid charges as false, without foundation In fact, and an unfair means of trying to defeat the efforts of the Missis- 896 ENEOLLMENT IN THE FIVE CIVILIZED TEIBES. sippi Choctfiws in obtaininj; (heir birthric'Jits by legitinir.te procetlnre and legislation throngh the supreme authority in all matters in which the Indians are concerned. Did yon loiow at the time yon put that in the resohition that what I said about the hypothecation and the syndication of the Mississippi Choctaw contracts was, in fact, true and was not false? Mr. Cois'EKLY, The resohition was based upon the article pub- lished in the St. Louis Globe-Democrat, which was incorporated with the resolution. Mr. Hurley. I asked you if you knew of the ors^anization of tho Texas-Oklahoma Investment Co., which held the Mississippi Choc- taw contracts at that time, and that it was furnishing money to maintain a lobby to force open the rolls of the Choctaws? Mr. CoNERLY. No, sir; I did not know anythinoj about the organ- ization of the company at all. The only information I had in re- gard to that was the information that Mr. Masterson was in it, but I did not even know Mr. Masterson or Mr. liuRLEY (interposing). You know now that what I said was true ? Mr. CoNERLY. No, sir; I did not laiow it was true. Mr. Hurley. Don't you know about the Texas-Oklahoma Invest- ment Co.? Mr. Conerly. Only from Mr. Hurley (interposing). Do you mean to tell this committee that you do not know that the Texas-Oklahoma Investment Co., with a capital stock of $100,000, now holds the Crews & Cantwell contracts? Mr. Conerly. I do say that I did not know anything about that company or the organization of that syndicate until I came to Wash- ington and read it in that record. Mr. Hurley. Do you know now of the existence of that company? Mr. Conerly. I only know it from information of speeches in the record. Mr. Hurley. If the Texas-Oklahoma Investment Co. does exist and does hold these contracts and is furnishing the money to main- tain this representation before Congress, is this statement of yours in this resolution true ? Mr. Conerly. I can not answer that question, because I do not understand you. Mr. Carter. Let me ask you a question : Have you read these sub- committee hearings here at all? Have you read this document [indi- cating] ? Did you read Mr. Cant well's statement before the sub- committee ? Mr. Conerly. Do you mean recently? Mr. Carter. This one here that I have handed to you ? Mr. Conerly. Let me see it here. I have never read it in printed form. ^Ir. Carter. You said you only learned that from the record of speeches made? Mr. Conerly. I read some of this before it was printed in this pamphlet form. Mr. Carter. Then, if you have read it before it was printed, or at any other time, you do know of the existence of the Texas-Oklahoma Investment Co. from the statement of Mr. Cantwell himself and not from the speeches in the record. ENROLLMENT IN THE FIVE CIVILIZED TRIBES. 397 Mr. CoNERLY. From information derived from speeches. Mr. Carter. Are you trying to place responsibility for your in- formation of the Texas-Oklahoma Investment Co. upon some Con- gressman's speech when you knew, or ought to have known, that that speech was based upon statements made by Mr. Cantwell himself before this committee? Mr. CoNERLY. These resolutions were based upon that publication in the St. Louis Globe-Democrat. Mr. Carter. I did not ask you about that. What do you know about the Texas-Oklahoma Investment Co. ? Mr. CoNERLY. I do not know anything about that organization of my own knowledge. Mr. Carter. You say that you knew something about it from speeches published in the record, but what you really know is based upon the statement of Mr. Cantwell himself, is it not ? Mr. Conerly. I have learned that since I came on to Washington last month. Mr. Hurley. I want to see if I can get this matter straightened out in the record. You do know that Mr. Cantwell admits the existence of this Texas-Oklahoma Investment Co., which now holds his contracts? You heard him admit that in the record? Mr. CoNERLY. I see that in the record. I read it in the record. Mr. Hurley. You know now that he admits it? Mr. CoNERLY. From that information; yes, sir. Mr. Hurley. Then, if you did not know it at the time you charged me with having made false statements to the conference at Lake Mohonk, N. Y., you know now that the statements you made at that time concerning my statements is untrue, do you not? Mr. CoNERLY. I have never read your speech. Mr. Hurley. If I did say all that you say in your resolution that I said, is not everything that you charged me with having stated in your resolution true? Mr. CoNERLY. Will the chairman permit me to read this article from the St. Louis Globe-Democrat? Mr. Hurley. I suggest that the entire resolution go into the record. Mr. Carter. Without objection, it is so ordered. (The resolution referred to is as follows:) Resolutions Pkeskntkd by Luke W. Conerly and Adopted by the Chief Council Miasissippi Choctaws, Novembeb 7, 1913. Whereas at a convention held at Mohawk, N. Y., as related in a dispatch to the St. Louis Globe-Donioci-at October 23, the attorney for the Choctaw Nation, Mr. P. J. Hurley, is reported to have charged that a "plot or consi)iracy '' was formed and at work to "cheat and defraud the Choctaws and Chickasaws out of their lands .and moneys derived from the sale of their lands." characterizing these persons as land grabbers backing legislation for said purpose, as follows, to wit : " FRAUDS ON INDIANS TOLD AT CONCLAVE — CHOCTAW ATTORNEY EXPOSES PLOT TO CHEAT TRIBES OF MILLIONS — OPPOSES NEW ROLLS — LAND GRABBERS SAID TO BACK LEGISLATION TO PREVENT BIG DISTRIBUTION. "MoHONK Lake, N. Y., October 22. "Divergent views of the capabilities of the American Indian started a debate today that in one form or another will reach Congress. It marked the opening of the annual conference of friends of the Indians and other dependent peoples. 398 ENROLLMENT IN THE FIVE CIVILIZED TRIBES. "Some of the delegates believed that the Indian still was a child and that the Federal GovernTnent had .grossly neglected him. Others, apparently a minority declared that some of the Indian tribes should be released altogether from Gov- ernment supervision, left to take the responsibility of their welfare and pay the price if they failed. There was expressed also an urgent demand for taking Indian affairs out of politics and putting them in the care of a nonpartisan com- mission. "The Five so-called Civilized Tribes of Oklahoma were the Indians mainly discussed today. Daniel Kelsey, superintendent of the Union Indian agency at Muskogee, described how these Indians were defrauded of their valuable lands. He urged that physicians be stationed in the Indian settlements to check the spread of contagious diseases. "P. J. Hurley, national attorney for the Choctaw Nation, one of the Five Tribes, denounced the land interests that were defeating the efforts to have Congress distribute $10,000,000 belonging to the Choctaws and Chickasaws and derived from the sale of their lands. The failure to distribute these moneys, he asserted, was due to attorneys hired by persons who hoped to benefit bv proving citizenship in the Choct:iw and Chickasaw Nations if the Government should reopen the tribal rol'.s. Such citizenship was worth from $5,000 to $8,000, he said, and if the rolls were reopenel some attorneys would make thousnnds of dollars because they have taken claimants' cases on contingent fees of from 25 to 50 per cent." And whereas such charges are a thrust at the attorneys of the Mississippi Choctaws. Messrs. Thomas B. Crews and Harry J. Cantwell. of St. Louis, Mo., and the friends and supporters of the ]\Iississippi Choctaws in the Congress of the United States, a libel upon their honor and integrity, and a slnnder upon the leaders of the Mississippi Choctaws, claiming their rights, in a bill before Congress, presented by the Hon. Pat. Harrison, of Mississippi, in the Sixty- second Congress, in January, 1912, and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs, a full hearing of which was had, beginning in February, 1912. before a subconnnittee of the Committee on Indian Affairs, House of Representatives of the Sixty-second Congress, composed of Mr. Russell as chairman, and Messrs. Miller and Smith; that lengthy arguments were heard before that committee; that the tribal attorneys and representatives were fully heard; that a report was made by the Interior Department to that subconnnittee; that after careful deliber.'ition during a period of nine months the report of the subcommittee was unnnimously made i-econunending the enrollment of those who claimed and could prove their rights under the treity of 1930; and that accompanying this bill was a lengthy statement printed by order of the Committee on Indian Af- fairs, made by Cbirence B. Miller, of Minnesota, a member of the subcommittee, indorsing the claims of the Mississippi Choctaws and others who have been de- nied enrollment; that the tribal authorities, their representatives and attorneys, and friends in Congress, having twice sought by amendment to the regular In- diiin appropriation bill the distribution of several millions of the funds on hand, and believing the Mississippi Choctaws are entitled to Iheir proportion of that fund, they have properly and legitimately opposed its distribution until tlieir rights could be determined, and in making this opposition have pointed to the action of the Committee on Indian Affairs of the House, which has heretofore favorably recommended tlieir enrollment; that the effort to secure this distribu- tion h;Ts twice been defeated openly on the floor of the United States Senate, once in February, 1913, and agnin in June, 1913; that among those wlio opposed this distribution because of its injustice were such men as Senator Lodge, of Massachusetts; Senator McCumber, of North Dakota; Senator La Follette. of Wisconsin; Senators Willi.ims and Vardaman, of Mississippi, and many other distinguished members of both the Senate and the House; that this bill was fairly defeated after an open discussion and vote in spite of the opposition of the tribal authorities and their liigh-salaried attorneys and repi-esentatives. Therefore, Resolved, By the Chief Council of the Society of Mississippi Choctaws, sitting in council in Gulfport, Miss., November 7, 113, for and in behalf of the Missis- sippi Choctaws, that we denounce said charges as false, without foundation in fact, and an unfiir means of trying to defeat the efforts of the Mississippi Choc- taws in obtaining their birthrights by legitimate procedure and legislation through the supreme authority in all matters in which the Indians are con- cerned. E2s'R0LLMENI IN THE FIVE CIVILIZED TRIBES. 399 Resolved,. That we have never forfeited, nor ever intend to forfeit, any rights retained by the fourteenth article of the treaty of Dancing Itabbit Creeli of September 27, 1S30, which expressly says : " Persons who claim under this article shall not lose the privilege of a Choctaw citizen," and t^ey do not cease to be citizens of the Choctaw ISatiou, entitled to the rights and privileges of all other citizens of the nation. Resolved, That the Choctaw Nation, claiming protective authority over the Mississippi Choctaws and obtained judgment against the United States, through the Supreme Court, in the eighties for damages done the Mississippi Choctaws for a violation of the treaty of 1830, if we were children of the Choctaw Nation then we are as much so now, not only entitled to this damage money, but to an equal share in the lands and moneys of the Choctaw Nation, all of which has been denied us. Resolved, That being deprived of our rights, under acts of Congress of 1896 creating the Dawes Commission, by unlawful and cruel procedures of a Court of Claims established by the lawyers of the Chot-taw Nation in violation of all laws of equity, and acts passed by Congress and signed by the President of the United States in 1902, quieting our claims forever, denying us the right of peti- tion and hearing or investigation, there was no other hope for relief except by the employment of eminent counsel — deprived of every vestige of rights — poor and without means we were compelled through a contingent fee contract plan to seek redress, by this means and this only. Resolved, That the decision of the Supreme Court of the United States giving judgment against the United States for damages done the Mississippi Choctaws in depriving them of the lands promised them by virtue of the treaty, said damage money being paid to the Choctaw Nation west, and not to the Missis- sippi Choctaws who were entitled to it, fixed beyond a question of doubt the status of the Mississippi Choctaws as members of the nation, entitling them to the right to share equally in the distribution of the nation's property. Resolved, That we call upon our people everywhere to stand firm in the declaration of their rights under a solemn treaty whose obligations have never been fulfilled with them. Driven from their homes to seek shelter with their helpless families in the forests, shut out from all rights, deprived of appropria- tions for schools and education, in humility and despair with their own mother nation against them, we come before the legislative branch of that Government for which our ancestors shed their blood, to correct the wrongs done them and us in the past; and we hurl back to its source every insinuation made against us or our lawyers and Congressmen of a plot and conspiracy to cheat and de- fraud the Choctaw Nation, and we extend to that supreme authority to whom we appeal, the Congress of the United States, our perfect and sincere confidence in their honesty and integrity and their unbiased sense of justice. We emphatically and boldly denounce as false and wicked all charges by whomsoever made of a plot or conspiracy to cheat and defraud the Choctaw Na- tion of one foot of land or one cent of money. We ask only that which of right belongs to use as members of the family to shai'e equally in the allotments of its wealth, wherever we may be located, by lawful means only. We appeal to the President of the United States to give his ear to our cause in Congress, willing to rest it upon the foundation of a solemn treaty between two friendly nations; the supreme authority resting in the Congress and the judicial decree of the highest tribunal in the land. With these declarations we submit to the judgment of civilization if such can be construed into a " plot to cheat and defraud." Resolved, That our i^^ecretary be instructed to forwax'd copies of these resolu- tions to Ills Excellency, the President of the United States; to the Secretary of the Interior, to the Commissioner of Indian Affairs, to the Committees on Indian Affairs of the House of Representatives and the Senate; to our Slate Senators, Hons. John Sharpe Williams and James K. Vardaman; to Hon. Pat. Harrison, authors of the bill (II. R. 19213) for relief of the Mississippi Choctaws, pre- sented in the Sixty-second Congress, and others Members of Congress from Mis- sissippi and other States, and we request newspapers friendly to our case to publish the same. Uerry Wilson, President. Pkakl L. Wilson, Secretary. 400 ENROLLMENT IN THE FIVE CIVILIZED TRIBES. (Mr. Hurley submitted for the record a copy of his address before the Lake Mohonk Conference, as follows:) Address of P. J. Hurley, National Attorney foe the Choctaw Nation, Before the Lake Mohonk Conference of Friends of the Indian and Otheb Dependent Peoples, Mohonk Lake, N. Y., Wednesday, October 22, 1913. In this discussion I shall consider only matters pertaining to the tribal estate of the Choctaw and Chickasaw Nations. I shall not attempt here to discuss any matters pertaining to the individual estates of allottees. Any reference made to matters pertaining to the individual estates of the Indians will be merely incidental to the discussion of mutters pertaining to the tribal estate. The question of the final settlement of tlie tribal estates of the Five Civilized Tribes is one of great importance to both the Indian citizens and the white citizens of Oklahoma. Approximately 101,000 persons haA'e received allotments of land as citizens of the Five Civilized Tribes and approximately one-third of this number are now restricted ; that is to say, their allotments are inalienable, and these re- stricted Indians are under the supervision of the Department of the Interior. The tribal estates of the Cherokee. Creek, and Seminole Nations have been almost entirely disposed of, and the final settlement of the estates of these three nations is not far distant. The same is not true of the Choctaw and Chickasaw Nations. All projierty belonging to these two nntions is owned in common by both nations. Each citizen of the Choctaw and Chickasiiw Nations has received an allotment of 320 acres of the average land and each enrolled freedman of said nation has received an allotment of 40 acres of l:ind. After each citizen and freedman had been given an allotment there was a residue of tribal property remaining. This residue consists of what is known as the segregated coal and asphalt land, the timber reserve, and the unnllotted land. The title to this property is still held by the Choctaw and Chickasaw Nations, and the property so held at the lowest estimation is valued at $35,000,000. More than $10,000,000 worth of the unallotted land belonging to the two tribes has been sold by the United States Government and the money received therefor is now held in trust by the Government for the Indians. A great amount of this money is deposited in banks in Oklahoma. No part of it has been dis- tributed per capita among the Indians. On July 1, 1902, Congress enacted a law which was known as the supple- mental agreement between the Choctaw find Chickasiiw Nations and the United States. This agreement was ratified by the Choctaw and Chickasaw people September 25, 1902. The agreement provided that when the rolls of citizenship had been completed and each Indian and freedman liad re- ceived their allotment of land, that the residue of the tribal estiite remaining should be sold and the funds arising from the snle should be distributed per capita among the Indians. There wns a specific clause in this agreement pro- viding tliat the segregated coal and aspliiilt land should be sold within two years from the date of tlie agreement. The United States has not complied with tlie terms of this agreement and has not sold tlie tribal estate and dis- tributed the proceeds among the Indians as agreed. Mnny years have elapsed since the Indians were given their allotment and since the rolls of citizenship were completed by the Government, yet the terms of the treaty providing for the sale of the residue of the tribnl estate and the distribution of the funds arising from the sale among the Indians have not been complied with by the United States Government. The Indians individually, in tribal meetings and through their tribal governments, have year after year petitioned the United States Government to comply with the terms of the agreement, but all without avail. The unrestricted Indians in the Choctaw and Chickasaw Nations are as a class very intelligent and thrifty people and there are many in the restricted class who are competent. The Indians have been dissntisfied on account of the dilatory manner in which the Government has handled the settlement of their estate. This dissatisfaction among the Indians, caused by the delay of the United States Government in performing its obligations under the terms of the treaty, is Inrgely the cause for the execution of the so-called " McMurray Individual contracts." These contracts were executed in 190S. They are alleged to have been made with more than three-fourths of the Individual Indians of the Choctaw and Chickasaw Tribes. These contracts provided. ENROLLMENT IN THE FIVE CIVILIZED TEIBES. 401 among other things, that for services to be rendered by Mr. McMurray and his associates they were to receive 10 per cent of all the money received from the sale of the residne of tribal property. The residue of the tribal estate vested in the Nations, as stated above, is valued at the lowest estimation at $35,000,000. For this fee Mr. McMurray and his associates were to expedite the sale of the tribal property. There were persons interested in the affairs of the Choctaw and Chickasaw Nations who believed it improper to pay Mr. McMurray or anyone else this enormous fee for doing that wliich the United States Government is bound by treaty obligations to do without cost to the Indians. During the present session of Congress the McMurray contracts received considerable attention and after an exhaustive hearing before the Committee on Indian Affairs of the United States Senate these contracts were surrendered by Mr. Mc]Murray in so far as they affected the tribal property. Mr. McMurray admitted that during the five years that these contracts had been in existence he had not accomplished the results for which he had been employed. Congress then enacted a law prohibiting the making of other con- tracts affecting the tribal estate without the consent of the United States. The tribal pronerty of these two tribes is now free of any lien or encumbrance of whatsoever nature by reason of the contracts executed by individuals. The Department of the Interior has at this time authority to sell all of the tmallotted land and all of the timberland and all of the sui'face of the segregated coal and asplialt Innd belonging to the tribes. Tlie only parts of the tribal estate which the Department of the Interior is without authority to sell at this time are the deposits of tlie coal and asphalt. No authority has been given to sell the coal and asphalt deposits for the reason that the conservationists in Congress desire to conserve this great estate as a national resource. The United States, however, is bound with treaty obligations to sell the coal and asphalt and to divide the funds derived from the sale per capita among the Indians. We have no quarrel with those who advocate the conservation of national resources, but we contend that the United States should not practice the theory of conservation on an estate that it is bound by trenty obligations to divide among Indians. The Indians own the property and should be allowed to en.ioy the benefits of ownership. If the United States desires to conserve this estate it is only fair that the estate should be purchased from the Indians by the Government. The present administration sterns to be entering upon a program looking toward the sale of all tribal property that the Department of the Interior is now authorized to sell. The Indians desire that the entire estate be sold and the money distributed per capita among them. In other words, they desire that the Government fulfill the obligations of its treat>' with them. Many of the Indians who entered into this agreement with the United States Government have passed and others are daily passing into the great beyond without ever having renped the benefits of their agreement with the United States and without ever having enjoyed the property which is theirs by every legal and moral right. The sale of this property and the distribution of funds would be conducive to the best interest of Indians. It would give the older Indians who were parties to the treaty an opportunity to enjoy their property before their death, and it would give the industrious Indians funds with which to improve their allotments. The por- tion of the funds belonging to incompetent Indians could be iuvested for the improvement of their allotments under the direction of the Depnrtment of the Interior. The dependent and incouipetent Indians would become more self- reliant after this fund had been distril)uted. They would nndnrstand that there would be no further per capita pnyment for them to look forward to and wnit for. This condition would create a greater incentive among this class to sup- port thomsf'levs froui their allotments instead of waiting idly for the Govern- ment to make a payment to them. The sale of this pro])erty would be highly beneficial to the geuoral citizenship of the State of Oklahoma as well as the Indinns. The distribution of the funds among the Indians would, no doubt, put into circulation a great nmount of money, but this would not be the greatest benefit that this action would be to the State of Oklahoma. It would cause a division and individual ownership of all the segroErnted coal and asphalt and tiniber lands. The soiling of all this land in comparatively small tra-^ts to individuals would cause great develoTtment. This development would enh'Mice the value of the individunl allotments of Indians. And it would be a perform- ance, though a tardy one. by the United States Government of the treaty obliga- 649G9— 15 2G 1 402 ENROLLMENT IN THE FIVE CIVILIZED TRIBES. tions that it has assumed. It may be argued by those who advocate the strictest protection of tlie individual Indian that this property should be held in trust for the use and benefit of the Indians. We do not adhere to this view of the situation. We believe that every incompetent Indian should be surrounded by such conditions that would compel him to retain and develop his allotment. Any protection which troes further than this is an injury to the individual. In some instances the restrictions upon the alienation of all or a jiortion of the allotment of incompetent Indians who are in destitute circumstances or sick are removed by the Secretary of the Interior, the land sold, and jiroceeds derived therefrom are given to the allottee by the department in installments, the department retaining supervision over the proceeds, of course, in order to prevent improvident use thereof by the incompetent Indian. We are inclined to the theory that the incompetent Indian should be allowed to retain his allotment; that the tribal estate should be sold; and that the portion of the funds arising from such sale belonging to this class of Indians be distributed among them under the supervision of the Department of the Interior. We are inclined to believe that this method of caring for incompetent Indians would be adopted by the Interior Department if that department had power to use tribal funds for that purjtnse. There is more than $10,000,000 in cash belonging to the Choctaw and Chickasaw Indians now under the control of the United States Government for the use of the Indi:ins. This statement of facts brings forth the question. Why is not the portion of these funds belong- ing to incomi)etent and destitute Indians used to care for them and improve their allotments instead of selling their allotments and using the funds derived from the sale? The answer is that no payment of tribal moneys can be made to the Indians without authority from Congress and Congress has not given the Department of the Interior authority to use tribal funds for this purpose. To give the reason why Congress has not authorized a distribution of tribal funds it will be necessary to consider the enrollment question. In 1896 the United States Government took upon itself the duty of mnking the roll of citizenship of the Choctaw and Chickasaw Nations. It continued this work for 11 years. The rolls of citizenship of the Choctaw and Chicka- saw Nations were finally closed on March 4. Ifi07. During this period of 11 years all persons who claimed right to citizenship in these nations were in- vited to make application for enrollment. Thousands of applications were made by persons residing in different parts of the United States, and especially by persons residing in Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana, Texas, and Arkansas. All of these applications, as well as the applications made by persons residing in Indian Territory, were litigated and finally adjudicated. All this litigation entailed great expense to the tribes. In addition to the regular salary of attor- neys employed in citizenship matters one fee of $750 000 was paid to a firm of attorneys for defending the nation in these cases. After the adjudication of all claims the rolls of citizenship were finally closed, both in conformity to the treaty agreement with the Indians and by the operation of the act of Congress. The great delay on the part of the United States Government in beginning the sale of the residue of the tribal estate and the distribution of the funds arising therefrom after the allotment of the Indians and after the closing of the rolls caused all the unsuccessful ap])licants for enrollment to believe that as long as there was a great residue of tribal property remaining there was still hojie for them to secure citizenship in the tribes. These applicants em- ployed attorneys to resubmit their claims for citizenship and at the present time according to the statements made by the attorneys for claimants who have appeared before the Committees on Indian Affairs of Congress, there are probably not less than 50.000 persons throughout the United States who have employed attorneys to present their claims for rights of citizenship in the Choctaw and Chickasaw Nations. The contracts which attorneys have taken from the claimants for citizenship provide that if the attorney is successful in securing enrollment for the clamant he shall receive a fee ranging gener- iilly from 25 to 50 ]ier cent of the amount the claimant would obtain by reason of citizenship. It is shown by the arguments made by attorneys that a citizen- ship in the Choctaw and Chickasaw Nations is considered to be worth from $5,000 to $8,000. It will therefore be seen that if the rolls could be reoi)ened and any considerable number of these claimants enrolled it would mean a great amount of money in fees for those who hold contracts with the claim- ants. This prospect of great fees induces men who have capital to furnish their money and influence in an effort to have the rolls reopened. I am advised and believe that some of tlie attorneys have capitalized these citizenship con- ENBOLLMENT IN TKE FIVE CIVILIZED TEIBES. 403 tracts; that is say, they have pledged their contracts for money with which to maintain representation before the committees of Congress to' continuously urge the reopening of the rolls, the persons who furnish the money, of course, to share in the fees in case the claimants are successful. Those engaged in an effort to reopen the rolls appear to be well organized and provided with means to make a strong and persistent fight. Up to this time we have successfully opposed all efforts to have the rolls reopened. On the other hand, the attor- neys for the claimants have successfully opposed all of our efforts to have Congress enact a law authorizing a distribution of the funds arising from the sale of the tribal e.state. They contend that these funds should remain intact until the rights of the claimants can be readjudicated. Our contention is that all the applicants have had their day in court and that after 11 years of tedioug and expensive litigation the question of enrollment was finally settled. To reopen the rolls would be an Injustice to the enrolled citizens of the Choctaw and Chickasaw Nations. It would put the entire tribal estate in jeopardy: it would emperil the right of every Indian who has an interest in the estate and would cause the tribes to again defray the expenses of years of litigation to defend their property. In addition to all this, to again reopen the rolls would be a violation of the agreement between the Government of the United States and the Choctaw and Chickasaw Nations. The Congress of the United States can effectually eliminate the enrollment question by authorizing the Depart- ment of the Interior to sell the remainder of the tribal estate and to distribute all funds per capital among the citizens of the Choctaw and Chickasaw Nations The Indians are entitled to this action under the terms of the treaty. Mr. CoNERLT. The resolution was based on that article at that time. !Mr. Hurley. I have asked you if now, at the present time, you are not willing to admit that what is stated in that article is true. Is it not a fact that there is a syndicate in existence which holds these contracts and is furnishing money to force open the rolls of the Choctaw and Chickasaw Nations for the enrollment of Mississippi Choctaws? Is not that true at this time? Mr. CoxERLY. It seems to be true from that information, but it was not known to me at that time. The resolutions were not formu- lated upon that information at that time, but they were formulated upon the article published in the paper. That ought to be explana- tory enough for you. Mr. Carter. I notice that this statement is embodied in your resolution : P. J. Hurley, national attorney of the Choctaw Nation, one of the Five Tribes, denounced the land interests that were defeating the efforts to have Congress distribute $10,000,000 belonging to the Choctaws and Chickasaws and derived from the sale of their lands. The failures to distribute these moneys, he asserted, was due to attorneys hired by persons who hoped to benefit by prov- ing citizenship in the Choctaw and Chickasaw Nations if the Government should reopen the tribal rolls. Such citizenship was worth from $.5000 to $S.OOO, he Siiid. and if the rolls were reopened some attorneys would make thousands of dollars bec-ause they have taken claimants' cases on contingent fees of from 25 to 50 per cent. Mr. Conerly. That is the Globe-Democrat article. Mr. Carter. Now, you deny that in this language : And whereas such charges are a thrust at the attorneys of the Mississippi Choctaws. Messrs. Thomas B. Crews ;ind Harry J. Gantwell, of St. I>ouis. Mo., and the friends and supporters of the Mississippi Choctaws in the Congress ot the United States, a libel upon their honor and integrity and a slander upon the leaders of the Mississippi Choctaws claiming their rights, etc. What I want to know is this : Do you still adhere to this statement in which you say that it was a slander and a libel, or do you say that what was stated by the attorney for the Choctaw Nation at the Lake Mohonk conference was the truth ? 404 ENROLLMENT IN THE FIVE CIVILIZED TRIBES, Mr. CoNERLY. The slander referred to in this resolution was the charge made that these men were engaged in fradulent transactions and in a conspiracy to defraud. Mr. Carter. Please do not get away from the subject. You set out here what your charges are directed to in this resolution. Mr. CoNERLY, That was simply copied in there to show what was said at the Lake Mohonk conference. Mr. Carter. That is all that was said. That is the thing you refer to. Mr. CoNERLY. I think you are mistaken. Mr. Carter. I can not be mistaken about that. Mr. CoNERLY. The charge objected to was that the leaders of the Mississippi Choctaws were engaged in a scheme and conspiracy to defraud Mr. Carter. No, sir; that is not the charge at all. The charge you speak about here is a charge against the attorneys. Mr. CoNERLY. That is only in reference to his speech made as re- ported in the newspaper. The article was not incorporated as the sentiment of the Society of the Mississippi Choctaws, but for in- foi"mation. Mr. Carter. You do not seem inclined to answer the question at all. Now, in the face of the admission of the attorney himself, do^ you still deny that it is true ? Mr. CoNERLY. That what is true? Mr. Carter, The thing you set out here. I read it to you, and it is as plain as it can be. The matter set out here about Mr. Hurley's address at a conference of some kind with reference to these attor- neys' fees, the organization of that company, etc., for the furtherance of this enrollment matter. Now, you declare in your resolution, which you say you prepared yourself, that that statement was a slander and a libel, and the question I want you to answer is this : In the light of the statement made by Mr. Cantwell admitting what was charged, do you still say that it is a slander and libel? Mr. CoNERLY. Not that part of it. Mr. Carter. Why didn't you answer the question to begin with ? Mr. CoNERLY. Because when the resolutions were formulated they were based on the proposition, you understand, that a charge was made by Mr. Hurley that the leaders of the Mississippi Choctaws were engaged in a scheme to defraud and in fraudulent transactions to defeat and to rob the Choctaws. Mr. Carter. Now, you can not go outside of the record. Here is the record that sets up Avhat was charged. You put in here a state- ment of what the charges were. I have no interest in any controversy between you and Mr. Hurley or between you and anybody else, but I do want you to give the facts in the case. Now, since you admit that your statement with reference to this being a slander, libel, etc., is untrue, I want to know why you had the Mississippi Choctaws to meet and why you had any such resolutions as those passed. What was your purpose? Mr. CoNERLY. The purpose of the resolutions, as I stated a while ago, was that a charge was made, according to the information re- ceived there from that article — that a charge was made against the leaders of the Mississippi ChoctaAvs to the eifect that they were en- gaged in a scheme to defraud the Choctaw Nation. ENROLLMENT IN THE FIVE CIVILIZED TRIBES. 405 Mr. Carter. Who are the leaders of the Mississippi Choctaws? Mr. CoNERLY. The men engag:ed in— Mr. Carter (interposing). What are their names? Mr. CoNERLY. I am one of them. Mr. Carter. Is Mr. Cantwell or Mr. Crews one of them ? Mr. Conerj.y. They are attorneys. Mr. Carter. Are they leaders of the Mississippi Choctaws? Mr. Conerly. I do not know whether they are or not. Mr. Carter. Yon are speaking of the leaders of the Mississippi Choctaws Mr. Conerly (interposing). They are the leading members of the Mississippi Choctaws. Mr. Carter. That reference here w'as to Crews & Cantwell, then. Mr. Conerly. Not altogether, but to our society. Our society took offense at that, and the chief council took offense at that — that is, being charged with being engaged in a scheme to defraud. Mr. Carter. Is anything said in the statement made by the attor- ney about the leaders of the Mississippi Choctaws? Mr. Conerly. The statement is: P. J. Hurley, national attorney for the Choctaw Nation, one of the Five tribes, denounced the land interests that were defeating the et^orts to have Congress distribute $10,000,000 belonging to the Choctaws and Chicltasaws and derived from the sale of their lands. The failure to distribute these moneys, he asserted, was due to attorneys hired by persons who hoped to benefit by proving citizenship in the Choctaw and Chickasaw Nations Mr. Carter (interposing). Wait a minute. Does he say any- thing there about the leaders of the Mississippi Choctaws? Mr, Conerly. The article reads: At a convention hold at ^Mohawk, N. T., as related in a dispatch to the St. Louis Globe-Democrat, October 23, the attorney for the Choctaw Nation, Mr. P. J. Hurley, is reported to have charged that a "plot or conspiracy" was formed and at work to "cheat and defraud the Choctaws and Chickasaws out of their lands and moneys derived from the sale of their lands." The resolutions were based upon that charge of conspiracy to cheat and defraud. We had no knowledge of the organization. Mr. Carter. Then, you were spealdng without laiowledge — you were talking through your hat? Mr. Conerly. I was speaking about the sentiment expressed in the article published in the St, Louis Globe-Democrat. Mr. Carter. But the things you deny in that have afterwards de* veloped to be true, have they not? Mr, Conerly. As to the organization of that company; yes, sir. Mr. HuRr.EY, Was the name of the Mississippi Choctaws, or the names of the persons whom you named here, or the name of any other person named in that resolution mentioned in the article that you read? You say it was an assault on certain persons. Mr. Conerly. No, sir; no names were mentioned. Mr, Hurley. Now, then Mr. Conerly (interposing). We regarded it as a sweeping remark and as a reflection upon our society, -Mr. Hurley, You did not investigate it, but you were willing to call me a falsifier without knowing whether your statements were true, if in so doing you could advance your cause? Was that the position you took? 406 ENROLLMENT IN THE FIVE CIVILIZED TRIBES. Mr. CoNERLY. No, sir. "Distance lends enchantment to the view," and we were not so well informed of things then. So far as anything personal was intended, there is a misunderstanding about that. Mr. Hurley. I do not consider it impersonal. Mr. CoNERLY. If you had known me, as, perhaps, you know me now, and as I have learned to know you more since I have been in Washington City, it is p)robable that those things yould not have occurred. Mr. Carter. Do you mean by that that it was a deliberate attempt to discredit some one ? Is that what you mean ? Do you mean that you would not have tried to discredit him if you had been better acquainted ? Mr. Conerly. No, sir; I mean that expressions are apt to be made at times from wrong information. Mr. Carter. You say that you sat down and drew a long set of resolutions, and you must have deliberated before you drew those resolutions. You must have carefully considered them. You cer- tainly would not want to say that you presented resolutions to a meeting of that character without having considered them carefully and deliberately. Now, you admit that what you stated in these resolutions was not true. Do you still want the record to show that you have done that, and that no one else assisted in the writing of these resolutions, that no one else knew anything about them, and that you got no information from anyone else except what was stated in the St. Louis Globe-Democrat article? Mr. CoNERLY. Mr. Chairman, general reputation has much to do with these things. General reputation or information of general reputation has much to do with these things. We knew that every effort was being made by the attorneys for the Choctaws west to defeat the Mississippi Choctaws' case, and we are very sensitive on those points. Besides, these things coming out in a newspaper in that manner made us take it for granted that Mr. Hurley had per- sonal feeling in the matter, and that he was disposed to charge us with being engaged in a fraudulent transaction. Mr. Carter. But he does not say anything about you. Mr. Conerly. Now, when there comes a charge of a scheme to defraud Mr. Carter (interposing). As a matter of fact, it was not your pride as a leader of the Mississippi Choctaws that was pricked, but it was your pride as an attorney in getting up these contracts that was pricked — is not that true? Mr. Conerly. I do not understand you. Mr. Carter. Is it not a fact that it was not your pride as a Mis- sissippi Choctaw leader that was hurt, but that you felt that your connection with the work of getting up these contracts was assailed — is not that true? Let us be perfectly frank about it. Mr. Conerly. Yes, sir; I felt that I was assailed. Mr. Carter. You did not feel that you were assailed because you were a Mississippi Choctaw, but that you were assailed because you had been connected with these contracts ? Mr. Conerly. No, sir; my name was not mentioned. No one's name was mentioned, but I felt I was assailed. Mr. Carter. How much money have you drawn all told in con- nection with this matter? ENROLLMENT IN THE FIVE CIVILIZED TRIBES. 407 Mr. CoNERLY. T can not tell you that exactly. Mr. Carter, Can you approximate it? Mr. CoNERLY. I can approximate about how much money I have received by way of expenses. I do not know how much I have re- ceived in the way of notary's fees. All of that depends upon the contracts themselves. The contracts show where they appeared before me. During February, March, April, May, June, July, and August, or seven months, I received $350. Now, I was entitled to $50 for five months more of that year. Mr. Carter. Did you get it? Mr. CoNERLY. No, sir. Mr. Carter. I want to know what you got. Mr. Cokerly. That money was expended in printing and Mr. Carter (interposing). I do not care anything about printing expenses. I want to know what you received. Mr. CoNERLY (continuing). And in organizing the Mississippi Choctaws. There were $350 altogether that I got. Then Judge Crews sent me about — I do not think he sent me over four or five hundred dollars. Mr. Carter. Are you positive that he did not send you over that amount ? Mr. Conerly. I have not my check book with me. If I had my check book with me I could give it exactly; but I think I received in all about $500 for him — that is my recollection — to pay expenses. That would be approximately about $850. That is for two years, and that was money sent me to pay my expenses. Mr. Carter. That is all you received? Mr. Conerly. Yes, sir. Mr. Carter. How much was paid out for this organization and for the printing you were talking about ? Mr. Conerly. About $250. They paid that out themselves. They paid for it, but it came out of my wages. That would be about $1,100. I never got that $250. That went on our payment for printing the constitution, etc. Mr. Carter. That was for the organization of the Society of the Mississippi Choctaws ? Mr. Conerly. Yes, sir. Mr. Carter. So this organization of the Mississippi Choctawg was effected by moneys furnished you by Cantwell & Crews? Mr. Conerly. They did not pay it. It was money due me. It was my money. ]Mr. Carter. I understand that it was money paid you by Cantwell & Crews? Mr. Conerly. Yes, sir. Mr. Carter. How much did this man Powell get? Mr. Conerly. Powell is in no way connected with the Mississippi Choctaw Society. Mr. Carter. Is he a Mississippi Choctaw? Mr. Conerly. He claims to be. I do not Icnow what he is. Mr. Carter. Now, then, here are $1,100. Did you never get any money for coming* to Washington ? Did you get your expenses paid ? Mr. Conerly. Yes, sir. Mr. Carter. How much did that amount to? 408 ENROLLMENT IN THE FIVE CIVILIZED TRIBES. Mr. CoNERLY. Powell paid my expenses to Washington and my expenses home. Mr. Carter. How much did you get for that? Mr. CoNERLr. I did not get anything except my expenses. Mr. Carter. How much was it? Mr. CoNERLY. I do not know what the expenses amounted to. I think the Pullman carfare from Gulfport here is $35, and it is $35 going back. Mr. Carteu. That is $70. Mr. Con EEL Y. Here and return. Mr. Carter. How many trips have you made here? Mr. CoNERLY. I think this was the third trip. Mr. Carter. AVho is paying j^our expenses now ? Mr. CoNERLY. Mr. Cantwell is paying them now. Mr. Masterson is to pay my expenses to Washington about the last of August. Mr. Carter. I do not understand that. Mr. CoNERLY. Mr. Masterson sent me a check to pay my expenses to Washington the latter part of August. Mr. Carter. This last August ? Mr. CoNERLY. This is August. It was July. I got here the latter part of June and was here the Fourth of July. Mr. Carter. Who is Mr. Masterson. Mr. CoNERLY. Harris Masterson is a lawyer, living at Houston, Tex. Mr. Carter. What connection has he with this matter ? Mr. CoNERLY. He is said to have an interest in this business. Mr. Carter. How does he get an interest ? Mr. CoisERLY. I do not know. Mr. Carter. Don't you know that Mr. Masterson was an organizer of the Texas-Oklahoma Investment Co.? Mr. CoNERLY. I find that from the record. Mr. Carter. Do you w^ant the committee to understand, and do you want it to appear in this record, that you claim that you know abso- sutely nothing about the organization of the Texas-Oklahoma Invest- ment Co., while an officer of that company is paying your expenses to Washington City? Mr. CoNERLY. I did not know it at that time. I have learned that those facts existed since I have been here in Washington City. Mr. Carter. How did you know that Mr. Masterson would pay your expenses ? Mr. CoNERLY. My understanding was that Mr. Masterson was in some way connected with Crews & Cantwell. I did not know any- thing about the organization of the syndicate. Mr. Carter. But you knew that these contracts were being financed ? Mr. CoNERLY. They had to be financed by somebody, tions for Mr. Carter. Did you know that at the time you prepared these resolutions for the Mississippi Choctaw Society? Mr. CoNERLY. Did I know that the organization existed? Mr. Carter. Did you know that the Mississippi Choctaw proposi- tion was being financed? Mr. CoNERLY. Yes, sir. ENROLLMENT IN THE FIVE CIVILIZED TEIBES. 409 Mr. Carter. Wliy did you put this statement in here, that the charges made by this attorney Avere false ? Mr. CoNERLY. I did not know who was financing it. Mr. Carter. You Imew it was financed, but you did not know who was financing it? Mr. CoNERLY. I got my money from Crews & Cantwell. Mr. Carter. You just said that you got it from Masterson? Mr. Conerly. That was for July. Mr. Carter. You have received altogether $1,360, $850 of which was salary and expenses, according to your statement, $250 for the organization of the Mississippi Choctaw Society, and $210 expenses coming to Washington, that is railroad fare — I do not know who paid your expenses when here. All of this money was paid to you by Powell, Crews & Cantwell, and Mr. Masterson, who was one of the- officials of the Texas-Oklahoma Co., and all of them belonged to the Texas-Oklahoma Co., and you now tell us that you never knew about the existence of the company ? Mr. Conerly. I understood Mr. Masterson to be a partner of Crews & Cantwell. I did not know anything about the organization of the syndicate at that time. I have learned since I have been here that the organization existed. Mr. Carter. And you, one of the men connected with the matter, have not been kept fully informed of its machinations? Mr. Conerly. I was only an emploj^ee. Mr. Carter. Then you want the committee to understand that the machinations of this Texas-Oklahoma Co. have been kept so secret that you, one of the members interested in the matter, were not fully informed as to how it was being financed and did not know any- thing about it until it was brought out by the McLaughlin report? Mr. Conerly. I was an employee, a hired agent to do this work, I did not figure in those matters that did not concern me. That is the plain fact. I was an employee; I was hired, and my mind has been on the business. Mr. Cartter. You were interested, you were getting a salary, you owned some of the contracts, and with all of that the manipulators of this proposition did not keep you informed as to how the money would be procured to finance the proposition and you did not even know of the organization of the Texas-Oklahoma Co. to finance it. In fact you are unable to say whether your pay arid expenses were from legitimate sources or not ? So far as your knowledge goes the money you accepted may have come from the Red Cross Society, Sunday-school contributons, train-robbery swag, or political slush- fund? Mr. Conerly. I do not see any use to reiterate my reply a dozen times when I say to you positively that I knew nothing abrut the organization of the syndicate until I came to Washington this July. I was employed by Crews & Cantwell to write up these claims, and my mind was on the business and not on the financial affairs of the concern. I had nothing to do with the financial affairs. Mr. Carter. But at the same time you accepted salary and ex- penses from Mr. Masterson, Mr. Cantwell, and Mr. Powell? Mr. Conerly. As an employee, an agent; that is all. 410 ENROLLMENT IN THE FIVE CIVILIZED TRIBES. Mr, Carter. Let me ask you something about these contracts. There has been some dispute as to how many there are, and I just Want to know. Mr. CoNERLY. You can not arrive at the accurate number, you can only approximate it. Mr. Carter. Why can not you arrive at the accurate number? Mr. CoNERLY. Because you can not remember them; I can not remember them. Mr. Carter. Are not the contracts in existence ? Mr. Conerly. Yes, sir ; they are packed in boxes. Mr. Carter. Why can not they be produced ? Mr. Conerly. I can produce them here to-morrow, Mr. Carter. I would like to have all of them laid on this table. Mr. Conerly. I can bring you a couple of hundred. Mr. Carter. Can not you produce all of them? Mr. Conerly. No, sir. Mr. Carter. All of your contracts ? Mr. Conerly. No, sir; they are in the hands of Judge Crews at St. Louis, Mo. Mr. Carter. Those contracts are in the hands of Judge Crews, and you say you know nothing of the financing of the Texas-Oklahoma Co.? Mr. Conerly. Those contracts are in the hands of Judge Crews with the understanding that he is to present them in my behalf. Mr. Carter. Have they been financed ? Mr. Conerly. Financed through Judge Crews. Mr. Carter. With the Texas-Oklahyma Co. ? Mr. Conerly. No. That is an individual matter. These con- tracts were put in the hands of Judge Crews to present in my behalf, and if they go through then I am to receive a contingent fee. Mr. Carter. What do you mean by " financed" ; did Judge Crews furnish the money? Mr. Conerly. Judge Crews furnished me with money to pay my expenses. Mr. Carter. And he holds the contracts? Mr. Conerly. No, sir; only as an attorney. I delivered them into his keeping to represent me in case the contracts should ever be presented to the Interior Department. Mr. Carter. To represent your clients before the Interior De- partment? Mr. Conerly. In other words, he is to take my place in presenting those contracts; just like this, I put a note in your hands, and you go before the court and collect it. Mr. Carter. And get a part of the money? Mr. Conerly. And get a fee, of course. Mr. Carter. Can you give us definite information as to how many contracts Cantwell & Crews have and how many they have hypothe- cated with the Texas-Oklahoma Co.? Mr. CoNERLr. No, sir. I can aproximate it, but I can not give Vou the exact number. I would not undertake to do that without the index. Mr. Ballinger. Are not several thousands of the contracts taken by Crews & Cantwell right in Washington to-day ? Mr. Conerly. That I took for Crews & Cantwell? ENROLLMENT IN THE FIVE CIVILIZED TRIBES. 411 Mr. Ballingek. That Crews & Cantwell hold and you have an interest in? Mr. CoNERLr. I have no interest in the contracts held by Crews & Cantwell. They have, as I told you, 3,800 contracts in their office here, boxed up in a fireproof safe, but I have no personal interest in them. I had nothing to do with those contracts. Mr. Ballinger. They have 3,800 contracts in the Munsey Building in Washington? Mr. CoNEKLY. Yes, sir. Mr. Carter. As a matter of fact, are not those contracts in the hands of the Texas-Oklahoma Co.? Mr. CoNERLY. I do not know. Mr. Cantwell has control of them. Mr. Carter. But you know about 2,258 contracts taken by some- body else for Mr. William B. Matthews; is that the right number? Mr. Conerly. No, sir. Mr. Carter. How many? Mr. Conerly. I can only give you my recollection. Mr. Carter. How many do you recall? Mr. Comerly. If you will give me a chance I will tell you. My recollection is that the original index of those cases taken from Mr. Matthews's office and transferred, most of them were taken over there by myself, that the index shows 2,558 cases. Mr. Carter. Two thousand five hundred and fifty-eight cases? Mr. Conerly. Yes, sir. Let me explain a little further. Mr. Carter. That is 300 more than stated here. Mr. Conerly. Now, wait. After I went back to Mississippi I wrote to the stenographer to send me a copy of the index, and the copy of the index sent to me shows some 2,200 cases. There is a dis- crepancy between the number shown by the original index and that sent me by the stenographer. Mr. Carter. Either 2,258 or 2,558? Mr. Conerly. Yes, sir ; I am strongly of the impression that there were 2,558 cases. Mr. Carter. Do you know anything about 1,300 contracts turned in to Crews & Cantwell during 1912 and the early part of 1913? Mr. Conerly. Yes, sir; I know all about them. Mr. Carter. Were they turned over? Mr. Conerly. No, not all of them to Crews & Cantwell; 1,000 were turned over to Cantwell and I brought them to Washington City myself. Mr. Carter. What became of the other 300? Mr. Conerly. The other 300 Judge Crews and I arranged to transfer to me individually. Mr. Carter. Do you know anything about 1,800 contracts which vou wrote some time last month and turned over to Crews & Cant- well ? Mr. Conerly. They were not taken in the name of Crews & Cant- well ; they were taken in the name of Judge Crews. The number is correct. Mr. Carter, Are you still engaged in taking contracts? Mr. Conerly. I was up to the time T left home. Mr. Carter. How many Mississippi Choctaws are there? Mr. Conerly. I do not know. Mr. Carter. How many would you judge? 412 ENROLLMENT IN THE FIVE CIVILIZED TRIBES. Mr. CoNERLY. I have no idea. There are a lot of people down there who have never put in their names who are seeking to do so now, and there is a large number in Mr. Morgan's district in Loui- siana. Mr. Carter. How many do you think there are? Mr. CoNERLY. No man has any idea. Mr. Carter. How many do you think there are that you have not contracts with now? Mr. CoNERLY. It would be impossible for me to say. Mr. Carter. A good many? ]Mr. Comerly. I have not taken all the contracts. Powell has been down there taking contracts. Mr. Carter. Outside of your contracts? Mr. CoNERLY. Yes, sir. Mr. Carter. You do not know how many he has taken ? Mr. CoNERLY. No, sir ; I have not seen Powell in 30 months. Mr. Carter. Can you tell us approximately how many there are who have not been contracted with at all? Mr. CoNERLY. No, sir. I do not know how many Powell has taken or Avho he has taken them for. Mr. Carter. According to your statement there are 9,458 Missis- sippi Choctaws with whom you know contracts have been written? Mr. CoNERLY. That is all I know anything about. Mr. Carter. In addition to those, you would say that Powell has taken how many? Mr. Conerly. I have not any idea. Mr. Carter. He is a pretty active man? Mr. CoKERLY. I have not seen Powell since February, 1912. Mr. Carter. Powell is a pretty active fellow in taking contracts? Mr. Conerly. He has been ; yes, sir. Mr. Carter. How long has lie been taking contracts since you split with him? Mr. Conerly. My knowledge about it is from hearsay, Mr. Carter. I do not know anything about Powell's work. Mr. Carter. When was it you quit working with him? Mr. Conerly. In December, 1911. That was when I came to Washington. Mr. Carter. About three years ago? Mr. Conerly. That was when I quit working with him. Mr. Carter. It would be reasonable to suppose that Powell had taken four or five thousand? Mr. Conerly. It has not been three years. Mr. Carter. It will be three years in December. Mr. Conerly. Next December. It was in 1911 when I quit work- ing with him. I have not seen him since February, 1912. Mr. Carter. That was the last you knew of any contracts he was taking. That will be three years in December? Mr. Conerly. The coming December; yes, sir. Mr. Carter. This is August, not very far from December. Mr. Conerly. Two and one-half years. Mr. Carter. More than two and one-half years. September, Octo- ber, November, and December — four months until December. Would it be reasonable to suppose that Powell had gotten three or four thou- sand contracts in that time? ENROLLMENT IN THE FIVE CIVILIZED TEIBES. 413 Mr. CoNERLY. I do not think so. Mr. Carter. A thousand? Mr. CoNERLY. I do not think so. Mr. Carter. Five hundred? Mr. CoNERLY. I do not think so. Mr. Carter. One hundred? Mr. CoNERLY. In 1910, when Powell opened his offices in Bay St. Louis and Biloxi, there was a rush on him from all parts of the State of Mississippi and other States. I think that with the 3,800 contracts that he took at that time and the 2,500 that he took for William B. Matthews, and then deducting from that the number I have taken for Crews & Cant well, the number would not run up to 1,000 that he could have taken since that time. Mr. Carter. Five hundred? Mr. CoNERLY. I have taken altogether about 3,000 cases since 1912. I do not think with the circulars sent out by Crews & Cantwell and with the knowledge that the people derived from them and other things that Powell could have taken more than 1,000 cases in that time. Mr. Carter. The circulars you sent out were to prevent Powell from taking contracts after he had refused to take them further for Crews & Cantwell ? Mr. CoNERLY. Those circulars were sent out to notify the people of the condition and also of the connection of Mr. Powell. Mr. Carter. And they had that effect ? Mr. CoNERLY'. The circular was intended to have that effect — to keep people from employing a man who was charging them a fee. Mr. Carter. We will say that Powell had taken 1,000 cases. That is 10,458. I understand that other attorneys have contracts with almost as many people as Cantwell & Crews and Powell, so that in all that would make at least twenty to thirty thousand Mississippi Choctaws who are off of the rolls? Mr. CoNERLY. I do not know anything about that. Mr. Carter. Do you think all the fellows you took contracts from were entitled to receive benefits as Mississippi Choctaws? Mr. CoNERLY. I have been very cautious in getting information from them. I have gone to many of them and learned from their own lips who they descended from. I know of a good many grand- children who knew their grandparents living in Louisiana and Mis- sissippi. I have been very particular to be satisfied that those people would be able to trace their ancestry back to 1830. Mr. Carter. You think all of the people you have taken contracts with are bona fide Choctaw citizens? ■ Mr. CoNERLY. Those I have taken individually, I think so. Mr. Carter. How many have you taken individually? Mr. CoNERLY. Three thousand eight hundred; you must cut that; you must cut also the 2,500 that were taken by Powell for Ma'tthews, which I am not responsible for. Mr. Carter. Did Powell write up his contracts first or after you wrote yours ? Mr. Conerly. The 3,800 were taken in 1910 by Powell for Crews & Cantwell, and the 2,500 were taken for William B. Matthews by Powell. 414 ENROLLMENT IN THE FIVE CIVILIZED TEIBES. Mr. Carter. Were the 3,800 taken before you began to take con- tracts for Crews & Cantwell? Mr. CoNERLY. Yes, sir. Mr. Carter. Were the 2,500? Mr. CoNERLY, Yes, sir Mr. Carter. It is reasonable to suppose that this man Powell, having knowledge of all the matters, would have first gone to the bona fide Indians and secured their contracts before he went to others. Would not that be the natural assumption? Mr. Conerly. He would, possibly. Mr. Carter. Would he not first go to the people that he thought were entitled to be put on the rolls? Mr. Conerly. Of course. Mr. Carter. I have been trying to get you gentlemen to bring those contracts here and lay them on the table. Mr. Conerly. I brought them here yesterday. I will bring them here again. Mr. Carter. I want to know why they are kept hidden ? Mr. Conerly. They are not hidden; they are simply put away to keep them from being destroyed. Mr. Carter. They will not be destroyed while with this committee. Mr. Conerly. I know that. They might be burned if not put in a safe place. They have to be put in a fireproof vault. Mr. Carter. You say that you are a Mississippi Choctaw ? Mr. CoNNERLY. I am a descendent on one side. Mr. Carter. Being a Mississippi Choctaw, you ought to have in- formation about your own people, and yet you are utterly unable to tell me whether there are 5,000 or 10,000 Mississippi Choctaws off of the roll? Mr. Conerly. Let me tell you what my information is. Mr. Carter. That is what I am trying to get at. Mr. Conerly. After the treaty of 1880 and after certain things had occurred, the Mississippi Choctaws scattered. They are grouped in various States. There are more of the Mississippi Choctaws in Mr. Harrison's district, I think, than in any other district that I know of, but they range over Mr. Harrison's district, Mr. Witherspoon's district, and Mr. Sisson's district, a few in Mr. Quinn's district, not many, and in Mr. Morgan's district in Louisiana, in New Orleans, and adjoining parishes. Mr. Carter. You are getting away from the question. I want to know if you have any figures as to how many Mississippi Choctaws there are. You say you have been working on this matter, that you have taken contracts, you live in Mississippi where most of them are, and you say that you have taken contracts in 15 States? Mr. Conerly. They are scattered, and being scattered, you can not approximate the number in the aggregate; it is impossible. Mr. -Carter. Do you think there are 10,000? Mr. Conerly. Yes, sir. Mr. Carter. Twenty thousand ? Mr. Conerly. I do not know about that. There might be 10,000 descendants who would be able to prove that they were descendants of ancestors of 1830. There might be 10,000 who would be able to get on the loll. I do not know. That would depend upon the evidence that they woidd be able to make. ENROLLMENT IN THE FIVE CIVILIZED TRIBES. 415 Mr. Carter. What proof would they have to make? Mr. CoNERLY. They would have to show that they were descendants from ancestors of 1830. Mr. Carter. Do you think that there are 10,000 people living to-day who could show that they were descendants of people who drew land or who were entitled to benefits under the treaty of 1830? Mr. CoKERLY. My information is that 4,000 Mississippi Choctaws remained in Mississippi in 1830. How many would accumulate from that time? Mr. Carter. I am not talking of how many there might be, but the number that can establish their right to go upon, the rolls as descendants of those people. Mr. CoNERLY. There is not a man in the United States who can approximate the number without taking a census. Mr. Carter. Your statement, as I understood it, was that there are 10,000 Mississippi Choctaws who could prove that they were descendants? Mr. CoNERLY. I say that there might be. You must allow me to qualify. Mr. Carter. That is another matter. Mr. CoisERLY. I make no positive statement, because I know that is impossible. Mr. Carter. You do not think the people you represent, unless they can establish that ancestry, should be placed on the rolls? Mr. CoNERLY. Of course not. Mr. Carter. You do not think that unless they can establish their relationship to some man who had a right to draw land in Mississippi as a Choctaw or Chickasaw that they should be placed on the roll? Mr. Co^iERLY. I do not think they should. Now, I want to qualify that. You may call it a qualification or whatever you please. I have been applied to by people to try and get in their names, and I have positively refused to take them. I have refused to take people from Louisiana who claimed they were full-blood Indians, because they could not show me that they were in any way connected with the Mississippi Choctaws. Mr. Carter. I notice in this report that there are some people called " Ked Bones." Did you ever hear of them? Mr. CoNERLY. Yes, sir. Mr. Carter. Are they Choctaws ? Mr. CoNERLY. They are said to be. They are in western Louisiana. That is something that has come to light since. Powell was over there last year. That investigation came out up there. I have not been over in that country at all, taking contracts. These people denominated "Red Bones" in that country, I understand, were orig- inally descendants of the Choctaws. They look almost like full bloods, if not full bloods. I was over in that section of the country in 18G6 and 1867 and saw many of those people. They are no doubt Indians. They claim to be Choctaws. That is all I know. Mr. Cari-er. What makes you say they are Indians? Mr. Conerly. They claimed to be Indians at that time, and they have the appearance of Indians. Mr. Carter. What is that appearance? Mr. Conerly. The color and the hair. 416 ENROLLMENT IN THE FIVE CIVILIZED TEIBES. Mr. Carter. The hair is perfectly straight? Mr. CoNERLY. Yes, sir; and black, like all Indians that I have ever seen. Mr. Carter. Are the eyes black? Mr. CoNERLY. I would call the " Red Bones " Indians. Mr. Carter. The eyes and hair are black? Mr. Co^ERLY. I can not say all of them. I saw them in 1867 and 1868. Mr. Carter. Is it your contention that all Indians have black hair and eyes? Mr. CoNERLY. I have never seen what was termed a full-blooded Indian but what had black hair. There are many descendants of the Choctaws who have light hair and black eyes. Some have gray eyes. That is a characteristic among descendants of the Mississippi Choc- taws. I believe that those people who are denominated " Red Bones " are Indians. There is another statement which I wish to make. I have been applied to several times by people to get in their names and refused to take them, and have explained to them that under no circumstances would I take a contract from anyone and fasten upon the Choctaw Nation the payment of an unjust claim that I knew of. I would not instill in the minds of anyone the hope of receiving anything when I knew they could not get it. I would not put anybody on the roll who could not prove that he was a legitimate descendant of an ances- tor of 1830 under the Dancing Rabbit Creek treaty. Mr. Hurley. Do you mean if he could not prove that he was the descendant of one who had rights under the fourteenth article? Mr. CoNERLY. Yes, sir ; that is what I mean. I would not take a contract from anybody unless he was able to prove to my satisfac- tion that he comes under the fourteenth article of the treaty. Mr. Ballinger. You are a lawyer, are you not? Mr. Conerly. I am a lawyer by profession. Mr. Ballinger. Could you in your own case prove that the ances- tors through whom you claim were entitled to benefits under the fourteenth article — that is, could you submit such proof as would be accepted by the courts? Mr. Conerly. I think so. That would be a question to be deter- mined by the Interior Department upon examination of the proof that I w^ould offer. Mr. Carter. Let me read you something. Here is what Inspector McLaughlin said about " Red Bones." He does not quite agree with you as to their general appearance — straight hair, etc. He says this: Mr. C. R. Cline, an attorney of Lake Chai-le;^, La., and Hon. Isaac C. Boyd, of Leesvillc. La., also an attorney, a member of the present Louisiana Assembly, and who claims to i)ossess Choctaw Indian blood, both informed me that there are about 300 persons living in the neighborhood of Kinder, Allen Parish, La., who are of mixed descent, being of French, Spanish, Portugese, and negro blood, with a very few of them possibly possessing some Indian blood, and the name "Red Bone" was given those of them who were supposed to have any Indian blood; that prior to Powell's visit to Kinder soliciting contracts with Indians it wns regarded a great insult to be called a "Red Bone," thus classing them as of Indian blood, but a number of them were advised by Powell that they were of Choctaw descent, as shown by a book which he i)ossessed and by which he traced their ancestry, as eligible to enrollment, and it is alleged that he thus obtained contracts from all of them, and since Powell thus recognized those people, the name " Red Bone " is no longer objectionable, but, on the contrary, all are desirous of being thus classed, and to be now called a "Red ENEOLLMENT IN THE FIVE CIVILIZED TRIBES. 417 Bone" is exceedingly pleasing to each and all of tlieiu, as they believe that the cognomen fixes their status as of Indian blood, and entitles them to share in the property of the Chocaw Nation of Oklahoma. Mr. CoNERLY. I do not know anything about that, Mr. Carter. I will say this to you, that the result of my investigations in taking proof.in Louisiana and Mississippi is that there ha"s been an admix- ture of French, Spanish, English, Dutch, and Americans with the Choctaws of Mississippi. It is a fact and a historical fact that the Choctaws assimilated with the white people as far back as 1G99 at the time of the establishment of Biloxi, Miss, The histories that I have read and the information that I have derived from long years of study Mr. Carter (interposing). Let me ask you if those Indians are mixed with negroes any? Mr. CoNERLY. Yes, sir. Mr. Carter. The Choctaws have mixed with negroes ? Mr. CoNERLY. I do not know that they were Choctaws. Mr. Carter. I am talking about the Choctaws. Have they mixed with negroes ? Mr. CoNERLY. I can give you instances that I know of. Mr. Carter. How are the Indians treated in Mississippi? Are the full bloods treated as white people or negroes ? Mr. CoNERLY. I do not know how the full bloods are treated. There are no full bloods near where I live. In Jackson County there is what you might term a tribe of people, or descendants of Missis- sippi Choctaws, that have been denied the use of the public schools on account of their Indian blood. Mr. Carter. Well, are they permitted to ride in the same cars with white people? You have a Jim Crow law there, have you not? Mr. CoNERLY. Yes. sir. Mr. Carter. Do they ride with the white people or with the negroes? Mr. CoNERLY. With white people, the Indians do. Mr. Carter. Those people you were just speaking of? Mr. Conerly. I have seen them do it. Mr. Carter. I am referring to those particular Indians who are excluded from the white schools — are they permitted to ride in the same cars with white people? Mr. Conerly. Those educated in the white schools are mixed with the Caucasian race. Mr. Carter. You spoke about a certain class of descendants of Choctaw Indians who are excluded from the white schools ]\Tr. Conerly. Yes, sir. Mr. Carter. Are tliey permitted to ride in the coaches with white people, or do they ride with the colored people? .• Mr. Conerly. 1 think they are permitted to ride with white people. Mr. RiriiARDSON. Did you ever see one of them on a train? Mr. Conerly. No, sir; I never saw one on a train. I have seen some Indian girls in Harrison County on a train who were said to be full-blood Indians, and they were with white ladies. Mr. Carter. They went as servants. Mr. Conerly. No. sir: they Avere raised in the family as their children and were educated. 64969—15 27 418 ENKOLLMENT IN THE FIVE CIVILIZED TRIBES. Mr. Cari'er. What facilities for education are afforded the full- blood Choctaws in Mississippi ? Mr. CoNERLY. I do not think there are any facilities at all in Mis- sissippi for the full bloods. Mr. Carter. You provide schools for the white people there, do you not ? Mr. CoNERLY. We provide schools for the white people. Mr. Cari'er. And for the negroes? Mr. Comerly. For the two classes, white and colored. Mr. Carter. You provide schools there for the white people and the negroes? Mr. CoNERLY. Yes, sir. Mr. Cari-er. But you make no provision whatever for full-blood Choctaws there? Mr. CoNERLY. No, sir. What education they get they get through their ministers, and probably from negro schools where they would go into them. I called on a minister in Jackson County once. He is a white man, but his wife is an Indian woman. He stated there had been no schools for 40 years except what they had for themselves; that they were not allowed to go into the public schools of Mississippi, except in the negro schools, and some of the Indian young men told me that they would not do it. I have been trying or making an effort to get the Mississippi Legislature, or I hope to do it, to establish schools for their special benefit. Mr. Carter. So the State of Mississippi provides schools for ne- groes and for white people, but they make no provision whatever for the full-blood Indians? Mr. CoNERLY. None that I know of, except for the descendants of those married with whites. Mr. Carter. Do they permit them to attend the white schools? Mr. CoNERLY. Their descendants do. Mr. Carter. But do any of the full bloods in Mississippi? Mr. CoNERLY. I do not think they do. Mr. Carter. Do you know whether they do or not ? Mr. Conerly. I do not know. Mr. Carter. You say that you are a one-fourth Choctaw? Mr. Conerly. I do not think so. I think probably I am about one-sixth. Mr. Carter. Have the Indians in Mississippi any racial pride as they have in other States? Do they have any pride in being Indians? Mr. Conerly. I have never heard any of them express themselves any other v^ay. Mr» Carter. Do they deny the fact that they are Indians? Mr. Conerly. I never heard of any of them denying it. Mr. Carter. How long have you known that no provision was made at all for the education of full-blood Mississippi Choctaws? How long has that been going on? Mr, Conerly. Well, I have known that we had only two classes in Mississippi under our segregation laws, and that was white and colored. Mr. Carter. How long have you know^n that the Indians had no educational facilities at all in Mississippi — that is the full bloods? ENROLLMENT IN THE FIVE CIVILIZED TRIBES. 419 Mr. CoNERLY. I have learned that in the last two years; this is, that they had no school facilities. In Jackson County I talked with a member of the school hoard on that question, and I asked him why they did not ]5ro\ide schools for the Indians in his county, and he told me that there were only two classes; that they could go into the colored schools, but that they refused to do it. They offered to give them a school, or to eHtal)lish a school for them, provided they would accept it as a colored school, but they would not do it. Mr. Carter. How long ago was that? Mr. CoNERLT. I saAv a good many of those people Mr. Carter (interposing). How long ago was this, when you were talking with this man ? Mr. Co>;ehly. I think that was last year some time. Mr. Carter. Have you made anj^ effort at all to try to get educa- tional facilities for the full-blood Indians that you say are your own flesh and blood? Mr. Conerly. No, sir; I have never made any effort in that way myself, because I have never been in politics. Mr. Carter. It is not a question of politics. Mr. Conerly. I have been so situated in life, in my lifetime, that I could not take any active part in those things. Mr. Carter. I want to tell you that I am Indian, and if any at- tempt was made in Oklahoma or any other State that I was connected with to try to exclude Indian people from the white man's schools and to put them in negro schools there would be a riot, and it would not be any two or three years starting either. But the people of Oklahoma freely accept all character of Indians on an absolute equality without evasion or subterfuge. Mr. Conerly. I think the Misissippi Indian has been wrongly treated in that respect. Mr. Carter. But knowing that, you have done nothing to remedy that condition. Mr. Conerly. I have taken no active part in important public mat- ters because of conditions in my life that I could not overcome. I have taken more interest in the matter in the last few years since 1 have learned more about it. I have been a common farmer all my life more than anything else Mr. Carter. Since engaging in this work of securing contracts you have been a farmer? Mr. Conerly. No. sir; I have not. I was a farmer up to about 1902, I believe. Mr. Carter. This is Maj. McLaughlin — -you know him, I believe? Mr. Conerly. Yes, sir. Mr. Carter. I would like for Mr. Harrison to be here now. Maj. McLaughlin, this paragraph from your report on page 25 was read to Mr. Conerly: The said Luke W. Conerly is 73 years of age and a lawyer by profession, but has not praftlced in the courts for several years past. He is quite intelliirent, li(\-irs a ixond name in the coiinnnnity, and is well spoken of by those who know hiu). lie claims to be a lineal descendant of one of the leading Choctaw faniiliea who participated in the Dancing Rabbit Creek treaty of LS30, and stated that he is now regarded by all the Choctaws living outside of Oklahoma as their cajitain and recognized leader; also that it was he who first interested Con- gressman Harrison, of Mississippi, in Choctaw matters and got him to intro- duce the bill for reopening the Choctaw rolls; that he had interested United 420 ENROLLMENT IN THE FIVE CIVILIZED TEIBES. States Senators Williams and Vardaman, of Mississippi, in the Choctaw claim ; also Congressman Morgan, of Louisiana, in whose district many Choctaws reside. Now, Mr. Conerly denies having made that statement. Mr. CoNEKLY. No, sir; not exactly. That statement was explained by saying that there was a running conversation between Mr. Mc- Laughlin and myself which extended over a period of perhaps three hours. Mr. Carter. Then you do not deny it ? Mr. CoisERLY. That I got Mr. Harrison Mr. Carter (interposing). You do not deny that you made that statement ? Mr. Conerly. My statement was given there. It was explained. Mr. Carter. Then you come before this committee of your own volition, and we did not summon you. You asked permission to come before the committee, and now I ask you whether the statement quoted above, from the McLaughlin report, is or is not correct? Mr. Conerly. I think there is a misunderstanding with Maj. Mc- Laughlin with regard to my meaning at that time. I expressed, or said, that I saw or met Mr. Harrison on one accasion and talked to him about Powell wanting to see Mr. Harrison in regard : Mr. Carter (interposing). Did you or did you not make that state- ment to Maj. McLaughlin? Mr. Conerly. That I got Mr. Harrison to do it? Mr. Carter. Yes, sir. Mr. Conerly, I have no recollection of having made that statement. Mr. Carter. Do you know that you did not make that statement? Mr. Conerly. We had a conversation in regard to it Mr. Carter. You did have a conversation with Mr. Harrison with regard to introducing the bill? Mr. Conerly. The matter was brought up, but I do not remember the exact conversation. Mr. Carter. Your memory is not sufficiently refreshed at this time for you to deny that you did make it ? Mr. Conerly. I do not remember making any such statement. I may have stated that I was instrumental in doing it in that one way^ or that I was indirectly instrumental. It is a fact that I may have been instrumental. I had spoken to Mr. Harrison with reference to the Mississippi Choctaws and with regard to Powell's wish to see him, and when I came to Washington I expressed the opinion that Mr. Harrison was the logical man to introduce the bill, supported by Mr. Wickliffe, of Louisiana. It was my desire that Mr. Harrison do so, but I never talked with Mr. Harrison outside of Gulfport. I never spoke to him on the question in Washington. It is a misun- derstanding. I look upon Maj. McLaughlin as a nice gentleman and a truthful man, and a man who tries to do his duty up to the handle, as you might term it, and I do not think that Maj. Mc- Laughlin Mr. Carter (interposing). It does not make any difference what you think of Maj. McLaughlin. That has nothing to do with this case. What I want to know is this : Do you desire to withdraw the statement that you made before Maj. McLaughlin came in, or do you want it to stand? ENKOLLMENT IN THE FIVE CIVILIZED TKIBES. 421 Mr, CoNERLY. I want to withdraw that part of it that would state that I got Mr. Harrison to introduce the bill, because I did not get him to do it. Mr. Carter. I did not ask you about withdrawing the statement you made to Maj. McLaughlin, I asked you if you wanted the state- ment that you put in the record saying, in effect, that you did not make this statement to Maj. McLaughlin, to stand or be withdrawn? Mr. CoNERLY. Let it stand in the record as I stated it at first. Mr. Carter. Then you declare the fact to be that you did not make this statement to Maj. McLaughlin? Mr. CoNERLY. I have no recollection of making it. Mr. Carter. Can you state positively that you did not make it? Mr. CoNERLY. I can not think that I made the statement at all in that way. Mr. Carter. Can you say positively that you did not make it? Mr. CoNERLY. It is possible that Maj. McLaughlin misunderstood me in that running conversation. Mr. Carter. Here is an employee or representative of the Interior Department who comes down here and presents what ought to be an unbiased report to Congress. If he presents a biased report and has misstated the facts, he has not performed his duty, and all the com- pliments that 3^ou can pay him before this committee or at any other place would not remove that stigma from him. If he has reported something in here that you did not say, he should not have done it, and if he has reported what you did say, you should not only not deny it, but jou should, as a good citizen, refrain from trying to dis- credit it. Mr. CoNERLY. I did not do that at all. Mr. Carter. You do not want to discredit what he said here at all ? Mr. CoxERLY. No, sir; of course not. Mr. Carter. I think that is about all I want to ask you. Mr. Balltkger. If you did make that representation as reported here it was not correct, was it ? Mr. CoNERLY. I have just stated that I did not get Mr. Harrison to introduce the bill, but I may have been instrumental in it in an indirect way. Mr. Carter. What do you mean by saying you may liaA'e been in- strnmental in it in an indirect way? Mr. CoxERLY. I expressed the desire or the opinion to our attorney that he was the logical man to introduce the bill. Mr. Carter. What effect did that have on Mr. Harrison? Mr. CoxERT.Y. I do not Icnow. Mr. Carter. You told the attorney that you thought Mr. Harri- son was the logical man? Mr. CoxERLY. Yes, sir; I told Mr. Cantwell that. Mr. Carter. You do not know what Mr. Cantwell did? ISIr. CoxERLY. I do not know anything about Mr. Cantwell's talk with ISIr. Harrison. Mr. Carter. Do you know who drew that bill? Mr. CoxERLY. No, sir ; I do not know who drew the bill. Mr. Carter. Did you ever see it before it was introduced? ]Mr. CoxERLY. I do not think I did; not before it was printed. Mr. Carter. Wlio showed it to you when you did see it ? 422 ENROLLMENT IN THE FIVE CIVILIZED TRIBES. Mr. CoNERLY. I think it was sent to me at Gulfport. I do not know Avho sent it to me. It may have been sent by Mr. Harrison, but I have no recollection of having seen that bill before it was sent to me at Gulfport. Mr. Carter. As I understand it, your statement is this: You do not dispute what Maj. McLaughlin has said and you do not attempt to discredit him ? Mr. CoNERLY. I would not discredit him under any circumstances. Mr. Carter. And you say if you did say that to Maj. McLaughlin it was a mistake ? Mr. Co^'EI^Lr. Yes, sir; it was a mistake if I said that, but I qualified that conversation, you understand. A man pursuing a multiplicity of objects like this is liable to make an error. Mr. Ballinger. Mr. Chairman, there has gone into the record an address or a part of an address delivered by Mr. Hurley before the conference at Lake Mohonk, N. Y., and in that address was a state- ment to this effect, that he was informed that there were 40,000 or 60,000 claimants to Choctaw or Chickasaw citizenship who had em- ployed attorneys upon large contingent fees, and I think something ought to go into the record showing upon what information that statement was made. Mr. Carter. Let me ask you a question, Mr. Ballinger. How many Indian enrollment contracts have you ? Mr. Ballinger. At the present time I represent, including Missis- sippi Choctaws and resident Choctaws, probably 5,000 claimants. Mr. Carter. I think I remember quite distinctly that one of the first things I ever heard before a committee when I came to Congress was your statement that you represented some 40,000 people. Mr. Ballinger. No, sir. Mr. Carter. You made that statement before the House Committee on Indian Affairs — when we were considering the Removal of Re- strictions bill, and you stated that if they would only put that thing off 12 months you would be here with court judgments putting them on the roll. Mr. Ballinger. I am certain you are mistaken. My statement at that time was that we had applications that had been submitted to us for investigation representing approximately 13,000. Those were cases in which there had been applications sent to us and statements of the cases. In 1910 we went to the Dawes Commission, and on the records of the Government we discarded approximately all but 3.000 of those cases, discovering that there was not sufficient merit in them to justify their prosecution. Since that time I have made no effort at all in behalf of any of those people whose cases we discarded, and I have so stated before committees of Congress. If you will secure the statement I submitted to the committee in 1910 you will find that it stated that we represented approximaely 13,000 claimants. I think that record is here in the office. Mr. Carter. How many cases do you represent now ? Mr. Ballinger. There are less than 3,000 resident Choctaws. Most of those cases have been briefed and are submitted in Senate Docu- ment No. 1139, Sixty-second Congress, third session. Mr. Carti':r. Let us see about that. Mr. Lee, as I understand, is your partner, and I have here what he says about it. Let us see how near EKEOLLMENT IN THE FIVE CIVILIZED TRIBES. 423 Mr. Ballinger (interposing). He is not mj^ partner. Mr. Carter. I have not been able to get any definite information from anybody about whom they represent. They dispute what asso- ciates say about what they represent, and when you come down to the point, even the partners do not seem to agree. Here is what Albert J. Lee stated : Mr. Webster Ballinger and I represent some 13.000 persons who claim a right in the tribal property of the Choctaw and Chickasaw Indians in Okla- homa. Of the above number of persons represented by us, there are 3,738 who are conclusively, as shown by the Government records, entitled to share in the distribution of the tribal property. He then says that in addition to the above cases you and he repre- sent 10,000 claimants whose records do not conclusively show that they are entitled to share in the distribution of the property, " but," he says, " if Congress permits proof to be made in these cases, I esti- mate that at least 3,000 of them will be good. Our fee in these cases is 40 per cent, and in the event of success in the 3,000 cases indicated, my individual fee would approximate $2,065,911. My proposed assignment includes all of these cases." According to this statement there are 14,938 claimants that your partner says you and he rep- resent. JNIr. Ballinger. You are submitting the statement made by Albert J. Lee that was furnished to certain parties in Texas, the object of which was to sell an interest in his contingent fees. I had no part whatever in that transaction and I never knew that such a statement had been prepared. When the matter came to my knowledge, I denounced it, both in letters to him and to_the parties to whom he made the assignment. It never came to my knowledge until six or eight months or longer after the transaction had been consum- mated. I never participated in ,it, directly or indirectly, nor had I any knowledge of it. Mr. Carter. I am not saying that you did. That is not the ques- tion I am asking you about. Whenever I try to get you gentlemen down to the facts on this matter, one of you says one thing and another something else. I am trying to get definite information as to whom you represent. You say that you represent about 5,000 claimants, and your partner says that you represent 14,938. Mr. Ballinger. I ought not to be bound by the statement made by Albert J. Lee, who is not my partner. Mr. Carter. He was your partner when this statement was made. Mr. Ballinger. It was made by a man who was formerly my partner. Mr. Carter. He was your partner when the statement was made. Mr. Ballinger. He was not my partner when that statement was made. Mr. Carter. He was not your partner on October 17, 1912? Mr. Ballinger. I think not. Mr. Carter. I think you will find that he was, but don't you know? Mr. Ballinger. I think not. I think at that time our partnership had been dissolved, and while he still had an interest in these cases Mr. Carter (interposing). Plere is what he says: Mr. Webster Ballinger and I rei)reseut Konic 13,000 persons who claim a right In the tribal property of the Choctaw and Chickasaw Indians in Oklahoma. 424 ENROLLMENT IN THE FIVE CIVILIZED TEIBES. Mr. Ballinger. IIow many did you say? Mr. Carter. Thirteen thousand. Mr. Ballinger. It is true that we originally did have contracts with approximately 13,000 persons. ]\Ir. Carter. Then, according to the enumeration he gives, you represent 14,938. Mr. Ballinger. In 1910. we investigated the records and dis- carded 10,000 of them, and Mr. Lee knew it when he signed that statement. Mv. Carter. If you gentlemen do not want your motives im- punged, and if you do not want these statements made loosely, as you say Mr. Lee made them, without authority, then you ought to get rid of your partners and testify definitely yourselves. Mr. Ballinger. I have. Mr. Carter. And you ought to repudiate them. You ought not only to get rid of them but you should repudiate their statements. Mr. Ballinger. Mr. Carter, I want this to be plain: Taking the estimated maximum amount of contracts that have ever been made, according to the most extreme representations that have ever been made, you can not find to exceed 25,000, and yet here is a statement which says that 50,000 Mr. Carter (interposing). Seventeen thousand Choctaws. Mr. Ballinger. More than that. Mr. Carter. Nineteen thousand enrolled Choctaws and about 6,000 Chickasaws. That is 25,000. JNIr. Ballinger. And 15,000 freedmen. Mr. Carter. "When you speak about 25.000 as enrolled I can under- stand very easily that that might be confused with a larger number. Mr. Ballinger. I merely wanted the record to ajopear clear. Mr. Carter. You have no right to put in the record only 25,000, because nobody knows. I have tried to find out. Perhaps you can tell how many you and your partner have. Mr. Conerly says one thing, Mr. Cant well says another thing, and perhaps Mr. Crews would say another thing. When a definite statement can not be pro- cured I do not ^ce hoAV you can find fault with a man who uses the largest number to fit his side of the case. Mr. Hurley. I stated at the last Mohonk conference that from the statements made by attorneys representing claimants before the dif- ferent committees of Congress, that I judged that not less than 50.000 contracts had been made with attorneys by persons who were urging their claims for enrollment. That statement is based more on Mr. Ballinger's own figures than those of any other one man. Mr. Bal- linger has represented that himself and his partner represent many difi'erent classes of claimants for citizenship, and of all the other at- torneys who claim to represent thousands of applicants, I think it was his exorbitant figures more than aii}^ one man's, that led me to make that statement. His own claims were the foundation of the statement. Mr. Ballinger. Put in the record any statement I have previously made to committees of Congress. Mr. Hurley. The one Mr. Carter refers to. Mr. Ballinger. That is not fair. Mr. Hurley's statement is based upon representations made by me. The chairman has referred to a statement made by Mr. Lee. ENROLLMENT IN THE FIVE CIVILIZED TRIBES. 425 Mr. Carter. I will put that in the record. I will ask Mr. Kichard- son how many contracts he has. Mr. Richardson. We represent between 1,000 and 1,200 Indians. They are all full-bloods. We do not represent any mixed bloods. Mr. Carter. You represent the McKennon roll, the identified? Mr. EicHARDSON. Yes, sir. Mr. Carter. Mr. Arnold, how many Indians do you represent? Mr. Arnold. I am associated with Mr. Richardson. Mr. Sullivan. We all represent from 1,000 to 1,200. Mr. Ballinger. There is an absolute duplication of clients. I was about to make that statement. Mr. Hurley. You say 25,000 applicants have made contracts and there is an absolute duplication — 26,000 and 25,000 make 50,000. Mr. Carter. We find, according to the statement", 27,996. Mr. Ballinger. You find representation here with reference to these Mississippi Chcctaws of Crews & Cantwell aggregating 10,000 or 11,000 ; a representation here by Mr. Richardson, Mr. Arnold, and others of 1,000 to 1,200, that are on the McKinnon roll — just about 1,100 ; and I represent, and those connected with me, approximately between 5,000 and 6,000. Mr. Carter. Are those Mississippi Choctaws? Mr. Ballinger. There are about 3,000 who are Mississippi Choc- taws. There is an absolute duplication. Mr. Carter. Crews & Cantwell seem to represent 9,558. Mr. Ballinger. I spoke of them. The total numbers of all the contracts, including the duplications, do not exceed 15,000. Mr. Carter. There appears to be some 28,000 enumerated right before me. As I just explained, your partner says that you and he together represent 14,938; Crews & Cantwell represent, including Mississippi Choctaws and all others, 11,858; and Mr. Richardson, Mr. Arnold, and Mr. Sullivan represent 1,200. That is 27,996. Mr. Sullivan. One thousand two hundred in all. Mr. Ballinger. As I have tried to make plain, my former partner, Albert J. Lee, has made a statement that Ave had contracts with some 14,000 or more persons. Mr. Carter. Fourteen thousand nine hundred and thirty-eight. Mr. Ballinger. 1 stated to you that in 1910 we investigated those cases and discarded all of those cdses but about 3,000. Mr. Carter. This letter of his was written in 1912, and how do you reconcile any such statements? Mr. Ballinger. I say that Lee's whole statement is an absolute misrepresentation of the facts. Mr. Carter, How much money did he get? Mr. Ballinger. I can not speak authoritatively, because I had no connection, directly or indirectl}^, with the transaction. Mr. Carter. Did he furnish you with any money? Mr. Ballinger. Absolutely not a dollar. I never knew of the transaction until six or eight months after it occurred, when I de- nounced it in letters to both Albert J. Lee and the parties from whom he obtained the funds. Mr. Carter. l*ut those letters in the record. Mr. Ballinger. I shall do so when the time comes. I know nothing about those cases. That statement is an absolute misrepresentation of the facts. 426 ENROLLMENT IN THE FIVE CIVILIZED TRIBES. Mv. Carter. I do not object to attorneys. People have to have attorneys; they must have attorne3^s to present claims of any kind. I do not, however, agree with some gentlemen that it is ethical for the attorneys to hire agents to go out and solicit contracts. You know, Mr. Ballinger, as well as I know, that the statement of your partner was made at the time he was a partner of 3^ours? Mr. Ballinger. Xo, sir. Mr. Carter. Then, you ought to do one of two things. You ought to either not expect the committee to take your statement over his and discredit his statement completely, unless you can show the com- mittee by records that you have dissolved with him and that you repudiated him at the time. Mr. Ballinger. There is no act of mine that is not subject to in- vestigation. Every contract taken of which I have any knowledge is in my office. Every letter ever wa-itten with my knowledge is in my office. My records are subject to investigation by any member of this committee or any person designated by this committee now or at any future time. Mr. Carter. Bring them up here and put them on the table. Mr. Ballinger. It would make quite a large bundle of documents. Mr. Richardson. Mr. Conerly, do you speak the Choctaw lan- guage? Mr. Conerly. No, sir. Mr. Richardson. In soliciting contracts, were your contracts prin- cipally secured by letters written through the mails or by personal in- terviews with the claimants? Mr. Conerly. Both. Some called on me and I took their contracts personally. I had correspondence with a great many. A good deal of the work was done by correspondence. They wrote me for that purpose and gave me their records. Mr. Richardson. Did you go to them or did they come to you? Mr. Conerly. I never traveled about the State, only when I was notified that there would be a group of people to see me, and that I could probably take 25 or 30 at a time. Mr. Richardson. In what part of the State do you live? Mr. Conerly. Gulfport, Harrison County, on the Mississippi Sound. I travel A-ery little. Mr. RiciiAiJDSON. Did you ever go into Newton County? Mr. Conerly. No, sir. Mr. Richardson. Did you ever go into Neshoba County? Mr. Conerly. No, sir. Mr. Richardson. Did you ever go into Leake County? Mr. Conerly. No, sir. Mr. Richardson. Did you ever go into Scott County? Mr. Conerly. No, sir. Mr. Richardson. Did you ever go into Kempler County? Mr. Conerly. No, sir. I made one trip to Jasper County for a few days, and I wrote up a man named Murphy and his wife, who claimed to be full bloods. I forget his given name. He told me that his father and mother had been put on the rolls in Oklahoma, and that his wife's father and mother had been put on the rolls, and that they had died lliere. and that he had a suit pending to recover the property. ENROLLMENT IN THE FIVE CIVILIZED TEIBES. 427 Mr. Richardson. Did you write up a contract with him as a Mis- sissippi Choctaw ? Mr. CoNERLY. Yes, sir. I think I could find that contract. 1 think it is among the papers that I brought up. Mr. KicHARDSON. In Avhat business was he engaged ? Mr. CoNERLY. I think he was a farmer. Mr. Richardson. Did he speak English? Mr. Conerly. Yes, sir. Mr. Richardson. Do you know where he attended school ? Mr. Conerly. No, sir; I did not make any inquiries? Mr. Richardson. Did he have a family ? Mr. Conerly. He had a wife. I did not see any children. He came to see me where I was. He told me those things. He gave me the name of his father. He said that his father and mother both died in Oklahoma, and also the mother and father of his wife; that they had been taken over there by the Dawes Commission and put on the roll and given their allotments. Mr. Richardson. Did he tell you that his father's name was Murphy ? Mr. Conerly. Yes, sir. Mr. Richardson. He was carried over by the Dawes Commission ? Mr. Conerly. That is my opinion; yes, sir. There vrere a lot of Mississippi Indians taken over there about that time, taken over from Meridian in 1901. Mr. Richardson. How many contracts did you take for full- blooded Mississippi Choctaws, if any? Mr. Conerly. I do not remember. I think very few full bloods. J might mention a woman, a Mrs. Andre, of Mobile County, Ala. I took her contract. She claimed that she had made application through the Dawes Commission and that she was rejected. Mrs. Andre is of record in the Interior Department. Whether she is a full blood or not I can not say. She looks like it. I do not believe there are any full-blooded Choctaws anywhere. Mr. Richardson. Did you ever see any of the Choctaws who could not speak English? Mr. Conerly. No, sir. I have never seen one yet but who could speak English. Mr. Richardson. The chairman of the committee in his question asked you whether, in your judgment, it was not probable that Mr. Powell first went to the persons whom he thought had the best claims, and you said you thought that was so. I would like to ask you whether or not, from your knowledge of Mr. Powell and his action in this matter, it is not more probable that he first went to the persons who would give him the $2.50 per head? Mr. Conerly. Hoav is that question? Mr. Richardson. Which class of people was Powell the most solicitous of obtaining contracts from? Mr. Conerly. I do not think Mr. Powell made any distinction about that — about any class of people. Mr. Richardson. So long as they paid $2.50? Mr. Conerly. You do not understand me. So long as they could prove their right. I was very careful about that. Mr. Richardson. Are any full bloods members of this Society of Mississippi Choctaws which you say are organized in Gulf port? 428 ENEOLLMENT IN THE FIVE CIVILIZED TEIBES. Mr. CoNERLY, Our constitution provides that only persons of In- dian and Caucasian blood can be members of the society. Ony one tainted with negro blood is excluded from the society by the consti- tution. Mr. RiciTARDSON. I asked you whether you had any members who were full bloods? Mr. CoNERLY. "We have a woman who was on our executive com- mittee who lives in New Orleans and who claims that she is seven- eighths Indian. She is Mrs. Elizabeth Norwood and a member of the executive committee. She claims that one of her grandmothers was a Jewess. Mr. Carter. How much Indian? Mr. CoNERLY- She claims seven-eighths. In other words, she claims that she is one-eighth Jewish blood. Mr. Richardson. Her grandmother was a Jewess? Mr. CoNERLY. One of her grand ancestors, I do not remember which one. I have Mrs. Norwood's contract. No, I have not ; Judge Crews has that in St. Louis. She is a member of our society and she is a member of the executive committee. She lives in New Orleans. She is a very fine woman. Mr. Richardson. Her mother or father was a full-blooded Choctaw? Mr. CoNERLY. She claims to be a descendant of an Indian woman named Nancy, who, from the information I could get, was formerly the wife of a man named Lawrenceson. One of the Lawrencesons, I think, made application under the Dawes Commission, and Nancy, according to my information, married a man named Williamson. Mr. Richardson. Was he a full blood? Mr. CoNERLY. I think so ; yes, sir. Either one of her ancestors was a Jewess, I do not remember which ancestor it was. I think one of her grandmothers. Mr. Richardson. What is her personal appearance? Mr. CoNERLY. Mrs. Norwood's? Mr. Richardson. Yes, sir. Mr. CoNERLY. My opinion is that if Mrs. Norwood is not an Indian there are no Indians. Mr. Richardson. Is this woman the only one you know of in your society who is a full blood or claims to be a full blood? Mr. CoNERLY. Mrs. Norwood claims to be a full blood. Most of our society members are descendants of white blood, but they range down to quarters. We have plenty that are quarter. When you come to the degree of blood, it is very difficult. We have a lot of people in our society who, there is no question, have Indian blood, but the degree of blood is hard to determine on account of the assimilation, marriage, and intermarriage and crossing back again. I hold that there is no rule by Avhich you can determine a full-blooded Choctaw. I can not determine it by any ethnological study I have undertaken and from the simple fact that the Choctaws have assimilated with the white people so long a. time. Plistory shows that there are a number of white men who have Indian families and white women who have Indian husbands. Mr. Richardson. AYhen you visited Jasper Count}^, did you ascer- tain the information that there were settlements of full bloods back in the country ? ENROLLMENT IN THE FIVE CIVILIZED TRIBES. 429 Mr. CoNEELY. I stayed in Jasper County about two or three days. I learned that there were many more there, but they did not come to see me and I did not hunt them up. I understood that Powell had been through there. I supposed they had put in their contracts with Powell. This man Murphy and his wife are the only people I re- member. There were some negro Indians there, but I never filed their contracts. Mr. Richardson. Did any full bloods ever visit the session of this council which was held at Gulf port ? Mr. CoNERLY. Yes, sir. We have a man down there — I do not know whether he is a member of the society or not — he was from Alabama originally, his name is Gordia. He claims to be a full blood. Mr. Richardson. Is he educated or uneducated? Mr. CoNERLY. He has an ordinary education. He told me that he was from Alabama. I took a number of contracts from Mobile County. Mr. Richardson. You were present at the conclusion of the hear- ing yesterday when I asked Mr. Cantwell if he would file with this committee a list of the names of any persons with whom he had con- tracts who were full-blooded Indians? Mr. Conerly. Yes, sir. Mr. Richardson. Mr. Cantwell, as I understand, has returned to St. Louis or Pittsburgh, and you are here at his request? Did he authorize you to file the list of full bloods with whom he might have contracts or give you any instructions with regard to that ? Mr. Conerly. No, sir. He only requested me to come before the committee to make a certain statement. I had no idea that I would be drawn into questions as I have been. Mr. Carter. What statement was that ? Mr. Conerly. In reference to the 4,200. I explained that there were actually 3,800 contracts instead of 4,200, 400 being rejected, it seems, by the Court of Claims and thrown out that were inadvert- ently connected or added with the 3,800. That is the correction. Mr. Richardson. Has this Mrs. Andre, the person with whom you are acquainted, a contract with Crews? Mr. Conerly. Yes, sir. I think I took her contract for Cantwell & Crews or Thomas B. Crews, I do not know which. Mr. Richardson. Recently? Mr. Conerly. Last year, t think. Either last year or probably the early part of 1912; I can not say exactly. Of course, I have her record at home. Mr. Richardson. As I understand you, you can recall three persons who claim to be full bloods, the lady who lives in New Orleans, the man named Murphy, and the man named Gordia, who have con- tracts with Crews & Cantwell, and whose contracts might possibly be assigned to this Texas-Oklahoma Investment Co., of Houston. Those are the only three persons you recall? Mr. Conerly. I can not tell you. I do not know what will be done. I have turned them over to my lawyer. Mr. Carter. Have you only taken contracts from three full bloods? Mr. Conerly. I can not say. I took a few out in INIobile County, but, as I tell you, it is impossible to determine what a full blood is. 430 ENROLLMENT IN THE FIVE CIVILIZED TllIBES. They claim to be full bloods and look like them. If you look into the records at the department you will find Mrs. Andre. She re- ceived a notice that her claim had been rejected. Mrs. Andre's chil- dren are now quarter, because Mrs. Andre married a Frenchman. Her husband was a white man. Mr. RiCHAKDSON. She is not a full blood? Mr. CoNERLT. Seven-eighths. Mr. Richardson. Mrs. Andre? Mr. CoNERLT. Yes, sir. I do not know whether she is a full blood or not. Mr. R.ICITARDSON. How would her children be quarter if she was a full blood? Mr. CoNERLY. Mrs. Andre was the daughter of a Frenchman and her mother was a full blood. Mr. Richardson. She was not entitled to be enrolled by the Dawes Commission because she was a mixed blood, unless she proved her descent ? Mr. CoNERLY. That may be ; I do not know what the ruling of the commission was on the question of blood. Mr. Richardson. That leaves two persons whom you recall who claim to be full bloods whom you have taken contracts with ? Mr. CoNERLY. There is another one by the name of Laurendine, who is a cousin of Mrs. Andre. He looks like a full-blood Indian, but he is not. Mr. Carter. Did you know whether either of these people you took contracts with were full bloods? Mr. CoNERLY. No, sir. I do not know at full blood when I see him, and I do not think anybody can determine that question. Mr. Carter. Do you know whether they were really Choctaw Indians or not? Mr. CoNERLY. I got that information from them. Mr. Carter. They claimed to be? Mr. CoNEREY. Yes, sir ; and from the best information I have been able to get, they are. Mr. Richardson. You did not take a single contract from a person who spoke Choctaw and could not speak English ? Mr. CoxERLY. No, sir; not that T know of. T think there are very few persons that might be considered full bloods. I took probably 100 people in the colony in Jackson County, Miss., with descend- ants claiming to show their descent on down from ancestors of 1830. I Avill make this remark about that: Many of them were the direct descendants of Capt. James King, who was a son of Mushula- tubbee, the chief who presided over that disti'ict at the time of 1S30. There are a number of great-grandchildren of John King, a son of his named TTiram, and a daughter named Rebecca, and some children from a son of this same chief in Arkansas. Those Indians in Jack- son County, they are mixed bloods, some quarters; whether they are full bloods, I can not say. I do not think there are any full bloods among that colony, but they look like it. They have intermarried with the white people. Part Seven r MISSISSIPPI CHOCTAW INDIANS EXTRACT FROM THE HEARINGS BEFORE THE SUBCOMMITTEE OF THE COMMITTEE ON INDIAN AFFAIRS HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES SIXTY-THIRD CONGRESS SECOND SESSION ON H. R. 3389, 3390, 6537, 7926, 7974, 8007, 10066, 10140, and 12586 BILLS ON THE SUBJECT OF ENROLLMENT IN THE FIVE CIVILIZED TRIBES BEING THE ARGUMENT OF P. J. HURLEY AGAINST THE ENROLLMENT OF THE SO-CALLED MISSISSIPPI CHOCTAWS Printed for the use of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs WASHINGTON GOVERNMENT PRINTING OmOE 1916 EXTRACTS FROM THE HEARINGS BEFORE THE SUBCOMMITTEE OF THE COMMITTEE ON INDIAN AFFAIRS, HOUSE OF REP- RESENTATIVES, ON THE SUBJECT OF ENROLLMENT OF MIS- SISSIPPI CHOCTAWS. TUESDAY, AUGUST 11, 1914. Subcommittee on Indian Affairs, House of Representatives. The committee met at 10.30 o'clock a. m. pursuant to the call of the chairman. STATEMENT OF P. J. HURLEY, ATTORNEY FOR CHOCTAW NATION. Mr. HtiRLEY. Mr. Chairman, before beginning my remarks I should like to have inserted in the record at this point the treaty between the Choctaw Nation and the United States of September 27, 1830, commonly known as the treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek. Mr. Post. Is that not already in the record? Mr. Hurley. No, sir; it is not. The fourteenth article has been put in several times, but I desire that the entire treaty go in the rec- ord, because many claimants remained in Mississippi who were not fourteenth-article claimants. Mr. Carter. How many pages does it cover, Mr. Hurley? Mr. Hurley. Five printed pages. Mr. Carter. Without objection, it is so ordered. (The treaty is as follows:) Treaty With the Choctaws, 1830. a treaty of perpetual friendship, cession, and limits entered into by john h. eaton and john coffee. for and in behalf of the fiom^rnment of the unitkd states and the mingoes. chiefs, captains, and wakriors of the choctaw nation, begun and held at dancing rabbit creek on the 15th of september, in the year is^o. Where:is the General Assembly of tbe State of Mississippi has extended the laws of Riiid Slate to persons and property within the chartered limits of the same, and the I'lesident of the United States has said that he can not protect the Choctaw i)eople from the operation of these laws; now, therefore, that the Choctaw i)eop]e may live nnder their own laws; m peace with the United States 4 ENROLLMENT IN THE FIVE CIVILIZED TEIBES. and the S(a(o of Mississipjii they have determined to sell their lands east of the Mississippi and have accordingly agreed to the following articles of treaty:^ Article I. Perpetual peace and friendship is pledged and agreed npon by and between the United States and the Mingoes. chiefs, and warriors of the Choctaw Nation of red people; and that this may be considered the treaty ex- isting between the parties, all other treaties heretofore existing and inconsistent with the provisions of this are hereby declared null and void. Artjcle II. The United States, nnder a gi-ant especially to be made by the President of the United States, shall canse to be conveyed to the Choctaw Na- tion a tract of conntry west of the Mississippi River in fee simple to them and their descendants, to innre to them while they shall exist as a nation and live on it, beginning near Fort Smith where the Arkansas bonndary crosses the Arkansas River, running thence to the source of the Canadian fork, if in the limits of the United States, or to those limits; thence due south to Red River and down Red River to the west boundary of the Territory of Arkansas; thence nordi along that line to the beginning. The boundary of the same to be agreeably to the treaty made and concluded at Washington City in the year 1S25. The grant to be executed so soon as the present treaty shall be ratified. Article IIL In consideration of the provisions contained in the several articles of this treaty, the Choctaw Nation of Indians consent and hereby cede to the I'nited States the entire country they own and possess east of the Mis- sissippi River; and they agree to move beyond the Mississippi River early as practicable and will so arrange their removal that as many as possible of their people, not exceeding one-half of the whole number, shall depart during the falls of 1831 and 1832, the residue to follow during the succeeding fall of 1833. A better opportunity in this manner will be afforded the Government to extend to them facilities and comforts which it is desirable should be extended in con- veying them to their new homes. Article IV. The Government and people of the United States are hereby obliged to secure to the said Choctaw Nation of red people the jurisdiction and government of all persons and property that may be within their limits west, so that no territory or State shall ever have a right to pass laws ofr the govern- ment of the Choctaw Nation of red people and their descendants; and that no part of the land granted them shall ever l)e embraced in any Territory or State; but the United States shall forever secure said Choctaw Nation from and against all laws except such as from time to time may be enacted in their own national councils, not inconsistent with the Constitution, treaties, and laws of the United States, and except such as may and which have been enacted by Congress to the extent that Congress under the Constitution are required to exercise a legislation over Indian affairs. But the Choctaws, should this treaty be ratified, express a wish that Congress may grant to the Choctaws the right of punishing by their own laws any white man who shall come into their nation and infringe any of their national regulations. Article V. The United States are obliged to protect the Choctaws from do- mestic strife and from foreign enemies on the same principles that the citizens of the United States are protected, so that whatever would be a legal demand upon the United States for defense or for wrongs committed by an enemy on a citizen of the United States shall be equally binding in favor of the Choctaws, and in all cases where the Choctaws shall be called upon by a legally authorized ofhcer of the United States to fight an enemy such Choctaw shall receive the pay and other emoluments which citizens of the United States receive in stich cases: Provided, No war shall be undertaken or prosecuted by said Choctaw Nation but by declaration made in full council and to be approved by th.? United States unless it be in self-defense against an open rebellion or against an enemy marching into their country, in which cases they shall defend until the United States are advised thereof. , Article VI. Should a Choctaw or any party of Choctaws commit acts of vio- lence upon the person or property of a citizen of the TTnited States or join any war party against any neighboring tribe of Indians without the authority in the preceding article, and except to oppose an actual or threatened invasion or rebellion, such person so offending shall be delivered up to an officer of the United States, if in the power of the Choctaw Nation, that such offender may be punished as may be provided in such cases by the laws of the United States; but if such offender is not within the control of the Choctaw Nation, then said 1 This paragraph was not ratified. ENROLLMENT IN THE FIVE CIVILIZED TRIBES. 5 Choctaw Nation shall not be held responsible for the injury done by said offender. Article VII. All acts of violence committed upon persons and property of the people of the Choctaw Nation, either by citizens of the United States or neigh- boring tribes of red people, shall be referred to some authorized agent, by him to be referred to the President of the United States, who shall examine into such cases and see that every possible degree of justice is done to said Indian party of the Choctaw Nation. Article VIII. Offenders against the laws of the United States or any indi- vidual State shall be apprehended and delivered to any duly authorized person where such offender may be found the the Choctaw country, having fled from any part of the United States, but in all such cases application must be made to the agent or chiefs, and the expense of his apprehension and delivery pro- vided for and paid by the United States. Article IX. Any citizen of the United States who may be ordered from the nation by the agent and constituted authorities of the nation and refusing to obey or return into the nation without the consent of the aforesaid persons shall be subject to such pains and penalties as may be provided by the laws of the United States in such cases. Citizens of the United States traveling peaceably under the authority of the laws of the United States shall be under the care and protection of the nation. Article X. No person shall expose goods or other articles for sale as a trader without a written permit from the constituted authorities of the nation or authority of the laws of the Congress of the United States under penalty of forfeiting the articles, and the constituted authorities of the nation shall grant no license except to such persons as reside in the nation and are answerable to the laws of the nation. The United States shall be particularly obliged to assist to prevent ardent spirits from being introduced into the nation. Article XL Navigable streams shall be free to the Choctaws, who shall pay no higher toll or duty than citizens of the United States. It is agreed further that the United States shall establish one or more post offices in said nation, and may establish such military post roads and posts as they may consider necessary. Article XII. All intruders shall be removed from the Choctaw Nation and kept without it. Private property to be always respected, and on no occasion taken for public purposes without just comiiensation being made therefor to the rightful owner. If an Indian unlawfully take or steal any property from a white man a citizen of the United States, the offender shall be punished; and if a white man unlawfully take or steal anything from an Indian, the property shall be restored and the offender punished. It is further agreed that when a Choctaw shall be given up to be tried for any offense against the laws of the United States, if unable to enii»]oy counsel to defend him the United States will do it. that his trial may be fair and impartial. Article XIII. It is consented that a qualified agent shall be appointed for the Choctaws every four years, unless sooner removed by the President: and he shall be removed on petition of the constituted authorities of the nation, the President being satisfied there is sutticient cause shown. The agent shall fix his residence convenient to the great body of the people, and in the selection of an agent immediately after the ratification of this treaty the wishes of the (yhoctaw Nation on this subject shall be entitled to great respect. Article XIV. Each Choctaw head of a family being desirous to remain and become a citizen of the States shall be i)erniittepli- cant who is not a Mississippi ChoctaAV of full blood, or a descendant 16 ENROLLMENT IN THE FIVE CIVILIZED TRIBES. of a Choctaw who received a patent to land, was made more general by a decision of the Secretary of the Interior in the so-called Jim Gift case, which was rendered on November 23, 1904, holding that scripees and their descendants, as well as patentees, come within the rule referred to as being persons or descendants of persons who complied or attempted to comply with article 14 of the treaty of September 27, 1830. The same agreement between the United States and the Choctaw and Chickasaw people, which gave to the Mississippi Choctaws enrollment in the Choctaw and Chickasaw Nations as a gratuity provided also: No person whose name does not appear upon tbe rolls prepared as herein provided, shall be entitled in any manner to participate in the distribution of the common property of the Choctaw and Chickasaw Tribes, and those whose names appear thereon shall participate in the manner set forth in this agreement. The rolls of citizenship of the Choctaw and CKickasaw Nations were finally completed under the terms of this agreement and, on April 26, 1906, Congress declared the Choctaw and Chickasaw rolls closed in the following language : Provided, That the rolls of the tribes (Choctaw and Chickasaw) affected by this act shall be fully completed on or before the 4th day of March. 1907. and the Secretarj' of the Interior shall have no jurisdiction to approve the enroll- ment of any person after that date. The Choctaws who remained in Mississippi and declined to remove to Indian Territory had been separated from the Choctaw Nation for a period of 77 years before the rolls were closed. During all of this period of 77 years the Mississippi Choctaws had a right to re- move to and establish a residence in the Choctaw Nation, and thereb)'^ become entitled to the privileges of a Choctaw citizen, notwithstand- ing the fact that each and every fourteenth-article claimant had re- ceived his or her patrimony in land, money, or script. In other words, these Mississippi Choctaws did receive land and money in Mississippi at a time when the Choctaws in Oklahoma were under- going the privations of frontier life, and these same persons who had receiA'ed the land and money in Mississippi might have removed, and most all of them did remove to Indian Territory and become en- titled to an equal share in the property of the Choctaw Nation with the Choctaws who had resided w^est and who received no part of the land or money distributed to the Mississippi Choctaws. It is those who have received land and money and who have declined to move to the Choctaw Nation that are now asking that the Choc- taws of Oklahoma send money to them in Mississippi. The preparation of the final rolls of the Choctaw and Chickasaw Nations by the United States Government cover a period of 11 years. During that time 24,634 applications of persons claiming as Missis- sippi Choctaws for enrollment as citizens of the Choctaw Nation, were considered and reconsidered, and finally determined by the Dawes Commission to the Five Civilized Tribes and the Federal courts for Indian Territory. The Mississippi Choctaw claim which you are now considering has heretofore been fully considered and de- termined by the following tribunals and bodies : 1. The Dawes Commission to the Five Civilized Tribes. ENROLLMENT IN THE FIVE CIVILIZED TRIBES. 17 2. The Federal courts of Indian Territory. 3. The Choctaw and Chickasaw people, and the United States Government in the preparation of the supplemental agreement of July 1, 1902. (32 Stat. L., 641, ibid.) 4. The Congress of the United States which finally dir* 'tod the rolls to be closed on March 4, 1907. (See act of Apr. 20, 1!)U6, ibid.) The question that you gentlemen are now considering has four times been determined under the direction of Congress, and the rolls have finally been closed and the Choctaw and Chickasaw people and the United States (lovernment have agreed that no one shall share in the distriljution of the tribal funds of those tribes unless his or her name appears upon the rolls completed under the provisions of the supplemental agreement. There is a corporation known as the Texas-Oklahoma Investment Co., organized for the purpose of syndicating the claims of the Mississippi Choctaws against the Choctaw Nation. This company has already furnished $4,100 to maintain representation in Washing- ton for the purpose of inducing Congress to reopen the rolls of the Choctavv' and Chickasavr Nations and to enroll the Mississippi Choc- taws. It may be that this syndicate will be able to induce the Con- gress of the United States to reverse the decision of the commission that it authorized to determine this question; to re\erse the de- cision of the United States courts that passed upon the question; to induce Congress to violate the terms of a solemn treaty agreement with the Choctaw and Chickasaw Nations of Oklahoma ; and finally, to repeal the act of Congress of April 26, 1906, by the operation ot which the rolls of these tribes were finally closed. If, in the name of justice, this Texas-Oklahoma Investment Co. can induce Congress to allow that comj)any to extract from the Treasury the funds be- longing to the Choctaw and Chicasaw people, the United States may yet have to refund to the Choctaw and Chickasaw Nations the amount of money that it would at this time force the tribes to pay to the Mississippi Choctaws and to the Texas-Oklahoma Investment Co. on this illegal and unconscionable claim. In fact, the United States Government, through its Interior Department, has already recog- nized the possibility of a recovery by the Choctaw and Chickasaw Nations against the United States in case the Government sliould provide for the enrollment of the Mississippi Choctaws. The First Assistant Secretary of the Interior in a letter dated July 2, 1912, addressed to the chairman of the Connnission on Indian Affairs of the House of Representatives, made the following state- ment : I nil! .'(isist'd tluit if tlie work <»!" n'!Hve.stiK:itiii.i; ;ni(l veiUljudicatiiiR the fl;:inis of Mi.ssissippi Clioct.nvs he uinlcrtaken alonj; the broail lines outlined in the bill introduced by Mr. Harrison, the work fan not b,» .icL'onipll.shed within the time jaesoribed thoi'oin : th;it if the apijlicants arc required to estab- lish that they or some of their jincstors wore beneficiaries under article 14 of the treaty of 1S30, a vast anioiuit of evidence will necessarily h;ive to be taken coverinji the family liistory of the aiiplicants for niore than 80 years; and that this work would be :i repetition of work whicli has already been .•icconiplished. and in the >rreat majority of oases would be of no benefit what- ever lo the ai)plicants. * * * \Vi!h respect to the l.OTO i>ersons wlio were identitied as Mississippi Choctaws iiat who failed to prove the tacts of reinov.il nnd seUlemeut in tlu- f'hoct.iw .'ind sssr.rv— ir. 2 18 ENROLLMENT IN THE FIVE CIVILIZED TRIBES. Chickasaw coiiiitiy, it amy be said that, irrespective of their unfortunate condi- tion of poverty and ignorance, there is grave question whether there is just ground, legal or equitable, for holding the Choctaw and Chickasaw Nations resj)onsible for this failure to comply with the law. In fact, it may be urged by the tribes that responsibility, if any, rested upon the United States instead. Now, gentlemen, I have attempted to give you a brief outline of the Mississippi Choctaw claim. In this outline I have not touched upon many of the matters that have been argued by attorneys repre- senting the claimants. I have not touched upon those matters for the reason that they are irrelevant and incompetent, and do not tend to prove or disprove any of the issues pending before this committee. It may be necessary, however, to consider some of the statements made, because those statements are responsible for the opinion that now seems to prevail in the minds of some of the members of Con- gress to the effect that there must be some merit somewhere in the Mississippi Choctaw claim. That sentiment, Mr. Chairman, has been built up by misstatements in places where, if the facts were stated as they exist, it would clearly appear that the Mississippi Choctaws have not been deprived of any right by the Choctaw Nation ; they have had their day in court ; they have been allowed to make their applications; they have failed to establish a right, and those who have been enrolled have been enrolled as a gratuity. This would appear if the facts were fairly presented; but they have not always been so presented. I might say in this connection that in Mr. Harrison's different addresses on the floor of the House in regard to this matter, I think that he relied somewhat, and I would not say entirely, upon the briefs and arguments prepared by Mr. Cantwell, or by Crews & Cantwell, and that those briefs and those arguments are egregiously incorrect. Mr. Post. Mr, Hurley, I understood your position a while ago to be that the rolls are made of the Choctaw and Chickasaw Nations by the treaty and supplemental treaty, and were closed by the terms of that treaty? Mr. Hurley. Yes, sir. Mr. Post. If that is true, what authority has Congress to go back of its treaty obligations? Mr. Hurley. The Congress has absolutely no moral authority to do so. To do so would be in violation of good morals. But the Con- gi-ess of the United States has plenary power over undistributed tribal property, and, regardless of the equities of the Indians — regardless of the justice and the morality involved — Congress can force a reconsideration of that question by reason of its plenary power, if it desires to exercise it; but in doing so it will create a lia- bility against the United States for the amount of our loss under such legislation. Mr. Ballinger. Were these rolls closed by any provision or in any agreement with the Choctaw Indians? Mr. Hurley. Yes, sir. Mr. Ballinger. In what treaty? Mr. Hurley. I have read it into the record. If you had been pay- ing attention to me when I read it you might have heard it. I will go back and read it again. Mr. Campbell. Can Congress exercise this plenary power without making the United States liable to the Choctaws or Chickasaws for the property that it will take from them? ENROLLMENT IN THE FIVE CIVILIZED TEIBES. 19 Mr. HiRLEY. In my judgment it can not. Mr. Post. Mr. Hurley, under the Constitution the treaty-malring [xnver is vested in the President and the Senate. But this treaty- how -was it entered into — the treaty and the supplemental treay? Mr. Hurley. This agreement was entered into between a commis- sion appointed by Congress and the representatives of the Indian tribes. For a long period in the history of the Indians of North America it was considered that a treaty betw^een an Inditm tribe and the United States had some of the binding force of an international agreement. Subsequently Congress found that in order to handle some of the Indian tribes and open their lands to settlement it became necessary — this is rather blunt language — to disregard some of those treaty provisions, and an act was passed in 1871 changing entirely the nature and the force of Indian treaties; thereafter it was held that those agreements have not the binding force of an international agreement and were merely a request from the Indian people as to what they would like to have done, and might be repealed as any other act of Congress. Mr. Carter. Mr. Hurley, is it not a fact that Congress has the same right to violate international agreements that it has to violate a treaty with the Indians? Mr. Hurley. It has. Mr. Carter. Congress undoubtedly has the power to abrogate any treaty "vvith either Indian or world power. The world jiower may have its redress by a resort to arms — that is. until the Hague tri- bunal is permanently established — but the Indian's reparation rests entirely upon the benevolence and justice of the white man's Govern- ment itself. But Congress has a right to repeal any treaty it has with a foreign power, has it not? Mr. Hurley. That is true ; it has. The only difference is that the Indian question is not an international question, but a domestic question, and the Indian tribes, being dependent upon the United States, can not obtain redress for violations of agreements without the consent of the United States. Mr. RicHARnsoN. I might call the attention of the committee to the fact that the Attorney General, on the question of the Chinese treaty, held that an act of Congress could modify or repeal any provision of a treaty, and that a treaty had no superior authority to an act of Congress. Also that Congress, in the act of March 3, 1871, provided that from that time no treaty should be made with any Indian tribe. U]) to the date of that net a treaty with the Indians was regarded in the courts as of the same force as a treaty with an international power, but after tliat time there have been no treaties with the Indians. Mr. Carter. They have been agi'eements? Mr. T^iCHARDSON. They have been mere agreements, subject to the ratification by Congress and subject to all provisions INIr. Post (interposing). In other words, a treaty with an Indian tribe entered into by officers of the Government, a department of the Government, and the tribe had to be ratified by Congress, and it was really an act of Congress, which Congress itself could repeal at any time it saw fit? Mr. EiciiARDSON. That is correct. 20 ENROLLMENT IN THE FIVE CIVILIZED TRIBES. Mr. Post. It is different in that respect to un international agree- ment? Mr. EiCHARDSON. That is right. Mr. Ballinger. I should like to call the attention of the committee that the courts held Avith reference to these agreements, or similar agreements, (hat they stood solely on the same plane as an act of Congress and were not in fact agreements. Mr. Carter. That is true of both agreements and treaties. Con- gress has full power to repeal them so long as vested rights are not involved. Mr. EiciiARDSON. The Brown and Gritts case. Mr. Carter. The Brown and Gritts case is identical with one of these agreements; not this agreement, but the Cherokee 'agreement. Mr. EiciiARDSON. At the same time. Mr. Carter. Let me ask Mr. Hurley a few questions about making that agreement, because it has often been referred to on the floor of the House and in the committee as the act of one man. I speak now of the agreement of July 1, 1902. The people who first negotiated that agreeinent were commissioners ap})ointed by the United States and delegates appointed by the Choctaw and Chickasaw governors upon !in act authorizina: the same by the tribal council, were they not? Mr. HiTULEY. Yes, sir. Mr. Carter. Do you knoAv how many meetings wore lu^nl bcfoi-e those agreements were finally concluded ? Mr. Hurley. No ; I do not. Mr. Carter. Do you know Avhen negotiations began for the agi-ee- ments ? Mr. IIuiv'LEY. They 1)egan in 1901. Mr. Carter. And thev were not concluded until September 27, 1902? Mr. Hurley. Yes, sir. Mr. Carter. So they Avere a year and a half in the process of mak- ing, were they not? Mr. Hurley. Yes, sir. Mr. Carter. After they were finally negotiated they had to be approved by the Congress of the United States, did they not? Mr. Hurley. Yes, sii*. Mr. Carter. They had to l)e appi-oved by the tribal councils of the Choctaw and ChickasaAv Nations? Mr. Hurley. The treaty Avas finally ratified by Mr. (^ARTER (interposing). I have not got to that yet. Mr. Hurley. Yes, sir: they had to be approved by the councils. Mr. Carter. Of the Choctaw and Chickasaw Nations? Mr. Hurley. Yes, sir. Mr. Carter. And afterAvards had to be ratified in accordance with the act of those councils by a general vote of the Choctaw and ChickasaAv people? Mr. Hurley. Yes, sir. Mr. Carter. And all these actions the records show have been taken, do they not? Mr. Hurley. Yes, sir. ENROLLMENT IN THE FIVE CIVILIZED TRIBES. 21 Mr. Carter. So that the agreements were a year and a half in the making, and were approved in the regular manner prescribed and usual in the making of such agreements or treaties? Mr. Hurley. Yes, sir. Now, Mr. Chairman, in order to get into some of the arguments that have been made that seem to have in- fluenced the minds of the Members of Congress, I want to read just one paragraph from a speech made by Mr. Harrison on the floor of the House in December, 1912, and I am reading from page 4, as follows: Tlu> Tndifin tribe has never attempted to abridge or change in any way this I)arti(iil;ir treaty. * * * Jn other words. Mi-. Chairman, every act of Con- gress that has been passed rehitive to the Mississippi Choctaws has been nix)n the assumption that they could not be enrolled unless they left Mississippi and went to Indian Territory, thus being forced to violate the article they had de- manded and obtained. There is nothing in that provision that says that the .Mississippi Choctaw shall ever have to leave Mississippi in order to continue his right as a member of the tribe. Without going into any explanation of the matter, Mr. Harrison stated to Congress that the Indian tribes had never made any effort to abridge the privileges of those Indians to become citizens of the Choctaw Xation while they resided in Mississippi. As a matter of fact the nation never recognized one of them as a citizen until he removed to the Choctaw Nation, and on the 16th day of October, 1895, the council of the Choctaw Nation passed this act: Resolution in regard to citizenship cases. Section 1. Be it resolved ly the General Council of the Choctaw Nation as- sembled, That all parties who claim citizenship to the Choctaw Nation, and intend proving the same, are hereby notified that they must file their petitions as the law directs, on or before November 15th, 1895. as after said date no peti- tions will be entertained by the Choctaw Nation, and all parties who have their petitions filed are hereby notified that they must come forward and prosecute the same at once. Sec. 2. Be it further resolved, That the national secretary is hereby requested to have this resolution printed in all the principal papers in the Choctaw and Chickasaw Nations, and that the sheriffs of each county are hereby notified to post this resolution in conspicuous places in tlieir respective counties. Approved, October 16, A. D. 1895. Jeff Gardner, Principal Chief of the Choctaw Nation. It will readily be seen, Mr. Chairman, that a statement to the effect that the tribes have never attempted to foreclose all non- resident claims of citizenship can not be substantiated, because as a matter of fact the tribe, after having labored for something like 70 years to get those Mississippi Choctaws and their descendants to move to the Choctaw Nation, after having appropriated money to pay for their transportation, and after having appropriated money to 'maintain certain families of them after their arrival until they could make a crop, when they finally decided that they had done all they could to help those people and had helped them as a gratuity and not l)("cauHe of any right that the Mississippi Choctaws had, they finally closed their rolls against them, and the tribal authorities have placed a bar against the enrollment of these persons. Now. as stated in my argument in the beginning, the act of Con- gress of June 10. 1896, provided that the commission making the 22 ENROLLMENT IN THE FIVE CIVILIZED TEIBES. rolls should give due deference and consideration to all laws, cus- toms, and usages of the Choctaw people. Let us see what binding effect that act of the Choctaw council has upon the United States. The Supreme Court had before it at one time the claim of the Eastern Cherokees against the United States. It is reported in 117 United States, 228, and is as follows: If tbe Iiuliiins ia tb;it State [North Carolina], or iu any other State east of the Mississippi wish to enjoy the benefits of the conunon property of the Cherolcee Nation, in whatever form it may exist, they must, as held by the Court of Claims, comply with the constitution and laws of the Cherokee Nation, and be readmitted to citizenship as there provided. They can not live out of its territory, evade the obligations .-lud burdens of citizenship, and at the same time enjoy the benefits of the funds and common property of the nation. Those funds and that property were dedicatero\ed. Nov. 14, 1890. W. N. Jones, Principal Chief of the Choctaiv Nation. LAWS PASSED BY THIi GENERAL COUNCII, OF THE CHOCTAW NATION AT ITS SPECIAT. SESSION CONVENED ON APRIF. «TH, I.S'.U. No. 2. An art for the relief of ceitain Mississippi Choctaws. Be it enacted by the General Council of the Choctaw Nation assembled. That the sum of two hundred and ninety-five dollars is hereby appropriated, out ol any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated, to reimburse Cornelius Hickman and family (4), Presley Isham and family (4). Nat Sakki (1), Dixon Ripley (1), Taylor Bell (1), Jane Sakki (1), Lee Nobbee (1), Tom Sakki and family (5). James Sakki (1), Alex Sakki (1), Isaac Simpson and family (5), and Matt Sakki and family (3), Choctaws (late arrivals from the State of Mis- sissippi) for their expenditures while immigrating, and to enable them to obtain the necessaries of life, they having arrived too late last year to raise a crop of any kind ; and this act shall take effect and be in foi'ce from and after its passage. Approved, April 4, 1891. W. N. Jones, Princiiiol Chief of the Choctaw Nation. No. 8. .\n act adiuittius certain Missis.sippl Indians to citizenship. He it (nartcil bij the General Cowiril of the Cliovtitw Nation assembled. That Mrs. Anna Boyd, Mrs. Lenas Southerland, Mrs. Ozie Travis, Mrs. M. Milliam, Chocti'ws lately from the State of Mississippi, and full sister of C. A. Bilbo, who has been heretofore admitted, and their descendants be, and they are hereby declare) as Mississippi Choctaws entitled to benefits under arti- cle 14 of the treaty between the United States and the Choctaw Nation con- cluded September 27, 18.30, may at any time within six months after the date of their identification as Mississippi Choctaws by the said commission, make bona fide settlement within the Choctaw-Chickasaw country, and upon proof of such settlement to such commission within one year after the date of the said identification as Mississipjii Choctaws shall be enrolled by such commission as Mississippi Choctaws entitled to allotment as herein provided for citizens of the tribes, subject to special jjrovislons herein provided as to Mississippi Choctaws, and said enrollment shall be final when approved by the Secretary of the In- terior. The application of no person for identification as a Mississippi Choc- taw shall be received by said commission after six months subsequent to the date of the final ratification of this agreement, and in the disposition of such application all fulM)lood Mississippi Choctaw Indians and the descendants of any Mississippi Choctaw Indians, whether of full or mixed blood, who re- ceive a patent to land under the said fourteenth article of the treaty of 1830, who had not moved to and made bona fide settlement in the Choctaw-Chicka- saw country prior to ,Tune 28, 1898, shall be deemed to be Mississip])! Choctaws entitled to 'benefits inider article 14 of the said treaty of September 27. 1830. and to identification as such by said comnu8.sion, but this direction or provi- sion shall be deemed to be only a rule of evidence and shall not be invoked by ENROLLMENT IN THE FIVE CIVILIZED TEIBES. 33 or operate to the advantage of auy applicaut who is not a Mississippi Choctaw of the full blood, or who is not the descendant of a Mississippi Choctaw who received a patent to land under said treaty, or who is otherwise barred from the rights of citizenship in the Choctaw Nation. All of said Mississippi Choc- taws so enrolled by said commission shall be upon a separate roll. To show that Mr. Harrison's statement about the operation of that law is entirely incorrect, I will now read the decision in the so-called Jim Gift case, which was rendered on November 23, 1904. The de- cision appears at page 42 of the brief which we have heretofore sub- mitted to this committee, and is as follows : novembee 23, 1904. Commission to tuk Five Civilized Tribes, Muskogee, Ind. T. Gentlemen: The department is in receipt of your report of June 3, 1904, resubmitting the record in the matter of the application of Jim Gift, M. C. R. 1659. et al.. for identification as Mississippi Choctaws, rendered in compliance with departmental letters of February 25, 1903, and February 19, 1904. From the testimony furnished by the witnesses in this case it appears that Jim Gift, the principal applicant, through whom the others claim, was born in Sumter County, Ala., a few years prior to the treaty of September 27, 1830. He is of mixed Choctaw and negro blood. His mother was a Choctaw woman named I^ucy, who in early life lived in Greene County, Ala. From there she removed to Sumter County, Ala., where the principal applicant was born, and thence westward to Kemper County, Miss. In the latter county the principal applicant lived until he became an old man. He has lived near Lockhart, Lauderdale County, which is the county south of Kemper County, for the last 12 or 15 years. It appears from tlie records of the Indian Office that in 1S31 an application was made by a Cboct;iw woman named Lucy for the benefits of article 14 of the treaty of September 27, 1S30. This application was made at the "old factory" in Sumter County, Ala., which was situated within a few miles of her residence, on behalf of herself and her children. No record was kept of her application, and subsequently she presented an application in 1S43 to the commissioners acting under the act of Congress of August 23, 1842 (5 Stats.. 513). As a re.'^ult of this application, scrip was issued to Lucy r.ud to her children, among whom was a child named Jimmy, who was under 10 years of age when the treaty was made. Out of the facts enumerated two questions arise: First, is the testimony sufficient to identify the applicant and his mother Lucy with the Jimmy and Lucy of record to whom scrip was issued, and, second, is the issuance of scrip under the act referred to sufficient evidence that the recipients of same com- plied or attempted to comply, in person or otherwise, with the provisions of article 14 of the treaty of September 2, 1830? From your record of June 3, 1904, and decision of October 10, 1902, it appears that you are of the opinion that the testimony of Jim Gift is unreliable and that the testimony is accordingly insufficient to identify the applicant as the scripee of record. Respecting the point of law involved, it further appears that you are of the opinion that section 41 of the act of July, 1902 (32 Stats., 641), contains no express provision authorizing the identification of scripees and their descend- ants. You are, however, for the reasons stated by you, of the opinion that said {section does not operate in any respect to prevent the identification of persons as Mississippi Choctaws who were entitled to identification as such prior to said act, and that scripees and their descendants, where the facts are sufficient to warrant the same, are still entitled to identification. The Commissioner of Indian Affairs, in his report of December 16, 1902, and the acting commissioner, in his report of November 2, 1904, are of the opinion that the testimony is sufficient to establish that Jim Gift and his mother Lucy are the identical Jimmy and Lucy to whom scrip was issued. The acting com- missioner sets forth at considerable length his reasons for believing that the testimony of Jim Gift is reliable, and could not possibly be a fabrication.- In respect to the point of law involved, the acting commissioner is also of the opinion that persons entitled to identificaton before the act of July 1, 1902, supra, were not, by virtue of that act, barred from identification. He is of the 88855—15 3 34 ENROLLMENT IN THE FIVE CIVILIZED TRIBES. opinion, however, that spotion 41 thereof is in itself sufficient authority for the identification of scripees and their descendants as Mississippi Choctaws. Whether the acting commissioner's view as to section 41 is correct or not, the result of this case will be the same. The department has compared the testimony furnished by the applicants and their witnesses with the information furnished by the Indian Office, and is satisfied that if the testimony is to be accepted as reliable it is sufficient to establish the conclusions of the Indian Office as to the questions of fact involved. The testimony connected with the parentage of Jim Gift showing his mixture of African and Choctaw blood, his mother's name and her various residences, her appearance before the Indian agent at " Yazoo " city, the date of her death, Jim Gift's place of birth, and his various places of residence, the testimony concerning his twin sister and the name of his other relatives, agrees substantially in so many respects with the testimony of a like character rela- tive to the Jimmy and T.ucy of record and the various members of the family to which they belonged, that the identity of Jim Gift with said Jimmy of record can not be reasonably questioned. There remains to be considered the question of law involved relative to the rights of scripees and their descendants. Concerning said section 41 of the act of July 1, 1902, the Attorney General of the United States, in an opinion ren- dered June 19. 1903, used the following language : " This agreement must, of course, be construed in the light of the circum- stances under which it was made, and with a purpose to ascertain the intention of the parties thereto. Manifestly the parties did not intend to abridge the rights of any person theretofore entitled by law to identification as a Mississippi Choctaw, but they did intend to permit the identification of some persons who had not prior to that time been able to bring themselves within the requirements of the rules established by the commission — persons the evidence of whose rights under the treaty of 1830 could not be secured, but whom the Government of the United States and the Choctaw Indians, ' in their generosity,' desired should share in the benefits arising out of the provisions of that treaty. * * * " In my opinion, i)aragraph 41 of the agreement of 21st March, 1902, does not require the identification of part-blood children of Mississippi Choctaws themselves identified solely by reason of full blood. Such children must in some other way, if possible, establish their claims to participate in the benefits arising from the treaty of 1830. They have not been deprived by the agreement of anything to which they were entitled before its conclusion." From this opinion it seems clear that if the descendants of scripees were entitled to identification as Mississippi Choctaws prior to the ratification of the Choctaw-Chickasaw agreement, they are not now barred from such identi- fication. The rule in force prior to the ratification of said agreement per- mitted the identification of applicants whose ancestors complied or attempted to comply, in person or by proxy, with article 14 of the treaty of September 27, 1830. It is therefore necessary to determine whether scripees and the de- scendants of scripees come within this rule. Article 14 of the treay of 1830 stcitcs ' " Each Choctaw head of a family being desirous to remain and become a citizen of the States shall be permitted to do so by signifying his intention to the agent within six months from the ratification of this treaty, and he or she shall thereupon be entitled to a reservation of one section of 640 acres of land, to be bonnded by sectional lines of survey; in like manner shall be entitled to one-half that quantity for each unmarried child which is living with him over 10 years of age, and a quarter section to such child as may be under 10 years of age. to adjoin the location of the parent. If they reside upon said lands, intending to become citizens of the States, for five years after the rati- fication of this'^ treaty in that case a grant in fee simple shall issue; said res- ervation shall include the present improvement of the head of the family or a portion of it. Persons who claim under this article shall not lose the privilege of a Choctaw citizen, but if they ever remove are not to be entitled to any portion of the Choctaw annuity." Owing to the failure of the Government to furnish an agent promptly upon the ratification of the treaty, and for the further reason that said agent, after entering upon his duties, was derelict in his performance of the same and re- fused to enroll many who applied for the benefits of the treaty, only a mere handful of the persons entitled to such benefits were enrolled. To adjust and settle the land claims arising under this article Congress subsequently provided commissions to adjudicate all such claims, and in the act of August 23, 1842, supra, the commission was specifically instructed in section 3 thereof as to the lONROLLMENT IN THE FIVE CIVILIZED TRIBES. 35 requisites constituting sufficient compliance with article 14 of said treaty to entitle tbose complying therewith to lands guaranteed by it. W^here applicants established to the satisfaction of the commissioners and the Secretary of War that they had complied with the requisites specifically enumerated in said sec- tion 3, patents were to be issued to them covering in whole or in part improve- ments made by them at the date of the treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek. In cases where it appeared that applicants had done everything within their power to comply with the treaty, but had failed to maintain continuous residence for five years after the ratification of the treaty upon the lands claimed by them, such failure being due to the fact that the Government had before the expiration of the five-year period patented said lands to others, a substitute arrangement was made whereby their claims were to be settled by the issuance of certificates entitling them to select an equal amount of public land in the United States open to selection in the States of Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana, and Arkansas, the acceptance of such certificates by the applicants to operate as "a full satis- faction and discharge " of their claims against the United States to land under article 14 of the treaty of 1830. It will thus be seen that patentees and scripees stood on exactly the same footing, so far as the merits of their cases were concerned, but the latter were compelled to accept as the fruits of their compliance with the treaty a substi- tuted performance on the part of the Government, by which they received other lands than those which they were promised by the treaty. Can it be held that this substituted performance proposed by the Government as a settlement of the land claims of fourteenth-article applicants and accepted by them in full satis- faction of such claims, operates in any respect to alter their claims against the Choctaw Nation to a portion of its lauds west of the Mississippi, claims founded upon the guaranty in said article 14 that " persons who claim under this article shall not lose the privilege of a Choctaw citizen"? The department does not so consider. The only relation existing between patents and scrip and land rights in the Choctaw Nation is this : So far as the rights of fourteenth-article claimants to Choctaw lands west of the Mississippi is concerned patents and scrip serve only as evidence that the persons to whom they were issued elected for themselves and for persons claiming through them, not to relinquish their rights as Choctaw citizens, except to the annuities. Other than this the action of the United States in adjudicating the claims of these people against it for lands under article 14 has nothing whatever to do with their claims against the Choctaw Nation for a share of its lands lying west of the Mississippi. The department is therefore of the opinion that scripees and their descend- ants come within the I'ule referred to above as being persons or descendants of persons who attempted to comply with article 14 of the treaty of Septembr 27, 1830. In this connection it should be noted that it is not the intention of the department to hold that this is the only form of attempted compliance which can be recognized, or that other forms of attempted compliance will be recog- nized. Other cases of attempted compliance must be determined as presented. You are accordingly directed, in accordance with the recommendation of the Indian Office, to identify these applicants as Mississippi Choctaws, and to so advise them and their attorneys. In so doing you are requested to inform them respecting the time limit within which they are required to remove to the Choctaw Nation after receiving notice from you. A copy of the acting commissioner's letter of November 2, 1904, is inclosed herewith. Respectfully, Thos. Ryan, Acting Secretary. The fact is, Mr. Chairman, that the provision in the act of 1902, which Mr. Harrison says barred all except those who could prove that they were descendants of the 143 patentees, all full bloods residing in Mississippi who would remove to the Choctaw Nation were given enrollment without being required to prove their right to enrollment under the fourteenth article of the treaty of 1830. The Jim Gift case, which I have just read, held that all those who could prove their descent from a patentee — and there were 143 heads of families, or 276 persons in all, who received patents — or who could prove their descent from a scrinec. and there were 1,155 heads of 36 ENROLLMENT IN THE FIVE CIVILIZED TRIBES. families, or 3,885 persons, who received scrip, making a total of 4,101 persons who received patents or scrip — the descendants of anv one of those 4,161 persons Avho could prove that their ancestor was a scripee or patentee, such descendant was entitled to enrollment under the law by which Mr. Harrison said they were barred. It is very obvious that a statement made on the floor of the House to the effect that no one except the descendants of those 143 heads of families who received patents could be enrolled is unfair. As a mat- ter of fact, no person who could prove descent from either a scripee or patentee or any other fourteenth-article claimant was excluded by the act of July, 1902. This law which Mr. Harrison so severely criticizes gave every mixed-blood Choctaw Indian residing in Missis- sippi or elsewhere a right to enrollment if he could prove his right as a descendant of any fourteenth-article claimant. The act also established the so-called full-blood rule of evidence, which rule oper- ated so as to give enrollment in the Choctaw Nation to any full-blood Mississippi Choctaw who would remove to the Choctaw^ Nation with- out requiring such full blood to prove his descent from any person who reserved the right under the fourteenth article of the treaty of 1830. As I have already shown, the rights of citizenship given to full-blood Mississippi Choctaws under this provision were given as a gratuity. It was shown that they were unable to prove their right to enrollment. In his argument Mr. Harrison also contends that the firm of Mans- field, McMurray & Cornish received a percentage fee from the Choc- taw and Chickasaw Nations for the number of Mississippi Choctaws whose names they had stricken from the Choctaw and Chickasaw rolls. He also states that one of the blackest pages in the history of these citizenship matters is the proceedings of the Choctaw and Chickasaw citizenship court and di-aws the conclusion that by reason of the conduct of Mansfield, McMurray & Cornish and the action of the citizenship court the unfortunate full-blood Mississippi Choc- taws were excluded from the Choctaw rolls. This whole attempt to connect the Mansfield, McMurray & Cornish fee and the citizenship court with the present Mississippi Choctaw claim is misleading. As a matter of fact, the names of the present Mississippi Choctaw claimants have never been on the Choctaw and Chickasaw citizenship rolls. The percentage fee that Mansfield, McMurray & Cornish re- ceived was for the number of persons whose names they were able to have stricken from the rolls. Whatever their conduct was, it could have no effect on the persons for whom Mr. Harrison introduced his bill, as their names were never upon the rolls. His attempt to con- nect this claim with the citizenship court is also misleading, for the citizenship court did not pass on the claims of any of the persons whose rights would be affected by Mr. Harrison's bill. The names of a great number of persons were stricken from the Choctaw and Chickasaw citizenship rolls by the Dawes Commission under the act of June 10, 1896. The claimants whose names were thus stricken from the rolls appealed to the United States district courts. Many of them were readmitted to citizenship by the judg- ments of these courts. The citizenship court,- under the authority of law by which it was created, reviewed these final judgments of the United States courts and set aside a great many of them. It is not A ENROLLMENT IN THE FIVE CIVILIZED TRIBES. 37 necessary for me to go into the ground upon >vhich these judgments were set aside, for the reason that these were not Mississippi Choc- taw cases. These were the cases of claimants who resided in the Choctaw and Chickasaw Nations. The people affected by the Har- rison bill did not reside in the Choctaw and Chickasaw Nations and do not reside there, so Mr. Harrison's discussion of the conduct of Mansfield, INIcMurray & Cornish and his discussion of the conduct of the citizenship court are not relevant to this case, and I am of the opinion that Crews & Cantwell discuss these matters in their brief for the sole purpose of inducing people to believe that there was some fraud practiced by which their clients were excluded from the Choctaw and Chickasaw rolls. Mr. Harrison states positively that no Mississippi Choctaw was ever required to remove to the Choctaw Nation to enjoy the rights of citizenship in the Choctaw and Chickasaw Nations until after this act and the previous acts of Congress during the making of the roll had been passed. In other words, Mr. Harrison states as a fact that they had citizenship in the Choctaw Nation while resid- ing in Mississippi. The statement is misleading and is incori-ect. Neither Mr. Harrison nor the attorneys who have appeared here as the proponents of this bill have been unable to show to this com- mittee the name of any single person wdio was ever given citizenship in the Choctaw and Chickasaw Nations while a nonresident of those nations. Mr. Harrison's statement about Mr. McMurray's connection with the Mississippi Choctaw matter is entirely misleading for this rea- son, that the contract under which Mr. McMurray received a fee provided that he should receive a percentage for the number of per- sons Avhose names he should be able to strike from the rolls then existing. These Mississippi Choctaws' names have never been on the rolls. Mr. Carter. Well, Mr. Hurley, was it not more specific than that? Did it not set out the exact class of persons to be stricken from the rolls for which he w^as to receive pay? Mr. Hurley. Yes, sir. Mr. Carter. Did not Mr. McMurray's contract set out that he was to receive pay for having stricken from the rolls the so-called court cdtizens, and then afterw^ards define the court citizens as persons who had been placed upon the roll by the Federal courts under the juris- dictional act of 1896? Mr. Harrison. Has that contract been included in the record? Mr. Carter. Yes. Mr. Harrison. I looked for it and I could not find it in the record. Mr. Carter. It is in the Burke hearing. Mr. Hurley. The point I am making, Mr. Chairman, is this: The brief submitted by CreAvs & Cantwell for the claimants here and the arguments made by Mr. Harrison all attack the Mansfield, Mc- Murray & Cornish connection with the citizenship cases, and the fact is there is not one claimant that the Harrison bill would reach whose name has ever been on the rolls of citizenship of the Choctaw and Chickasaw Nations. Therefore, Mr. McMurray's fee and his attitude towai-d those per- sons whose names were stricken from the rolls had absolutely no 38 ENROLLMENT IN THE FIVE CIVILIZED TRIBES- connection with the claimants whose cases are now being presented to this committee; and it is misleading to tell the Congress of the United States that these people down in Mississippi were deprived of their right of citizenship because of the fact that a firm of at- torneys got a percentage of the amount that each one of those people would have been given if they had been enrolled for ex- cluding them. It is unfair to tell Congress that that condition existed, because it did not exist. Mr. Carter. Did Mr. McMurray or his firm ever have any con- tract of any character by which they were to assist in excluding Mis- sissippi Choctaws from the roll ? Mr. Hurley. Mansfield, McMurray & Cornish had a general con- tract to represent the nation. They received under that contract, as I am receiving now, a yearly salary for representing the nation in all matters. But they never had a contract that gave them a fee for the number of INIississippi Choctaws they might exclude from the roll. Their percentage fee was based entirely upon the number of persons whose names were upon the roll that they could have stricken from the roll. The names of these Mississippi Choctaws have never been upon the roll. Mr. Carter. Was that the only contract they had in relation to enrollment matters? Mr. Hurley, Yes, sir. Mr. Carter. Their other contract was for the purpose of collecting royalties and representing the tribe in contentions they may have with the United States Government, was it not — their annual con- tract? Mr. Hurley. Yes, sir. Mr. Harrison. Mr. Chairman, why would it not be a good idea, at some place in these hearings, to insert those McMurray contracts. Mr. Carter. They are in two or three hearings now. Mr. Harrison. In these hearings? Mr. Carter. No; not in this hearing, but in the Burke investi- gating committee hearings. Mr. Hurley. Mr. Cantwell made the statement before this com- mittee that Mr. McMurray at one time called upon United States troops to eject the Mississippi Choctaws who had come to Missis- sippi from the Choctaw Nation. Mr. Harrison also, in his address, made the statement that a number of these people did come over to the Indian Territory and that the firm of Mansfield, McMurray & Cornish secured an injunction against them and prevented their enrollment. He also stated that when the Mississippi Choctaws came to the Choctav/ Nation they were not given any land to settle upon and were treated as intruders and ejected from the nation. On account of these statements the opinion seems to prevail among the Members of Congress that there were some Mississippi Choctaws who at some place and some time in the history of these citizenship proceedings were ejected from the nation. There was a man named Bounds, who settled near the town of Kiowa and started to fencing a great tract of land and making a big pasture. He was doing this just about the time the allotment in severalty was commenced. When asked his authority he said he represented people living in Mississippi, claimants to citizenship. He was enjoined from fencing the land until such time as those ENEOLLMENT IN THE FIVE CIVILIZED TEIBES. 39 claimants should come and establish a residence and prove their right to enrollment. It was held that those people had no right to hire an agent to settle upon land in Indian Territory when their own residence there was required as a condition precedent to citi- zenship in the nation. I defy Mr. Harrison and Mr. Cantwell — they both talk a lot about putting Mississippi Choctaws out by force — I defy you, Mr. Har- rison, to cite me the name of one person, just one person, claiming as a Mississippi Choctaw who was ever removed from the Choc- taw Nation by injunction proceedings, by a police force, or by United States soldiers, or anyone else. The fact is that there never has been a Mississippi Choctaw forcibly removed from the Choctaw Nation. I v.ill consider Mr. Harrison's statement about the net-proceeds case later during my argument. I will give no more attention to Mr. Harrison's address at this time Mr. Harrison. You are making a very good speech when you quote my speech there. I was in hopes you would keep it up. Mr. Hurley (continuing). Only to say that I believe I have shown this, that the statements upon which Mr. Harrison relies as facts and by which he attempts to convince men that they should support his bill are — First. He states as a fact that the tribes have never interposed any bar against the enrollment of the Mississippi Choctaws. That statement is not borne out by the facts. I read into the record this morning an act of the Choctaw Council which refutes without fur- ther argument the statement made by him. His major premise, therefore, does not exist in fact. His second premise is that no one could be enrolled under section 41 of the supplemental agreement who was not a descendant of a patentee, and that by reason of this law his constituents were ex- cluded. The fact is, as shown by the Jim Gift decision, that any person who could show that he was a descendant of a fourteenth-article claimant, either a patentee or a scrippee — and there were 4,161 scrip- pees and patentees — and who would remove to the Choctaw Nation, was entitled to enrollment under the supplemental agreement. The fact is that 1,627 persons, most of whom were full bloods, were enrolled under the provisions of that act. The necessity of proving their rights as descendants of fourteenth-article claimants was waived by that act as to full bloods, and they were enrolled without proof of their rights to enrollment. This entirely refutes Mr. Harrison's statement that no one but the descendants of the 143 patentees could be enrolled under that act. Third. He states as a fact that they had a right to enrollment as citizens of the Choctaw Nation without removal to the nation. The facts is that every commission and every court that has ever passed upon that question — with the possible exception of an ex parte opinion by Judge Townsend, which was afterwards reversed by the same judge— has held that no Mississippi Choctaw or other nonresi- dent Indian was entitled to enrollment as a citizen of the Choctaw Nation without first having moved to and established a residence within the confines of the tribe. 40 ENROLLMENT IN THE FIVE CIVILIZED TEIBES. Thus it will be seen that every argument that Mr. Harrison has advanced in favor of the enrollment of his constituents is based upon a premise that does not exist in fact. Mr. Post. What became of that class of Mississippi Choctaws who were not descendants of either the patentees or scrippees? Mr. Hurley. The class of Mississippi Choctaws who w^ere not descendants of patentees or crippees? I presume you mean the de- scendants of nineteenth-article and supplemental-article Indians under the treaty of 1830? Mr. Post. Well, I assume that some Indians were entirely left out of any provision of the treaty. Is that a fact or not ? Mr. HuPLEv. Well, there were, outside of the nineteenth-article and supplemental-article Indians — those are the Indians who were given tracts of land from 640 to 2,000 acres; chiefs and mingoes and headmen of the tribe; those were not fourteenth-article claimants. There were, however, 291— in one place in the decision it says 292 — heads of families who were not nineteenth or other article claimants, and who did claim under the fourteenth article, but were rejected. And they consequently received neither scrip nor money under the fourteenth article, nor land under the nineteenth and other articles of the treaty. Is that the class to which you refer? Mr. Post. That is the class to which 1 referred. What provision has ever been made as to that class? Mr. Hur^LEY. To answer your question, Mr. Post, I will quote from the decision of the Court of Claims, which appears at page 97, vol- ume 21, of the Reports of the Court of Claims: An examination of tlie findings in reference to the commission under the act referred to will show that, like the commission under the former acts, they had, consistent with the legal interests of the United States, a disposition to deal with the claimants in the broadest spirit of liberality and fairness. They served no policy save an examination of the claims according to the rules best calculated to ascertain the truth. And in another part it says : On June 16. 1845, the commission, under the act of 1842, reported that all Choctaw claims arising under the fourteenth article of the treaty presented in correct form h;)d been fully determined. Some few cases not adjusted for want of legal requisites. Finding 13 shows that the whole number of heads of families making appli- cation for and receiving land was 143, by the registration of Ward, amended by the addition of other names and the report of the commissioners appointed under the act of 1842. The number who successfully established their right and who did not receive land out of the reservation was 1,155. The number who failed was 292, making in the aggregate 1,585 claimants. Mr. Carter. What class is this you are reading about now ? I did not catch that. Mr. Hurley. Mr. Post asked me if there were any Indians m Mis- sissippi who did not get scrip or land under the fourteenth article, or land under the nineteenth and other articles of the treaty. I replied to him that there were 292 heads of families, and I read a portion of the decision of the Court of Claims upon the subject. Again, at page 104 of the volume from which I am reading, in the opinion of the court I find the following: The-thirteenth finding shows that the connnissioners appointed under the act of 1842 rejected 292 claims: and it is insisted that these rejections were the consequence of the condition imposed by the third section of the act of 1842. in requiring claimants to show that on the 27th day of September. 1830, he ENROLLMENT IN THE FIVE CIVILIZED TRIBES. 41 had all iuiproveir.ent " in the then Choctaw country, ami that, having and ac- quiring an improvement at the phice and time aforesaid, did reside on the identical improvement, or a part of it, for a term of five years continuously." One of the questions of fact connected with the adjustment of the finding was to determine from the evidence the probable number who were rejected by the board in consequence of the condition prescribed by the act of 1842. We have, as is shown in the latter part of the finding, determined that the heads of families rejected by the conditions of the act of 1842 would aggregate 225.760 acres. Now, those are the persons who attempted to signify their inten- tion to claim under the fourteenth article, who were rejected by the board of commissioners that were sent to Mississippi to determine who the claimants were. When the Choctaw Nation sued the United States Government, it contended that these people were erroneously rejected, for the reason that the condition which caused their rejection was a condi- tion in the act of 1842, which was not a requirement under the treaty of 1830. In other words, under the treaty of 1830, the fourteenth article claimants did not have to show that they owned an improve- ment and that they actually resided upon the improvement, and that condition in the act of 1842 caused the rejection of the claims of 292 heads of families. Now Mr. Post has asked me the question, What did those 292 heads of families get? We have shown that the nineteenth and other article Indians got land : 143 heads of families, under the fourteenth article, got land; 3,885 persons, or 1,155 heads of families, got scrip and money in lieu of scrip. Then the only class of Mississippi Choctaws unaccounted for were the 292 heads of families. At page 1, volume 119 of the United States Supreme Court Re- ports, is set out the finding made by the Court of Claims in the Net Proceeds case, and the first finding is this : For claims under the fourteenth article of the treaty of 1830 not covered by the release of 1852, $417,650. That was the amount of money that the Supreme Court of the United States finally determined was due to the persons who were entitled to identification as fourteenth-article claimants, but who got neither land, money, nor scrip. The records of the Department of the Interior show that a court of claims was established by the Choctaw Nation to determine who should participate in the distribution of the Net Proceeds judgment; and I ask that the act creating that court be inserted in the record at this point. The act is as follows : AN ACT niakinp; distribution of the " net proceeds " money arisinar under Judgment of tlip Court of Claims of the United States rendered on the 16th day of December, A. D. 1SS6. Section 1. Be it enacted by the General Council of the Ghortaio Nation assem- bled. Tliat the principal chief of the Choctaw Nation is hereby authorized to ap- point three competent persons as connnissioners, one from each district, by and with the advice and consent of Ihe Senate, who shall !)e conunissinned by the principal chief, .-ind before they enter upon the disfharge of their duties shall take the oath of ollire ])rescribed by the constitution, and tlii'y shall elect one among themselves chief connnissioner, and shall appoint a clerk and bailiff, and a majority of the commissioners shall constitute a quorum for the dispatch of business. Skc. 2. Be it fiirlhrr enacted. That tlie duty of these commissioners shall be to proceed as .soon as practicable to ascertain the legal heirs of the individual 42 ENEOLLMENT IN THE FIVE CIVILIZED TEIBES. claims that have been adjudicated by the court of claims of the Choctaw Nation under acts of the general council approved 1872 and May, 1875, which adjudication amounted to $825,000. If no reasonable objection appears, the commission shall issue certificates, signed by the commissioners present and attested by the clerk, for the amount of such claims to the person entitled thereto, and the United States Indian agent for the Five Civilized Tribes shall pay such said certificates out of the net proceeds money. Sec. 3. Be it further enacted. That the United States Indian agent for the Five Civilized Tribes is hereby authorized to make requisitions on the proper authorities of the United States on behalf of the Choctaw Nation for sufficient sums of money to pay the liabilities of the Choctaw Nation to the individual claims that have been adjudicated, or may hereafter be adjudicted, by the proper authorities of said Nation, and claims so adjudicated shall be reported to the United States Indian agent for the Five Civilized Tribes by the com- mission. The first requisition shall be for $825,000, to be paid to said agent out of the sum of $1,430,207.15. balance due the Choctaw Nation under judgment of the Court of Claims of the United States, rendered on the 16th day of Decem- ber, 1886, for the purpose of settling the individual claims that have been adjudicated by the court of claims of the Choctaw Nation, under acts of the general council approved 1872 and May, 1875. Sec. 4. Be it further enacted. That said commission, for the better convenience of the claimants, shall hold their meetings at the following places, to wit: In the first district at Poteau Station, Sans Bois court ground, and McAlester, 15 business days at each place. In the second district at the circuit court ground at Sulphur Springs, Nashoba County, 20 business days, and at Uukfatah, in Bok- tuklo County, 10 business days. In the third district at the circuit court grounds, in Jackson County. 30 business days, and at Stringtown, in Atoka County, 20 business days, and in order to give every claimant an opportunity to appear before said board the commission shall hold 30 business days at Tush- kahomma, which shall be the final meeting of said commission. Sec. 5. Be it further enacted. That the clerk shall keep a fair and correct record of the proceedings of the commission, and the bailiff shall serve all orders and commands of the commission and keep order during business hours, and for that purpo.se he is hereby authorized to arrest any person for disturbing any person at the place of meeting, attending to business or for any other purpose, and turn such person over to the sheriff of the county where the meeting is held. Sec 6. Be it further enacted, That said commission shall under no circum- stances make allowance to any person whose claim has been rejected l)y the revisory board held at Atoka in the year 1876, but may, and are hereby required to, examine any new claim that may be presented and, if just, allow the same. Si:c. 7. Be it further enacted. That if a vacancy occurs by death or refusal to serve, the vac.-.ncy shall be filled by appointment of the principal chief; the principal chief shall set the time for the first meeting of the commission, to be held at Poteau Station, by giving 15 days' notice to the commissioners, and the commissioners shall give 15 days' notice before meeting at each place of meeting after the first meeting. Sec. 8. Be it further enacted, That said commission shall receive for their services herein the sum of $5 each per day and mileage, 10 cents per mile, actu- ally traveled in going to and from each place of meeting. The clerk and bailiff shall receive the same pay as a commissioner. The chief commissioner shall issue certificate on the national auditor for the pay of the officers of the commis- sion, and the treasurer shall pay the same. Sec. 9. Be it further enacted. That said commission shall procure at the expense of the Choctaw National all stationery necessary to run the business of the commission ; the chief commissioner shall issue his certificate on the national auditor for the amount necessary to pay for the stationery, and the auditor issue his warrant on the treasurer for the same. For the guidance of the connnission in examining claims and i.ssuing certifi- cates, the principal chief is hereby authorized to immediately procure the roll of the individual claimants that api)ears of record in the Interior Department at Wiishington, D. C, at the expense of the Choctaw Nation, payable on the certificate of the principal chief on the national auditor, and he shall issue his warrant on the treasurer for the same. All expenses incurred by the Choc- taw Nation on account of the Court of Claims shall be refunded out of the net proceeds money after individual claims are paid. ENROLLMENT IN THE FIVE CIVILIZED TEIBES. 43 Sec. 11. Be it further enacted, Tliat the national secretary is hereby directed to furnish a certified copy of this act, one to the Commissioner of Indian Affairs, one to the Secretary of the Interior, and one to the United States Indinji agent for the Five Civilized Tribes; and all acts coming in conflict with this act are hereby repealed, and this act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage. Approved, November 6, 1888. B. F. Smallwood, Principal Chief of the Choctaw Nation. This is to certify that the above and foregoing (pp. Nos. 1-5) is a true and correct copy from the original act now on file in this office. Witness my hand and the seal of the Choctaw Nation this November 26. 1S88. A. Tellf, National Secretary Choctaw Nation. There were former acts of the Choctaw Council on this subject, but this is the important one, as it covers all former acts on the subject. Mr. Post. I would like to hear that, but I have to go to the House for a vote now. Mr. Hurley. But the fact is that this $417,000 was recovered for them, A court of claims was established to find out who they and their heirs were, and that $417,000 was paid to the individuals, or their heirs, who received neither land, money, nor scrip under the fourteenth article. Mr. Post. Paid to them in Mississippi? Mr. Hurley. Part of the heirs were at that time living in Missis- sippi; but the great majority of them were in Indian Territory, in the Choctaw Nation. Now, I do not know whether you want to go more fully into that same question or not Mr. Miller. I believe, Mr. Hurley, that you are going to insert in the record the act of the Choctaw Legislature creating that claim tribunal. I believe that would be a very material thing to have put in. Mr. HuRLEF. Yes; I have put it in the record. Mr. Miller. For the simple reason — this is personal to me — that I have not attended all of these hearings, by reason of duties calling me elsewhere; but when the hearings are completed and the printed record is ready I intend — and I believe the other members of the committee do likewise — to make a careful examination of all the ma- terial submitted. For that reason I think it would be very well, as to such a material item as this, to at least call attention to it in the record. Mr. Hurley. Yes. Well, Mr. Chairman, I really have been some- what reluctant to put so many laws in the record as to unnecesarily burden it, but I believe Mr. Miller's statement is correct, and unless we get these hiws and citations in the record they will not be read when this matter is finally considered. Mr. Carter. Yes; I think an important matter like that ought to go in the record. Mr. HuRLEv. Yes. Mr. Miller. I have found before in these cases that they are argued before and after. And 1 find that in order to get a clear idea of the issues involved in the case it is necessary to have it down in black and white, and have it so that you can anange your facts jn-o and con and balance them back and forth; then you can get something of a 44 ENROLLMENT IN THE FIVE CIVILIZED TRIBES. clear notion of the situation. I do not believe a man can sit and listen to this for years and ever come to a logical result. I do not mean to say that the hearings are not valuable ; they are. But I think the written record is more important than the hearing. Mr. Carter. The hearings are valuable in calling attention to the part you want to hear. Mr. Miller. Yes ; and then you Imow where to look for it. Mr. HuRLEv. I will submit now the act of Congress of March 3, 1837, which authorized the appointment of a commission to ascertain the names of the persons who had attempted to signify their inten- tion of acquiring rights under the fourteenth article, and all other acts under which those claims were considered and finally adjusted. (The acts referred to are as follows:) Chap. XXXIX. An act for the appointment of commissioners to adjust the claims to reservations of land under the fourteenth article of the treaty of eighteen hundred and thirty with the Choctaw Indians. Be it enacted hy the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of Ainerica in Congress assembled, Thnt there shall be appointed by the Presi- dent, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, three commissioners whose duty it shall be to meet in the State of Mississippi at such time and place as the President shall appoint and designate, and there proceed to ascertain the name of very Choctaw Indian who was the head of an Indian family at the date of the treaty at Dancing Rabbit Creek, who has not already obtained a reservation under said treaty, and who can show by satisfactory evidence that he or she complied or offered to comply with all the requisites of the fourteenth article of said treaty to entitle him or her to a reservation under said article; and also the number and names of all the unmarried children of such heads of families who formed a part of the family and were over ten years of age. and likewise the number and names of the children of such heads of families as were under ten years of age, and report to the President, to be by him laid before Congress, all the names of such Indians, and the different sections of land to which such heads of families were respectively entitled, together with the opin- ions of the commissioners, and whether any part of said lands have been sold by the Government, and the proofs applicable to each case. Sec. 2. And br it further enacted. Tl'.at liofore entering upon their duties each of said commissioners shall, before some .ludge or justice of the peace, take an oath faithfully to discharge the duties imposed by this act. Sec. 3. And be it further enacted. That said commissioners are hereby author- ized to appoint a secretary, whose duty it shall be to record correctly all the proceedings of said board and faithfully presei've the same, as well as all depo- sitions and other papers filed before said board, and who shall take an oath to discharge the duties imposed on him by this act. Sec. 4. And be it further enacted. That upon the request of the commissioners it shall be the duty of the district attorney of the State of Mississippi to attend said board and give his assistance in procuring the attendance of witnesses, and his aid and advice in their examination, the better to enable the commissioners to ascertain the facts correctly in each case. Sec. 5. And be it further enacted. That each of said commissioners shall re- ceive, while in the discharge of the duties hereby imposed, a salary at the rate of $3,000 per annum, the secretary a salary at the rate of $1,500 per annum, and the district attorney a salary at the rate of $2,000 per annum, to be paid quarterly out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated. Sec. 6. And be it further enacted. That said commissioners shall have full power to sunnnon and cause to come before them such witnesses as they may deem necessary, and to have them examined on oath: and if any witness shall testify falsely, with an intention to mislead said commissioners, stich witness shall be guilty of willful and corrupt iter.jury, and shall upon conviction before any jurisdiction having cognizance thereof suffer the punishment by law in- flicted on those guilty of that offense. Sec. 7. And be it further enacted. That nothing contained in this act shall be so construed as to sanction what is called contingent locations which have been made by George M. Martin for the benefit of such Indians as were supposed to ENROLLMENT IN THE FIVE CIVILIZED TEIBES. 45 have been entitled to other hiiicls which have been sold by the United States, such contingent locations having been made without any legal authority, it being the true intent of this act to reserve to Congress the power of doing that which may appear just when a correct knowledge of all the facts is obtained. Sec. S. And he it finilicr enacted. That this act shall be in force to the first day of INIarch, eighteen hundred and thirty-eight, next, and no longer. Approved, March 3, 1837 (5 Stat. L., 180). Chap. XIII. An act to amend an act entitled "An act for the appointment of commis- sioners to adjust the claims to reservations of land under the fourteenth article of the treaty of eighteen hundred and thirty with the Choctaw Indians." Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the commissioners provided for in the act hereby amended, or a majority of them, shall have full power and authority to adjourn their sessions to such place or places, within the State of Missis- sippi, as in their judgment the interest of the Government and of the claimants may require such sessions to be held. Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That in the case of the death, resignation, or absence of any one of the said commissioners the remaining two commis- sioners shall have full power and authority to proceed and execute the powers given by this act or the act hereby amended. Sec. 3. And be it further enacted. That the said commissioners shall have all the powers of a court of record for the purpose of compelling the attendance of witnesses, administering oaths, touching matters depending before them, pre- serving order, and punishing contempts ; and shall have power to make all needful rules for the regulation of the proceedings before them, as well as to employ one or more interpreters, and one or more agents to collect testimony for the United States. Sec. 4. Ayid be it further enacted. That for defraying the contingent expenses of the said commission the sum of $5,000 be, and the same is hereby, appro- priated out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated. Sec. 5. And be it further enacted. That the said act shall be and remain in force until the 1st day of August next. Sec 6. And be it further enacted, by the authority aforesaid. That the com- pensation to be made to the district attorney for his services shall be equal to the compensation allowed to a commissioner under the act hereby amended. Sec 7. And be it further enacted, That nothing contained in this act, or the act which this is intended to amend, shall be so construed as to embrace the claim of any Indian or head of a Choctaw family who has removed west of the Mississippi River. Sec 8. And be it further enacted, That if it shall be proved to the satisfaction of said commissioners that any claimant has attempted, or shall attempt, to substitute the child of any other Indian as and for his own, or has attempted or shall attempt, by his testimony, to substitute for the child of any other claimant the child of another Indian, the name of such claimant so attempting to make such substitution shall be stricken from the list of claimants. Approved, February 22, 1838 (5 Stat. L., 211). Chap. CLXXXVII. An act to provide for the satisfaction of claims arising under the fourteenth and nineteenth articles of the treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek, concluded in September, one thousand eight hundred and thirty. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives o) the United States of America in Congress assembled. That the act approved on the 3d of March, 1837, entitled "An act for the appointment of commissioners to adjust the claims to reservations of land under the fourteenth article of the treaty of 1830, with the Choctaw Indians; and also the act approved on the 22d day of February, 1838, entitled "An act to amend an act entitled 'An act for the appointment of commissioners to adjust the claims to reservations of l;ind under the fourteenth article of the treaty of 1830, with the Choctaw Indians,' so far as the same are not repealed or modified by the provisions of this act," be, and the same are hereby, revived and continued in force until the powers conferred by this act shall be fully executed, subject, nevertheless, to repeal or modification by any act of Congress. And all the powiM-s and duties of the conunissioncrs are hereby extended to claims arising under the nineteenth article of the said treaty, and 46 ENROLLMENT IN THE FIVE CIVILIZED TRIBES. under the supplement to the said treaty, to be examined in the same manner and with the same effect as in cases arising under the fourteenth article of the said treaty: Provided, That the salary of said commissioners shall not exceed the rate of $2,500 per annum. Sec. 2. And he it further enacted, That subpoenas for the attendance of wit- nesses before the said commissioners, and process to compel such attendance may be issued by the said commissioners, or any two of them, under their seals in the same manner and with the same effect as if issued by courts of record, and may be executed by the marshal of any district, or by any sheriff, deputy sheriff, or other peace officer designated by the said commissioners, who shall receive for such services the same fees as are allowed in the district court of the United States for the district in which the same shall be rendered for similar services, to be paid, on the certificate of the commissioners, out of the contin- gent fund appropriated by the fourth section of the act secondly above recited, which was approved on the 22d day of February, 1838, and which is revived by this act: Provided, That nothing herein contained shall be construed to revive such portion of the act approved the 3d day of March, 1837. referred to in the first section of this act, as provides for the employment and pay of the district attorney of either of the districts of the State of Mississippi. Sec. 3. And he it further enacted. That when the said commissioners shall have ascertained that any Choctaw has complied or offered to comply with all the requisites of the fourteenth article of the said treaty to entitle him to any reservation under that article, which requisites are as follows, to wit: That said Choctaw Indian did signify his or her intention to the agent in person, or by some person duly authorized and especially directed by said Indian to signify the intention of said Indian to become a citizen of the State, within six months from the date of the ratification of the said treaty, and had his or her name, within the time of six months aforesaid, enrolled on the register of the Indian agent aforesaid for that purpose; or shall prove to the entire satisfaction of the said commissioners and to the Secretary of War that he or she did signify his or her intention, within the term of six months from the date of the ratifi- cation of the treaty aforesaid, if his or her name was not enrolled in the reg- ister of the agent aforesaid, but was omitted by said agent; and, secondly, that said Indian did, at the date of making Siiid treaty, to wit, on the 2Tth day of September, 1830, have and own an improvement in the then Choc- taw country ; and that having and owning an improvement at the place and time aforesaid did reside upon that identical improvement, or a part of it, for the term of five years continuously next after the ratification of said treaty, to wit, from the 24th day of February, 1831, to the 24th day of Februai'y, 1836, unless it shall be made to appear that such improvement was, before the 24th day of February, 1836, disposed of by the United States, and that the reservee was dispossessed by means of such disposition ; and, thirdly, that it shall be made to appear to the entire satisfaction of said commissioners and to the Secre- tary, of War that said Indian did not receive any other grant of land under the provisions of any other article of said treaty; and, fourthly, that it shall be made to appear in like manner that said Indian did not remove to the Choctaw country west of the Mississippi River, but he or she had continued to reside within the limits of the country ceded by the Choctaw Indians to the United States by said treaty of 27th September, in the year 1830, it shall be the duty of said commissioners, if all and each of the above requisites shall be made clearly to appear to their satisfaction, and the Secretary of War shall concur therein, to proceed to ascertain the quantity of land to which said Indian, by virtue of the fourteenth article of said treaty, is entitled to, which, when ascer- tained, shall be located for said Indian, according to sectional lines, so as to embrace the improvement, or a part of it, owned by said Indian at the date of said treaty; and it shall be the duty of the President of the United States to issue a patent to said Indian for said land if he or she be living, and if not, to his or her heirs and legal representatives; and in like manner shall the com- missioners aforesaid ascertain the quantity of land granted by said article to each child of said Indian, according to the limitations contained in said article, and locate said quantity for said children contiguous to and adjoining the improvement of the parent of such child or children ; and the President shall issue a patent for each tract of land thus located to said Indian child if living, and if not, to the heirs and legal representatives of such Indian child. But if the United States shall have disposed of any tract of land to which any Indian was entitled under the provisions of said fourteenth article of said treaty, so that it is now impossible to give said Indian the quantity to which he is putitiprl ENROLLMENT IN THE FIVE CIVILIZED TRIBES. 47 including: his improvements, as aforesaid, or any part of it, or to his children on the adjoining lands, the said commissioners shall therenpon estimate the quan- tity to which each Indian is entitled and allow him or her for the same a quantity of land equal to that allowed, to be taken out of any of the public lands in the States of Mississippi, Ix)uisiana, Alabama, and Arkansas, subject to entry at private sale; and certificates to that effect shall be delivered, under the direc- tion of the Secretary of War. through such agent as he may select, not more than one-half of which shall be delivered to said Indian until after his removal to the Choctaw territory west of the Mississippi River. The said commis- sioners shall also ascertain the Choctaws. if any. who relinquished or offered to relinquish any reservations to which he was entitled under the nine- teenth article of the said treaty, or whose reservations under that article bad been sold by the United States; and shall also determine the quantity to which such claimant was entitled, and the quantity of land which should be allowed him on extinguishment of such claim at the rate of two-fifths of an acre for every acre of the land to which said claimant was entitled, said land having been estimated under this article at 00 cents per acre: Provided, never- theless, That no claim shall be considered or allowed by said commissioners for or in the name or behalf of any Indian claimant whose name does not appear upon the lists or registers of claimants made by Maj. Armstrong, special agent for that purpose, in conjunction with the three chiefs of the three Choctaw dis- tricts, and returned to the Department of War in Januai-y. 1832, and who does not appear from those registers to be entitled to a reservation under said nine- teenth article. Sec. 4. And be it further enacted. That the said commissioners, within two years from the time of their entering upon the duties of their ofHces. and as often as shall be required by the President of the United States, shall report to him their proceedings in the premises, with a full and perfect list of names of all the Choctaws whom they shall have determined to be entitled to reserva- tions under this act; the quantity of land to which each shall be so entitled, the number of claims which can be located according to the provisions of the fourth section of this act, and such as can not be located according to the pro- visions of the fourth section of this act: and the powers and duties of the said commissioners shall cease at the expiration of two years from the time of the first organization of the board; and their proceedings may be terminated by the President at any time previous to the expiration of the said two years. Sec. 5. And he it further enacted. That the commissioners to be appointed under this act shall also ascertain and determine the quantity of land to which any Choctaw or other person named in the supplement to the said treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek was entitled by virtue thereof, and which such person has by any means been prevented from receiving. Sec. 6. And he it further enacted, That if the President of the United States shall approve and confirm the determination of the commissioners heretofore appointed to investigate the claims existing under the fourteenth article of the said treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek, in any case, he shall cause to be delivered to the claimant, if he be a Choctaw Indian, his legal representatives or heirs, certificates, as provided by the fourth section of this act, for the quantity of land to which such claimant shall appear, by such determination, to have been entitled, in full satisfaction and discharge of such claim : Provided, Such deter- mination was made by adhering, in every instance, to the requisites contained In the fourth section of this act: And -provided, also, That said claims, nor either of them, can not now be located, according to the provisions of the fourth section of this act. Sec. 7. And he it further enacted. That distinct accounts shall be kept of the certificates Issued in satisfaction of the claims provided for by this act, and of all expenses attending the execution of the same; and the amount thereof shall be retained and withheld from any distribution to the States. Sec. 8. And be it further enacted. That nothing in this act contained shall be so construed as to authorize the said commissioners to adjudicate any claim which may be presented by a white man who may have had, or now has, an Indian wife or family; and any patent to land which shall issue on any Indian claim under the provisions of the treaty afoi-esaid shall be issued to the Indian to whom the claim is allowed if living, and, if dead, to his or her heirs and legal representatives, any act of Congress or usage or custom to the contrary not- withstanding. Sec. 9. And be it further enacted. That no claim shall be allowed under the fourteenth article of said treaty If the said commissioners sh.'ill be satisfied by 48 ENROLLMENT IN THE FIVE CIVILIZED TRIBES. such proof as thej- may prescribe that said claim had been, previous to the expiration of Ave years from the ratification of said treaty, assigned, either in whole or in part ; and in case of a partial assignment or agreement for an assignment thereof the same shall be allowed so far only as the original Indian claimant was at that date the bona fide proprietor tliereof. Sec. 10. And he it further enacted, That all claims under either of the articles of said treaty mentioned above, or the supplemental articles thereof, which shall not be duly presented to said commissioners for allowance within one year after the final passage of this act shall be thereafter forever barred. Approved, August 23, 1842 (5 Stat. L., 513). Act of Congress approved March 3, 1845 (5 Stat. L., 777). That of the scrip which has been awarded or which shall be awarded to Choctaw Indians under the provisions of the law of 23d August, 1842, that por- tion thereof not deliverable East by the third section of said law in these words, " not more than one-half of which shall be delivered to said Indian until after his removal to the Choctaw territory, west of the Mississippi River," shall not be issued or delivered in the West, but the amounts awarded for land on which they resided, but which it is impossible for the United States now to give them, shall carry an interest of 5 per cent, which the United States will pay annually to the reservees under the treaty of 1830. respectively, or to their heirs and legal representatives forever, estimating the land to which they may be entitled at $1.25 per acre: Provided further. That so much of the law of 23d August, 1842, as is inconsistent herewith is hereby repealed. Act of Congress approved July 21, 1852 (10 Stat. L., 19). For the interest on the amount awarded Choctaw claimants under the four- teentli article of the treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek, of 27th September, 1830, for lands on which tliey resided, but which it is impossible to give them, and in lieu of the scrip that has been awarded under the act of 23d of August. 1842, not deliverable east by the third section of said law, per act of 3d of March, 1845, for the half year ending 30th of June, 1852, $21,800: Provided, That after the 30th day of June. 1S52, all payments of interest on said awards shall cease, and that the Tt'cretary of tlie Interior be, and he is hereby, directed to pay said claimants the .imouut of principal awarded in each case, respectively, and that the amount necessary for this purpose be, and the same is hereby, appropriated, not exceeding $872,000 : Provided further. That the final payment and satisfac- tion of said awards shall be first ratified and approved as a final release of all claims of such parties under the fourteenth article of said treaty, by the proper national auttiority of the Choctaws, in such form as shall be prescribed by the Secretary of the Interior. Act of Congress approved August 30, 1852 (10 Stat. L., 42). That the Secretary of the Interior be, and he hereby is, authorized to examine the reservation claims of the Choctaws known as Bay Indians and of those Choctaws in whose cases the scrip awarded by the late board of commissioners has not been issued ; and where he shall find that such Indians are clearly entitled to land under the fourteenth article of the treaty of 1830, and under the several acts heretofore passed in relation to such claims, he is hereby authorized to extend to such claimants the provisions applicable to such claims in the acts of 23d August, 1842, and of 3d March, 1845. Act Of Congress approved March 3, 1853 (10 Stat. L., 227). That the authority of the Secretary of the Interior to examine the claims of Choctaws to reservations of land under the treaty of 1830 shall extend to all cases recommended by either of the boards of commissioners appointed to ex- amine said claims, and his awards in scrip shall be received by them in full satisfaction of their claims against the Government arising under said treaty, and the scrip thus awarded shall be received as other warrants in payment for any public lands subject to sale at private entry. Mr. Hurley (continuing). I will now submit the act of the Choc- taw Council, approved October 1, 1859, providing for the appoint- ment of a commission to determine those entitled to a portion of ENROLLMENT IN THE FIVE CIVILIZED TRIBES. 49 money awarded by the Senate in the net-proceeds claim. The claim was not paid under the award of the Senate but was paid more than 20 years later under a decision of the Supreme Court. Consequently the individual claims were not paid to the individual claimants under this act of the council. They were paid under the findings of the Court of Claims or commission created by act of the Choctaw Coun- cil of November 0, 1888, which has heretofore been placed in this record. I am submitting this act of the council only for the informa- tion it contains as to the nature of the net-proceeds recovery : An act entitled "An act defining tbe duties and powers of tlie commissioners, the jurisdic- tion of tlio court of claims, fixing tlieir pay, and for other purposes." Section 1. Be it enacted by the General Cotmcil of the Choetaio Nation, That whereas the Senate of the United States has awarded to the Choctaws the net proceeds of the hind ceded by them to the United States by the treaty of Danc- ing Rabbit Creek, September, A. D. 1S30, deducting therefrom the proper ex- penditures for surveying, selling, etc. Sic. 2. Be it further enaetcd, That whereas the Choctaws, by the twelfth article of the treaty of June 22, 1S55, accepted the same in full satisfaction of mUional and individual claims, thereby becoming liable and assuming the pay- ment of individual claimants. Sec. 3. Be it further enacted. That the three commissioners now appointed under section 6 of the constitution and two others to be appointed by the governor, who, after being commissioned and qualified according to law, shall be, and the same are hereby, constituted a court of claims, who, before entering upon the duties of their' office, shall take the oath of office prescribed in the constitution, which oath may be administered by the governor or jtidge of any court of record. Sec. 4. Be it further enacted, That the court of claims shall have jurisdiction over all claims for self-emigration, all claims under the fourteenth and nine- teenth articles of the treaty of September, 1830, and also claimants under the supplement, claims for lost property in emigrating to this nation during the years 1S31, 1832, and 1833, and for property scheduled to the General Govern- ment agents. Sec. 5. Be it further enacted. That all claims against the nation shall be brought within 18 mouths from and after the p.-ibsnge of this act, and not thereafter. Claimants shall have the right to appear before said court of claims in proper person or by attorney: Provided, That none shall be attorneys except those legally qualified to practice before the courts of this nation, being citizens thereof. Sec. 6. Be it further enacted, That said court of claims shall, as well as claimants, have the power to summon any person or persons as witnesses on the part of the nation, and in case the personal attendance of the summoned can not be had depositions may be taken by either party before any judge or other officer legally qualified to administer an oath, sufficient notice being given to the adverse party of the time and place of taking the same. Sec. 7. Be it further enacted. That the court of claims shall choose from among themselves the presiding commissioner, who shall be styled the chief commissioner, and enter the same on the minutes of the coiu't, and said chief commissioner sliall have power to sign the minutes and certify any matter of fact of record in said court. Sec. S. Be it further enaetcd. That the court of claims shall have power to appoint a clerk, by and with the advice of the governor, to hold his office as long as business may require, but may be removed for any good and sufficient cause fr(im office. Siiid clerk shall take the oath of office prescribed in the constitution l)efore any judge of a court of record, and sliall be allowed for his services .$3 per d;iy, payable quarterly out of the National Treasury by certified certificate from under the hand and seal of the chief commissioner of the court. Sec. 9. Be it further enacted, That for preventing errors in entering upon the judgment or orders of said court the minutes of the proceedings every day shall be drawn up by the clerk before the next day's sitting of the court, when the same shall be read in open court and such corrections as may be necessary ni:ide and then signed by the chief conunissioner of the court, and carefully preserved in a well-bound book to be kept for the purpose, if necessary, of 8S855— 15 4 50 ENROLLMENT IN THE FIVE CIVILIZED TRIBES, making a pro rata payment on adjudicated claims of judgment rendered, and the last daj' of each sitting of such court the proceedings of the day shall be drawn up, read, corrected, and signed on the same day as aforesaid. Skc. 10. Jic it further enacted, That the commissioners shall for their services receive $3 for every day they shall he actually engaged in the discharge of their duties as commissioners, payable quarterly out of any funds in the National Treasury not otherwise appropriated — a certificate, under the hand and seal of the chief commissioner, of the number of days and the amount shall be pre- sented to the auditor, who shall issue his warrant on the National Treasurer for the same. And he it further enacted. That the witness or witnesses appearing in behalf of the nation in the court of claims will be allowed 2 cents per mile and 50 cents per day in attending the above said court, out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, on the order or certificate of the chief conunissioner, to the national auditor for the same. Skc. 11. Be it further enacted. That in case any vacancy shall occur in the court of claims, either by death, resignation, or removal from office, the gov- ernor shall have power to fill such vacancy by appointment. Sec. 12. Be it further enacted, That in case of necessity the court shall have power to appoint a bailiff who shall execute all orders of said court and for his services shall receive the same as that of constable for like services. Sec. 13. Be it further enacted. That the said court shall hold its session at the following places, to wit: SkuUyville, one month, conunenoing first Monday in January, ISGO; John Riddle's, two weeks, commencing first Monday in Feb- ruary, 1860; Boggy Depot, commencing third Monday in February, to hold two weeks; Mayhew, three weeks, commencing first Monday in March, 1860; .Tno. Caffrey's. three weeks, commencing fourth Monday in IMarch, 1860 ; Doaksville, one month, commencing third Monday in April, 1860; Lukfatah, one mouth, commencing third Monday in May, 1860; Jessee McKinney's, two weeks, com- mencing third Monday in June, 1860. Be it further enacted, That in case the said court of claims shall not com- plete the adjudication of claims enrolled within specified times then additional terms shall be held by said court ; times and place to be fixed by said court for final and entire adjudication. Approved, October 21, 1859. Now, Mr. Chairman, I will be glad to have any questions in regard to the statement that I have made as to who were the real benefici- aries under the recovery that was made against the United States in the so-called Net Proceeds case. I now ask to be inserted in the record a statement of the account with the Choctaw made by the Secretary of the Interior, in con- formity with the resolution and decision of the Senate of the United States of March 9, 1859. This is the statement which was afterwards approved by the decision of the Supreme Court of the United States. (The statement referred to is as follows:) Statement of account xoith the Choctaw Indians, in conformity icith the reso- lutions and decision of the Senate of the United States of March 9, 1859. Acres. Total area of lands ceded by the Choctaws by the treaty of 27th September, 1830 10,423, 189. 69 Area of reservations " allowed and secured " which are to be de- ducted and excluded from computation in the account 334,101.02 Leaving 10, 089, 038. 67 Quantity sold up to January 1, 1859 5, 912, 664. 63 Residue of said lands 4,176,374.04 Of this residue, 2,292,766 acres have been disposed of under the swamp-land act and grants for railroads and school purposes up to January 1, 1859. ENROLLMENT IN THE FIVE CIVILIZED TRIBES. 51 The proceeds of the sales of the hinds sold up to January 1, 1859, viz, 5.912,664.63 acres, amounted to $7, 556, 578. 05 The residue of said lands, viz, 4,176,374.04 acres, at 12^ cents per acre, amounted to 522,046.75 8, 078, 614. 80 From which sum the following deductions are to be made: First. The cost pf the survey and sale of the lands, viz, 10,423,139.69 acres, at 10 cents per acre $1, 042, 313. 96 Second. Payments and expenditures under the treaty, which are as follows: Fifteenth article: Salaries of chiefs for 20 years___ $12, 921. 25 Paj' to speaker of three districts for four years 354. 66 Pay of secretary for same period- 550. 00 Outfit and swords to captains, 99 in number 4,930.56 Pay to the same, at $50 per year, for four years 19, 604. 65 38, 361. 12 Sixteenth article : Removal and subsistence, per statement of second auditor 813,927.07 On same account, per additional statement made in this office for expenditures from 1838 to date_ 401, 556. 17 Amount paid for cattle 14, 283. 28 1,229,766.52 Seventeenth article : Annuity for 20 years 400,000.00 Nineteenth article: 50 rents per acre for reserva- tions relinquished $24,840.00 Amount to orphan reservations— 120, 826. 76 145, 666. 76 Twentieth article: Education of 40 youths for 20 yenrs - 217, 260. 73 Council house, house for each chief, and church for each dis- trict 9, 446. 75 $2,500 annually for the support of 3 te.ichers for 20 years 50, 000. 00 Three blacksmiths for 16 years. 38,988.86 Millwri^'ht for 5 vears 3,050.00 2,100 blankets 7,496.70 Rifles, molds, etc., to each emigrating wnrrlor 43,969.31 1,000 axes, plows, hoes, wheels, and cards 11,400.20 400 looms 7,193.53 1 ton iron, and 2 hundredweight of steel, annuity to each district for 16 years 8,051.15 396, 947. 23 Twenty-first article: Annuity to W;iyne warriors 1,818.76 3d. Scrip allowed in lieu of reservations, / viz, 1.399.920 acres, at $1.25 per acre 1,749,900.00 V Payments made to meet the contingent ex- penses of the corandssioners appointed to adjust claims under the fourteenth article of the Choctaw treaty of Sept. 27, 1830— 51, 320. 79 52 ENROLLMENT IN THE FIVE CIVILIZED TRIBES. Twenty-first nrticle — Continued. For A^iirious expenses growing out of the location nnd sale of Choctaw reservations, and perfecting titles to the same, includ- ing contingent expenses, such as pay of wit- nesses, interpreters, etc., incurred in ex- ecuting the act of Mar. 3, 1837, and sub- sequent acts relative to adjusting claims under the fourth article of the treaty of 1830 $21,408.36 For payments made for Choctaw account, ^ being for expenses incurred in locating reservations under the treaty with said tribe of Sept. 27, 1830 19,864.00 Total amount of charges 5,097,367.50 When deducted from the proceeds of the land sold, and the " residue of said lands," at 12^ cents per acre $5, 097, 367. 50 Leaves a balance due to Choctaws of 2,981,247.30 Office of Indian Affairs, March 22, 1860. Mr. Miller, Have you a statement showing who the beneficiaries were under the distribution by the Choctaw Nation of the net pro- ceeds recovered? Mr. Hurley. Yes, sir — oh, do you mean the statement showing to whom it was paid? Mr. Miller. Yes; something like that. Mr. Hurley. It was impossible — or I will not say impossible, but impracticable — for me to make an entire list of claimants; but I brought before the committee for examination a record of the claims that were submitted by individuals, and a few of the cases Mr. Miller (interposing). Is that the record that was kept by the board? Mr. Hurley. By the court of claims. Mr. Miller. By the court of claims? You mean the court of claims appointed by the Choctaw Council? Mr. Hurley. Yes; appointed by the Choctaw Council. And I brought a few of the jackets containing the petitions of the individ- ual claimants, stating who they claimed through and the number of heirs now living and the amount of the claim. The decisions are contained in the jackets also, showing the award, the grounds upon which they were made, and to whom it should be paid; and I have the docket here [indicating] showing the time and place of the hear- ing on those claims, and with marks showing the ones that were granted and those rejected. All these things show conclusively that full and final consideration was given to every individual claim to participate in the net-proceeds judgment. The claimants in those cases appeared both in person and by attor- neys; and the warrants were finally issued to the person whose claim was established or to some person appearing for him or her who had obtained from the original claimant, or the heirs of the original claimant, a power of attorney to represent him. Mr. Harrison. Mr. Hurley, you speak now of the part of the scrip that was converted into money, do you not ? Mr. Hurley. No. sir; I have left that subject, on account of a ques- tion asked me by Mr. Miller, and I am now discussing the net-pro- ceeds case. ENROLLMENT IN THE FIVE CIVILIZED TEIBES. 53 I would like to distinguish in the minds of the members of the committee the difference between the $872,000 scrip payment and the payment under the net-proceeds recovery. They were entirely differ- ent transactions. The $872,000 payment Avas the money that was derived through the capitalization of the one-half of the scrip given to fourteenth- article claimants, in 1842, in lieu of land which they should have received under that article, which money was paid to them after their removal to the Choctaw Nation. The muster rolls show that prior to 1855, 3,400 of those scrip claimants did emigrate to the Choctaw Nation and did receive pay there. The rolls showing the payment, with the name of each claimant, the amount received, and the name of a witness or witnesses to each signature, appear in longhand in the office of the Commissioner of Indian Affairs in this city. They are too voluminous to bring up here; and I think it unnecessary to go to the expense of making a copy of the entire matter for this rec- ord, because it would really be too voluminous to go into the record ; but the records are there, and they may be examined by those in- terested. Mr. Post. Why were not the Indians given all the scrip at one time ? Mr. Hurley. The acts of Congress, which I inserted in the record, Mr. Post, during your absence, showed that this condition existed : Wlien the United States Government found that all of the Indians who had attempted to signify their intention to receive benefits under the fourteenth article had not been given the opportunity to reserve their rights, the United States then thought of giving them their land; but it found that the land had been taken up by other settlers, and conditions were such that the Government could not then give them the land to which they were entitled. It was then agreed that the United States would issue to each one of those claimants scrip that would entitle them to take up land on the public domain. One- half of that scrip was issued to those claimants in Mississippi. There was not enough in the public domain there for them to take up Mr, Post (interposing). Well, the scrip provided that they should make entries in any one of four States, did it not ? Mr. Hurley. Yes. Arkansas Mr. Post (interposing). Arkansas, Alabama, Louisiana, and Mis- sissippi. Mr. Hurley. Yes. But right in Mississippi, where the Indians were, they had not this public land to take up. As a consequence the Indians disposed of that scrip improvidently. Mr. Post. Well, the point that I asked you was, Why was not the scrip delivered to them at one time? Why was half of it withheld? Mr. Hurley. AVell, half of it was withheld until the Indians should remove west of the Mississippi River. In other words, the policy of the Government was to effectuate a removal of the Choc- taws out of Mississijipi ; and they were to issue the other half of the scrip as soon as the Choctaws removed to a State west of the Missis- sippi River and had taken up land with the first half on the public domain. But the Indians Mr. Post (interposing). But suppose a Mississippi Choctaw con- cluded that he would locate on public lands in Louisiana or Alabama 54 ENROLLMENT IN THE FIVE CIVILIZED TRIBES. or Mississippi; what provision was made for delivering the other half of the scrip ? Mr. Hurley. Well, as a matter of fact, I do not know that a case of that kind has arisen, and I have read in American state papers a number of the controversies growing out of the issuance of that scrip and that question did not arise. But the pay for the second half of the scrip was not issued until the claimants went to Indian Territory. That was a condition precedent to their receiving the money for the second half of the scrip. Mr. Post. Was there a provision in the act of Congress authoriz- ing the issuance of this scrip to the effect that one-half of it was not to be delivered until they removed west of the Mississippi River? Mr. HuRLF.Y. Yes, sir. I am reading now from the act of March 3, 1845, Fifth Statutes, 777 : That of the scrip which has been awarded or which shall be awarded to the Choctaw Indians under the provisions of the law of the 23d of August, 1842, that portion thereof not deliverable east by the third section of snid law, in these words, " Not more than one-half of which shall be delivered to said In- dian until after his removal to the Choctaw territory west of the Mississippi Kiver," shall not be issued or delivered in the west, t)ut the amounts awarded for land on which they resided, which it is impossible for the United States now to give them, shall carry an interest of 5 per cent, which tlie United States will pay annually to the reservees under the treaty of 1830. respectively, or their heirs and legal representatives, forever, estimating the land to which they may be entitled at $1.25 per acre. Then there is a proviso. Does that cover your point? Mr. Post. Yes ; that covers my point. Mr. Richardson. Well, is it not a fact that the scrip w^hich was delivered in Mississippi went to the attorneys, who had contracts for one-half of what these Indians received? Mr. Hurley. It was ever so in Mississippi, Mr. Richardson; the Indians got very little, if any, of the scrip. It was taken from them by their " friends." ISIuch has been said about the manner in which the Indians have been treated in Oklahoma, but the Indians in Okla- homa have their rights of citizenship in that State and are allowed to exercise those rights. Their children have a right to attend the schools with white children, and they do attend those schools. They have their property and are guarded in their property rights by both the Federal and State governments. Many of them are professional men — bankers and business men ; some of them are State and Federal officials. They are good citizens and have the respect and esteem of the white citizens of our State. A man from Mississippi would not have much to say about the treatment that the Oklahoma Indians have received if he Mould consider the history of the treatment of the Mississippi Choctaws by the people of Mississippi. The fact is that the Choctaw Indians in 1820 owned 14,000,000 acres of land in the State of Mississippi; the remnants of the tribe in that State to-day do not own an acre of that land. It is true 4,000,000 acres of the tract was traded for the land in the West and that the Choctaws west recovered for a portion of what remained, but a great portion was reserved for the Indians who remained in INIississippi. The Indians who remained in Mississippi were then of a resolute, independent character. They are now a downtrodden people, bereft of the spirit of self-reliance and self-respect, their children compelled to attend school with the negroes if they go to school at all. They ENEOLLMENT IN THE FIVE CIVILIZED TKIBES. 55 have been deprived of their lands and driven from their homes by the people of Mississippi ; and in all this the people in Mississippi were aided and abetted by the United States Government. The Mississippi Choctaws have been reduced to a state that is almost peonage ; their intelligence seems to have been entirely dethroned by the conditions under which they have been compelled to live for almost a century. They are now a stolid people, wh'o gaze at the ground with the empti- ness of age in their faces. That is what these " friends " of the Mis- sissippi Chcotwas have done for the Choctaws in Mississippi. These are the " friends " who are appearing here and asking you. to send the money belonging to the Oklahoma Choctaws to Mississippi for the Mississippi Choctaws. For whom do they want this money? For the man to whom they have denied in practice the right of citi- zenship which they gave him under the laws; for the man to whose children they have denied the right to attend the public schools unless they go w^th the negro. What do they ask us ta do now ? They ask us to send to Mississippi the funds that belong to the Oklahoma Choctaws and Chickasaws by every legal and moral right. They say that the Mississippi Choc- taws are in justice entitled to this money. This is a late day for them to talk of justice to the Mississippi Choctaws. I suppose the Texas- Oklahoma Investment Co. was organized for the purpose of doing " justice " to the Mississippi Choctaws. If the United States Government and the people of Mississippi had dealt justly with the Mississippi Choctaws and had accorded them their legal rights, the Mississippi Choctaws would now have far more than any Choctaw or Chickasaw in Oklahoma. It was ever so, Mr. Richardson. The Mississippi Choctaws have never been allowed to get any of the rights that were given them under the treaty of 1830 except those that were given to them by the Choctaw Nation. The United States Government and the people among whom they lived in Mississippi have not dealt justly with them, and if the Mississippi Choctaws have any claim now, it is against the Government of the United States and not against the Choctaw Nation. We will never consent to send money belonging to the Okhihoma Choctaws to Mississippi to be handled by these " friends " of the Mississippi Choctaws. Mr. KiciiARDSON. Well, is it not a fact that the provisions of the bill which was introduced for the relief of the full-blood Choctaws placed their funds, which were proposed to be given them for lands Avhich were to be bought from them exclusively, under the super- vision of the Secretary of the Interior? Mr. Hur.LEv. Mi-. Chairman, the very acts which I have read into the record provided that this scri]), which w\as really the money that was due them for the land that they had not received, should l)e given to the Indians, and it was given the Indians, and it was taken from them by the people of Mississippi. Mr. IvTciiAiiDsoN. Was any of that money given to the Indians liv- ing in Mississippi ? Mr. IIuRiJov. The first half of the scrip was issued to them there. Mr. IviciiAKDsoN. Yes; but after that, which the record shows was in fact given these attorneys, wa.s it not a fact that they refused to 56 ENROLLMENT IN THE FIVE CIVILIZED TRIBES. give them anything more until they removed, and those who did not remove did not get anything? Mr. Hurley. Now, I will be specific in answer to your question, Mr. Richardson. The records relative to those payments to which you refer are easy of access, and they are found in the office of the Commissioner of Indian Affairs and the Auditor for the Interior De]5ai-tment, and show that the sum of $872,000 was delivered by the Government to Philip H. Raiford, Indian agent, under date of Sep- tember 11, 1852. A gent. Raiford, in the month of November, 18.52, turned the money over to Indian Agent John Drennon, and in the same month Indian Agent Drennon turned the money over, on the requisition of William Wilson, Indian agent, who paid out the greater part of the same to persons entitled thereto under the award made by the commission appointed under the act of 1852. Mr. Wilson's accounts are a matter of record in the auditor's office, and show that prior to June 4, 1853, he paid out of this money to individual claimants, under article 14, $686,300 principal and $36,- 530.63 interest. The money was paid to 2,983 claimants, whose names appear on the Wilson pay roll. Agent Wilson turned over the balance of the money in his hands to Douglas H. Cooper, agent of the Choctaws, in June, 1853, and Cooper's account, on file in the same place, shows that to August, 1854, he* had paid out $59,533.94 of this money to 300 individual claimants. The account of Cooper for the last two quarters of 1854 and the first quarter of 1855 can not be found. That is, I have not been able to find them in a search of the records of the Indian Office, although there are other papers there that show that the money was really paid in the same manner as were the first payments to which I have referred; and, of course, there is only a minor part of the money left at this time. Mr. RiciiARnsox, Well, Mr. Hurley, is it not a fact that these persons disbursing this fund, and particularly Mr. Cooper, in their report to the Commissioner of Indian Affairs stated that it was their understanding and their attitude that they were not to pay this money to any persons except those in Oklahoma or in the Choc- taw Nation; and they asked instructions in regard to whether they should pay to any person who came from Mississippi to the Choctaw Nation to receive his payment, with the intention of returning to Mississippi, and they were advised that they should not make any payments to any persons except those who remained in the Choctaw Nation, and that the people in Mississippi did not get any money, and that these figures leave unaccounted for over 1,200 of those claimants who lived in Mississippi? Mr. Hurley. I beg your pardon; it does not leave them unac- counted for. Of course, the records, on account of the outbreak of the Civil War at that time, were incomplete, but it could not leave unaccounted for 1,200 persons. Agent Wilson had paid up to 2,900 of them, in round numbers Mr. Richardson (interposing). Two thousand two hundred, or was it 2,900? Mr. Hurley. I said in rounrt ntmibers, 2,900; to be exact, it was :2.983. That is the number Affent Wilson paid. Now. there were ENROLLMENT IN THE FIVE CIVILIZED TRIBES, 57 other payments after that, and it left but a small amount of the money, probably $75,000, that I am unable to account for. And $75,000 would not cover any 1,200 claimants, when the $872,000 was only to cover 3,885 claimants. So you see there might have been about 150 or 200 claimants that I have not accounted for; but if we could get the entire records that far back we could account for every one of them, because that money was paid out. Mr. Post. Mr. Hurley, in the case of the Choctaw Nation v. The United States they were charged up with this $872,000, were they not ? Mr. Hurley. That is a point I have not yet covered fully. Mr. Post. But the point I want to make is that if they charged up the entire sum it must have been distributed. a Mr. Hurley. Yes; they were charged up with it. The fact is tlint all the arguments that have been made before this committee up to this time — by Mr. Harrison on the floor of the House and by others- have been to the effect that the Choctaw Nation received $8,078,614.80 for damages done the Mississippi Choctaws. Now, that is just about as unfair a statement as a man can make as to the results of that litigation. The fact is that after an ap- praisement the United States Government found that the net pro- ceeds of all the property which the Choctaws had owned in Missis- sippi amounted to $8,078,614.80. Then the United States Government made charges against the Choctaws in the amount of $5,097,367.50 and deducted that from the amount due. Our friends say that we got that money for damages done Missis- sippi Choctaws, and especially the fourteenth article claimants. Mr. Carter. What was the balance there — the net judgment? Mr. Hurley. The balance which the Choctaw Nation finally re- covered was $2,981,247.30. I have put this entire statement in the record before. The fact is that in place of recovering for damages done the Mississippi Choctaws and fourteenth article claimants, whose cases are being presented here, the Choctaw Nation was charged up with every dollar that these people received in scrip, mone}^, and land. Mr. Carter. That they had received? Mr. Hurley. That they received. Here it is [reading] : " Third. Scrip allowed in lieu of reservations, 1,399,920 acres, at $1.25 per acre, amounting to $1,749,900 " — that the ChoctaAvs were charged with because of the fact that it had been given to Mississippi Choc- taws as their distributive share of the Choctaw estate under the fourteenth article. Mr. Carter. How had it been given to them, Mr. Hurley? Is that the scrip ? Mr. Hurley. That is the scrip and the money in lieu of scrip that I speak of. Mr. Post. That is the scrip. Mr. Hurley, it seems to me that there was some discrepancy there. Mr. PIurley. There was a recovery by the Choctaw Nation of $417,000 for Choctaws who claimed under the fourteenth article. This was in the Net Proceeds case. Mr. Post. How do you account for that? Mr. Hurley. Well, as I stated to the committee before, under the act of 1842, under which act this roll of scrippees who had at- 58 ENROLLMENT IN THE FIVE CIVILIZED TEIBES. tempted to signify their intention to remain in Mississippi was made up, there was a provision inserted that the claimant must show, in addition to the fact that he had attempted to reserve his right under the fourteenth article, that he was also the owner of improvements in 1830 and had resided upon the improved land for a period of five years. That requirement was not made by the treaty of 1830, and the requirement excluded from identification 292 heads of families, and those persons did not get scrip or money or land under the fourteenth article, although they were fourteenth- article claimants, and the Choctaw Nation recovered from the United States $417,000 to cover the amount of land or scrip or money those people should have received, and the Choctaw Nation thereupon established a Court of Claims, sought out the descendants of those 292 heads of families, and paid to each individual the amount that they were entitled to of that $417,000. Now, how can anyone justly make a claim against the Choctaw Nation when, as a matter of fact, the nation was charged up with instead of having gotten it — I can not understand the workings of a man's mind who can take the decision and read it and arrive at the conclusion that it was an asset for the Choctaw Nation in place of a charge against them. Mr. Harrison in his statement goes a little further than saying it is an asset. Mr. Post. What truth is there in the statement that that $417,000 was paid to the descendants of the 292 heads of families? Mr. Hurley. I do not laiow whether you were in here, Mr. Post, when I said it would be impracticable to bring the entire record here. Mr. Post. I understand. Do the records show that? Mr. Hurley. The records show that. And I have brought one of the documents here showing the appearance of the claimants, show- ing that each of them had their attorneys and proceeded in the regular way, showing the petition which they filed, the finding which the court made adjudging to each one his proportionate share, finally the vouchers are on file showing that the amount due to each individual was paid to that individual or to an attorney holding the power of attorney from him. To get back to Mr. Harrison's statement in regard to this $8,- 000,000, he says : The Choctaw tribe in Indian Territory sued for $8,000,000 because of Wards' actions and because of the actions of other agents of the Federal Government in not enrolling the people in Mississippi and for defrauding them out of scrip and Innd. And do j-ou know, after taking volumes of testimony and listening to ex- haustive legal arguments, that the United Rtntes Supreme Court awarded a judgment to the Choctaw Tribe living in Indian Territory for approximately $8,000,000? This judgment was paid to the Choctaw Nation in the West by the United States Government, and the amount of the judgment, less the cost of the suit, went into the funds of the Choctaw Trilie. It is now a part of the funds of that tribe. That is the statement made by Mr. Harrison, in the face of the statement submitted to the United States Senate by the Department of the Interior; in the face of the finding of the Court of Claims; in the face of the decision of the Supreme Court of the United States which shows that there was not a dollar of that recovered for damage ENROLLMENT IN THE FIVE CIVILIZED TRIBES. 59 A done to any fourteenth-article Choctaws in Mississippi, except those 292 heads of families who received neither land, money, nor scrip, and the records of the Indian Office show conclusively that every one of those people got the amount of that Avhich they were entitled to. And the $1,749,900 which was paid to the other fourteenth-article claimants was charged up to the Choctaw Nation West. Now, a great deal has been said about why the Mississippi Choctaws who claimed under the fourteenth article, if they ever removed to Indian Territory, should have no right to claim a portion of the annuities of the Choctaw Nation of the West. ]Mr. Post. Before you reach that point, Mr. Hurley, and while you are on this judgment rendered in the Choctaw Nation case, what was the real basis of that suit ? Mr. Hurley. The basis of the suit is set out specifically in the eleventh article of the treaty of 1855, which provided that the United States would attempt to settle with the Choctaw Nation for all violations of treaty provisions between that nation and the United States. It was submitted first to the United States Senate. The Senate called for an accounting from the Department of the Interior; the Senate inade an award in conformity accounting, and paid $250,000 on the award to the Choctaw Nation. In the meantime the Civil War broke out, and the matter was not adjusted, but was referred finally in 1881 to the Court of Claims for adjudication. The Court of Claims held that the finding of the Senate was not conclusive; that the Court of Claims, under its jurisdictional act, had a right to try the case de novo, and it did so; and in place of finding the nation entitled to recover $2,981,247.50 it found that it was entitled to recover only $658,122.32 ; the case was afterwards appealed to the United States Supreme Court, and the nation was awarded the amount which was first awarded by the Senate and what was shown to be due them by the statement made by the Secretary of the Interior. I will go more fully into that now and show what the different items in that judgment were recovered for and the amounts of the different items charged against the nation, if it is necessary; but I have put that statement in the record, and I believe you gentle- men have read it; and if not, I will be glad to have you examine me on any one of those items. Mr. Post. I have read that statement. Mr. Hurley. I would like to cover that question in view of what Mr. Harrison said, to the effect that the Mississippi Choctaws had an equity in the property of the Oklahoma Choctaws, from the fact that 4,000,000 acres of their lands were taken to pay for the Okla- homa L^nds. Mr. KrciL\RDS0N. That was under the treaty of 1830? Mr. Post. Yes. Mr. Ballinger. Right in that connection, I would like to ask Mr. Hurley one question. Mr. Hurley. I would like to cover this point, so that it is absolutely clear to the committee, before leaving it; and if it is clear I will then proceed. Mr. Richardson. There is one thing I want to suggest to you, Mr. Hurley. In my argument in the relation to this case of the cas^ 60 ENROLLMENT IN THE FIVE CIVILIZED TRIBES. of the Choctaw Nation r. The United States I placed more stress on this fact than on the question of the equities in the funds: If the Choctaw Nation recovered $417,000 on account of moneys due 292 heads of families who were Mississippi Choctaws and administered that fund, was not that of itself a recognition by the Choctaw Nation that those people had not given up their rights of citizenship, but were at that time an integral part of the Choctaw Nation, tem- porarily absent from the geographic boundaries of the nation? Mr. Hurley. I grant you this, if this is the point you are trj'ing to bring out : If those people who attempted to signify their intention to claim under the fourteenth article and who were prevented by an un- just provision in the act of 1842 — if they could now show that they are the descendants of those people who were thus excluded they would have had rights as fourteenth-article claimants in the Choctaw Na- tion by removing to and establishing a residence in the Choctaw Nation within the time required — of course they have not any supe- rior rights to the real fourteenth-article claimants. And that was considered in the decisions of the commission ; those people were not rejected when they made applications for citizenship because they had been rejected liy that commission of 1842. As a matter of fact, when all of those people, having neither lands nor money in Missis- sippi, had an opportunity to get land by going to Indian Territory, most, if not all, of them went there and are now enjoying citizenship in the Choctaw Nation. There is one point that has been dwelt on by Mr. Richardson, Mr. Ballinger, and Mr. Cantwell, and that is this, that a great many of those Mississippi Indians did go to Indian Terri- tory in 1852 to get the scrip payment. That is part of the $872,000 we have been talking about. They read into the record a statement from Douglas H. Cooper to the effect that probably two-thirds of those Indians, after receiving their scrip payment, returned to Mississippi. That may be true. But whenever an Indian claimed under the fourteenth article and exercised the privilege reserved to him in that article to remove to Indian Territory he thereby exhausted his claim as a fourteenth-article claimant. He became a citizen of the Choctaw Nation in Indian Territory, and when he then removed out of the nation he was the same as any other member of the tribe who went into another State; he was no longer a fourteenth-article claimant, because in going there to Indian Territory he had exercised the privi- lege that had been reserved to him under the fourteenth article, namely, to remove to the Indian Territory and there to enjoy the privileges of citizenship in the Choctaw Nation. ]Mr. Post. Suppose he had removed there and was not enrolled as a member of the nation and then returned to Mississippi ? Mr. Ballinger. That is the precise situation that they found them- selves in. Mr. Hurley. "Well, the fact is that there were not any enrollments by the Choctaws up to the time of the adoption of the constitution ; there was not any form for admission to citizenship. They were all considered original Choctaws up to that time. Mr. Richardson. Suppose one of the Indians went to Indian Ter- ritory for the purpose of getting that payment, with no intention of becoming a resident or a citizen of the Choctaw Nation, but with an intention to return upon receivino- his money to Mississippi. Do ENROLLMENT IN THE FIVE CIVILIZED TEIBES. 61 you mean to say that a temporary absence from Mississippi for the purpose of collecting a certain amount of money would change his status ? Mr. Hurley. I mean to say that if he did that he intentionally violated the spirit of the law that was enacted for his benefit, namely, the payment to him of $872,000 in lieu of scrip, on the condition that he move to the Choctaw Nation in Indian Territory and establish there a residence; if he went there with the intention of deceiving the officials who were to pay him and of accepting that money and not doing what it was intended he should do — that is, to remain there — then he was violating the very law that was enacted for his benefit. Mr. Richardson. Mr. Hurley, does not the record in the case of the Choctaw Nation v. The United States, volume 2, at page 234, show that they did not go to the Choctaw Nation with the intention of remaining there, and that they did not conceal their purpose, but stated their intention to return, and for that reason they were refused payment ? Mr. Hurley. I am not prepared to say whether it shows that in that form or not; but I am prepared to say that a great many did go and did receive the money and did return to Mississippi. Da you want the case of the Choctaw v. The United States — the net- proceeds case — introduced into this record? Mr. Richardson. Yes; the court volumes containing the testi- mony. Mr. Hurley. I have not the volumes containing the testimony, but you will find them at the court. I only have the decision. Mr. Ballinger. How many Choctaws entitled to the scrip were identified in 1850 or prior thereto? You made the statement that there were 4,200, I think. Is that correct ? Mr. Post. Something over 3,800. Mr. Richardson. One thousand one hundred and fifty-! h roe heads of families: Mr. Hurley. Mr. Chairman, there is no necessity for any con- troversy as to the number of persons found to be entitled by that commission. I have here House Document No. 898, Sixty-first Con- gress, second session, which contains a list of the patentees and scripees, and I will ask the committee to allow it to be inserted in the record at this place. (The matter referred to is as follows:) [Mouse Document No. 808, Sixty-first Congress, second session.] Department of the Interior, Washington, May 6, J910. Sir: Referring to the resolution of the House of Representatives, dated April 19, 1910, in which it was requested that the Secretary of the Interior furnish the House of Representatives with certain information concerning INIississippi Choctaw Indians, I have the honor to transmit herewith, in compliance with said resolution, a list of Mississippi Choctaw Indians who received patents for lands under Article XIV of the treaty of September 27, 1830 (7 Stat. L., 333- 335), and also a list of Mississippi Choctaws in whose behalf scrli) was Issued under the provisions of the act of Congress approved August 23, 1842 (5 Stat. L., 513), in lieu of the lands to which they were entitled under Article XIV of the treaty of 1830 above mentioned. In section 2 of the act of Congress of April 26, 1906 (34 Stat. L., 187), it was provided that the citizenship rolls of the Five Civilized Tribes should be 62 ENROLLMENT IN THE FIVE CIVILIZED TRIBES. completed and closed on or before March 4, 1907, and that the Secretary of the Interior should have no authority to add any names thereto after that date. The records of the department show that on February 1, 1907, there were pending for action in the office of the Secretary of the Interior 130 cases involv- ing enrollment in the Five Civilized Tribes, of vehich 15 were Mississippi Choc- taw cases. From February 1, 1907, to March 4, 1907, inclusive, there were received in the office of the Secretary of the Interior the records and decisions of the Com- missioner to the Five Civilized Tribes in 2,312 cases of enrollment claims in the Five Civilized Tribes, of which 75 were Mississippi Choctaw cases, making a total of 2,442 cases, including the 90 Mississippi Choctaw cases, examined and adjudicated by the department from February 1, 1907, to March 4, 1907, in- clusive. Of the above 2,442 cases, 2,035 were examined and the decisions rendered therein after February 25, 1907, and before the closing of the rolls on March 4, 1907. Most of the 90 Mississippi Choctaw cases considered between February 1, 1907, and the closing of the rolls were what were known as " consolidatetd cases," each involving the claims of more than one family and one of said cases con- tained the applications of 888 persons. The same consideration was given by the department to the 90 Mississippi Choctaw cases as was given to the otiier enrollment cases considered during the same period of time. Prior to February 9, 1907, it was llie practice, in the cases coming up from the Commissioner to the Five Civilizoil Tribes and the Commissioner of Indian Affairs, to examine the complete n-cord in each case for the purpose of ascer- taining whether the finding of facts contained in the decision of the Commis- sioner to the Five Civilized Tribes was in accordance with the evidence, as well as to determine whether the interprolation of the law was correct. On February 9, 1907, however, tlu' then Secretary of the Interior directed the chief of the Indian Territory division, under whose supervision the cases were examined nnd the decisions prepared, that, in view of the provisions of section 2 of the act of April 26, 1906, ho sliould prepare in citizenship cases, with as little delay as possible, letters ntliming the decisions of the Commission to the Five Civilized Tribes and the commissioner to such tribes, in the absence of an adverse recommendation by the Indian Office, when not in conflict with the plain provisions of law. accepting the findings of facts of said commission or commissioner, and where the question involved in any case was not pending before the Assistant Attorney General or the Attorney General. A copy of said instructions are inclosed for your information. Thereafter the records were not examined as to the evidence in the cases, but the finding of the Commissioner to the Five Civilized Tribes as to the facts in each case was .nccepted as true, and the question in each case thereafter con- sidered in the office of the Secretary was whether the interpretation of the law as applied to the found facts contained in the decision of the Commissioner to the Five Civilized Tribes was correct. As careful cnnsidcrr.tion and as much time was given to each case as it was possible to give in view of the number of cases on hand February 1. 1907, and the number thereafter received for adjudication, and the limited time re- maining in which the adjudication of said cases had to be made. A'ery respectfully, R. A. Ballinger, Secretary. The Speaker of the House of Representatives. [Vol. 6, p. 1.".:'., memorandum copies, Indian Territory division.] February 9, 1907. Chief Indian Territory Division : In view of the ]irovision in section 2 of the act of April 20, 1906 (34 Stat., 137), "that the rolls of the tribes affecied by this act shall be fully completed on or before the 4th day of March, 1907, and the Secretary of the Interior shall have no jurisdiction to approve the enrollment of any person after said date." you are directed to have prepared in citizenship cases, with as little delay as possible, letters affirming the decisions of the Commission to the Five Civil- ized Tribes and the commissioner to such tribes, in the absence of an adverse recommendation by the Indian Office, when not in conflict with the plain pro- ENROLLMENT IN THE FIVE CIVILIZED TRIBES. 63 visious of law, accepting the findings of facts of said commission or commis- sioner, and where the question involved in any case is not pending before the Assistant Attorney General or the Attorney General. Respectfully, E. A. Hitchcock, Secretary. List of Ulississippi Choctaw Indians to tchom patents were issued for land under the provisions of article 14 of the treaty of Sept. 27, 1830 (7 Stat. L., S33-335). Patentee. Date of patent. Remarks. A b-be-ho-kah Afa-ma-tubbe Agnes Ah-be-nah-tubbe Ah-chee-non-tubbe. . Ah-chuk-mah-tubbe. Ak-kah-po-tubbe Ah-la-mo-tubbe Ah-no-sa-cubbe Ah-num-po-Iah Ah-to-nee Ah-to-ble-cha Ah-took-lah-ho-nah. . Ah-pa-sah-too-nah. . . Ah-woon-te-nah Ah-wan-to-nah Al-la-tah-ho-yo Amah Anolah Jan. 13, 1846 Sept. 3,1846 Sept. 9,1846 Jan. 20,1,846 Sept. 7, 1846 Aug. 18,1846 do Dec. 4, 1845 14, 1846 24, 1845 4. 1845 5. 1846 4, 1846 Oct. Dec. Dec. Jan. Sept Sept. 7, 1846 Dec. 24,1845 Mar. 30,1846 Jan. 13, 1846 Sept. 3,1846 Feb. 4, 1857 A-nok-ae-tubbe . . Anthle-Honah. . . Asholata Aun-ah-che-mah . Aun-to-tubbe Bah-ne-tubbe Beams, Betsey... Nov. Sept Sept, Oct. Dec 3, 1837 4, 1846 3, 1846 14,1846 24, 1845 Aug. IS, 1846 Nov. 23,1846 Bell, Robert Bo-le-ho-nah Brashears, Alexander. Brashears, Delilah Dec. 14,1846 Jan. 5, 1846 Sept. 17,1841 Dec. 8, 1842 Brashears, Rachel Brashears, Zadock (commonly called Zadock, jr.) Bryant, Louis Buchanan, Charles Buckles, Betsy By-ana Cah-mul-le Carney, Jeremiah Cha-fa-ho-na Chanahaio (alias Oake Chanahajo) Cha-tambee €he-caw (or Che-caugh) Che-niah-yo-ka Chuck-po-tuljbe Christie, W illiam Cobb, Samuel Con-ehi-hee-tubbe Con-na-ho-to-mah Coon-oou-tah-t e-inah Cun-c-mah-tul)be Cun-oon-tani-lje Daniel Durant, Fisher Durant, Pierre Durant , R isseze E-ah-pil-lah Eahambee Eahoo-ka-chubbee Eha-hah-tomah Eia Ela-ba-tubbc. Ela-ba-tubbe. Elah-chubbe. June 21 Mar. 29 Jan. 29 Aug. 20 Feb. 17! Feb. 3: Jan. 13: Apr. 13 Sept. 3 Dec. 14 Sept. 9; Jan. 5 do Dec. 28 Sept. 21 Mar. 20 Dec. 5 Jan. 20 Oct. 14 Aug. 18 Sept. 2 Apr. 13 Apr. 12 May 13 Dec. 14 Dec. 24 Feb. 3: Feb. 3 Oct. 14 Feb. 3 Sept. 7 Dec. 14 Aug. 18, 1841 1842 1840 1841 1838 1847 1846 1848 1846 1846 1846 1846 1,846 1841 1,S46 1845 1846 1,846 1846 1S46 1848 1,848 1848 1846 1845 1847 1847 1846 1847 1847 1846 1846 And 2 children over 10 years of age and 3 children under 10 years of age at date of treaty. In her ovm right and to "Vlcey," her child over 10 years of age, and to "Amy" and "Kitty," her children under 10 years of age at date of the treaty. In her own right and for her 3 chil- dren over 10 and her 3 children under 10 years of age at date of the treaty. For himself and for his children. 64 ENROLLMENT IN THE FIVE CIVILIZED TRIBES. Li.s'^ of Misnssipvi Choctaxo Indians to idiom patents were issued, etc.— ConM. Patentee. Date of patent. Ela-pahoka Ela-nam-tubbee. Eli-o-tubbe Eliza Emah-ho-to-nah Emaiioalona E-me-sha E-ininta-ham-be E-niok-l,ain-be . . E-muck-a-to-na. Ey-ya-tubbe E-ya-la-ko-noh Falissa Feb-e-mah-ho-nah. Fe-lo-ka-chubbe. . . Foster, William... Garvin, Hem-y Garvvin, Benjamin W Graham, Susan or Susanna. Ha-cubbe Ha-la Hall, William Hancock, Caroline D Hancock, .Tubal B Hancock, Mary M Hancock, William M Hardavvay , Hartwell Harris Heccatambe He-o-te-mah Hin-o-la Hi-a-tubbee Hoecalahoma Ho-ka Hok-la-homa Hok-o-lo-chubbe Homer, John Ilotaiahhona Hotah Ho-ta-mah Ho-te-mah-lah Ho-te-mah Ho-te-nah-chubbe Hotiah, Abbah (otherwise written Hoter). Ho-ti-yah Ilo-to-mah Ho-to-man-ka Ho-lubbe Hoo-tubbe Howell, Calvert (aliad Calvin H.). Hoyo Ho-yubl)e I-am-in-tubbee I-ath-le-pah I-bah-osh-tah lllc-ho-nah Im-ah-ho-yo Im-ma-no-a-ho-ka Im-un-no-ubbe I-o-pon-na Isaac Isha (or .Vyaha) Ish-man-tubbe . Feb. Sept. Mar. Sept. Jan. Sept. Jan. Sept. Oct. Aug. 3, 1847 9, 1846 30, 1846 4, 1846 13,1846 9, 1846 13,1846 8, 1846 H, 1846 1271845 Dec. 21,1837 Sept. 7,1846 Sept. 9,1846 Mar. 30,1846 Dec. 1, 1845 June 6, 1844 July 7,1842 Aug. 11,1845 Feb. 7,1846 Dec. 6, Jan. 5, June 29, June 2S, ....do.. ....do.. ....do.. Nov. 23, Apr. 13, Sept. 9, Oct. 14, do.. Dec. 21, Sept. 8, Sept. 9, Dec. 28, Dec. 4, June 29, Sept. 9, Dec. 21, Oct. 14, Mar. 30, Sept. 8, Sept. 4, Jan. 2, 1845 1846 1841 1850 1841 1848 1846 1846 1837 1846 1846 1846 1845 1841 1S46 1837 1846 1846 1846 1846 1851 Mar. 30, Sept. 4, Mar. 30, Dec. 6, Oct. 14, May 9, Sept. 3, Dec. 11, July 17, Dec. 24, do.. Sept. 7, Jan. 5, Mar. 30, Jan. 5, Dec. 11, Feb. 3, Dec. 14, Mar. 30, 1846 1846 1846 1845 1846 1840 1846 1845 1845 1845 1846 1846 1846 1846 1845 1847 1846 1846 Ish-mi-ah do Ish-no-ak-ke Ish-ta-bo-le Ish-te-la-mah Ish-tP-o-nah Ish-ti-hok-ta Ish-tim-e-le-chubbe . Ish-tini-lali-horaah . Ish-to-niah Ish-to-nah Ispia Jan. 30, Oct. 14, Aug. 18, Mar. 30, Jan. 5. Mar. 30 do.. Jan. 13 Mar. 30 Jan. 2 1846 1846 1846 1846 1840 1846 1846 1846 184) Remarks. And to Ko-na-la-hona, Sa-ho-yo, and Ta-na-cubbee, her children over 10 years of age; and E-la-pa-ho-ka, her child under 10 years of age at date of treaty. In his own right and to his 2 children underlO years of age at date of treaty. For himself and 3 children under 10 years of age at date of treaty. And her child over 10 years of age at date of treaty. And to her 2 children (1 over 10 years and 1 under 10 years of age at date of treaty). ENROLLMENT IN THE FIVE CIVILIZED TRIBES. 65 List of MississiiJpi Choctaiv Indians to whom patents tvere issued, etc. — Contd. Patentee. Date of patent. Remarks. Is-te-ubbe. . . . Jan. 5,1846 Dec. 28,1846 Mar. 30,1846 Sept. 30,1844 Dee, 14,1846 Oct. 10,1842 Oct. 14,1840 Sept. 9,1846 Aug. 11,1845 do.. Is-to-noka Jacob James, Adam Jemmv ... Jenkins, Jack John . . .' Joel « Johnson, George Johnson, Mary to S. D. Johnson, 1 of his children. Jonas Apr. 13,1848 Aue. 18,1842 Jan. 5,1846 Sept. 4,1846 Dec. 14,1846 Sept. 4,1840 Dec. 28,1840 Dec. 11,1845 Jan. 12, 1839 Jan. 5,1846 Mar. 30,1846 Jan. 13,1846 Sept. 8,1846 Mar. 10,1843 Apr. 13,1848 Mar. 30,1840 Apr. 30,1848 Oct. 14,1846 Sept. 8,1846 Apr. 12,1848 Apr. 13,1848 Sept. 3,1846 June 21,1839 Apr. 8, 1845 Mar. 20,1845 Apr. 8, 1845 Nov. 18,1851 Jan. 5,1840 Dec. 6, 1845 Aug. 18,1846 Sept. 4,1840 Oct. 14,1840 Apr. 13,1848 do . years of age at date of treaty. Jones, John Jones, Tennessee Kan-che Kanoon-tubbe TCan-o-to-nah . , , . Ko-na-la-ho-na Koo-cha Labrouse, Mathew Lah-bah-tubbe Lah-tubbe T,ap-pa.-tR-mq.h ... Lapissa Lishtfoot, William Lila Low-ah-ho-ka Lu-ock-ho-mah . . : Lush-ho-min-tubbe Machaia Mah-la Martha Matona McGilbrv (alias McOilverrv), John McGUbry (alias McGilverry), John As he had 4 children over 10 years of age at date of treaty, instead of 3 children. And to Susie, her child. And to his 2 children under 10 years of age at date of treaty. McGilbry (other\vise called McGilvery), Lucy McGilbry (otherwise called McGilvery), Turner.. McGilverv, Gordon Mfi-Hh-shan-tah . Me-ah-she-cubbe Me-he-tim-ah Me-she-mah Me-hah Mima Min-ta-ham-bee Mol-a-tubbe Sept. 4,1840 Dec. 4, 1845 Oct. 24,1838 Jan. 29,1840 Dec. 1,1845 Mar. 30,1846 Sept. 2,1846 do Mol-la Muncrief, Sampson Murphv, George Na-con-sha Nah-ho-to-nah Nail, Benjamin Nail, Greenwood L Nail, Marccline do Nelson . . .... Sept. 9.1846 Oct. 14,1846 Nov. 3,18.37 Aug. 18,1840 Dec. 11,1845 Apr, 13,1848 July 17,1845 Dee. 11,1845 Sept. 8,1840 Sept. 9,1840 Jan. 20,1888 Sept. 2,1846 Mar. 30,1846 Jan. 13,1846 Sept. 7,1846 Sept. 9,1846 Jan. 2,1841 Sept. 8,1846 Dec. 5, 1845 Dec. 24,1845 Mar. 24,1841 Dec. 14,1846 No-ah-ho-nah No-a-timah Nok-e-ne-ham-be Nok-o-an-tubbe No-que-ah No-wah-ho-na For herself and for 3 children over 10 years ol age and 2 children under 10 years of age at date ol treaty. Ogalaima Ogleasta Ohoya (or Ohoyo Tom) O-ka-in-chcek-mah Ok-is-tam-beo Ok-la-ho-va Ok-lah-kah-ho-yo Oklanowah O-na-ham-be Ona-hain-taiah Oun-tah-che-ah Oxberrv, James Pah-lubbe 88855—15 5 66 ENROLLMENT IN THE FIVE CIVILIZED TEIBES. List of Mississippi Choctaic Indians to tvhom patents were issued, etc. — Contd. Patentee. Date of patent, Remarks. Paneebba Paress, Antony or Anthony. Pa-sa-chubbe Pa-shah-ho-nah Peb worth , Henry Pe-his-tubbe Pe-tah-ah-mah Pie-yah , Pinson, Betsey Pis-ah-ha-mah Pish-tah-o-nah Riley, Patrick Robertson, Lewis Sahoyo Sa-lah-ma Sampson Shota Sho-tubbe Silas Shallahohoka Sock-a-to-nah Socke-tubbe Sow-ah-tubbe Stabohla (alias Stapolelona). Stanton, Allan Su-Sa Syllin Ta-ho-ba Tah-ho-pe-ah Tah-lah-mo-tubbe Tah-te-nah Tah-pa-nis-sto-nah-ho-nah . Tallawahomibbee . Tanacubbee Tilly Te-he-cubbee To-bla-chnbbe Toby (alias Tobba), James. Toiii, Jim Tom, Jack Tomahoka To-ne Took-lah-tubbe Tiirnbull, "'illiam. Tns-ka-ah-tubbe . . . Tiiskiaha Tussaka Tu-wah-kee Tu-wa-tu-cha Tu-wa-tu-cha Ub-aheni-ah T'n-ah-han-tubbe. . . Un-ah-tubbe Un-ta-hi-o-che ITn-tim-ah-ho-nah. . . Walker, John V'ard, Tobias ^ya-tubbe A'^es-hock-she-homa . V'esley Ya-ha-mah Yem-e-tubbe Yem-ma-hubbe Yem-o-ho-nah Sept. 3,1846 Oct. 11,1843 Sept. 2, 1S4G Dec. 11,1845 May 14,1842 Jan. 20, 184(3 Au?. 18,1846 Sept. 7,1846 .Tuly 2, 1842 Sept. 2,1846 Jan. 13,1846 Oct. 11, 1843 Sept. 28, 1842 Dec. 28,1846 Mar. 10,1843 Dec. 28,1846 Sept. 3,1846 Sept. 4,1846 Sept. 8,1846 Dec. 28,1846 Jan. 20, 1846 Jan. 13,1846 Dec. 24,184.5 Dec. 28,1846 ....do Aug. 18,1846 Sept. 8,1846 Sept. 7,1846 Dec. 4, 1845 Sept. 8,1846 Jan. 20,1846 Nov. 23,1846 Feb. 3, 1847 Dec. 28,1846 Sept. 9,1846 Aug. 12,1845 Dec. 1,1845 ....do Feb. 26,1841 Apr. 4, 1849 Sept. Mar. Oct. Oct. Oct. Dec. Dec. Oct. Mar. July Dec. Sept. Jan. Dec. Sept. June Sept. Dec. Sept. Feb. Sept. Dec. Sept. Sept. 9, 1846 30, 1846 14, 1846 11,1843 14, 1846 14,1846 28, 1846 14,1846 10,1843 14,1848 5. 1845 2. 1846 13, 1846 4. 1845 7. 1846 29, 1841 3. 1846 24, 1845 3,1846 3. 1847 2, 1846 24, 1845 2, 1846 7, 1846 And to his 2 children under 10 years of age at date of treaty. In his own right and to Cun-nah-ho-yo- E-lah-no-la, and Ona-tubbee, his chUdren over 10 years of age, and to O-quah-ha-nah and Cun-nah-la-tub- bee, his children under 10 years of age at date of the treaty. And to Hota-tubbee, his chDd over 10 years of age, and lota-tubbee and E-mo-konah, his children under 10 years of age at date of treaty. And to Sinai Tom, Sophia Tom, Levicv Tom, and Hamah Tom, his 4 chil- dren under 10 years of age at date of the treaty. Patent surrendered and new patent issued Julv 14. 1848. ENEOLLMENT IN THE FIVE CIVILIZED TKIBES. 67 List of Mississippi Choctaw Indians in v:hose hehalf scrip toas issued under the provisions of the act of Congress of August 23, 1842 (5 Stat. L., 513), in lieu of land to ivhich they were entitled under article 14 of the treaty of September 27, 1830 (7 Stat. L., 333-335). Anolata. Aletisteia. Anonitaina. Ashahoma. Alonesa. Anontamla ( or Anotaioub- bee). Auontona. Anointubbee. Anatambee. Ataiahoua. Alamautubbee. Alahoma. Analutnbbee. Alanantubbee. Ahotema. Akouiotubbee. Anocwaatonah. Atanahajo. Apatubbee. AthpotA. Antaniba Aleisteia. Alahotema. Anokcheto. Apolo-apah. Ashatema. Akostellatubbee. Alcbma. Atakohubbee. Altona. Anahoyo. Atabotema. Ashahema. Alanintubbee. Apala hoka. Anciibbee (or Ooncub- bee). Alatahoma. Atbtolahoka. Anontee-na. AUah-bo-te-mah. Ah-fah-nio-ah. Ab-te-ubbeo. Ah-pock-ab-mah-tubbee. Ah-tnb-cbubbee. Ab-te-iih-la-bo-ka. A-o-nab-ba-niab. A-low-a-bo-iiah. Ah-pock-ar-mah. Ah-chali-fab-tnbbee. An-no-sn-tiibbee (or Pes- sahtubbee). A -bou-wa-te-mah. Ah-ta-hah. A-be-ah-t\]bhee. Ah-ne-la-bo-yo. Ah-took-ko. Ah-po-to-tubbee. Ab-no-yo-ka. Ah-chah-fab-le-mah, Ah-ho-te-mah. Ah-lah-ka-tubbee. Ah-fah-ruo-ah. Ah-no-ab-ka. Ab-la-mah-ho-nah. Ah-na-sa. Ah-no-le-cbe-mab. Ab-pok-ab-nan-tubbee. Ab-pa-sab. Ab-no-lah. Ah-lock-ka-cha. Ah-to-nubbee. Ah-la-cbubbee. Ah-to-sboubbee. Ah-min-tubbee. Ah-pah-lab-bo-uah. Ab-lo-co-tiibbee. Ab-took-la. Ah-pab-tubbee. Atb-tubbee. Ah-mesa-cubbee. Ah-pah-sah-te-mab. Ah-mo-gla-tnbbee. Ah-cbi-ah-tubbee. Ab-be-hnb-tab. Ah-sba-la-tnbbee. Ab-bo-la-to-nab. Ah-cbab-pa-tubby. •Ah-nn-ehubbee. Ah-no-fa-nubbee. Abb;i-bn-nnb. Ah-nook-tab-lnbbee. Ab-moon-pis-ab-cba He-tnck-loo-ab). Ah-to-bib. Ab-no-ka. Ab-to-nan-ka. Ah-took-ab-lah. Ah-to-no-bam-bee. Ab-batb-la. Ah-pe sah-tubbee. Ab-lo-min-cbiibbee. Ab-ma k-ba m-nbbee. Ab-no-ab-ha-ciibbee. Ah-no-skoo-nah. Ab-bo-tu-nah. Ah-no-bo-tim-ah. An-tini-nh. A h-na-b on k-bo-nah. Ah-ebuck-ma. Al-me-bo-ye. Ab-bo-imb. Ab-n;i-tiiii-ab. Al-nionn-tnbbee. Al-e-be-niah. Ab-la-che. An-nn-tini-ah. As-sbe-ap-ki-ka. Ah-kab-ne-nbbe. Ab-no-le-cbubbe. An-tble-no-nah. Ah-be-ho-ka. Ab-eba ffa-bo-nah. Ah-cbe-lab, Ah-be-ne-tubbe. Ab-moon-to-nab. Ah-took-co-la (alias An- drew Wier i-e ware). Ab-ta ke-ab-ho-nah. Ab-isb-tini-ah. Ab-bab-ka-tubbee. Ab-be-ho-nah. An-o-ok-mah. Abit-isb-tiah. Ah-to-ko-tubbe. Al-be-isb-to-nah. Ab-che-to-nah. Ab-look-liu-tubbee. A-mah. Ab-no-le-bo-na. Ab-cbo-ab-bo-ka. Ah-sbn-bo-ka. Ab-bab pil-a-ba-ka. Ah-kas-te-ma-tubbee. Ah-noo-se-bo-nab. Ah-to-cbiibbe. Ab-fab-moon-tubbee. Ah-te-ko-fubbe. Ah-nubbe. Ab-took-ab-li-ah. Ah-he-o-ke. Ah-tah-ho-nah. (or Ah-lo-me. Amah. Ah-pe-la-tnbbe. Ah-be-tah-tah. Atb-la-bo-yubbe. Ab-cbe-tubbe. Ab-toke-ab-to-nah. Ab-che-ab-tubbe. Ab-che-bah. Ah-mok-Ie-tnbbe. Ab-he-kah-bo-nah. Ah-yo-mah-te-kah. Ab-io-niah-tnbbe. Ah-booklin-tubbe. Ab-sbal-in-tubbe. Ab-nnik-fil-le. Ab-lo-ko-tnbbee. Ab-took-ln-bo-ka. Ab-fa-ko-iiiG-bo-nah. An-it-ini-ab. . Al-nio-tubbe. Ah-bo-la-tiiii-nh. Ab-tblup-pik-chi-ah. Al-be-bab-tiil)be. Al-be-bo-cbi-ah. Ab-ki-sah. Ab-bo-nab. Ah-cbuck-mah-he-ah. 68 ENROLLMENT IN THE FIVE CIVILIZED TRIBES, Ah-ko-moon-tubbee. Ah-look-la-tubbe. Ali-ka-ko-tubbe. Ah-lo-te-slmbbe. Ah-la-chun-ah. An-ha-tun-ah. Ab-tho-me-ho-nah. Ah-e-nah. Ah-kah-pul-e-tubbe. Ah-to-bo-tubbee. An-be-bo-nah. Ab-pa-sab-bo-ka. Ab-pa -In -bo-nab. Ab-t;ib-bo-n:ib. Ab-cbe-nb. Al-nioon-to-nab. Ab-fab-nioon-tubbe. Ah-sho-nie-knb. Ab-asb-tubbe. Ab-no-ab-bnin-bee. Asb-ba -cam-bee. Ab-ba-to-iiab. Ab-no-sa. Ab-be-ne-tubbe. Al-be-bo-nab. Ab-to-la-te-mah. Ab-tnb-le-bo-nab. Ah-chiah. Ab-cba b-a b- tiibbee. Ab-w;ib-te-ab. An-tnbbe. Ab-lo-sho-mo-tubbe. Ah-bo-te-iinh. Al-be-te-ab. Ab-tab-le-ab. Ab-noo-toni-be. Ah-nook-wnb-ab-too-nah. Ab-ta h-be-le-bo-nah. Ab-to-catcb-a. Ab-unk-fa-la. Ah-no-nb-tn-cnbbe. Ab-e-o-ka -tim-a h. Ah-pe-le-tubbe. Ab-cbe-ah-ho-nah. Ab-to-iio-bo-nab. Ab-pa la-bo-nah. Ab-no-ah-tam-be. Abbe-to-ble-tubbe. An-iik-fil-le-te-mah. Ab-it-is-te-ab. Ab-sbn-cbin-;ib. Ah-le-ho-ka, Ah-tnbbe. Ah-ne-bo-te-mah. Ab-pis-vsal-la. Ab-bo-yo. Ab-nii-yah. Ab-cba-pa-ho-nah. Ab-sbe-lab. Ab-pa -sa -ta m-he. Ab-bi-cbe. Ab-wa-clie-bo-nah. Ab-piik-yo hvibbee. Ab-be-isb-ti-yab. Atuk-lam-be. Ah-pab-lab-bo-nab. Ab-it-ti-yah. Ab-fab-mab. Ab-fa-ko-ma-to-nah. Ab-cbuk-nia-tubbe. Ab-took-bi-bo-inah. Ab-uo-1 a -bo-nab. Ab-koo-cbun-(ubbe. Ab-ebe-le-tab. Ab-cbo-niab-kab. Ab-lo-Diab. Ab-be-bo-nab. Ab-lab-nab-tubbe. Ab-no-ab-tubbe. Ah-took-la-tiibbee. Ab-n ook-we-a b-cbe. Ab-ka-cbe-bo-nah. Ab-nuok-lab. Ab-lo-uja b-tnbbe. Ab-to-hi. Ab-cba-fo-tubbe. Ah-cbe-lab. Ab-pa -sa-bo-nah. Ab-nook-fille. Ab-ue-po-tubbe. Ab-it-ik-ab-ue-wah. Ab-pa-san-tubbe. Ah-fa-ko-nie. Ah-cba-le-tah. Ah-che-ah. Ah-pe-bih. Ab-cba -f o-bo-uah. Ah-nook-fille-hoka. AJi-ne-boon-tubbe. Ab-cbe-to-nab. Ab-hak-po-tubbe. Ash-tubbe. Ahe-min-tnbbe. Ah-fa-no-tubbe. Ab-cba-po-tubbe. Ab-nook-we-ah. Ab-no-sa-tnbbe. Ab-po-to-be. An-cba-to-nab. Ab-no-la-tnl)be. Ab-pa-sa-bo-nah. Ah-no-si. An-tubbe. Abbe-took-cbi-ah. Ab-cbe-ab-so-nab. Ab-took-li-nb. Al-a-te-mab. Ah-nook-fil-la. Ah-nook-buiu-ab. Ab-lo-nin b-bo-nah. Ab-cbnk-nio-bo-yo. Ah-cbe-ab. An -tab-bo-nab. Ah-look-le-tubbe. Ath-ta-lam-la. An-ta-te-niab. Ab-noon-tubbe. Ab-took-lan-tubbe. Abbe-neen-tubbe. Al-noon-tubbe. Ab-cba -kab-hoo-nah. An-chok-to-nubbe. Ah-tbe-ho-nah. Ab-pa-sah-bo-ka. Ali-no-si. Ab-fa-nia-bo-ka. Ab-uook-cba-mah-ho-nah. Al-be-cbef-fah. Ab-cbe-ubbe. Ab-no-]a-bam-bee. Ab-wa-cbe-bo-nab. Ab-waJi-cbe (alias Ah-wab-cbe-bo-nah) . Ab-nook-cbe-to. Atb-ko-la. Ah-tab-sbe-nab (alias Hasb-tab-sbo-nah ) . Ab-po-tubbe. Ab-boni-lab. Al-moon-tubbe (or Oon-a n-cba -tubbe ) . Ab-man-to-nab. Ab-pok-a-mab. Ab-took-a b-la n-tubbe. Asb-ka-nia. Ali-be-ti-ab-bo-ka. Ab-yo-ah-bo-nab. Abbe (or Ah-uab-be). An-an-to-mab. Ah-ne-be-nnb. Ah-chab-le-bo-nah. Ab-f um-a b-took-a-lo. Ab-to-ga-te-mab. Ah-ne-be-mab. Ab-nook-we-ubbe. Ah-pa-lah-to-nah. Ah-toog-la-he-nah. Ab-le-ho-tonah. Ah-to-ble-cba. Asb-cbin-tiibbe. Ash-te-ab-bo-nah. Ab-cbi-ab. Ah-cbin-tubbe. Ab-cbnck-mab-tubbe. Abbe-bo-yo. Ash-ho-nah. Ab-wa n-tubbe. Ah-po-to-le. Ah-took-a b-lan-tubbe. Ah-la-mah-bo-mah. Ah-man-tubbee. Al-o-nia-cba. Ab-pe-ba b-t u bbe. Ab-cbuck-misb-tubbe. Ab-no-ba. Ab-to-be-tubbe. Ab-no-la-cbe-mah. Ab-took-ah-lab. Ah-cbuck-mab-to- tubbe. Ab-to-kab. Ab-take-a b-te-mah. Ab-to-bab-tubbe. Ab-pis-ta-ka-tubbee. An-tah-ba -mah. Ami-yah (or Emi-yah>. ENROLLMENT IN THE FIVE CIVILIZED TRIBES. 69 Ah-wa-tu-nah. Ah-to-lah-tubbe. Ah-che-to-uah. Ah-chick-mah-ho-nah. Ah-lo-wa-tubbe. Ah-huni-nie. Al-be-tl-yah. Ah-po-la-chubbe. Ash-wak-tubbe. Ah-ho-nah. Ah-ca-no-tubbe. Ah-cbe-toma. Ah-che-le-tubbe. Ah-cho-ah. Ah-no-wa b-tubbe. Ah-moon-ti-yab. Ah-cbuk-ma b-to-ka-tubbe. Ah-onk-tim-ah. Ah-oon-tam-be. Ah-tuk-ln-ine-bo-nab. Ab-ba-tam-be. Ah-ta-bubbe. Ah-bo-yo-tubbe. Ah-bo-gla-cba. Al-is. Ah-cba-fon-tubbe. Ab-pa-snu-tubbe. Ah-be-cbunk-tah. Ah-cha-uan-tubbe. Ab-pa-saiu-la (orPa-sam- lee). Ah-bo-nab. Ab-fab-nah. Ab-fun-ne. Ah-pul-e-cbubbe. Ah-bo-ka. Ab-kab-nie-zubbe. Ah-cah-lnb-bonubbe. Ah-pa-nam-tim. Ah-cbuf-fab-take-ubbe. Ab-chunk-ma-bo-ka. Ab-po-la (or Big Billy). Ab-nook-cbin-to. Ab-pa-sa-ka. Ah-tbe-o-hubbe. Ah-ka-na-la-tubbe. An-ta-ho-na. Allice. Ab-to-ko-ah. Al tb-to-ca-bo-nah, Ah-cbuk-a-la. Ab-ca n-non-tnbbe. Ah le-noon-tubbe. Ah mo-te-ah. Ah-pab-ta-tubbe. Ab-be-bo-ka. Ah-pa-kah-tubbe. Al-ca-in-ta. A-num-brilla. Ak-an-nbbe. A-che-ho-ka. Atigustln. Ala-ti-ya (alias Ho-le- te-a). A-be-ha-ya. Ah-nook-fa-lah. Ah-to-sho-tubbe. Ah-pa-bab (alias Johny Walk). Ah-pis-ah-te-mab. Ah-nah-bo-te-uab. Ah-inin-tubbe. Ah-no-sa-cubbe (orNo-sa- cubbe). Ah-cba-cau-tubbe. Ab-lab-ho-ka. Ah-pa-lab-bo-uab. Ah-laJi-tii-mah. Ah-pa-san-tnbbe. Ah-took-ah-lah-him-ah. An-a-in-ta. At-ta-tam-ca. An-ti-kubbe. A-to-ui-ciibbee. A-cba-i-a-tubbe. An-ti-cub-kubbee. Ah-be-bat-tab. Ah-fo-kab-tnbbe. Ah-ne-te-mab. An-ok-cbe-to. Ab-a-wa-la. A-po-la-tubbee. Achi-a. Al-a-la-ko-la. Asb-o-nio-ta. A-hatb-la. Anna. A-ya-to-na. Ah-o-la-ta. Ab-la-ha-ma. Al-a-te-ma. Ano-la-bo-na (alias Yiu- ma-ne-la ) . A-cha-la. Ab-be-eoo-cbab. An-tble-hiibbe. A ns-coon-la -tnbbe Ah-tuk-la-uie-bo-nah. A h-cbo-nian-tubbe. Asb-tubbe. An-tu-nab. Aush-tiibbe. Ab-hi-o-tubbe. Ab-chuck-a-la-mah. A-bu-ta. Amos. An-nn-tubbe. Ah-fa-koma. Al-it-o-nah. Bun-na-ho-na. Bo-lebo-na (alias To-lo- le-ho-na ) . BInia. Butab. Bling-a-tubbe. Ba-niaha. Beck-y. Bi-a-ta. Bil-la. Bab-fo-cubbe. Bab-pbs-sah. Be-lin-go-nah. Beckey. Bun-na-chubbe. Bah-sa. Be-lin-kat-tah. Be-nab. Be-nan-cba-ho-ka. Bah-fun-kab. Ben. Bun-ah-tu-nab. Bimi-ab-t:ib-ka (orTik-be- ubbe), Becka. Bessy. Buch-ah-bono. Be-nan-ebe. Bah-la bo-nab. Bah-bo-te-uab. Bab-te-nab. Bah-ah-nubbe. Bo-la. Bah-na-tnbbe. Ba-ho-nab. Ba-ba-ka. Bab-ka-tubbe. Be-nin-tnbbe. Bah-nubbe. Bell David. Basey. Becky. Bu-niah. Bat-sey. Be-lin-go-nab-gobn. Bah-nah-tiibbee. Bab-tnbbee. Bah-ua-cbe. Be-na-tani-le. Boh-tubbe. Boh-cha-lah. Bi-o-frlab. Bo-ha-le. Bah-na-tnbbee. Bob Captain (aliasMingo- ho-nah). Belink-at-tah. Can-a-ho-YO. Chompah. Cbe-mo-na. Chickasa. Cnn-nea-bo-na. Cnn-nea-tubbee. Charles. Con-sba-tnbbee. Cbis-be-ho-nia (alias Capt. Red Post Oak). Conani-o-niobba. Chonk-choo. Can-on-e-ta-la. Cun-ne-a-tubbee. Choui-pa. Chok-nia-be-ma. Can-cbe-te-ma. Cimnani-an-tiibbee. Can-eha-to-na. Cbll-le-tani-la. Can-cha-bo-ka. Chonnis. Chuffa-to-na. 70 ENKOLLMENT IN THE FIVE CIVIIIZED TEIBES. Can-pa-lubbee. Che-hoiu-bee. Co-cha-tubbee. Cuu-ua-cha. Cun-ne-chubbee. Cah-to-nali. Che-no-lah. Charles. Cbuffa-ta-no-la. Co-lick. Cim-ne-chubbe. Cah-Ia-tubbee. Cnn-ne-ubbee. Ciin-ne-ah-tubbe. Cab-la-tubbee. Cun-ne-o-nab. Cim-ne-ah. Chuffa-tubbee. Cun-ah-he-mah. Carson. Cah-to-nah. Com-pal-tubbee. Cou-noou-taui-lee. Chamis. Cun-ne-ish-to-nah. Charles. Cah-la-bo-iia. Cun-ne-che-nah. Cnn-a-la-to-nah. Cun-ne-mo-nubbee. Ce-lia. Cun-ne-iibbee. Cun-na-see. Cnn-ne-ho-cbubbee. Co-cbiibbee. Cun-noon-ta-mah-ho-nah. Cun-noon-tah-eubbee. Cun-noon-tah-cnbbee. Creesay. Cuu-ne-ta m-bee. Con-cbe-te-mah. Cbab-ley. Ciin-no-nia-tubbee. Cus-cahtick lah (or Yock- a-na-bo-mah). Cbille-tab. Cun-na -mam-lee. Chin-sab. Cun-noon-tab-cbubbee. Chum-tab. Cun-ah-ha-mah. Cni)-e-niani-la. Cun-e-mah-tim-ah. Cun-un-tah-lee. Can-un-tah-mah. Cuu-e-nbbe. Cnn-e-mam-lee. Cun-e-me-yubbe. Co-ah-ho-mah. Cun-e-uiah. Chaffa-to-nubbe. Cnn-e-o-te-kah. Che-kah. Cuu-e-ma h-ho-nah. Chin-alle. Chille. Captain Bob (or Mingo- houia ) . Che-ma-ho-ka. Co-tab. Chal-le. Chak-al-e-che. Cuu-e-te-mah. Con-cheto-nab. Che-po-lah. Chah-hnbbe. Cun-e-ish-tu-nah. Cun-e-o-te-mah. Can-e-tam-le. Chul-le. Coon-oon-tan-te-mah. Cim-uoou-to-mah-Ia-ho-ka. Chah-ah-tubbe. Con-ah-la-chubbe. Che-ho-nah. Chum-pah-te-mah. Ciin-ue-mah-chubbe. Che-ho-te-mah. Cnn-ubbe. Chuf-ah-tam-be. Con-che-ho-ka. Cun-e-mah-tim-ah. Cun-ah-min-chubbe. Chane. Cun-e-mo-nubbe. Chan-le. Cun-e-me-tim-ah. Cun-u-ta-cubbe. Con-she-ho-yo. Chef-fa-to-nah. Charles. Chit-o-kubbe. Chif-fa-ti-yah. Chuf-fa-ho-ka. Chook-mam-le. Cha-le-ho-uah. Chaf-ubbe. Cheffa-to-nah. Che-co-tubbe. Cha-wah-te-ah. Chick-a-mah. Chef-fa-to-no-wah. Cha-lan-tah. Chick-a-sah-ho-ka. Chef-fo-ti-yah. Cho-ho-ka (or Ah-chu- wah ) . Che-mah. Chuk-fy-noo-sa. Chil-le-tam-be. Cbuf-fa-tu-nubbe. Chef-fa-ho-ka. Chick-oon-tubbee. Chif-fo-ti-ya. Chuf-fa-tubbee. Chef-fa h-hin-lubbe. Cun-ne-tam-be. Che-lok-kee. Chiclv-e-mah-ho-yo. Chum-pah-te-mah. Can-o-me-tubbe. Cun-e-ah-he-mah. Cun-e-ah-hok-tah. Cun-e-moon-tubbe. Cou-oon-te-ma h-homah. Cum-un-mubbee. Cun-e-ah-ston-ah. Cousin. Con-ah-Ia-cha. Con-sha-lah. Cun-oun-tam-be. Cun-e-mah-tubbee. Con-e-moon-tubbee. Con-sha-ho-ka. Cun-e-mo-nubbee. Choom-pah. Chum-pah-ho-ka. Chah-e-te-mah. Cun-ne-ah-ho-nah. Con-che-tou-nah. Chum-pah-te-mah. Cun-e-o-to-nah. Cun-ne-te-nah. Che-cah-ta. Cah-po-Ia. Chick-a-sha. Che-mi-o-ka. Cut-tah-ho-chubbee. Che-ah. Chief-fah-tam-lee. Cun-ue-tubbe. Cun-ne-o-to-nah. Chubbee. Chah-la. Com-pa-lubbee. Cnn-ne-ta m-bee. Cut-a-po-la. Chik-mah-em-ah-tubbee. Cun-e-me-to-nah. Cole-Coleman. Colbert. Cham-a-ha-jo. Che-po-ka. Cah-te-mah. Cha-fahn-to-nah. Can-cha-ho-nah (or Tan- cha-ho-nah). Cuffah-lva. Cun-ne-mah. Co-chubbee. Cun-oon-ta-mah. Cun-oon-ta-bee. Che-ni-la-ho-ka. Con-o-he-mah. Con-sha-ho-nah. Cun-oou-ta-kah. Chuf-fa-tubbee. Che-ho-a-to-ua. Cha-cha. Cha-co-nubbee. Co-cha-tam-co. Carson (or Ka-chi-en). Cluif-fa-ta-no-la. Cham-pa -ya (or Sham- pi-a). Choom-pa-ho-ka. Chuffa-tubbee. Cobb Pickens. ENROLLMENT IN THE FIVE CIVILIZED TEIBES. 71 Cobb Auy. Cobb Molly. Chuffa-to-ke-ubbe. Cbook-ab-tal-le. Cnsh-o-uah. Cbil-le-ta. Cim-oou-tick-cah. Ciine-uie-tim-ab. Chok-tah-ho-ma (or Pls- it-ti-yah ) . Cbas-po-bo-nab. Che-mah-le-ho-ka. Cut-te-o-to-mah. Ciui-ne-rue-ubbe. Caleb Jobn. Con-sbe-bo-ka. Cole, Colbert. Cole. Johu. Cole, Augustin. Dyer, Lucinda. Dyer, Nelly. Dyer, Jeremiah. David. Dixon. Davis. . Deunis. Durant. Pierre. Durant, George. Duraut, Vina. Durant. Sylvester. Durant. Jefferson. Durant, Isbani. Durant, Sophia. Durant, Charles. Dyer, Polly. E-o-ta. E-mait-cha-tubbee. Esteeupunna-koka. E-la-ho-yo-ta-nia. E-mach-o-nubba. Em-a-la. E-niam ba. E-la-to-nubbee. E-li-che-to. Ea-to-na. Een-puk-a-nubbee. Eli-lubbee. Ea-lsh-ya. E-niutb-pa-sa-lubbee. E-me-she-ho-na. E3-lo-tu-ne. Ema-ho-na. E-yo-ko-tubbee. E-laah a ho-na. Eli-an-ne-ho-nah. E-n-cbub-bee. E-a-han-tubbee. E-man-o-a-tubbee. Ea-ho-na. E-la-is-te-ma. E-la-cha. E-ma-ho-na. E-lah-ho-te-mah. E-lah-so-quah. E-yok-a-ma-tubbee. E-niock-mabn-tubbee. Eho-ah-to-nali. Eab-la-ho-nah. E-ho-yo. E-ah-bo-ke-ta. E]mah-bo-kah. E-lah-nioon-tubbee. E-a-mock-in-tubbee. E-mo-mah-bo-ka. E-ah-ho-nah. Eah-ho-nubbee. E-nian-te-a b-ho-ka. E-ah-chubbee. E-lam-bee. E-ah-tubbee. E-o-tubbee. E-lab-nubbee. E-low-e-te-niah. El-yosh-moon-tubbee. E-o-nah. E-coffe-tubbee. E-ah-ha-cubbe. E-o-kah-tubbe. E-o-kab-tubbe. E-mak-ko-nubbe. E-lah-ho-to-nah. E-lu-nah-tubbe. E-me-la-chubbe. E-misb-toe-nah. E-lah-e-sbubbe. E-lo-nab. E-o-tim-ah. E~la-yo-kak-tubbe. E-mi-ah-tubbe. E-niath-la-cubbe. E-la-pe-ah. Ela-pe-sa-ho-ka. E-le-ah-ho-nah. E-lah-pnn-ah-ho-yo. E-la-pam-le. E-mah-yah-ste-mah. E-lah-took-am-be. E-la-po-nubbe. E-la-ho-tubbe. Em-ma-le-bo-ka. E-la-ho-ta-ka. E-le-ho-yo. E-ok-tam-bee. E-niith-lubbe. E-mish-ah-ho-nah. E-ah-ho-fbnbbe. E-lu-nubbe. Eah-kiah-ho-ka. E-ah-bo-nab. E-lap-o-tim-ab. E-niale-le. E-lab-bo-tini-ah. E-lab-u-kah. E-ca-we-che. E-lab-pish-te-ah. E-lah-ho-ka. E-lah-in-ini-ah. E-ah-bo-ka -tubbe. E-yak-o-tubbe. E-lah-tam-be. Eah-to-chubbe. E-ah-ho-kah-tubbe. E-lah-ne-bo-nah. E-glen-ubbe. E-lu-nah-tubbe. E-le-no-ah-cbubbe. E-ab-tah-ah-ho-mah. E-le-mah-bo-nah (or La- mah-bo-nah). E-mo-nubbe. E-lah-u-kah. E-cab-le-ho-nah. E-li-o-te-ka. E-klen-ah-tah (or E-glen- ah-tubbe). E-ah-ho-ka. E-ki-o-nubbe. E-lah-ha-cubbe (or Il-ah- he-kah). E-ah-to-nah. E-li-o-te-mah. E-lap-no-wah. E-ah-ho-nnbbee. E-ah-ho-tim-ah. E-li-yubbe. E-yal-a-ho-ka. E-la-pa-subbe. E-la-lo-ma-tubbe. E-lah-ho-nah. E-mab-to-kah. E-le-ab-tubbe. E-la-cha-te-niah. E-ah-he-tubbe. E-ha-la-to-nah. E-la-ho-te-niah. E-me-la-to-nah. E-mock-he-tubbe. E-lah-lie-kah (alias E-la- ha-cubbe). E-ab-tubbe. E-ho-ah-to-nah. E-la-pe-wah-ho-nah. E-ma-che-nh-ho-nah. Eah-eah-tini-ah. E-lah-fe-tu-nah. E-ah-to-nah. E-ah-an-tubbe. E-lah-tah-tubbe. E-as-tu-ubbe. Eli-pipa. E-oh-tah. E-ah-ha -tubbe. E-lah-pah-nubbe. E-ah-le-ho-tim-ah. E-Cah-tah. E-lap-in-tubbe. E-yah-ab-to-nah. E-ia-sbubbe (or Billy N- kon-Sbaw). E-ya-ka -tubbe. E-mish-te-ubba. E-nio-nubbe. E-ne-cun-e-ubbe. E-yah-hubbe. E-cha-pn h-ho-nah. E-lah-ho-yubbe. E-mack-lubbe. E-li-che-tubbe. E-mah-tall-ah. 72 ENROLLMENT IN THE FIVE CIVILIZED TRIBES. E-mah-sha. E-li-chuf-cubbe. E-rue-ha. E-chji-i)o-tubbe. E-lo-ok-cbi-ab. Emo-nubbe (alias Im-mo- mibbe). E-lan-tubbe. E-mah-no-wab. E-mab-bo-to-nah. E-sba-bo-ka. E3-lah-tab-to-nab. E-ho-ab-tubbe. E-lab-be-nubbe. Edmund. E-yak-tubbe. E-yah-be-tubbe. E-misb-tubbe. Elah-pab-ne. E-lab-pis-ubbe. E-le-o-nab. E-Iab-pe-kab. E-yab-isb-to-nab. E-cbab-pab. E-lo-ma-bim-mah. E-ab-bam-be. E-lah-tnbbe. E-lab-bo-yubbe. E-mah-a-lubbe. E-yak-a-che. E-li-bo-kubbe. Esta-bo-yo. E-lah-lo-nia-tubbe. E-cba-po-tubbe. E-lan-to-nah. E-as-ta-bo-nab. E-bak-ah-tubbe. E-yab-tu-nab. E-mi-ya-tubbe. E-mo-na-bo-ka. Ey-ab-li-yab. E-lak-cbe-te- mab. E-li-yubbee. E-bab-took-lah. E-lab-o-tubbe. E-ah-ho-nubbe . E-yan-to-bo-ka. E-hib-po-cbubbe. E-min-te-bo-nah. E-lab-be-mab. E-la-bo-te-ab. E-ab-bo-nubbe. E-lah-pisb-ti-yah. Este-mll-le. E-yak-a-tubbe. E-yi-bo-yo. E-yab-bab-tubbe. E inal-bo-mah (alias E- mab-Ie-bo-mah). E-mab-tam-bee. E-lab-ko-tubbe. E-lab-ke-niah. E-lab-te-ubbe. E-lah-bo-yo. E-ll-to-nubbe. E-ya-le. E-ah-tom-bee. E-li-cbin-tubbe. E-li-be-nubbe. E-la-ba-cubbee. E-lap-no-au-tubbe. E-lab-cbe-bo-nab. E-yab-bam-bee. E-ah-bo-ka-te-mab. Eliee. E-sba-to-nab. E-bu-e-te-tubbe. E-ab-cah-to-nah (or Cah- to-nab). E-mis-tubbe. E-ab-bo-t;e-mah. E-ruan-cbe. E-me-to-bo-nah. E-mo-no-la-cbo-nab. E-bo-ab-tam-be. E-le-o-ka-te-mab. E-lab-yo-kab-to-nab. E-ab-bam-bee. E-lo-mab. E-lab-pisb-ah. E-ca h-no-ab-bo-nah. E-ah-ho-ka. E-lab-to-nab. E-mam-be E-niab. E-lo-nab. E-yab-bam-ba. E-bl-o-cubbee. E-man-cba. E-mab-nln-che. E-yak-ki-ah. E-yab-bam-ba. E-bam-bee. E-ma-cba-tubbe. Eli-cba-tubbe. E-lab-pa-ah. E-liza. E-mab. E-li-tubbe. E-lab-e-mab. E-lo-yab-tubbe. E-lik-bou-ab. E-lah-pio-ubbe. Em-bo-tab. E-ah-te-mab. E-o-kab-tubbe. E-cba-po-tubbe. E-li-an-ne-bo-nah. Ex-ab-kab-bo-tubbe. E-lam-bee. E-mab-lab-te. E-no-wab. E-bim-ma b-la-tubbe. E-ab-sba-tubbee. E-lah-bo-yo-bo-nah. E-ah-lo-bo-nab. E-lo-mon-to-cubbee. E-me-le. E-li-za. Eab-cbe-bubbe. E-lah-tim-ab. E-o-cutcb-ab. E-chab-pah. E-mah-shab-cbubbe. E-ab-bam-bee. E-lah-pe-ab-bo-nah. E-mab-om-be. E-te-pok-a-nah. E-meen-tab-bo-nah. E-li-oon-ab. E-lab-tubbe. E-lap-lk-e-bah. E-yon-tab. B-mipab. E-mo-tbab-tubbe. E-li-o-te-mab. E-lan-tubbe (or Tlsh-o- pi-a). E-a-ebubbe. E-la-ba-lu-ta. E-lo-ni-ab. E-lo-ho-ka. E-liza. E-mo-na-tubbe. E-o ca-tubbe-to-nah (or To-cubbe). E-wbab-to-nab. E-ab-kab-tubbe. E-lah-ma-tubbe. E-la-ba-cubbe. E-la-te-mah. E-mab-lubbe. E-ah-tabn-tubbe. E-ab-ki-ab-to-nab. E-ab-bo-nubbe. E-li-o-nubbee. Eatamla Cbarles. E-miMa. E-la-bo-tema. E-lan-tubbe. E-la-ta-i-ho-na. Ea-isb-tubbe. E-matb-lo-la. Een-ta-ho-ka. E-ma-lubbee. E-no-ka. E-li-za. E3-lo-wa-tubbe. Eliza E-la-took-e-la. E-lo-ma-cbubbe. Ei-la-pa-nubbe. Elijab. Ellen E-o-tah. E-lab-pam-la. E-lab-we-tubbe. E-ye-me-tubbe. E-loom-ah-bo-kah. E3-ll-emah. E-lah-pa-lubbe. E-no-wab, E-me-le-bubbe. E-la-u-ka-tubbe. E-lab-pun-te-mah. E-me-la-bo-na. Faya. Fannubbe Falle-cheto. Fal-a-min-cbubbee. ENROLLMENT IN THE FIVE CIVILIZED TRIBES. 73 Fe-nia-la. Fa-uubbee Fe-tlck-ah-chubbe. Fil-e-ah-tubbe. Fo-kab-lin-tubbe. Fe-temah-ti-niah. Fe-le-kah. Fal-ah-moon-tubbe. Fe-le-nubbe. Fe-le-tab. Fe-lak;i-tubbe. Fil-e-ab-tim-ah. Fo-ko-lin-tubbe. Fah-hab-mab-bo-nah. Full-o-mo-tubbe. Fil-e-mam-le. Fal-lal-mocn-tubbe. Ful-Ie-bo-niab, Fun-ne-bo-mab. Fa-la-moou-tubbe. Fil-e-ti-yab. Fe-lah-moon-tubbe. Fil-e-tubbe. Fo-look-a-cbe. Fisb-o-bo-cubbe. Fo-le-na-te-mab. Fa-lam-e-tubbe. Fl8h-u. Fil-e-cutcb-e. Fa-lam-a-tubbe. Fal-am-a-tubbe. Fal-am-ab-bo-ka. Fil-e-tab-bo-nab. Fal-ab-mo-tubbe. FlUe-moou-tubbe. Fallo-ab-bam-be. Fil-e-mab. Fil-e-to-nab. Fe-le-moon-tubbe. Fe-lem-e-tubbe. Fin-min-tubbe. Fille-tab. Fut-cba. Fil-le-ca-tubbe. Fille-man-tiibbe. Fab-lab-mab. Fan-e-iibbe. Fo-lub-be-cbubbe. Fo-look-a-cbe. FItcb-lk-no-wab. Flsb-ab-be-lubbe. Fab-Iam-bee. Fillubbee. Fil-e-mon-e-ti-ma. Fil-e-mab-tubbe. Fa-lo-mab. Fee-cbubbe. Foster, Tbomas W. Foster, George H. Foster, Elija G. Frazer, Sweeny. Fo-ca-tubbee. George. Gibson. Go-ma-cbubbee. Gibson. Gowin, Betsey. Hol-la-cbee. Him-mo-ka-to-na. Hoya (orAboya). Hotbma. Ha-ma-yo-lubbee. Hotb-ta-ma. Hok-a-tubbe. Ha-o-cbo. Hillubbee. Hoy-e-ta-na. Hoyo-bo-tiibbee. Higb-i-bo-na. Hol-la-cbubbee. Hem-a-cbe-na. Ho-pa-ka-cbe. Hus-be-Mingo. Ho-ka-lo-cbe. Ho-te-ma-ta. Ho-ti-a-ka. Ho-te-mo-na-bo-ka. Hul-tuk-bo-ma. Hollab. Hi-a-ca-to-na. Han-nubbee. Hia-cutcb-ee (orHi-yo-ca- cbee). Ho-ta-cubbee. Ho-but-a-ka. Hi-a-tubbee. Ho-te-o-a. Ho-let-tab-bo-nah. Ho-te-na b-cb ubbee. Hi-ack-co-nubbee. Hick-a-tom-bee. Hi-a-la. Hal-la. Ho-cbe-fo. Ho-te-mab. Hop-pa-la-tubbee. He-ne-a b-bo-uab. Ho-to-man-cba. Ho-ta. Ho-tab-bo-nab. Ho-tam-bee. Ho-lab-tubbee. Han-nab. Ho-ba-cubbee, Hitb-ab. Ho-cubbee. H i m-niock-ab-bee. Hi-ab-la-bo-mab. Ho-te-man-cbubbee. Ha-cbah. Ho-pa-na. Ho-gla. Ha-cho-na. Hick-a-te-mah. Ho-tan-te-ni-ah. Hl-o-tab. Ha-la. Ho-te-nubbee. Ho-to-nah. Ha-cubbee. Hl-o-te-niab. Hun-o-nab-tubbee. Ho-pl-ab. Ho-te-ab. Ho-bab-cba-bo-nah. Ho-te-ab-bo-nab. Ho-yo-pa-tubbe. He-kab-tubbee. Ha-cba. Ho-cbubbe. Ho-nab. Ho-ta-cbe-bo-nah. Ho-lima. Hab-tak-lam-ab. Hock-la -bo-nab. Hun-nubbe. Ho-tim-ab, Ho-ta b-at-tubbe. He-kab-tubbe. Ha-le-tubbe. Hi-ouu-nbbe. Ho-Ia b-ba b-bo-nab . He-kab-ti-mab. Ho-tan-yab. Ho-tisb-tam-be. Ho-tisb-im-ab. Ha-ka-a-bo-mab. Hal-le. He-kak-ti-mab. Hok-la-bo-nab. Ha-o-le-tim-ab. Ho-tim-e-ab. Hah-tak-ubbe. Ha-tick-lilla. Ho-tik-ia. Ho-tab-tab. Hi-ne-ubbe. He-cubbe. Ho-te-ab. He-u-ab-le-tubbe. Ho-to-nab. Ho-ne-tam-be. Hol-ba-tubbe. Ho-ne-mab. He-nab-bo-mah. Hook-e-la. Hi-ab-ka-tubbe. Hatb-la. Hi-o-tubbe. Ho-yo-bo-nab. Hool-lo. Ho-ka. Ho-cba. Ho-te-mi-ab. Hon-oon-tam-ba. Hi-ab-ka-tubbe. Hi-e-le-bo-nab. Ha-lubbe. Ho-tim-ab-cbe. Ha-la -cbe. Ho-te-an-ab. Hota-tini-ab. Ho-lis-ab-tubbe. Ho-yo-ubbe. He-cballe. Ho-pak-o-nah. Ho-te-ab. Hik-it-e-ab-bo-nab. Ho-tin-lubbe. Ho-yo. Hon-ah-bo-tubbee. Hab-be-nah. Ho-yo-nubbe. 74 ENROLLMENT IN THE FIVE CIVILIZED TEIBES. Ho-bah-ta m-tubbe. Hok-e-lo-tnbbe. Ha-took-liibbe. Ho-te-tubbe. Hnsh-e-ho-ruab. Hi-vo-la. Hol-le. Hi-een-ah-tubbe. Ho-le-ti-ah. Holla-ti-yab. Hok-lo-tiibbe. Ho-bab-to-m:ih. Ho-tan-tu-nah. Hi-o-to-nab. Ho-te-mab. Hill-a-tubbe. Ho-lis-so-bo-nah. Hos-to-no-che. Hio-gale. Hi-yab-kubbe. Ho-cbubbe. Han-tubbe. Hiisb-sbook-bo-mah. Ho-te-mab. He-kab-tubbe. Ho-te-mab. Hu s-ke-a b-booc-ta. Heo-te-mab. He-lubbe. Ho-yubbe. Hnb-la-le. Ho-te-nab. Hool-bab-tubbe. Hushe-te-mab. Hok-sa-gee. Hi-yok-ab. Hi-ape-ha-sa. Ho-pi-yab. Hoo-sab-tubbe. Hoo-cbe-mah. Hei tb-lah-tbo-nah. Ho-tiibbe. Ho-mok-o-nubbe. Ho-to-pab-le. Hotb-te-nubbe. Ho-be-ti-yab. Hin-cbe. Ho-te-kubbe. Hotb-te-nubbe. Ho-tubbe. Ho-pab-ka-ho-nah. Hnsb-book-bo-nah. Hi-tuke-pa-ho-ma Yak-i-ab). Husb-e-no-wab. Hl-em-e-te-mah. Hi-o-tubbe. Hi-a-lee. Ho-yubbe. Hasb-ab-i-ta-nab. Hi-a-lee. He-ki-yuable. Ho-te-nab. Hl-en-e-cbubbe. Hah-mook-la-bo-nah. Ho-cbon-cbubbe. Ho-pa-bin-tubbe. Ho-tish-le-ah. Ho-te-yab. Ho-te-uiah. Ho-yo-bo-uab. Hoy-ubbe. Hi-ak-ab. He-yape-ab-ba-jo. Hi-yak-bubbe. Ho-cbe-fo-tubbe. Hol-la-bo-uab. Han-ab-to-uab. Hi-ab-co-nubbe. He-no-nab-tubbe. Hool-bab-tnbbe. Ho-nab. Ha-ba-nah. Ho-nah. Ho-pab-ka-tubbe. Ho-lab-cba. Ho-lab. Ham-bee. Ho-ni-o-nnbbee. Ho-te-mab. Ho-yo-an-tubbe. Hau-ab-mock-ah-yah. Ho-to-ak-ab. Ho-tab-bo-nab. HoD-to-nah. Ho-lab-te-mah. Hoo-nab. Ho-me-bo-tubbe. Ho-bab-tam-bee. Hab-nubbee. Hi-ak-e-tubbee. Han-nubbe. Hool-bab-bo-nah. Hik-e-yah. Ho-nah. Hi-ab-ka-tubbe. He-lubbe. Ha-man-ehe. Ho-kubbe. Hik-ab-cbe. Him-ab-ubbe. He-ka-cbe-bo-nab. He-ab-ka-isb-to-nah. Ho-ka. Hun-nuk-ubbe. Ho-ba-tubbe. Him-niock-am-bee. Ho-te-mab. Hi-a-to-nab. (or Ho-yo-pab. Ho-ta-bo-nab. Ho-tab-lab-ba-mab. Ho-le-ba-cbubbee. Ho-che-nah. Ha-ta-mah-bo-nah. Ho-ka. Ho-te-na b-bo-nah. Ho-pab-kab. Ho-pi-ab-tubbe. Ho-sbin-sbe-bo-mah. Ho-yo-pa. Ho-e-o-na. He-a-ka-ti-na. Hotcb-a-ka. Ho-ba-te-I-a. Ha-tubbee. Hob-tab. Hi-ab-ko-nubbe. Hi-ab-ka-mah-tubbe. Ho-le-to-pab. Ho-ta-cubbe. Hick-a-tubbe. Ho-yo-ka. Ho-to-nah. Hetty. Ho-te-mab. Ho-pi-ab-ho-mah. Ho-uo-que-ab. Hun-oon-pab. Ho-pab-cubbe. Ho-chab. Hong-ki-o. Ha-cubbe. Hoth-te-ma-bo-yo. Hotb-te-ma-ho-yo. Ho-ma-a-cbe. Hik-in-tubbe. Hick-a-tubbe. Ha-yo-pa. Hali-son. Ha-to-na. Ho-ba-tisb-ubbe. Ho-ti-kab. Hok-ta. Ho-ka-lo-tubbe. Husb - to - nubbee ( alias Ae-ma-to-cubbe, alias 0-gle-isb-ti-a). Ho-yo-bo-nubbee. Ho-lin. Ho-na-cbi-to. Ho-cba. Ho-cba. Ho-te-ock-a. Ho-yo. Hol-la. Ho-e-ho-nab. He-ke-a b-bo-nah. He-kab. Ho-ba-te-yah. Ho-to-nah. Ho-cbubbe. Ha-mook-lab-tubbe. He-to-nah. Ho-te-mi-ah. Ho-yubbee. Ho-tam-bee. He-in-tim-ah. Hoo-too-nah. Hoo-la-te-i-a. Hock-lo-hatt-ah. Ho-ba-lah. Ho-yo-ki-ah. Hock-a-la-tubbee. Hasb-ta-sho-nab. Is-te-a-ka-ia-ho-na. Is-tam-ba. Is-tilla-bala-tubbee. la-ma. Is-ti-e-a-tubbe. ENROLLMENT IN THE FIVE CIVILIZED TRIBES. 75 Ish-kumma. Is-taru-ba-la-bee. I«tn-pe-ca-nubbee. Isb-te-mei-a-uubbee. Is-tam-cha. Is-tim-a-la-ho-na. Is-o-gla - te- ma (alias Oclatema - Im - mil - o - bo-na ) . Is-tam-tubbee. Ish-tam-yab. I-ubbee. Is-tam-to-na. Is-ta-ho-la. Iste-man-cba-ho-na. I-o-wa-che. Ick-a-na. Im-iibbee. I-a-tubbee. Im-misb-to-nah. I-a-mah. I-siim. Ish-a-tubbee. I-sim. Isb-te-mahn-a-cbubbee. Im-mab-la-bubbee. Im-mi-e-bo-to-nah. I-ah-nin-tubbee. Isb-wa-cbubbee. I-to-tubbee. Ish-to-mab-bo-nah. Ini-sey. Im-mocb-fo-quab-tubbee. Ish-ton-te-mab. Ick-netb-lo. I-a-bubbee. Ish-tlm-a-so-yo. Im-mab-tba-cbubbe. Is-UD-mab. I-o-glab-tubbe (or Hus- tuk). I-a-mab. Illa-bo-nab. Isb-ta-ka. Ooos-ta. Isb-ta-ho-nah. Isb-sbam-bee. I-ortb-la. Illa-bo-ka. Illa-glab-to-nab. I-a-mab. Ish-te-lah-mab. Isb-wah-ki-yo. Isb-te-mab-ka. I-con-nah. Im-mab-no-wab-bo-nab. Im-mock-kab-bo-nah. lo-pun-na-cbubbee. Ini-mish-ti-yab. I-o-ke-a-to-nab. Isb-tab-sbubbee. Isb-tab-lab. Im-me-bo-ba-tubbee. Isb-to-mablone-chubbee. Ista-min-cha-tubbee (or Mincha). Im-mah-lah-te-mah. Illa-con-a-tnbbee. I-ok-lo-tubbe. I-e-ne-tim-ab. In-pak-nab-bo-nab. Im-ab-illa. lye-le-be-mab (or I-la-bo- nab). Isaac. Im-my. Ik-o-nah-te-mab. Isb-te-ah-bo-nab. Ish-te-lab-ue. Isb-tab-bo-va-bo-nah. Im-ab-le-ho-nah. Isb-lab-bo-ka. Isb-ta-mab-bo-nab. It-a-pe-sab. Isb-te-mi-ab. In-lab-tim-ah. Im-al-to-va. Im-e-lnbbe. Ish-te-mab. Isb-to-me. Is-tubbe-battab. Isb-tu-nah-tubbe. Isb-ta-ab-ho-nab. Isb-tabo-nab. lo-ka-to-nab. Im-pun-ah. Is-sbau-ke-bo-yo. Isb-bo-ni-ye. Ish-tubhe-bo-ka. Im-an-o-tik-a. Isb-tan-we-cbe. Im-ab-bo-nab. Isb-to-nab-cbe-bo-nab. In-lah-tubbe. Im-om-ubbe. Isb-tab-lnbbe. Im-ab-bo-yo. Illa-bo-yubbe. lush-kain-ab. Isb-tal-atb-i-ab. Ish-tal-lab-bo-nab. Im-ab-bo-ka. Is-bo-ka (or Atb-le-bo-ka ) . Ish-tab-yo-co-nab. In-am-be. I-yo-nab. Isb-pab-lab-te. Im-ah-tisb-e-bo-nah. Isb-im-ab-bo-ka. Isb-te-nii-o-nab. In-lab-to-nab. Im-pim-ab. Ish-ti-ah. Ish-tani-nio. Ish-te-me-le-bo-ka. Isb-ti-ab. I-atb-le-pah. Im-ab-le-honab. Isb-ta-lubbe. Isb-te-mi-ah-bo-ka. Is-te-cbe. In-lab-bo-iiab. I-ab-che-bo-nab. Im-ah-tab-bo-nab. Isb-to-ni-ye. Isb-tem-bo-la. Im-uk-tab-nubbe. lUe-tubbe. Im-ab-cbi-ab. Isb-mi-ab-ho-nab. Is-sta-cba. Isb-ton-ok-eu-ab (or Ish. tou-ab-kue-ab, or Nok- we-ab). I-yok-e-tiibbe. Isb-un-ab-bo-ka. Im-mab. I-e-ab-bo-nah. Im-bo-ah-to-nab. Im-i-e-ab-ba-tubbe. Isb-to-ka-ho-tim-ab. Isb-te-me-lubbe. Isb-bo-yo. Im-ok-po-to-tubbe, Isb-tubbe. Ik-io-ne-nab. Isb-ta-lo-la-tubbe. Is-tubbe. Isb-no-wab. Isaac. In-lab-cnbbee. Isb-ab-bok-ta. Im-ab-bo-yo. Isb-tab-bam-me. Ish-ta-uek-la. I-tun-la-tubbe. Is-te-me-cbubbe. Im-ab-no-ab-tim-ab. Ish-tab-tubbee (or Big Jacob). Is-til-i-ab-bo-ka. Isb-ti-o-pa. I-yo-co-nubbe. Isb-te-ab-bo-ka. Im-al-tah-bo-nah. I-ok-la. Isb-tab-book-tah. Isb-tab-tubbe. Isb-ti-ab. Il-ab-cbaf-fubbe. I-a-nab. Im-utb-ta-ha-to-nah, Isb-li-vab. I-o-ko-nnbbe. I-map-kaii-che. Itte-bo-mis-tiibbe. Im-mo-nubbe. Illah-isb-te-iuab. It-ta-mitb-ubbe. Im-me-bo-nab. I-tu-nah. It-ah-ho-bo. Isb-me-ab. Ib-ab-no-wab. lu-cbuk-mab-bo-yo. I-bak-ab-bul)be. I-lab-yo-knbbe. I-ha-kon-bee. lUab-no-la. Iha-gab-tubbe. Isb-te-ma-bo-uab. 76 ENROLLMENT IN THE FIVE CIVILIZED TRIBES. In-too-lah. I-ba-kah-tuhbe. I-lap-ini-hah. Ini-nh-talle. I-ape-ah-tnbbe. I-ik-len-ah. I-yo-ke-nubbe. I-hik-e-tubbee. I-mnt-te-ah. I-ok-Cbe-lio-ka. Im-ab-yab. I-eni-nia. In-tii-la-bo-ka. Isb-to-pah-mibbe. I-lap-o-nab. Ish-tan-te-mah. Ish-ko-cbubbe. I-o-pa-cbee. Isb-la-ho-ka. Ish-ta-bo-la. Im-o-na-ho-ka. I-it-tn-lab. Isb-te-niak-ah. Ik-tab-te-mah. Ish-te-mi-yah. Ish-te-rua. It-e-lak-na. Ik-be-tnbbe. Il-ab-ish-to-nah. Isb-tik-ab-tubbe. In-sha-la-tubbe. Io-yab-bnl)be. I-yab. Isb-tah-pak-niah. I-ask-ka-mah. Il-le-bo-ka. I-oatb-ab. Il-ab-e-mab. Ini-ish-too-nah. I-in-ah-tha-kah. Ini-ab-i-sba. I-m-niil-le. Ik-la n-ab-tab. Ini-isb-le-ah. I-a-cbe-bo-nah. Isb-ti-o-nah. I-hool-bah-tnbbee. I-lah-bo-tubbe. I-hi-o-tnbbe. I-lab-ba-bo-to-nab. I-bab-wa-che. Il-ab-isb-te-niab. I-een-la-bubbe. I-o-ga-be. I-o-knbbe. I-sbam. Isk-te-kubbe. T-ha-ne-ubbe. It-e-ok-cbak-ko. Ish-tab-bo-bo-tubbe. I-yo-mab-bo-ka. I-o-gle-te-mab. Ish tab-bo-cubbe. Ish-te-mab-le-cbubbe. I-yo-nah-te-rnah. Ish-tah-bo-nah. I-lik-e-tiibbee. I-al-ba. Isb-tan-tnbbe. In-tah-bnbbe. Iiu-ah-no-wabbe. Ish-tal-lah. In-lab-tiibbe. Ish-tah-tubbe. Is-te-mi-o-nah. Isb-tesb-tan-be. I-yo-nan-te-nah. Isb-tab-bo-nah. Ik-ham-ab. I-atb-le-pah. Isb-tan-to-nah. Ish-ta-ne-mah-tubbe. I-orth-lab. I-yo-ko-mab. Tsb-ta-beni-ab. I-e-ton-lah. Isb-te-uiab-bo-nab. I-ma tb-pis-a-tam-be. Isb-bo-ya. Ish-tah-a-niah. Isb-tab-be-mah. Ish-tah-ab-bo-mah. I-tin-lab-bim-ab. Is-cbaf-nbbe. I-yo-lab. Ish-tab-bo-nab. Isb-ton-tiii-ab. I-kab-po-liibbee. Im-me-bo-ka. I-an-ta-tnbbe. Jsb-tab-bo-nab. Isb-ti-o-klu. Ik-bm-nbbe. Ish-to-bo-yo. I-o-bon-nbbe. Isb-ten-eab-to-nah. Ik-len-ab. Isb-to-nan-obi. Isb-pab-na. Ish-tini-nii-bo-ya. Isb-a-bo-nab. lo-ka-cbnbbee. Il-la-con-nab-tnbbe. Ish-tin-nio-na-obnbbee. I-co-mab. Tm-ubbee. Im-ninon-tubhee. Ik-ko-iiab-bo-nab. Il-la-mo-to-nab. Im-inab-bo-nab. ina-bo-obnbbee. Im-il-le. Ini-ab-bo-tonab. Is-tim-a b-ba ni-be. I-o-pan-iibbe. In-ab-lnbbo. In-isb-tam-be. Isb-to-nie-ba b-tubbe. I-it-ab-mibbe. Iru-ab-to-nab. I-ok-lo-bnbbe. In-no-tubbe. Ish-ta-bo-lubbe. I-wa-t«-nab. I-ah-ka-bo-fbe. I-yo-bo-nab. Iin-ah-no-le-bam-be. It-e-mi-ya- (or Man-ya). I-yo-wa. Isb-te-cbubbe. Il-le-no-wa. Isb-no-wa. Ini-ma-no-le-ho-yo. Is-stubbee. Im-po-nab. Im-mogla-cbubbe (or O- glab-cbubbe). Im-me-yab-bo-nah. Im-mo-nah-bo-ka- (alias Na-wa). Im-pi-ab. I-o-mab. I-o-gla. Isb-tim-mab-la. I-a-min-tab-bo-ka. Isb-ta-ab-ba-cubbe. Ini-mab-sbo-mah. Il-la-cbe. Isb-tab-bo-pah. Isb-tab-liibbe. It-tab-low-ecbah. Im-mo-na b-to-na b. Im-mo-na-tubbe. Ish-te-mab. Isb-tabn-tah. Im-mab-tiyab. Isb-ti-a-iuab. I-a-nab. Im-nie-sba. Isb-tab-bo-we-cha. Isb-stantbly. Is-te-me-1-a. . Im-mo-na -bo-yo. I-cba. Im-ma-to-bo-bo-na (or A- to-ba ) . Im-mab-sah-che. Is-ton-a-ka. I-o-glah. Ick-g] en-a -bee-cba. Isb-te-ma bo-nab. Il-ie-o-tubbe. Im-al-to-bab. Im-ab-lab-bo-nab. I-o-koon-ab. Ik-be-bn-nab. Im-mab-na-cbnbbee. Im-mis-te-mab. I-mab-pi-sab-timah. I-mab-tab. I-o-ka. I-o-a-bo-ma. Illab-payn-to-nab (or To- nab). I-ab-bo-to-nah. Isb-te-mab. I-la-tnbbe. I-o-ma. ENROLLMENT IN THE FIVE CIVILIZED TRIBES. 77 Jackson. Jack (jiliiis Oua-lubbee) Joshua. Jones, Jenuy. Joel. Jolin. John. John-im-niey. Jackson. Josephus. Jipie. Jackson. Jep. Jefferson. Josey. Jum-pah (or Chum pah). Johny. Jake. Jinny. , Jose. Jim. Joses. Johny. John. Jepe. Jim-Tom. John. Jinny. Jackson. Jones, Levi. James. Kan-she-ho-to-ma. Kan-cha. Kunnea. Ke-yo-cubbe. Kon-the-tubbe. Kan-oon-tubbe. Kon-che-ho-ka. Kan-oon-tubbe. Kan-che-to-nubbe. Kon-che-tam-be. Kun-e-moon-tubbe. Kom-pil-lah. Kon-e-toon-tubbe. Kou-che-ti-ah. Kan-che-ti-ah. Kan-oon-ta-tubbe. Kan-oon-ubbe. Kon-me-mah-ubbe. Kon-oon-tah-tubbe. Ko-tah. Ka-chubbe. Kls-ah-nah. Kon-che-tubbe. Kan-an-ren-tin-tubbe. Kem-ish-to-nah. Kam-pa-lubbe. Kooch-abbe. Ko-mubbe. Kan-che-le. Kun-ne-ahto-nah. Ka-ne-tim-be. Kun-nal-le-tubbe. Kan-cha-tubbe. Kan-che-ma-ha. Kah-ne-tah. Ko-nan-chubbe. Ka-tha-ho-nah. Kan-che-tam-be. Kah-no-ma-ho-nah. Kis-tubbe. Kan-che. Kuu-ne-ah-ho-nah. Koos-ta-na. Knt-tah-hah. Kah-il-le. Ka-tubbe. Kah-non-te-uhbe. Kanche-ho-ka. Kun-e-tah-ho-nah. Kah-po-tubbe. Ke-ille. Kun-ne-a-tubbe. Kam-pe-tubbe. Ka-to-nah. Kah-tam-bee. Ka-yu-hubbe. Kush-oon-an-che-hubbe. Kun-ne-ah-ho-nah. Ka-ha-le-ho-nah. Ko-bah-tom-bee. Kal-so-tah. Kush-ah-nam-bee. Ke-lis-ta. Kah-lo-tubbe. Kik-e-te-mah. Ke-yo-ho-nah. Kan-ah-to-nah. Kun-e-mah-ho-nah. Kush-oon-a-mus-tubbe. Ka-yo-he-mah. Kal-po-tubbe. Koo-chubbe. Ka-o-cubbe. Kun-e-tom-be. Kam-pillah. Kam-pilla. Kon-lvah-noos-ko-bo. Kush-oon-a n-cha-ha-ba . Ko-noo-tubbe. Kun-e-ah-to-nah. Ke-ah-na-chubbe. Ko-tah. Kan - sho - nun - she-hubbe (or Billy John). Kun-ne-ah-ho-nah. Ka-no-yo-he-kubbe. Koo-tah. Kan-cha-tom-la. Kan-che. Kuth-lee-lee. Kun-e-an-che-ha-la. Kun-ah-ho-tubbe. Ko-na-chubbe. Ka-le-ho-na. Ko-ke-i-a. Ka-o-tubbe. Ko-chubbee. Kan-a-ho-te-ma. Kish-u-mus-tubbe (or Ka- lubboe). Kon-che-ho-nah. Ka-sa. Ke-ka. Kan-alle. Koo-cha-tiyah. Kan-che-ho-nah. Kah-no-me-he-mah. Kush-ah-hooc-ta. Kun-o-te-ma. Kurney, Charles, Kon-e-moon-tah. Ken-che-to-ah. Kearney, Creesay. Kearney, Wilson. Kearney, Josephus. La-pin-tubbe. Lewis. Loma. Look-fan-cha. Laris. Lo-sho-ma. Lushta. Lo-ka. Lo-mo-ka. La-pa-sa. Lo-mah-ka. Li-la. Lis-mah. Li-la. Lah-sa. La-man. Lah-pah-ho-nah. Lucy. Lo-ma. Low-ch-te-mah. La-sho-mah. La-mah. Ll-za. Lah-sa. Lah-po-ka. Lo-ma h-ta-ka. Lah-pa h-te-mah. Lush-pam-le. Look-o-la-tubbe. La-po-te-mah. Le-ah-ho-nah. Lo-man-to-nah. Lucy. Lo-sho-mah. La-mali-ho-nah. Lo-nia-tubbe (alias E-la- lo-ma-tubbe). Lo-mah. I^a h-wah-ho-nah. Lo-ko-tam-be. Lo-sho-na. Low-ah-tubbe. Lah-ta-kah (or Tom Billy). Lo-ho-no-tubbe. Low-wa-tubbe. Loo-sa. Lali-ha-nubbe. Lo-mah-to-nah. Lap-ah-la. Lo-mah. Lah-i)a-sa-ho-nah. Lah-habbe. 78 ENROLLMENT IN THE FIVE CIVILIZED TRIBES. Lash-pah. Lah-n;i h-che-ho-nah. La-sho-nia. Le-neah-ho-nah. Low-ah-che. Lah-niah-ha-cubbe. Lap-oon-ah-hah. Lo-niuh. Low-a-chubbe. Low-um-che. Lo-ina. Lah-pahn-la. Lo-mah-ho-shul-bee. La-fah-tah. Li-wea. Lewis. Lo-mah-tubbee. Le-ah-ho-ka. Lah-pah-rua-tu-mah. Lucy. Lo-wa-to-na. Lo-wa-ho-ka. Lo-nia-ho-na. La-ho-na. Lo-wa. Lnb-bee. Lirea Ann. Loma-ka. Lovie. Lo-mah. La-ti-ma-sha. Low-a-tam-ba. La-sin. Li-la. La-i-e-ma-ho-ua, La-pa-ta-uia. Lah-ma. La-pish-no-wah. Loo-ak-isb-tubbe. Lap-ab-bove-ta. Lali-pim-a-bo-ka. I.a-pa-chubbee. Lucy. Lo-\va-tubbe. Low-in-cha. La-po-nubbee. Ma-ba-to-ua (or Waha- toua). Molly. ;Min-ta-ho-to-na. Manc-che. Mou-in-tubbe. Min-te-nubbe. Ma k-kee-lia-to-na. Ma-al-e-he-ma. Mut-ta-ho-na. Mul-tubbee. Mal-cbo-na. Mon-to-na. Mal-a-ke-tubbe. Mach-ca-bo-na. Man-sha-tubbee. Ma-bubbee. Ma-to-na (alias Ona-to- na). Me-hi-a-te-na. Ma-ho-la-tubbee. Me-ah-te-ubbe. M-le-ab. Mal-le-te-ab. Me-ab-tubbee. Mi-yab. Mo-min-tubbee. Mock-an-tubbee. Mason. Mina. Mon-tah. Me-mock-a-wah. Me-ba-to-uubbee. Mab-la-bo-na. Me-ab-sbo-nah. Mary Ann. Me-ab-sbam-tubbee. Mea h-sbo-tubbee. Mock-ab-to-uab. Me-la-bo-nah. Mo-me tim-ah. Me-ba-tubbe. Mok-a-cbubbee. Mab-no-te-uiab. Me-ab-isb-tam-be. Mak-ab-le-bo-nab. Matb-la. Ma-cbe-tubbe. Min-tab-bul)bee. Mab-bau-tubbe. Me-la. Mak-ab-bi-ab. Me-ab-sbo-tubbe. Me-asb-e-mab. Mak-a-le-bo-ke. Mo-ruin-tub be (alias Mo- ma-cba ) . Mab-to-nab. Mab-ke. Mab-ye (alias Ok-lib-mi- ah). Mab-be-cubbe. Me-be-yo-ka -lubbe. Me-ab-sbu-nab. Min-te-bubbe. Moc-ab-be. Mal-Ie-tubbe. Me-be-le-bo-nah. Mab-ab-tab-bo-nab. Me-o-eliubbe. Mi-ab-tubbe. ]\Iuk-ab-bo-tini-ah. Me-be-o-tim-ah. Mak-e-ubbee. ]Me-bab-tab-tah. Me-be-looth-tubbe. Minsjo-boma. See Capt. Bob. Me-tab. Me-asb-fane-ubbe. Me-ah-cbe. Me-bab-tish-te-ah. Min-te-bo-yo. Me-ab-sbiu-tubbe (or Me- asb-in-tubbe). Me-a b-bo-ka-tubbe. Me-sbe-uiab-tubbe. Mah-le-le-ho-nah. Me-chubbe. Mi-ab-tim-ab. Me-yo-to-nab. Mo-nab-tubbe. Misb-tab-tubbe. Min-to-cubbe. Ma lie. Min-te-nubbe. Mah-bo-nah. Me-ah-i-ab-cbu-nah. Min-to-ba-nah. Min-ta-cbubbe. Me-ab-sbo-uab. jNIis-e-au-ba-tubbe. Ma-hi-ye. Mab-ba-cubbe. Me-ab-cbubbe. Mab-le-le. Mi-ab-tubbe. Me-bab-kab-tim-ah. Man-cbubbe. Mo-sbo-le-tubbe. Me-sbuu-tab-tubbe. Misb-een-ab-to-nah. Mab-le-ab. Min-te-cbubbe. Me-ab-sbe-iuab. Me-bab-tim-ab. Ma-la -be-yo-cbe (orMath- le-bi-o-ja). Me-ab-to-co-nah. Me-be-ah-cbubbe. Mo-min-tubbe (or Billy Jackson). Mo-miu-che. M-ba-che. Me-ba-te-kubbe. Me-cani-bee. Mo-sha-kal. Mue-la-le-cbubbe. Mingo-bapia (alias Ne-ta- cubbe). Me-sbam-bee. Mi-o-nubbe. Mi-yab-bo-nah. Mo-sbu-lak-a. Mab-to-nab. Mam-bab. Mo-min-cbe. Mul-la-le-bo-nah. Me-asb-pal-lah. Mab-li. Moon-tab. Me-ba-tubbe. M-sbe-be-kubbe. ]Me-ba-cbe. Musb-a-lab-kah. Ma-be-tubbe. JIul-a-tubbe. Mab-lab. Minte-bo-nab. Ma-ko-ka. Man-tubbe. Mo-nini-tubbe. Me-tab-lah. Mi-yab-tubbe. ENROLLMENT IN THE FIVE CIVILIZED TRIBES. 79 Mah-ka-tubbe. Mah-yah. Me-hat-e-she. Mah-ko-cha. Mah-ho-tubbe. Muk-am-bee. Mulla-tubbe. Mi-ya-cubbe. Me-ha-che-tiibbe. Me-yah-tubbe. Ma-ha-te-tubbe. Maho-ka. Me-ho-te-ah. Me-she-ma h-ho-nah. Muk-in-tnbbe. ' Me-ha-to-iiam-bee. Me-haw. Me-shom-ti-yah. Me-ha-che-to-nah. Mnttnl-bee. Me-ah-sho-ka. Mah-la-ho-ka. Me-sliam-le. Me-ha-took-ho-nah. Mah-le. Mab-e-tl-yah. Mal-as-ho-nah. Ma-slio-la. Ma-cliubbe. Me-he-niah. Me-ah--she-mah. Me-sba-tubbe. Me-sba-tubbe. Me-shone-tab-tubbe. Me-ho-te-uiab. Moon-tiibbe. Me-han-to-tiibbe. Me-nb-sho-nah. Me-ah-sbo-tiibbee. Me-he-o-tubbee. Mok-in-lubbee. Me-niab-tam-be. Me-ab-to-cbubbee. Me-sban-be. Me-bab-to-nah. Me-ab-sbe-nah. Mab-la. Mns-sbn-le-lah. Me-ab-1 ubl)ee. Min-te-liibbee. Math-Ia-tubbe. Me-shniie-tiibbee. Mi-hab-tini-ab. Mo-nim-toin-ba. Me-asb-oon-te-mah. Me-ba-la-bo-nah. Me-ha-to-nab. Mish-oon-tubbe. Mah-la-ho-uab. Me-asb-in-lnbbe. Mok-o-nubl)e. Mok-a-tubbe. Me-sbe-niab-tubbe. Me-bab. Me-sboon-tnh-tah. Mab-le-bo-ka. Me-be-ah-te-mah. Me-ab-sbu-nah. Me-ab-bo-nah. Me-bi-o-tubbee. Min-ta-hubbee. Moon-ta. Moon-tab. Me-la. Ma-ha-lo-ma-tubbee. Mln-ta-bo-ka. Ma-ben-to-uab. Ma-ba-cba. Mab-ho-nab. M-ab-sbo-nocka. Moon-tubbee. Me-o-tubbee. Mnb-le-ah-tah. Min-te-bubbee. Ma-iin-too-nah. Mal-la-le-bo-nah. Ma lo-la-bo-nah. Ma-lnbbee. Mis-to-bo-yea. Mook-ka-fa. Mi-yah. Min-tab-cbubbe. Miu-te-bo-yo. Me-he-tam-be. Ma-ha-to-na. ]Min-ta-bubbe. Me-ab-sbia. Me-ba-to-na. Misb-sbam-be (orMe-ash- am-be). Me-a-tube. Mal-la-bo-ka. Muth-toon-bah. Mock-ab-bi-yah. Mab-la (or Suckey). Mah-ban-to-nah. Moon-tubbe ( or Moon-tah ) . Mab-bi-tnbbe. Mint-tubbee. Ma-ka-le. Muk-a-to-na. Mas-sa-bi. Me-lin-ga-li-ah. Mat-he-cbubbee. Mis-ta-i-a-bo-ka. Ma-bo-lut-ubbe. Ma-lis-sa. Mi-ba-ya-tubbe. Molly. Moon-tab. Mary. Maa-sheni-a-bo-ka. Me-ab-tini-niah. Moon-tubbee. Mo-bf-ubbe. ^ris-tiibbe. Ma-bam-bee. JIo-sb(ini-knbbe. Mul-la-le-bo-nab. ]\re-hab-t<)-nab. M-ba-che-bo-nab. Ma-ba-tai-oniubbee. Me-bi-a-tnbbee. Min-tubbee. Na-i-o-ka. Nancy. No-a-te-ma. Nat. Nancy. Ne-take-iu-lubbee. No-wa. Nok-o-nubbee. Nok-any-ta-ya. Nln-ta-bo-rua. Nock-ubba. Nock-ne-mi-yubbee. Nol-a-tubbee. Nok-ne-a-tubbe. Nab-na-e-mab. Nah-sa. Nock-a-way-cbubbee. Nock-a-la-bo-te-mab. No-se-bo-nah. Ne-bi-ab-to-nah. No-ah-bo-tubbee. Nock-a-cbe-tubbee. Nock-a-na-ho-nnbbee. No-la. No-ab-to-nnbbee. Ne-la. Nock-a-na-cbubbee. Nock-a-nnbbee. Nock - e - a - cbubbee (or Cbub-bee). Na-chubbe (or Nock ne- cbubbee). Nokis-tah-ahah. Nan-to-wah-yo. Nook-a. No-ke-mo-nubbe. No-wab-bo-ka. Nok-e-ne-ti-yah. Nock-un-am-be. Nock-e-niab-sbubbe. Nok-is-ni-ubbe. Nok-se-ka-tubbe. Nok-isb-to-nah. Nok-e-ne-nbbe. Nok-ko-ab-bo-mah. Ne-tock-oosb-ta h. Nok-ish-tab-ok-la-tiibbee. Nancy, or lln-an-cbe. Nok-ue-bo-tnbbe. Na-po-le. Ne-le. Nok-e-na-tam-be. Nok-e-uio-nnbbe. Nok-ne-to-lubbe. Nok-ab-pe-sab. No-la. Nook -fa -lab (alias Ah- nook-pa-la ) . No-wab-bo-cubbe. Na-tnbbe. Nofk-i-o-tubbe. Nok-iii-tainbe. Nok-ne-bab-tah-e. Nnk-ok-ab-bo-niah. No-ab-bo-nab. Nok-e-cbiib!)e. Nok-ne-ba-tubbe. 80 ENEOLLMENT IN THE FIVE CIVILIZED TRIBES. Nok-ish-ti-yah. Nok-i-ue-liih. No-wali-te-uiah. Xo-tock-ani-be. Kok-is-tubba. Nok-ish-to-uubbe. >s'u-wa-bo-ka. Nook-tab-lubbe. Kok-ho-niab. Nok-na-tbub-be. Na-wabbe. Ne-tab-cubbe. Xe-tiik-o-ka. Na-o-ka. Nok-we-tab. Nok-e-wa-tiibbe. Nok-isb-ti-nbbe. Nok-ho-tubbe. Noon-cbiibbe. Ne-tuk-ab-ehe. Nok-ne-la. Nok-e-ne-tnbbe. Kok-a-ne-la. Kok-nam-be. No-wa-bubbe. Nok-a-sbubbe. Kok-a-cbubbe. Kok-isb-tab-sbah. Ne-nok-kium-bee. Nulth-la ( or E-la-bo-ti-ah ) . Nok-isb-te-iibbe. Nok-iieen-tubbee. Nok-e-ne-fe-nah. Ne-tuk-ah-cbick-e-ma. No-wah-taui-be. Nuk-sho-pubbe. Nok-ne-ti-yah. Ne-asb-e-nubbe. Nok-isb-tani-be. Nok-a-man-cbe-ka-bee. Nab-bo-lo-mnstubbe. Nok-isb-tubbee. Nook-wa-tubbe. Na-bo-sa. ]S'ok-me-ba t-tubbe. Nok-bo-ma-bajo. Nok-ish-to-uab. Nok-ne-o-ka-tubbee. Nok-niu-cbe. Nok-ni-ta-bubbe. Kok-wan-be. No-wah. Nok-o-un-cba-hubbe. Nok-cbu-nubbe. No-wah-bo-nab. Mok-ue-tubbe. No-la. Nab-sbo-lab-bonab. No-sa-kab. Nush-ko-bo-to-ko-lo. Nock-e-ne-tubbe. Ts'o-wab. Nock-e-na-lab-nubbee. Nock-ne-a-cbe. TS'ok-isb-ti-yab. Ne-tah-cbe-to. Nock-fil-e-hi-yab. Nuk-she-pa-ubbe. Ne-tak-e-ruah. No-sa-kab. Nok-ne-eeu-tubbe. Nu-wa-toiu-bee. No-.sa-kab. No-ab-tubbe. No-ab-bubbe. Nab-miii-ab-bo-ka. No-b-ue-mau-to-iiab. Nock-a-ne-lab. Nab-bo-te-inab. Nock-lsb-to-niibbee. Nan-uo-ba-bo-nab. No-le-baui-be. Nok-ue-tnbbe. Noke-e-ne-ene-bubbe. No-ko-sbe. Nok-is-tom-be. Ne-tuk-e lubbe. No-a-bam-ba. No-kan-yo-ka-tu-na. Na-ne-nia. Nau-cha. No-cum-mab-ho-ka. No-ka-tab. No-wa-yab. No-wab-ta-kah. Nock-bo-mab-bah-cho. No-wa-bo-nab. Nan-ne-nbbe. No-sa-cubbe. No-quo-ab-tubbe. Nock-a-cbook-ma. Nock-pe-la-sa. No-e-eui-yea. Nok-a-ba-la-jee. No-la. No-a-ho-na. Nok-e-fil-la-ho-na, No-la-bo-na. Nok-pa-la. No-wab-be-mah. No-sbo-bab. Nook-cbin-tubbe. Na-wa-bo-ka. Nok-ne-o-ka-tubbee. Nok-an-e-tubbee. Nim-nok-ba-cubbe. No-wab-bo-ka. Nok-isb-te-iuab-yubbe. Nook-fille or Fil-Ie. Ona-tubbe. Oak-la -te-a. Oon-ta-cbe-a. Oon-te-a-tubbe. Ona-cbee. Ona-bo-ka. Ok-pe-a-bubbee. Ok-le-nie-i-a. Osle-as-te-ma. Oke-eba-te-nia. Ona-tubbee. On-wa-ka. Oua-te-na. Ou-a-to-bo-yo. Og-lam-is-tubbee. O-na-bo-ka. 0-on-ta-cba. 0-nok-fil-la-tubbee (alias FlHatubbee). O-sla-bubbee. Oke-nie-i-a. Ok-a-isb-ba-la-la. 0-gle-a-te-nia. Ooou-ka-bubbee. O-glab-bo-uubbee. Ooon-tiiii-to-ka. O-iiab-be-cbubbee. Oon-Dab;touj-tubbee. Ogle-bo-lab. O-glab-nou-nab. O-na-cbiibbee. Oo-nab-tubbee. Oke-la-we-tubbee (orOhe- lin-tubbee). O-tim-po-iiubbee. O-nab-te-ab. 0-nab-tiibbee. Oon-uab-bo-ka. Oon-a-taui-bee. Ogle-nii-o-nab. 0-glab-no-wa b-cba . O-nab-bubbee. Oon-ua-bo-kee. O-niibbee. Oon-nab. Ow-wab-te-ab. O gla-bam-bee. Oon-ta-bo-yo. 0-quun-tab. Ooii-ta-iuab-cbubbee. 0-gla-ubbee. Ow-we-cbab. O-lubbee-to-nah. Oppa-sab-be-niah. 0-gla-bo-te-nab. Oou-tab-zubbee. 0-tbulck-a-bo-yo. Oon-ta-kab. Ok-lisb-ti-ab. Oas-te-nubbe. Oon-ab-tubbee. Ok-cbubbee. Ona-bin-lubbe. O-iuol-le-tubbe. Oon-cba-la. Ooii-ab-cbubbe. Oou-ba-tubbe. Ok-la-bo-tnbbee. Ok-cbe-tim-ab. Ok-Iab-o-ruab. Oon-te-ab-tubbee. Ok-la-me-asb-ab. Oon-ab-be-tubbe. Ok-lab-tubbe. Otb-la-bo-nah. Ooii-ab-cbubbe. Oon-an-cbe-ab-tiibbe. Ok-cba (or Ela-ok-chub- be). Oc-cbock-ab-tubbe. Ok-in-to-la-bo-nah. ENROLLMENT IN THE FIVE CIVILIZED TRIBES. 81 Oon-ta-tubbe. Ok-lah-ho-tubbe. Oou-ubbe. Ok-ah-iu-cliuk-mah. Ok-isb-te-mah. Ok-lab-ba-mah. Ok-ab-cbe-ah. Ok-lee-bau-tubbe. Oon-te-ka-ah. Onab-te-mab. Ok-lab-le. Ok-isb-tab-na. Ok-ab-fa-ma-bu-nab. 0-na-te-ab. Ok-Lib-oka. Ok-le-iiii-ubbe. Ok-lab-cbiibbe. Ok-bah-cbe-tab. Ok-i-yo-iiie-bo-uab. Oou-ab-bubbe. 0-n's of OMahoma for the cession of their Land in Mississippi under the treaty of 1830 was a paid consideration for the land which they ceded. This is the only kind of annuity that the Choctaw Nation or the Choctaw people had any knowledge of — that is, consideration to be paid them for land which they sold. It is reasonable to contend, as it has been contended, that those who claimed imder the fourteenth article should not lose the privilege of ChoctaAv citizenship — that is, the privilege to remove to the Choc- taw Nation and enjoy the communal benefits of the Choctaw land, but the fourteenth article also said that " if they ever remove, are not to be entitled to any portion of the Choctaw annuity." Then, strictly speaking, even the fourteenth article claimants would not be entitled to any of the money derived from the sale of any Choctaw property for the reason that they had received their share of all the property that the Choctaw Nation Mr. Ballinoer. Now, Mr. Hurley, you have not answered my question, and I want to put it again, now, so there may be no doubt about it. By the treaty of 1820 the Choctaws ceded a part of their lands east for all the territory now in Oklahoma and additional lands. At that time the INIississippi Choctaws, the present claimants here, were a part owner of the lands exchanged for the western lands. By the decision in the case of Choctaw Nation v. The United States, the Supreme Court held that it was under that treaty that the Choctaws acquired the title to the Avestern lands. Now, I want to know whether or not the Mississippi Choctaws, whose lands Avere taken and ex- changed for the Avestern lands, haA^e eA^er receiA-ed a dollar for that transaction. Mr. Hurley. If you have paid some attention to the statement I haA^e made, you would understand that the Mississippi Choctaws, to whom you refer, received $1,749,900 in scrip and money in addition to land they received as their proportionate share of all the property that the Choctaw Nation ownecl in 1830; that they receiA^ed this under the treaty of September 27, 1830, and that in consideration of this scrip and money and land they relinquished whatever interest they had in the lands west. Prior to the making of the treaty of 1830 the GoA'ernment commission advised the Choctaws, as I haA-e already set forth in this record, that they must surrender the land west or move upon it. Those avIio did not move upon it unquestionably did surrendei" their interest to it, as that was the purpose for whicli the Government made the treaty; but all the ChoctaAvs Avho Avere in Mississippi in 1830 Avere told that they could do one of two things. The first Avas to remove to Indian Territory and live upon the land Avhich had been gi\en them there. The second Avas to remain in Mississippi and i-elinquish their right to the land Avest and take their proportionate share of the tribal estate under the provisions of article 14 of the treaty. Mr. r>.\i. LINGER. Mr. Hurley, that is Avhere I think j^ou are con- fusing the issue. Noav, let me proceed just with another question: By the treaty of 1830 another cession of lands Avas made, and from the cession Ihen made the Mississippi Choctaws acquired, or Avere 92 ENEOLLMENT IN THE FIVE CIVILIZED TRIBES. entitled to acquire, allotments out of the lands then ceded, but that had no connection with the previous transaction. Now, I would like for you to explain those two transactions squarely to the committee. Mr. HuKLEY. Now, Mr. Chairman, if there was any merit in the questions asked by Mr. Ballinger, the Court of Claims and the Su- preme Court of the United States Avould certainly have recognized it before this late day. The nature of the title that the Choctaws held to the land in Mississippi has been considered in a number of cases, especially in the Choctaw Nation v. The United States (119 U. S., 1). The question was also raised in regard to the so-called leased district claim. It was claimed that the Mississippi Choctaws had some interest in the land west, because that land was acquired by the Choctaw Nation under the terms of the treaty of 1830. Mr. Ballinger. Were the Mississippi Choctaws parties to that suit? Mr. Hurley. The reason they were not parties was the very reason that you are trjdng to make appear to exist in their favor. The reason they were not parties to any of the treaties or litigation affect- ing the Choctaw lands west, after the treaty of 1830, was because they had been offered the alternative of surrendering the lands in the West, or moving upon them, or to remain in Mississippi and take their distributive share of all the tribal property and become citizens of the State of Mississippi. They declined to go to the land in the West and live upon it, and in lieu of their interest in that land and all other land ceded in Mississippi they took 640 acres of land in Mississippi for each head of a family; 320 for each child over 10, and 160 acres for each child under 10, That was the consideration paid them for the relinquishment of any rights they had to the land in the West which was originally acquired under the terms of the treaty of 1820, and the title to which was readjusted and modified by an agreement between these same Mississippi Choctaws who were members of the Choctaw Tribe and the United States; and in this agreement they were given the privilege, imder article 14, to remain in Mississippi and take the land as I have stated. They availed them- selves of this privileged and relinquished their right to the property in the West. They allowed themselves to become individualized citi- zens of the United States in the State of Mississippi, no longer mem- bers of a tribe or entitled to any of the privileges of citizensliip in the tribe unless i\\ej removed to the Choctaw Nation. They were afraid to trust the' United States Government and the people^ of Mississippi, so they reserved to themselves the privilegeof reaffiliat- ing themselves with the Choctaw Tribe in the West in case they should be dispossessed of the property reserved to them under the fourteenth article. The United States Government or the citizens of Mississippi have not treated them fairly, but the United States Government has charged the Choctaw Nation with every dollar that these Mississippi Choctaws were entitled to; so their distributive share has really come out of the Choctaw estate, whetlier the United States has iriven the Mississippi Choctaws the benefit of it or not. This right that they reserved to themselves of the privilege of reaffiliating them- selves with the Choctaw Nation was, as I have stated, the right to remove to the Choctaw Nation and enjoy the communal benefits of the land; but there is grave question if after removal to the Choc- ENROLLMENT IN THE FIVE CIVILIZED TRIBES. 9S taw Nation they would be entitled to any part of the money re- ceived for the sale of the residue of tribal property for the reason that such funds are what the Choctaws have always called and con- sidered annuities, and the fourteenth article under which these per- sons claimed specifically prohibited them from the right to partici- pate in the distribution of annuities. Mr. Ballinger. Now, Mr. Hurley, possibly I have not been able to follow you and grasp the full significance of your statement, but now, under the treaty of 1820, the Mississippi Choctaws did have an interest in the western lands. Now then, will you state under what treat}^, and if so, read the provision by which they extinguished their rights in the western lands acquired under the treaty of 1820? Mr. Carter. Mr. Ballinger, you contend that under the treaty of 1820 the Choctaw Nation ceded the United States Government about 4,000,000 acres of land in the State of Mississippi. As a considera- tion for that cession the United States gave the Choctaw Nation in the Indian Territory whatever it was — I forget how many millions of acres — something like 20,000,000 of acres, was it not? Mr. Ballinger. Correct. Mr. Carter. Then, as a nation, every individual who is a Choctaw in Mississippi in 1820 had in equity — probably had — an interest in the Indian Territory land that the United States Government had ceded to them. Mr. Ballinger. That is precisely what I am trying to get at. Mr. Carter. Did not that treaty recite that the western lands were set aside only for those who would not work and lived by fish- ing and hunting, and that was the only class contemplated to be removed by that treaty? Mr. Hurley. It said also, and the deed giving the Indians that land, conveying it to them and their heirs so long as they exist as a nation and live upon it. Mr. Ballinger. There never was a deed under the treaty of 1820. The treaty itself operated to pass the title. Mr. Hurley. Do you mean that the Choctaws have never had a deed to the land? Mr. Carter. They got a deed in eighteen forty-three. Mr. Hurley. In 1843. Mr. Ballinger. That was the conveyance under the treaty of 1830, not 1820. Mr. Hurley. According to your argument, which is entirely in- correct, they did not receive the land in 1820. Mr. Ballinger. But just one moment. I will make that perfectly plain. By the treaty of 1820, under the ruling of the Supreme Court of the United States in Choctaw v. United States, the western lands were acquii-ed by purchase under the treaty of 1820. Subsequently, the Government of the United States desired to acquire all the remainder of their lands, and then entered into a new treaty in which it purported to cede the same lands in the West that it had previously ceded by the treaty of 1820 as a consideration for the lands ceded by the Choctaws in Mississippi under the treaty of 1830. That ques- tion was directly in issue in Choctaw Nation v. United States, and the Supreme Court held that there was no cession of that land under the treaty of 1830, but that the land was ceded and paid for under the treaty of 1820. 94 ENROLLMENT IN THE FIVE CIVILIZED TRIBES. Mr. Post. I think you are mistaken about that. Mr. Ballinger. If so, then I am wrong throughout. Mr. Post, I think in the Choctaw Nation v. United States case it held that the consideration Mr. Ballinger. They say it was under the treaty of 1820. Mr. Post. The consideration for the 10,000,000 acres of land that was ceded in 1830 Mr. Ballinger. Mr. Post, the recovery of $8,000,000 for the 10,- €00,000 acres of land ceded in 1830 was because of the fact that the United States had given the territory west to the Choctaws for the cession of 4,000,000 acres of land in 1820. Mr. RiCHARDsox. That is what everybody agrees on, then? Mr. Ballinger. What is that? Mr. Richardson. That the territory w^est was ceded under the treaty of 1820. Mr. Ballinger. That is my contention. Mr. Richardson. The deed so occasioned — pardon the interrup- tion — by the passage of an act of Congress in May, 1830, providing for the giving of deeds to Indian tribes for land to which they were entitled by cession after the treaty of 1830, that act — the language of that act — was incorporated, I think, in one section Mr. Carter. The patent was not executed until after 1830. Mr. Richardson. No; the act of May, 1830, was the occasion for the patent. Mr. Posr. Mr. Ballinger, if I understand it rightly, the recovery in the net-proceeds case was upon the basis that 10,000,000 acres that were ceded in 1830 by the Indians was without any considera- tion. Mr. Ballinger. Certainly ; the consideration had passed under the treaty of 1820. Mr. Post. Yes. Mr. Ballinger. They bought and paid for the western lands un- der the treaty of 1820. Mr. Post. Now, under the treaty of 1820 they came by this Okla- homa country for the 4,000,000 acres ceded in 1820? Mr. Ballinger. That is correct. Mr. Post, When it came to 1830, and the United States author- ities being anxious to induce these Indians all to go out to Okla- homa, they ran up against the proposition that a lot of them de- murred to it and did not want to go; and did not they in that treaty make provision to satisfy them for whatever interest they had in the Oklahoma country? Mr, Ballinger, Absolutely no provision whatsoever. Mr. Post. "VVliat was the consideration to the United States Gov- ernment for giving each family 640 acres and the other provisions? Mr. Ballinger.Iu 1830, when that treaty was negotiated, there were still some 10,000,000 acres of land remaining unceded in the State of Mississippi. That land belonged to the Choctaw Nation, and, of course, the Mississippi Choctaw, commonly known Mr. Post. Ten millions of acres of land left? Mr. Ballinger. After the first cession of 4,000,000 acres in 1820 there were then 10,000,000 acres left. Mr, Carter, Eleven million. ENROLLMENT IN THE FIVE CIVILIZED TRIBES. 96 Mr. Ballinger. Whatever it was, ten or eleven million, remaining imceded. Now, the Choctaw who remained there took his portion of that land ; that is, the 10,000,000 acres, as an allotment and as his share of the ceded land under the treaty of 1830, and it had no possible connection with the cession of the 4,000,000 acres of land made under the treaty of 1820, which was in compensation for the western lands ; that is the basis of our claim. The Indian who took an allotment of 640 acres under the treaty of 1830 still retained his interest in the within lands. Mr. Carter. Let me ask you: Did the treaty of 1820 exchange 4,000,000 acres of land in Mississippi for the reservation in the west ? Mr. Ballinger. Yes, sir. Mr. Carter. Now, by the treatv of 1830, the Choctaw Nation ceded 11,000,000 acres of land? Mr. Ballinger. About that. Mr. Carter. Now, what was the consideration for that ? Mr. Ballinger. There was absolutely no consideration for that, and the judgment rendered Mr. Carter (interrupting). Simply an annuity provided in the treaty ? Mr. Ballinger (continuing). And the judgment rendered in the case of Choctaw Nation v. United States was the compensation for the land ceded under the treaty of 1830. Mr. Carter. That was what I was getting at. Mr. Ballinger. So that Mr. Carter. Now, let us get that straight. The judgment, ren- dered in the net proceeds case then, or a part of it, was for the payment of lands ceded by the Choctaws by the treaty of 1830? At a certain price per acre, the expenses of certifying, etc., to be taken off the price before the net amount was paid the Choctaw Nation? Mr. Ballinger. Yes, sir ; that is correct. Mr. Carter. But under the treaty, it is your contention there was really no consideration made to the Choctaws. Mr. Ballinger. Under the treaty of 1830 the Choctaws were de- ceived, as the Supreme Court, in the case of Choctaw Nation v. United States, subsequently held. The Choctaw Nation, upon the representations read by Mr. Hurley, were led to believe that they had not acquired a good title to their western lands under the treaty of 1820, and were thereby induced to cede the remainder of their lands in Mississippi, under the treaty of 1830 as further compensa- tion for the western lands, but the Supreme Court, in the case of Choctaw Nation v. United States, held that the western lands were bought and fully paid for by the exchange made under the treaty of 1820, and that the Choctaws had never received any consideration for the 10,000,000 acres of land ceded under the treaty "of 1830, and that's the very crux of this case. Mr. Post. Well, Mr. Ballinger, take the situation of an Indian in 1830, immediately prior to the entering into the treaty. That In- dian, according to your contention, not only had an interest in the Oklahoma estate, but he had an interest in the 10,000,000 acres re- maining in the State of Mississippi. Mr. Ballinger. That is correct. That is our contention. 96 ENROLLMENT IN THE FIVE CIVILIZED TRIBES. Mr. Post. Now, let me put this question to you : Was he not pro- vided for; was his interest not paid for, in both estates, by the treaty of 1830? Mr. B.\LLixc;i:i{. No, sir. His interest only in the 10,000,000 acres ceded under the treaty of 1830 was to be paid for by an allotment, and there is not a scintilla of evidence that the allotment then re- ceived was considered by anyone at that time as compensation for bis rights in the western lands. If it is now claimed otherwise, it is at least incumbent upon the Choctaw attorneys to come forward with that evidence. Mr. Post. Xow, i\Ir. Ballinger, under the treaty of 1820, what pro- vision was made for the Mississippi Choctaw that remained in Missis- sippi ? Mr. Balltnger. By the treaty of 1820 remoy^al of the entire tribe or even a considerable portion of the tribe was not even contemplated. Mr. Post. I know, but what provision for those who remained behind ? Mr. Ballikoek. By the treaty of 1820 the western lands were ac- quired as a hunting ground for the Choctaw, who lived by hunting and would not work. Mr. Post. Yes. Mr. Ballixger. And were held and owned by them in common, or by the tribes in common. Mr. Hurley. Now, Mr. Ballinger, you said a while ago that the western lands were acquired in 1820 for those who would not work and lived by hunting. Mr. Ballinger. The treaty so recites. Mr. Hurley. Now, you claim that no one has an interest in it except those of the Mississippi Choctaws who live now by hunting, and will not work. No Mississippi Choctaws now lives by hunting; that makes your argument ridiculous. Mr. Ballinger. I did not say that. The land was acquired by the ChoctaAv Nation, and was purchased and acquired for the purpose of transporting those Indians Avho would not work and who live by fishing and hunting, where they might have a home over there, but the Choctaw Nation owned it. Mr. Carter. But just a moment. I understood you to say just a moment ago that you did not contemplate that any of them should move to this land as acquired for a hunting ground under the treaty of 1820? ]\Ir. Ballinger. Only the removal of those who would not work and liA'ed by fishing and hunting was contemplated. Mr. Post. What was the condition? Mr. Ballinger. It was owned by the Choctaw Nation and used for that purpose, the same as their funds might have been used for the education or support of a certain class of the Choctaws, but it still remained the property of the Choctaw Indians. Mr. Hurley Now, Mr. Chairman, Mr. Ballinger argued that before. Mr. Ballinger. You promised that you would answer it squarely. Now, I would like to have j'^ou do so. Mr. Hurley. As a matter of fact, Mr. Ballinger will not accept any legal answer to any of his arguments. He takes the position that the land acquired in 1820 was acquired for those who lived ENROLLMENT IN THE FIVE CIVILIZED TRIBES. 97 by hunting, and who would not work. We have shown this commit- tee, or attempted to show it, that the fourteenth-article claimants, the nineteenth-article claimants, and the supplementary-article claim- ants of the treaty of 1830 received out of the lands then belonging to the Choctaw Nation their distributive portion of the property of that tribe, no matter where located. They did accept that on the condition that if they ever removed to the Indian Territory in the West, they should not lose the privilege of a citizen. Mr. Post, If I understand you right, Mr. Hurley, the situation of the Indian was this: Up until 1830 the Choctaw Nation owned Avhatever land remained and had not been ceded by the treaty of 1820 in Mississippi, and the Choctaw Nation owned the Oklahoma country ? Mr. Hurley. Yes, sir. Mr. Post. But in the treaty of 1830 all the property that was owned by the Choctaw Nation was ceded to the United States Gov- ernment, with the exception of such of the property as was retained under the provision of the treaty by which the heads of the families under the fourteenth article received 640 acres and other members of their families lesser amounts. Mr. HuRLF.Y. Yes, sir. Mr. Post. Now. if an Indian in that condition elected to remain, he had his right to do so? Mr. Hurley. Yes, sir. Mr. Post. And therefore his entire interest in the estate was wiped out by his own selection? Mr. Hurley. Yes, sir ; he had a right to choose whether he would go to the Indian Territory and become a citizen there with all the privileges of citizenship, or take his 640 acres of land in Missis- sippi as his distributive share of all the property belonging to the tribe Mr. Ballinger. Mr. Mr. Hurley. Just wait a minute, Mr. Ballinger; you will not allow me to answer your question. I am sure that the committee fully understands my contention as to what privilege was reserved to the fourteenth-article claimants, but I will repeat my contention for Mr. Ballinger's information. The fourteenth article did reserve to them the right to remove to the Choctaw Nation, and after removal to be entitled to the privileges of Choctaw citizenship, save a right to participate in Choctaw annuities. The time within which they could have exer- cised the privilege of removing has expired. The land has been alk)tted in severalty; the tribal governments have been dissolved. There is no longer governmental authority of anv nature vested in the tribal governments. There is, of course, a governor of the Chickasaws and a principal chief of the Choctaws vested with au- thority under the laws of the United States to execute conveyances of tribal property, but there is no judicial, executive, or legislative authority existing in the tribal organization. The title to the residue of tribal property is vested with certain limitations, as I have heretofore shown, in the enrolled inttividual members of the tribe. Therefore if there were any fourteenth- article claimants now residing in Mississippi (which we do not admit; 88855—15 7 98 ENROLLMENT IN THE FIVE CIVILIZED TEIBES. I believe we have shown all fourteenth-article claimants are now in the Choctaw Xation), they could not exercise the privilege which they had reserved to them. This privilege was reserved to the fourteenth-article claimants and their heirs for almost a century before the allotment of the land of the Choctaw Nation in severalty. If they have never availed themselves of the privilege, it is now too late for them to do it. You speak of the rights of these indi- viduals. I hope the committee fairly understands in the first place that they did not have a right. They had a privilege to remove to the Choctaw Nation, and after having done so the privilege of becoming citizens. These Avere conditions precedent after the per- formance of which they would have the equitable rights of Choctaw citizens. They Avere not citizens of the Choctaw Nation at any time after the treaty of 1830, unless they removed to the Choctaw Nation West, and reaffiliated themselves with the tribe. The deed by which the land now belonging to the Choctaw Nation was. conveyed to the Choctaws contains this language : In fee to them and their descendants to inure to them while they shall exist as a nation and live npon it. The Mississippi Choctaws have never lived upon this land. They have been individual citizens of the State of Mississippi, and have not existed as a nation since 1830. In 1830 they were given the privilege of removing to this land or to surrender it and remain in Mississippi and obtained certain privileges under article 14 of the treaty of September 27, 1830. They elected to remain in ^Mis- sissippi, and they did accept the privileges extended them under the fourteenth article. They retained, of course, the privilege of reaffiliating themselves with the Choctaw Nation and becoming citizens under certain conditions, but these were conditions that existed nearly a century ago. They do not now exist. It is there- fore impossible for them now to exercise the privilege they retained. I The right to affiliate themselves with the Choctaw Nation and become citizens was reserved only to fourteenth-article claimants. 11 It was not reserved to claimants under the nineteenth and other articles of the treaty. It seems to be admitted that all fourteenth- article claimants, or their descendants, are now in the Choctaw Nation, consequently there is no one in Mississippi who can claim the privilege extended to fourteenth-article claimants; but if there are descendants of any fourteenth-article claimants now residing in Mississippi their equitable and moral right to participation in the distribution of Choctaw property was exhausted by their accept- ance of their proportionate share of all of the property that the Choctaw Nation oAvned in 1830. Mr. Ballinger. Now, Mr. Hurley, under what provision of law did that come? Mr. Hurley. The distribution of their proportionate share of the tribal property among them Avas provided for by article 14 of the treaty of 1830 and by the nineteenth and supplementary articles of the same treatv; bv the act of congress approved Februarv 22, 1838 (5 Stat. L.. 2il) ;■ the act of Congress approved March 3, 1837 (5 Stat. L., 180) ; the act of Congress approved August 23, 1842 (5 Stat. L., 513) ; the act of Congress approved March 3, 1845 (5 Stat. L., 777) ; the act of Congress approved July 21, 1852 (10 Stat. L., 10) : ENEOLLMENT IN THE FIVE CIVILIZED TEIBES. 99 the act of Congress approved August 30, 1852 (10 Stat. L., 42) ; and the act of Congress approved March 3, 1853 (10 Stat. L., 237). Under this treaty and these acts the fourteenth article Mississippi Choctaw claimants received land and scrip and money in lieu of their share of the tribal property of the Choctaw Nation. Mr. Ballinger. Now, I hand you article 14 of the treaty of 1830, and you read to the committee any provision contained in that article that extinguished their rights acquired under the treaty of 1820. Mr. Hurley. I have read that to the committee. jNIr. Post. It would not say in express words that that was in com- plete extinguishment of afl the property right they had in the nation, but it did make an express provision there for the Indian who elected to remain in Mississippi. Mr. Hurley. And gave them a right to take twice as much land as citizens of the Choctaw Nation west are now receiving as allot- ments. The argument that they have a claim to citizenship in the Choctaw Nation because the United States prevented them from receiving this land and the people of Mississippi robbed them of their scrip and money is absurd. If people of ISIississippi and the Government of the United States perpetrated any fraud on the ISlis- sissippi Choctaws after they elected to take their portion of the estate, their claim is against the United States and the people of Mississippi and not against the Choctaw Nation. Mr. Ballinger. Mr. Post, under the treaty of 1830, by the second article, or by the third article, the Choctaws ceded all of their re- maining lands east of the Mississippi River to the Government, amounting, in the aggregate, to some ten or eleven million acres. Now, here is the provision contained with reference to those who desired to remain east, and I submit that this provision related only to the acquisition of their share of the property ceded, which they took in lieu of participating in any funds that might have been derived therefrom : Each Clioctaw head of a family being desirous to remain and become a citizen of the States shall be permitted to do so by signifying his intention to the agent within six months from the ratification of this treaty. He or she shall thereupon be entitled to a reservation of one section of 040 acres of land, to be l)ounded by sectional lines of survey. In like manner shall be entitled to one-half that quantity for each unmarried child which is living with him over 10 years of age, and a quarter section to each child as may be under 10 years of age, to adjoin the location of the parent. If they reside upon said lands, "intending to become citizens of the States, for five years after the latification of this treaty, in that case a grant in fee simple shall issue; said leservation shall include the present improvement of the head of the f.-imily, or a portion of it. Persons who claim under this article shall not lose the privilege of a Choctaw citizen, but if they ever remove are not to be entitled to any portion of the Choctaw annuity. Now, by this provision they were given lands in Mississippi, and then provision was made that they should share in those western lands. Mr. Hurley. That statement is absolutely incorrect. Mr. Post. Now, you are lawyer enough (o read that treaty from the four corners and understand that all the interest you have, if you elect to remain in Mississippi under tlie terms of the agreeuient, is the provision made there, is it not? Tlii? Indian who elected to re- main, under the treaty, in Mississippi was to get nothing more than provided for in the treat}'. 100 ENROLLMENT IN THE FIVE CIVILIZED TRIBES. Mr. Ballinoer. But they were dealing in 1830 only with the re- maining ten or eleven million acres of land. Mr, Post. How was that? Mr. Ballinger. That treaty of 1830 dealt only with the residue lands, aggregating ten or eleven million acres. Mr. Post. The treaty of 1830 is rather supplementary to the other treaty. Mr. Ballinger. I think the two should be considered together, and when considered together I think they make a perfect case in support of our contention. , Air. Post. I would not agree upon your construction. That would depend on his right of removal. Mr. Ballinger. Beg pardon? Mr. Post. I would not agree with your construction. That would depend upon his right of removal. In order to become a citizen — after he had elected once to become a citizen of the State of Missis- sippi — in order to become a citizen of the Choctaw Nation the pre- requisite of the residence attaches under that section. Mr. Ballinger. Mr. Post, you are now discussing a question of citizenship. Now^, property rights might or might not flow from citizenship. Mr. Post. He could not have property rights in a nation unless a citizen of that nation. Mr. Ballinger. In these communal lands, where the property has been purchased with the common funds of an Indian tribe, and the tribe has subsequently become divided, Congress has almost invaria- bly recognized the division and the rights of the parties — of the respective factions of the tribe which have become separated — to all share in the funds. Mr. Carter. Mr. Ballinger, is not whatever right the Mississippi ChoctaAv has under this article based on the right of citizenship? Mr. Ballinger. Citizenship at the time the property was acquired. Mr. Carter. How do you construe this language : " Persons who claim under this article shall not lose the privilege of a Choctaw Indian, but if they ever remove they shall not lose any right of a Choctaw citizen " ? Do you not base on that ? Mr. Ballinger. That is not the provision I have been basing the claim of my clients upon. Mr. Carter. Well, then, you discard this portion of it and do not assert any claim under that? Mr. Ballinger. I do not think the portion you have just read is material to the claim here of our clients. Mr. Carter. Well, then, on what part of the treaty of 1830 do you base the claim of your clients? Mr. Ballinger. I am not basing a claim under the treaty of 1830, but under the treaty of 1820. Mr. Carter. But, Mr. Ballinger, you have just read the fourteenth article of the treaty of 1830, as I understand it, as a basis for your claim? Mr. Ballinger. No; I Avas reading that to show that both Con- gress and the Choctaw Nation at that time (1830) recognized they had rights in the western lands. ENROLLMENT IN THE FIVE CIVILIZED TEIBES. 101 Mr. Carter. Yes. Now, what rights are recognized? They must, by the language of this, be based upon citizenship. The only right recognized in this at all is that they shall not lose the privilege of a Choctaw citizen; that is the only language, in this fourteenth article at least, that is a recognition of their i-ights in any manner that I can see. Mr. Ballinger. Mr. Chairman, the word "citizen" was loosely used in the treaties. Mr. Carter. But you are getting away from the point. Mr. Ballinger. Technically speaking — and I want to answer your question fairly — technically speaking your are correct, but in construing the treaty of 1830 you should construe it in the light of the understanding of the contracting parties, and at that time none of the parties who remained there believed or were led to believe that they would lose their property rights if they did not remove. Mr. Carter. We can not say that, Mr. Ballinger. We do not know what was in their minds, and you can not base your claim on the be- lief of people who have been dead 35 or 40 years. We can not say this fellow believed so-and-so. As a matter of fact, I never saw a treaty made with Indians in my life that some Indian did not afterwards claim he did not understand, and I think our friend here, Mr. Wright, who has had varied experiences with Indians will bear that out. Is it not always the case, Mr. Wright, that same In- dian will claim, after a treaty is made, that he did not understand its terms? Mr. Wright. Yes. Mr. Ballixger. Mr. Carter, as to this particular treaty, it is freed from this doubt that ydu speak about, because of the fact that there is an accurate record of exactly what transpired and the representa- tions made, of which I have a copy. Mr. Carter. All right; now we are getting down to business. You say you have a record which says that at that time the people did not understand the treaty to mean what was afterwards shown? Let us have the record. Mr. Ballinger. I mean that at the time the treaty of 1830 was negotiated representation was made to the Indians that they did not have to remove, and there was no representation made to them then or later of which there is any record that by taking an allotment of land there they extinguished their right in the Choctaw Nation. Mr. Carter. This very treaty itself recognized their right to such in Mississippi? Mr. Ballinger. Certainly; to allotments out of the 10,000,000 acres being ceded. They took their individual shares in land. Mr. Carter. There is no dispute al)out it? Mr. Ballinger. Certainly. Mr. Carter. iJndoubtedly the language of the treaty gives them the right to remain in Mississippi ? Mr. Ballinger. Yes, sir. Mr. Carter. That is not the question at issue at all; but could they remain in Mississippi and still claim an interest in the estate in Indian Territory? Noav, I want to call your attention to the fact that this language here is not really a conclusive conferrence of the rights of citizenship. It says they shall not lose what? Citizenship? 102 ENEOLLMENT IN THE FIVE CIVILIZED TEIBES. No; the privilege of a Clioctnw citizen; there might be a difference between actual citizenship and the privileges of citizenship. A man might have the privilege of becoming a citizen of the United States, although born in England, if he comes to America and becomes nat- ui'alized. Mr. Ballinger. Yes. Mr. Carter. In like manner it seems that the so-called Missis- sippi Choctaw reserved the privilege. The intent of this provision seems to be that the Mississippi ChoctaAv might have the privilege of becoming a Choctaw citizen. Hoav, if he removed? Mr. BALLI^'GER. Mr. Carter, right there let me answer your ques- tion. The object and purpose of that provision is, to my mind, sim- ply this and nothing more, that if the Choctaw Indian who re- mained in Mississippi wanted to go back and reaffiliate himself with the tribe, that he then could do so, and by doing so he became a citi- zen of the tribe in all the word implies. Mr. Carter. I think that is what is meant. Mr. Ballixger. That is precisely what is meant. Mr. Post. It was a mere privilege granted. Mr. Ballinger. Certainly; but suppose he did not go, there is no provision in the treaty by which he is to forfeit rights in prop- erty bought and paid for with his money. Mr. Carter. I am trying to confine the discussion to what rights were conferred by this, Mr. Ballinger. Mr. Ballinger. Yes. Mr. Carter, We are not discussing the question of whether this deprived him of any rights, but I am trying to find out what your contention is as to the claim the Mississippi Choctaw might have under this contention. His wdiole claim in the House and Senate has been asserted as resting on this provision. Mr. Gallinger. Mr. Carter, in my argument I tried to make my- self perfectly plain; that I attach no importance to that provision, article 14, because of the general language contained in articles 2 and 3 of the treaty, which accorded practically the same rights to any person who remained. Mr. Hurley. Let me ask one question, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Bal- linger, will you state to the committee why 640 acres were given to those people? Mr. Ballikger. I will endeavor to make that perfectly plain. In 1880, 640 acres of the land that was ceded was less than the indi- vidual share, if there had been a general allotment of the 10,000,000 acres, each individual would have received. Mr. Post. In the 10,000,000 acres? Mr. Ballinger. In the ten or eleven million acres remaining. Xow, he got his share in land. Those w^ho did not take allotments got their share in money under the judgment of the Supreme Court, and that is why I have never been able to appreciate the importance of this Choctaw^ suit of the Chickasaw Nation against the United States in connection with this matter and the disposition of those funds, for in my opinion those funds should have properly gone to the Indians west, except the funds derived from the lands that should have been allotted to the Choctaw under the treaty of 1830, and which he did not get. ENROLLMENT IN THE FIVE CIVILIZED TEIBES. 103 • Mr. Carter. Then it is agreed by you that this provision here or this last sentence in article 14 of the treaty of 1830 did not confer or attempt to confer citizenship upon any Mississippi Choctaw In- dian unless he removed to Oklahoma ? Mr. Ballinger. Mr. Carter, I have made myself perfectly plain on that, that in order to acquire political rights in the Choctaw Nation he must remove to the Choctaw Nation and reaffiliate himself with the tribe. Mr. Richardson. Mr. Chairman, I want to take exception to the construction which has been sought to be put upon this article, and you will find that by reading the article it does not make any pro- vision for acquiring citizenship in the Choctaw Nation at that or any other time. The provision is made in a treaty where certain persons who desire to remain in Mississippi are parties to the treaty, some are the chiefs who signed the treaty, and the supposition was not that they should gain citizenship or anything like that, but the pro- vision is as follows : " Persons who claim under this article shall not lose the privilege of a Choctaw citizen." Now, there is a great deal of importance which must be placed upon that word " lose," because they had at the time they signed that treaty the full privileges of Choctaw citizenship, and the question was not something that they might get in the future, but their status at that time and that status being preserved. Mr. Carter. Now, Mr. Richardson, is it your contention that they had the full right of citizenship at that time in Indian Territory? Mr. Richardson. In the Choctaw Nation? Mr. Carter. I mean the Choctaw Nation in Indian Territory? Mr. Richardson. My idea of that provision is this: That those Indians who were parties to that treaty, and who knew and desired to avail themselves of this article, regarded themselves as remaining in Mississippi, clothed with the full privileges of Choctaw citizen- ship, because the history of that article shows that those people who were intending to adopt the provisions of that article were the con- stant bidders; that is to say, they were the element who were so impressed with the traditions of the Choctaw Nation that this coun- try was the country which contained the graves of their ancestors, where their fathers had been born, and that they were the people who, of all Choctaws at that time, were Indians through and through, and they signed that treaty, as the contemporaneous records show, with the full belief that they did not lose any privilege of Choctaw citizens. Mr. Carter. Mr. Richardson, let me ask you this: Do not the records show that at that time the Federal Government was unable to start any migration to the western reservation? Mr. Richardson. Yes. Mr. Carter. They could not get any considerable number of the Choctaws to move, then? Mr. Richardson. Yes. Mr. Carter. Even after the treaty of 1820? Mr. Richardson. That is correct. Mr. Carter. And do you not claim that this provision was placed in the treaty in order to get the signatures of the Choctaws to the treaty of 1830? 104 ENROLLMENT IN THE FIVE CIVILIZED TRIBES. Mr. RiGiTARDsox. Absolutely so. These people would not have signed that agreement unless that was put in, and that was written after the treaty for that purpose. Mr. Carter. That was put in to satisfy the fellow who wanted to remain in Mississippi? Mr. Richardson. That is perfectly true. Mr. Carter. And it was put in to give him the privilege to remain in Mississippi if he wanted to? Mr. Richardson. Yes. Mr. Carter. And have his home there if he wanted to, but if he should become dissatisfied with his condition thereafter and desire to close out his holdings in Mississippi and go to Indian Territory, he could then reinstate himself, as his going there Avould reinstate him to full citizenshij) with the Choctaws in the West? Mr. Richardson, No; I do not think it would be necessary to reinstate him when the article says he shall not lose his privilege. That is the one word in this treaty which can not be overlooked, that he can not lose the privilege. Mr. Carter. Perhaps I do not make myself perfectly clear. If the fellow who took advantage of this fourteenth article should be- come dissatisfied with his lot in Mississippi on account of being im- posed on by the white man, or for any other reason, and decided to give up his land there, as might suit the dictates of his own bidding, he could then go to the tribal reservation in Indian Territory and have full citizenship — that is, he would not lose his citizenship. He could go there afterwards, any time, and retain his citizenship in that country. Mr. Richardson. Why, certainly; as any Choctaw citizen would be entitled to do so. Mr. Carter. Well, do you think, Mr. Richardson, that any man could become a citizen of any country and exercise the privileges of citizenship of that country, as privileges go, without living within the confines of that country? Mr. Richardson. I think so, provided that he were an original citizen of that country now. Mr. Carter. Well, now, let us follow that out just a moment. Suppose a man is a citizen of the United States and he moves to Ger- many — bad place for him to move right now, but suppose he does — can he in Germany exercise any of the privileges of a United States citizen? Mr. Richardson. He can have the privileges without exercising them. Mr. Carter. He can claim the protection of a United States citi- zen in Germany, but he can not exercise any such privileges as voting. He is not required to pay taxes to the United States Government while in that country, and he can not exercise the privilege of educat- ing his children in the United States unless he is absolutely in the United States. Mr. Richardson. No ; but he may be to the fullest extent a citizen of the United States, just as the subjects of Germany are bound, in their laws, to return to take service. Mr. Carter. I understand, but to exercise — and we must bear in mind that our rules are different — but to exercise citizenship — his ENKOLLMENT IN THE FIVE CIVILIZED TRIBES. 105 citizenship as a citizen of the United States — he must necessarily re- turn to the United States. Mr. Richardson. That would be true to exercise the privileges of citizenship. Mr. Carter. Would not participation in this be called the exercis- ing of citizenship? Mr. Richardson. I think that where the Choctaw estate is being wound up and distributed it would not be necessary for a man to return, provided he is a citizen of the Choctaw Nation. Mr. Carter. Wait a minute; how do you construe this word " remove " ? Mr. Richardson. I think the word " remove " undoubtedly means remove from Mississippi to the Choctaw Nation. Mr. Carter. Do you not think, as said by Judge Clayton, no word is put in any law except for a purpose, and it must be construed as having a meaning if it is in the law^ ? Do you not think this sentence here carries wdth it the implication that if he has the privilege of a Choctaw citizen he must remove to Indian Territory? Mr. Richardson. No ; I can not see that, Mr. Chairman. You must recall the fact that at that time the Choctaw Nation had no rules of citizenship further than that the property and property rights of the Choctaw Nation were such that they could be only actually physically enjoyed by those who were living on the land. Mr. Carter. On the reservation. Mr. Richardson. Therefore a person who lived in Mississippi, under article 14, although he might be in the terms of this article a person Avho had not lost his privilege of Choctaw citizenship, would not of necessity be enjoying the privileges of citizenship. Mr. Carter. Could not. Mr. Richardson. Could not, because he w^ould have to be physically present on the land in order to have any beneficial use of it. Mr. Carter. Must we not interpret that not in view of the condi- tions as now, but as then, because then such a thing as allotment of lands of the Choctaws was not considered. As a matter of fact the Choctaw people removed West so they might own their lands in com- mon and enjoy them in common, and might, as has been said in the past, have a Chinese wall built around them, from which the white man might be excluded. Mr. Richardson. I think that is perfectly true, but when you at- tempt under changed conditions — attempt to w'ind up and distribute the property of the Choctaw Nation, and these people are living there who the treaty says have not lost their privileges of citizenship, and w^hen they merely fulfill the contingency of going onto the land they are supposed to enjoy, are subjects to receive the benefits of citizenship except the annuities, under the treaty, then you must take them into account. Mr. Carter. You must take them into account, Mr. Richardson, it is true; but I do not see how you escape the interpretation of this word " remove." Now, let us read it again: Persons who claim under this article shall not lose the privilege of a Choctaw citizen who, if they have removed, are not to be entitled to any portion of the Choctaw land. 106 ENEOLLMENT IN THE FIVE CIVILIZED TRIBES. The implication there seems perfectly plain to me that the estab- lishment or the retention of citizenship was contingent upon removal. If not so, Avhy should the word " remove " be put in there ? Mr. RiciiAitDSON. It was put in there, in my judgment, for this reason: The Mississippi Choctaw got 640 acres as the head of a family, or 320 or 120 as a minor, and that land meant something to them. At the same time, under that treaty, the only thing that was giAen the Choctaw Nation herself was the annuity of $400,000. Now, in the case of the Choctaw Nation v. United States will be found a statement made by Peter P. Beecher. who was then governor of the Choctaw Nation and a delegate to Washington, and he has figured out in that statement that if each person — head of a family and child in the Choctaw Nation in 1830 had been given the amounts under that treaty, it would have satisfied the 11,000 acres of land; that is to say. the amounts given the Choctaws who remained were their dis- tributive share of the 11,000 acres of land which the Choctaws would own then in Mississippi. Mr. Carter. Eleven million dollars. Mr. Richardson. And that was one of the arguments made in the case of the Choctaw Nation v. United States. Now, for that rea- son they got everything that they were entitled to under the treaty of 1830. The other Choctaws got an annuity which was supposed to be the only explanation for it, that it was compensation for the lands not taken up, although it was vastly inadequate. Now, I say, therefore, that when the Choctaw Indians removed it would have been unfair to let them live in Mississippi for five years and acquire title to their territory in Mississippi, sell it. and go over to the nation and receive the annuities which the Choctaws who had moved were getting. Mr. Carter. The annuities were inconsequential, were they not? Mr. Richardson. Practically so; they were $400,000 for lands which were worth five or six million dollars. Mr. CARn:R. Let me ask this: It is agreed by everybody, I think, that the thing the Federal Government wanted done at that time was to have these Indians move to Indian Territory; I think that is agreed. Mr. Richardson. That is absolutely agreed upon. Mr. Carter. That was one of the objects of making this treaty. Mr. Ballinger. That was 1830? Mr. Carter. 1830. Now, then, if you give to the Indian iii Okla- homa a reservation and then to the Mississippi Choctaw Indian the allotment in Mississippi and an equal interest in a reservation in the West, you offer a premium to the Indian to stay in Mississippi. Does that seem to bear out the policy of the Government at that time? Mr. Richardson. I think that the question of the policy of the Government at that time was subordinated to this fact, that the Government could not force the Choctaw Nation or its representa- tives to sign that treaty unless they did put that provision in it, and the records show that'^that provision was put in there, in my judg- ment, bv the oflEicers of the United States Avith the deliberate inten- tion at the time it was put there of violating it, and the records show that they followed that up with conduct which was in every respect a violation of the letter of the treaty. ENROLLMENT IN THE FIVE CIVILIZED TRIBES. 107 Mr. Carter. Now, let me pursue that a little further. Would it not be natural to suppose that this was the intention of the Govern^ ment, that some of these Indians would perhaps allot these lands in Mississippi, but that afterwards the Government might be able to persaude them to abandon the allotments and go to the reservation in Indian Territory? Would that not be a very natural conclusion? Mr. Richardson. I suppose that Avould be; I do not see any reason for thinking that that would not be possibly the thing they had in view. Mr. Carter. It evidently would not have been the purpose of the Government, with its avowed policy of removal, to have offered a premium to a man to remain in Mississippi. They evidently would not have offered to give a man who remained in Mississippi more than the man who went to Indian Territory. Mr. Richardson. I think that is what they did. . *; Mr. Ballinger. They gave the fellow who went Mr. Richardson. The man who stayed in Mississippi under the fourteenth article and then moved to Oklahoma more than the fellow who moved in the first instance. Everybody's construction of the treaty agrees to that, because it is admitted that those per- sons living here under the fourteenth article stayed in Mississippi, the majorit}^ of them for a period of 12 to 15 years after 1830 — dur- ing all that time the Government was moving them — that they gave those people who moved, who got scrip, a cash indemnity for that scrip, and, I think, moved them into Oklahoma, and the Choctaw Nation west, and there they have been given, as my friend has said, full acknowledgment as Choctaw citizens, so a man who took ad- vantage of this article, whether he moved in 1840, or whether he is there to-day, is entitled to more advantages than those who moved. Mr. Carter. Well, then this is about the situation: The Federal Government, finding itself unable to get the Choctaws to migrate, offered in this fourteenth article provisions that these who remained in Mississippi might allot certain lands, that they might not lose the privilege of citizenship in the western reservation. So that gets backs to the original proposition that the intention, evidently, of the Federal Government at that time v>'as that the Indian who remained in Mississippi and took the allotment should not be entitled to citizenship in the ChoctaAv Nation in Oklahoma and Indian Ter- ritory unless he removed there and established his residence there, and for that reason, and in carrying out that intention, the words " if they remove " must have been placed in the fourteenth article. That seems perfectly plain to me. I can not see why these words, " if they ever remove." should have been placed in there un- less it was the intention of the Government that with the Choctaw Indian, the same as had always been true of other Indians, it would be necessary for him to remove on the reservaticm before he acquired actual rights. Mr. Richardson. If that last clause had not been put in that article the provision " if they ever remoAC," or was to be entitled to any portion of the Choctaw annuity, then the persons who removed in 1888, 1840, or 1842 would have not removed and received a propor- tional share of the Choctaw annuity. Mr. Carter. As a matter of fact, I think they had. Mr. Richardson. I think that is true. 108 ENROLLMENT IN THE FIVE CIVILIZED TEIBES. Mr. Caktek. I think the Mississippi Choctaw has always been treated, with reference to annuities, the same as other Choctaws. Mr. KiCHARDsoN. x\t that time there Avas no roll kept. Mr. Cauter. I mean Avhen they went to Indian Territory. I have never heard of any distinction between the citizenship of the Missis- sippi Choctaw and the native Choctaw after he was admitted to citizenship. Mr. Richardson. Mr. Chairman, would not the presumption, in view of the fact that the United States Avas endeavoring to moA^e these Indians and make them move — would not the statement in that provision that if tliose Avho claimed may retain the privileges of ChoctaAv citizenship, but if they removed are not to be given a part of the annuity mean to impose on those who stayed, under that article, a penalty of a loss of a part of their property or citizenship; that is, their right to share in the annuity? Mr. Carter. That would be true, perhaps; that conclusion might be draAvn, I would say, if the annuities really amountetd to anything, but $14,000 annuity for twenty or thirty thousand people is an incon- sequential amount. Mr. Richardson. There are $20,000 a year. Mr. Carter. Then, $20,000 for twenty or thirty thousand people would be an inconsequential matter. That would not have induced them to move to Oklahoma when the journey would have cost them a great deal more. Mr. Ballinger. Mr. Chairman, I would like to call your attention to this fact, and I do not think it has been brought out, that if the 11,000,000 acres remaining in Mississippi had been allotted in allot- ments of G40 acres, it Avould have allotted 18,750 Indians, and in 1830 there were only 19,250 ChoctaAvs, including those Avho removed. Only the heads of families received 610 acres, children over 10 years of age 320 acres, and children under 10 years of age 140 acres; so that the Indian Avho took an allotment did not get his share of the 11,000,000 acres disposed of by the treaty of 1830. Mr. Carter. You must take into consideration, Mr. Ballinger, that they had the pick of the lands. Mr. Ballinger. They had to take lands upon which their improve- ments were. Mr. Carter. If the conditions are similar in Mississippi to Okla- homa, you would have found the Indians allotted on all the best lands. Mr. Harrison. Mr. Chairman, I want to ask a question for infor- ination. I hear a great deal said about each one receiving 040 acres of land; that is, the head of the family, and those over 10 and under 10 so much; noAv, I have it in mind from Avhat little attention I haA-e given it, that that applies to the chief men of the tribes. Mr. Carter. To anybody. Mr. Harrison. Did each Choctaw who removed in Mississippi ha\'e Bet apart to him and did he receive that 640 acres? Mr, Carter. He did not have set apart for him. Mr. Harrison. Has he ever gotten it ? Mr. Carter. He Avas allowed the privilege of taking 640 acres of land. Mr. Harrison. I see that. ENROLLMENT IN THE FIVE CIVILIZED TRIBES. 109 Mr. Carter. If he did certain things; you contend he was pre- vented from doing those things by the Federal agents themselves. Mr. Harrison. That was the point I was after exactly; then he never got that land. J\Ir. Carter. One hundred and forty-three heads of families did. Mr. Harrison. Then those who did not get the land afterwards, upon appeal to the Federal Government, were given scrip — one-half in actual scrip and the other half in money. I may ask was that scrip paid to those who remained in Mississippi ? Mr. Carter. The first half was paid the scrip; the cash was paid in Indian Territory. Mr. Ballinger. Now, Mr. Chairman, right in that connection, I think the record pretty conclusively shows that those persons who were entitled to land under the treaty of 1830, as a matter of factj received no greater proportion of benefit from the lands, the value being paid for them in scrip and in various ways, than the Indian who removed from Mississippi received from the sale of the residue lands. Both received practically nothing. Mr. Carter. The one who moved to Mississippi? Mr. BALLI^GER. To Oklahoma; both received practically nothing. The Indian who removed to Oklahoma realized from his share of upward of 11,000,000 acres of land a share in about $2,200,000. The Indian who was entitled to an allotment of 640 acres probably did not receive over 10 per cent of its actual value. Mr. Carter. I take it this was what the actual facts were: Scrip was delivered to these people without any restrictions whatever — and if I am not right, I hope you gentlemen will correct me. That being the case, the Indians not being accustomed to trading for anything of value, the scrip naturally passed into the hands of some white men in Mississippi, for perhaps a very nominal price, a short time after he received it. Those who received the last half of the scrip, which v'as delivered in cash, having been delivered in Okla- homa, perhaps a great many squandered that, maybe in Oklahoma, perhaps took it back to Mississippi with them and squandered it, so that whatever they received from the Government in compensation for the treaty rights in 1830 was practically no benefit to them at all. So, in like manner, if $2,080, or any other amount, were de- livered to them as provided by the Harrison bill, these unfortunate people would realize practically no benefits from it, for it would (}uickly pass into the hands of scheming Avhite neighbors. Mr. KiciiARDSox, Mr. Chairman, I want to refer to a rumor in connection with something you just said in your statement. The Tccords of the agents who distributed that one-half of the scrip in Mississippi show that they recognized contracts which these Indians had entered into with attorneys, and those contracts called for one- half of what the Indians recovered; and the record shows that one- half of the scrip delivered in Mississippi was delivered to the attor- neys and not to the Indians. They never had physical possession of the scrip. Mr. Carter. They recognized powers of attoi-ney. Mr. RiciTAunsoN. They recognized ]>owers of attorney, and de- livered one-half of whut was indorsed, and transferred by virtue of power of attorney in the case. 110 ENROLLMENT IN THE FIVE CIVILIZED TEIBES. Mr. Carter. Do you attribute the responsibility for that condition to the United States? Do you charge the United States or the Choctaw Nation Avith responsibility? Mr. Post. Evidently it would be the United States. Mr. Carter. Mr. lijchardson, you have read the Harrison bill carefully ? Mr. Richardson. I have. Mr. Carter. Is there anything in that bill to prevent the same thing occurring as occurred before ? Mr. Richardson. I do not think the Harrison bill has any pro- vision for the restriction of the use of the fund or property which niay be given these Indians. Mr. Carter. There is nothing in the bill to prevent it being paid Upon powers of attorney. Mr. Richardson. Well, the general law at this time provides that no attorney, in the collection of a Government claim from any citizen of the United States, can collect that money at the present time under the law as it exists now. If I represent you in the prosecution of a Government claim, I could not collect that money under power of attorney. Mr. Carit:r. I would have to collect it in person? Mr. Richardson. You would have to collect it in person, or you would have to indorse the draft, the only exception being that after the draft is drawn you could file a power of attorney after that day to indorse. Mr. Carter. You can authorize an attorney to indorse after that time ? Mr. Richardson. After that time. Mr. Ballinger. Mr. Chairman, there was some question as to under what treaty the title was acquired. I want to read into the record an extract from the record in the case of Mr. Carter. I do not think there is any dispute about that. You can put it in the record, however. Mr. Bali.inger. If there is no dispute that the title to these lands Was intended in 1820 Mr. Carter. That seems to be the understanding. Mr. Ballinger. I wanted to make it perfectly clear what the court held. Mr. Carter. That is your understanding, is it not? Mr. Ballinger. Yes; I do not know any one who disputes that. Mr. Carter. Is it yours, Mr. Bond ? Mr. Bond. No, sir; the complete title passed on the issuance and delivery of patent. Mr. Carter. Is it your understanding that the statement he has just made, to the effect that the treatv of 1820 carried the considera- tion? ]\Tr. Bond. Yes; that is my understanding. Mr. Ballinger. And that that was the only consideration that ever passed for it? Mr. Bond. No; I do not concede that. Other considerations were involved before the execution and delivery of patent. Mr. Carter. Then put it in the record. Mr. Richardson. I just want to make this statement, Mr. Chair- man: You spoke of the Harrison bill. Of course he prepared this ENROLLMENT IN THE FIVE CIVILIZED TKIBES. Ill bill, and the only provision for the full bloods in that bill is the mandatory chiusc written in there after these hearings started, pro- viding for the enrollment of the full bloods. Mr. Carter. After identification. Mr, Richardson. Yes; but in the bill which the counsel for the Mississippi full-blood Chcctaws prepared, and which is before this committee, a very complete system is provided for the establishment of a trust fund administered by the Secretary of the Interior, with a provision exempting their share in these funds from any debts and claims, and for the purchase of forms which are to be subject to restrictions, and I think very complete provision for the protection of these Indians. Mr. Ballinger. Now, I want to insert this extract from the deci- sion of the Supreme Court of the United States in Choctaw Nation v. United States (119 U. S., p. 38), wherein the court said: The most noticeable thing, upon a careful consideration of the terms of this treaty, is that no money consideration Is promised or iiaid for a cession of lands, the beneficial ownership of which is assumed to reside in the Choctaw Nation, and computed to amount to over 10,000,000 acres. It was not an exchange of lands east of the Mississippi River for lands west of that river. The latter tract had already been secured to them by its cession under the treaty of 1820. Mr. Bond. I agree to that, Mr. Chairman, as between the nation and the United States, but not as to the individuals ; the individuals who remained received an additional consideration before the deliv- ery and execution of the patent; they accepted the consideration of alloting land in Mississippi and relinquished the right to the lands west unles they removed and lived thereon. Title can pass by treaty and otherwise, but the patent in this case was the final evidence as to consideration, limitations, and restrictions, so far as the claimants are concerned. Mr, Post. I understand your claim, Mr. Ballinger, that you have an equity under the treaty of 1820. Mr, Ballinger. That is precisely my contention. Mr. Post. And that is your contention? Mr. Richardson. Well. I think that is one of the reasons why, under Article 14, the privileges of citizenship were not to be lost, because that was the only thing that the Choctaw Nation oAvned ex- cept its annuity. Subcommittee of Committee on Indian Affairs, House of Representatives, Wednesday^ August 12^ 191. 'i. The subcommittee met at 10.30 o'clock a. m., Hon. Charles D. Carter (chairman) presiding. Mr. Carter. Is Mr, Bond ready to proceed? Mr. Bond. Mr. Chairman, Mr. Hurley has asked for additional time; and while I am ready, I would rather have him complete his argument. Mr. Carter. How much time do you want, Mr. Hurley? Mr. Hurley. Fifteen or twenty minutes. Mr. Carter, How much time do you want, Mr, Bond? ^Ir, Bond, An hour oi- an hour and a half. Mr. Carter, All right, Mr. Hurley; you can proceed. 112 ENROLLMENT IX THE FIVE CIVILIZED TEIBES. STATEMENT OF MR. P. J. HUELEY— Continued. Mr. Hurley, Mr. Chairman, when the hearings were closed yester- day the question under discussion was whether or not the Choctaws residing in Mississippi have an interest in the hind purchased West in 1820 by reason of the fact that they had an interest in the land in Mississippi that was traded for the land in the West. I am not going into that question to any extent this morning, for the reason that I believe every member of the committee is fully convinced that when the fourteenth-article claimants took their share of the Choc- taw estate in 1830, and the payments that were made thereafter under the fourteenth article, they were individualized and given their dis- tributive share of the then tribal property of the Choctaw Nation. But another question was raised that I do not think I fully answered at the time it was under discussion, and that was the question in regard to the release that was made by the Choctaw Nation to the United States Government for all future claims arising under the fourteenth article, the United States Government requiring that the Choctaw Nation, upon the receipt of the $872,000 by the individual claimants, should execute a release to the United States, and that release was executed in conformity with the provisions of the act of Congress approved August 23, 1842, and is as follows: Whereas by an act of Congress entitled "An act to supply deficiencies in the appropriations for the service of the fiscal year ending the 30th day of June, 1S52," all payments of interest in the amount awarded Choctaw claimants under the fourteenth article of the treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek for lands on which they resideecially pro- vided for, leaving the body of the full-blood Choctaws to be provided for under the fourteenth article. Mr. Hurley. That means, of course, the body of the Choctaws who remained in Mississippi, because the body of the full bloods emi- grated to the Choctaw Nation west. Mr. Richardson. That is correct, I think, because it says " leav- ing the body of the full-blood Choctaws to be provided for under the fourteenth article." Mr. Hurley. Not only left, but actually were provided for under the fourteenth article. Mr. Richardson. Yes, sir. Is that in accordance with your under- standing of the facts ? Mr. Hurley. That is what I have attempted to state to this committee. Mr. Richardson. You have criticized the adoption of what is known as the full-blood rule of evidence. If that statement in this report of March 10, 1899, which enunciated the full-blood rule of evi- dence be correct, do you not think that they were correct in their pre- sumption which they adduced as a rule of evidence to guide them that the full-blood Choctaws living in Mississippi in 1899 — being, of course, descendants of full-blood ancestors and each Choctaw who liA'ed there must have had approximately 8 to 16 ancestors in 1830 — that their presumption was a fair one that those full-blood Choctaws living there in 1899 were the descendants of fourteenth-article claim- ants and not nineteenth-article claimants? Mr. Hurley. Mr. Chairman, Mr. Richardson's argument, of course, is correct to a certain extent, but I do not want him to leave the impression with the committee that those captains and district chiefs and all supplemental article claimants were mixed-blood In- dians. It is true that a few of the nineteenth-article claimants were mixed bloods, American State Papers, vohime 7, sho-vs how few of them were really mixed bloods. There were a few intermarried white men claimants who claimed under the fourteenth article as heads of Choctaw families. The distinction was drawn that there is a vast difference between a Choctaw head of a family and the head of a Choctaw family. So, as a matter of fact, at that time there were only a very few mixed bloods among the Indians. While, as you say.by reason of the great number of fourteenth-article claim- ants wiio remained and the comparatively small number of claimants under the nineteenth article, of course there were a greater number of full bloods under the fourteenth article than under the nineteenth article and other articles, but there were many full bloods who were claimants under the other articles. Outside of that statement, I have shown by the records of the Indian Office that the fourteenth- article claimants have emigrated to the Indian Territory. The com- mission to which you refer there reported that there were very few, if any, Indians in Mississippi at that time who could prove their descent from the fourteenth-article claimants. Mr. Post. There are tAvo propositions before the committee which you have not touched on and which I want to call your attention to. 122 ENROLLMENT IN THE FIVE CIVILIZED TEIBES. The first one is under tlie provisions of article 14 of the treaty of 1830, which is: Persons who claim under this article shall not lose the privileges of a Choc- taw citizen, but if they ever remove are not to be entitled to any portion of the Choctaw annuity. What limitation, if any, is there upon the right of removal? Was it to continue forever? The other proposition is. Do the rights con- ferred under article 14 attach to the Mississippi Choctaw then in being, or would they cover the descendants? Mr. HuELEY. In answer to your first proposition, about the length of time that this right should continue, the Choctaw people sought to foreclose the duration of that time in 1866, when they provided for an allotment of their lands in severalty by treaty with the United States. They provided for an advertisement to the absentee Choc- taws, including, of course, the Mississippi Choctaws, requiring them to come to the Choctaw Nation within a certain time and establish a residence there and to reside upon the land for a period of years before becoming entitled, and that all those who would not comply with that requirement should lose. Those who thereafter removed, of course, would be excluded, because thereafter the nation would not exist. Under that treaty, however, there was no allotment of land in severalty. In order to show what the duration of the right was supposed to be at that time I will place in the record at this point that provision of the treaty, as follows : The notice required in the above article shall be given not only in the Choc- taw and Chickasaw Nations but by publication in newspapers printed in the States of Mississippi and Tennnessee, Louisiana, Texas, Arkansas, and Alabama, to the end that sucli Choctaws and Chickasaws as yet remain outside of the Choctaw and Chickasaw Nations may be informed and have opportunity to exercise the rights hereby given to resident Choctaws and Chickasaws: Pro- vided, That before any such absent Choctaw or Chickasaw shall be permitted to select for liimself or herself or others, as hereinafter provided, he or she shall satisfy tiie register of the laud office of his or her intention, or the inten- tion of the party for whom selection is to be made, to become bona fide resi- dent in the s;ii(l nation within five years from the time of selection; and should the said absentee fail to remove into said nation and occupy and commence an imiu-ovement on the land selected within the time afaresaid the said selec- tion shall be canceled and the land shall thereafter be discharged from all claim on account thereof. That was under the treaty of 1866, when they proposed to cul- minate the tribal affairs. Those conditions ran along until 1893, when a commission was appointed to negotiate with the Indians of the Five Civilized Tribes to bring about such changes as might be necessary to prepare the country for statehood. They determined that the communal condition of the land must cease and that each Indian who was interested in the land should have his or her per capita share of the property. It was this that brought about the renewed effort of the United States Government to bring to the Indian Territory every one who had a right to that land. It is evident that they could not have the privileges of Choctaw citizens after the Choctaw Nation and Choctaw citizenship had expired. The privilege granted them under the treaty of 1830 was that they were not to lose the privilege of Choctaw citizens, but that if they ever removed to the Choctaw Nation, which was the only place on earth were they could enjoy it, because no one could individually ENEOLLMENT IN THE FIVE CIVILIZED TRIBES. 123 own any property in the Choctaw Nation, they could there enjoy a communal interest in the land west. So when that condition ex- pired, when there was no longer any communal property, and when the allotments were held in severalty, there was not in existence the Choctaw Nation with which they could reaffiliate themselves and become a part of its citizenship. Mr. Post. There is some communal property still existing, is there not? Mr. Hurley. There is tribal property still existing, but the right to participate in that property has been foreclosed by the treaty between the United States Government and the Choctaw and Chicka- saw Nations, and so sacred has that treaty been considered by the Choctaws themselves, however not so by the United States, that there are in the Choctaw and Chickasaw Nations to-day not less than 3,000 Indian children born in the Choctaw and Chickasaw Nations the children of those persons who are on the roll, they have resided upon the land, they are undoubtedly Indians by blood of those tribes, yet, under the provisions of this treaty, which foreclosed the right of the United States Government to enroll anyone else, these children are not permitted to participate in any of the property that is left in the Choctaw Nation. In the words of the treaty, "no person whose name does not appear upon the rolls as herein provided shall be entitled to in any manner participate in the distribution of the common property of the Choctaw and Chickasaw Tribes." Mr. Ballinger. By treaty, do you mean the agreement of July 1, 1902, which was an act of Congress ? Mr. Hurley. Mr. Ballinger, it is only necessary Mr. Carter (interposing). There is no use in going into a discus- sion of that. That question will lead us irresistably into an inter- minable discussion of something that has already been fully discussed before the committee and already gone into this record. Mr. Ballinger. That may be, but there are other Congressmen be- sides the members of this committee who will probably read this record, and when they find constant references to that treaty they will naturally suppose that it was a treaty. The Chairman. It is in the record, and the explanation of a treaty, an agreement, and the power of Congress to repeal either or both has been put in the record three or four times. All of us are familiar with those things. There is no reason why we should be ex- pected to go over again and again and thrash out matters that have already been fully explained. If Mr. Hurley wants to put it in the record again, he may do so once more, but we want it understood that hereafter these things are not going into the record more than a dozen times. Mr. Hurley. It is only necessaiy for me to call attention to the provision which I formerly read in answer to Mr. Post's question. He asked me how the right of these people, oi', rather, the privilege of these people, to reaffiliate themselves with the Choctaw Nation was foreclosed, and I referred to the supplemental agreement of 1902 as a treaty, and if T imderstand Avhat a treaty is, that is a treaty. It was proposed by the Choctaw and Chickasaw people and submitted to Congress. It was changed to some extent and resubmitted to the Choctaw and Chickasaw people, approved by their council, and 124 ENEOLLMENT IN THE FIVE CIVILIZED TRIBES. adopted by a vote of the Choctaw and Chickasaw people. That is M'hat I reifer to as a treaty between the United States Government and the Choctaw Nation. \ Mr. Post. Without going into all that, I want to understand your I position, and I want to recite it here to see if I understand it right. If I understand you rightly, this privilege conferred upon the Mis- sissippi ChoctaAV to remove and not lose his right to become a citi- zen of the Choctaw Nation west was obliterated when the Choctaw Nation was dissolved? Mr. Hurley. Yes, sir. Mr. Post. - That is the long and the short of it ? Mr. Hurley. Yes, sir. Mr. Post. In other words, the land that was conveyed to them in 1843 by the United States was conveyed to them so long as they ex- isted as a nation and resided upon that land ? Mr. Hurley. Yes, sir. Mr. Post. And the effect of that deed has been set aside practically from the fact that the nation has been dissolved and the land has been individualized, and, therefore, when that fact occurred the right to remove terminated? Mr. Hurley. Yes, sir. That proposition was ably argued by the Hon. William H. Murray on the floor of the House, showing the time of the dissolution of the tribal government Mr. Post (interposing). Well, let us hear you on the other propo- sition. Mr. Hurley. In closing that one point, I want to show conclu- sively, because I think this is a good place to show it, who were to participate in this property after the closing of the rolls, "^^^^len the rolls were closed the tribal government no longer existed, and it was shorn of all powers as a government. There exists now a chief or governor who has authority to sign conveyances. There is now no vestage of governmental authority existing in the Choctaw and Chickasaw Nations. The government was dissolved and the title to the undistributed property is now in the enrolled members of the tribes and was placed in them by section 35 of the agreement approved July 1, 1902, in the following language: No person whose name does not appear upon the rolls as herein provided t^hall be entitled to in any manner participate in the distribution of the common property of the Choctaw and Chickasaw Tribes and those whose names appear thereon shall participate in the manner set forth in this agreement. Now, what is the manner set forth in this agreement? Article 14 of that agreement provides: When allotments as herein provided have been made to all citizens and freednien the resii-ove their descent from a fourteenth article claimant have been offci-ed enrollment as a gratuity if they would remove to the Choctaw Nation. A great number did remove and were enrolled. Those Avho are now in Mississippi decline to remove. The time within which they could accept the benefits of this offer of citizenship has expired 138 ENROLLMENT IN THE FIVE CIVILIZED TRIBES. by the limitations placed upon it by the Choctaw-Chickasaw people and by the Congress of the United States. There is not an Indian in Mississippi who has a legal, equitable, or a moral right to enroll- ment in the Choctaw Nation. To enroll, as a citizen of the Choctaw Nation, any Indian now residing in Mississippi, Congress must reverse the decision of the Dawes Commission, which it authorized to determine the question of their right to enrollment ; it must reverse the decisions of the courts that have passed upon the question; it must violate the pro- visions of its own agreement made with the Choctaw and Chickasaw people on July 1. 1902; and it must repeal its own act of April 26, 1906. Congress must do all these things before any claimant for enrollment as a Mississippi Choctaw can be enrolled, and when Con- gress does these things it will create a claim against the United States Government in favor of the Choctaw and Chickasaw people of Oklahoma for the amount of their property given under such a law to the claimants. Just for a moment, Mr. Chairman, let us see who is appearing here as the representatives of these Mississippi Choctaws, and by what right they appear. The Record shows that Mr. Ballinger is appearing under the M. M. Lindley contract, made in 1896 for a period of 10 years. The con- tract expired in 1906. The portion of this contract which was in- troduced as evidence in the Court of Claims in the so-called Winton case shows upon its face that it expired in 1906. Mr. Richardson is appearing here under a contract made with J. E. Arnold Mr. Ballinger. I have made it plain that I have some individual contracts, so that those would certainly entitle me to recover. Mr. Hurley. You have not submitted your individual contracts. Mr. Ballinger. Yes; I have submitted a sample of them, a copy of them. Mr. Hurley. How many are there? Mr. Ballinger. About 50. Mr. Hurley. The record discloses that you and your partner at one time claimed to represent from 13,000 to 15,000 claimants. I believe you stated in the record that you and your partner did not represent more than 5,000. You now state that in all this number you have only about 50 Mississippi Choctaw contracts. ' Mr. Richardson is appearing here under a contract alleged to have been made with J. E. Arnold in 1897. Arnold was thereafter de- barred from practice by the Department of the Interior. Arnold is not now, nor never has been, an attorney at law. His disbarment was the result of his conduct in matters pertaining to Mississippi Choctaws. He was reinstated by the department on the promise that he would not reengage in this practice, but intended to enter the ministry. Crews & Cantwell appear here under the authority, they claim, through contracts obtained by A. P. Powell. Powell's character, and the manner through Avhich he obtained the contracts, are shown by this record to be at variance with the principles of common de- cency and legal ethics. The contracts held by Crews & Cantwell and held for them by the Texas Oklahoma Investment Co. are champertous, and according to ENROLLMENT IN THE FIVE CIVILIZED TRIBES. 139 their own admissions these contracts were obtained in violation of paragraphs 26, 27, and 28 of the Code of Ethics adapted by the American Bar Association. Mr. Richardson, I know you do not want to be unfair, but in the original contract of 1897 of course Mr. Arnold was a party named, and in the contract which we offered, executed in May, 1913, under which we now appear, our firm was named as one of the parties. Mr. Hurley. But your contract reverts back upon its own face to a contract made in 1897 with J. E. Arnold, and it is under the au- thority of that original contract that you now resume his case and become a representative. Now, Mr. Chairman, the time within which I was to have closed has expired, and I have not time to enter into a discussion of the sec- tions of the Code of Ethics to which I have referred, or to show the committee the applicability of those sections to the conduct of the gentlemen who are appearing in this litigation. I will ask that the sections which I have referred to be inserted after my remarks. I am quoting these sections from a book containing the rules of admis- sion to the bar of the Supreme Court of the United States. I do not think it unfair to say that I do not believe that there is a contract held by any of the attorneys who are now appearing before this committee witli any Mississippi Choctaw claimant that was not procured in violation of paragraph 28 hereinafter quoted. The Mississippi Choctaws are not causing this litigation. The litigation is caused by the agents and runners who are employed by attorneys to incite the Mississippi Choctaws to make a claim against the Choctaws and Chickasaws of Oklahoma with the hope that these attorneys and agents and runners may be able to develop such force in Washington as to compel the Choctaws and Chickasaws to offer a compromise by which these attorneys and agents and runners may profit. The McLaughlin report substantiates this statement. I do not believe that any lawyer believes that he will establish a right for any Mississippi Choctaw for enrollment in the Choctaw Nation west, because such a right does not exist, and therefore can not be established. Paragraphs 26, 27, and 28, Code of Ethics, adopted by the Amer- ican Bar Association, annotated to cases in point: 26. Professional advocacy other than before courts. — A lawyer openly and in his true character may render professional services before learislative or other bodies regarding proposed legislation and in advocacy of claims before depart- ments of Government upon the same principles of ethics which justify his ap- pearance before the courts; but it is unprofessional for a lawj'er so engaged to conceal his attorneyship, or to employ secret personal solicitations, or to use nic'iis othi'i- tli;in those addressed to the reison and understanding to influence action. Annot. \';ilidity of lobbying contracts, see Contract. Cent. Dig., pp. 5ST-5S0; Dec. Dig., p. 126. 27. Advertising, direct or indirect. — The most worthy and effective advertise- ment possible, even for a young lawyer, and especially with his brother law- yers is Ihc estalilishmeut of a well-nioritod n'ltutation for professional c.-ipacity and fidelity to trust. This can not be forced, but must be the outcome of char- acter and conduct. The publication or circulation of ordinary business cards, being a matter of personal taste or local custom, and sometimes of convenience, Is not per se improper. But solicitation of business by circulars or advertise- ments or by personal relations is unprofessional. It is equally unprofessional to procure business by indirection through touters of any kind, whether allied real estate firms or trust companies advertising to secure the drawing of deeds 140 ENROLLMENT IN THE FIVE CIVILIZED TRIBES. or wills or offering retainers in exchange for executorships or trusteeships to be influenced by tlie Inwyer. Imlireet iuivertiseinent for business by furnishing or inspiring newspaper comment concerning causes in which the lawyer has been or is engaged, or concerning the manner of their conduct, the magnitude of the interests involved, the Importance of the lawyer's positions, and all other like self'-l.-iudntion. defy the traditions and lower the tone of our high calling, and are intolerable. Annot. Advertising to secure divorces as ground for disbarment. (See Attorney and Client, Cent. Dig., p. 51: Dec. Dig., p. 38.) 28. Stirring up litigation, directly or through agents. — It is unprofessional for a lawyer to volunteer advice to bring a lawsuit, except in r;ire eases where ties of blood, relationship, or trust make it his duty to do so. Stirring up strife and litigation is not only unprofessional, but it is indictable nt conuuon law. It is disreputable to hunt np defects in titles or other causes of action and inform thereof in order to be employed to bring suit, or to breed litigation by vseeking out those with claims for personal injuries or those having any other grounds of action in order to secure them as clients, or to employ agents or lunners for like pui'poses, or to pay or reward, directly or indirectly, those who bring or intiuenee the bringing of such c;ises to his office, or to remunerate policemen, court or prison officials, physicians, hospital attaches, or others who may succeed, under the guise of giving disinterested friendly advice, in influenc- ing the criminal, the sick, and the injured, the ignorant, or others, to seek his professional services. A duty to the public and to the profession devolves upon every member of the bar, having knowledge of such practices upon the part of any practitioner, immediately to inform thereof to the end that the offender may be disbarred. Annot. Stirring up litigation and other unprofessional conduct, ground for disbar- ment. (See Attorney and Client. Dig.. i)]i. 47-84: Dec. Dig., pp. 34-61.) Barratry in general. ( See Champerty and Maintenance, Cent. Dig., pp. 1-51 ; Dec. Dig., pp. 1-6.) Mr. Carter. Mr. Richardson, do you wish to ask Mr. Hurley any question ? Mr. Richardson. No, r;ir; not about that. Mr. Carter. Mr. Arnold, do you ? Mr. Arnold, No, sir. Mr. Carter. Do you, Mr. Ballinger? Mr. Ballinger. I want to make just one brief statement to go into the record relative to the reference made to the authority under which I appear. The authority under which I appear was a contract taken in the spring of 1897 in the name of M. M. Linley, under which Chester Howe and Walter Field were associated with him. The contract, I think, ran for a period of 10 years, but during the period of 10 years they succeeded in securing the legislation under which practically all of those persons for whom I am now appearing were identified by the commission and by the department, and it is on a continuation of those services, the greater portion of which have already been ren- dered, that I am now^ appearing before this committee. Mr. Hurley. You do not deny that the contract to which you refer expired in 1906? Mr. Ballinger. I think by the terms of the contract itself it ex- pired in 1907. Mr. Hurley. And you do not claim that you have had that con- tract renewed? Mr. Ballinger. I do not claim there has been a renewal of that contract, Mr. Hurley. That is what I stated in the record, so your explana-! tion is unnecessary. REPORT ON H. R. 12586. January 2, 1915. Hon. John H. Stephens, Chairman House CoTnmittee on Indian Affairs^ Washington^ D. G. ^ Sir: Your subcommittee appointed to investigate and report on H. R. 12586 begs leave to submit the following observations: A careful and painstaking investigation of all treaties, laws, and other records bearing on this claim, including hearings lasting from April 1, 1914, until August 27, 1914, was gone into by your com- mittee. H. R. 12586 directs : 1. The Secretary of the Interior to enroll certain Mississippi Choc- taws upon the rolls of the Choctaw Nation in Oklahoma with a full participation in their tribal estate. 2. To reopen the Choctaw^ rolls for the adjudication of 20,000 or more alleged claimants. There are some Choctaws still remaining in Mississippi who have ^ persistently refused and successfully resisted all efforts of the Fed- eral Government and the Choctaw Nation to have them move west and affiliate with the tribe. The testimony before the subcommittee discloses many thousands of persons of doubtful descent, African and other, living in Missis- sippi and surrounding States, who have attempted to assert claims as Choctaw Indians. Such Indians of real Choctaw blood as still reside in Mississippi appear to take little interest in the claims asserted by their alleged attorneys. On the other hand, those claiming remote Indian blood and of doubtful descent have manifested much interest in being enrolled and sharing in a division of the Choctaw funds in Oklahoma. The contention of these latter seems to have been inspired and augmented by certain attorneys who have sent agents among these people advising them that they were Indians and taking contracts for their enrollment for a contingent fee of from 30 to 40 per cent of recovery, and in many instances a small cash I'etainer in addition. According to statements and admissions of these attorneys and their agents, two firms alone, those of Cantwell & Crews, of St. Louis, Mo., and Ballinger & Lee, of Washington City, D. C, and Ardmore, Okla., hold contiacts with 15,596 individuals, carrying provisions for fees aggregating $10,882,815. The testimony furtlior shows that a syndicate for the pur]:»ose of securing the enrollment of Mississippi Choctaws and a participation in the tribal estate of the western Choctaws has been formed under 141 142 ENROLLMENT IN THE FIVE CIVILIZED TRIBES. the name " The Texas-Oklahoma Investment Co.," capitalized at $100,000, $25,000 of which has been paid in and used. The directors of this corporation are S. L. Hurlbut, of El Campo, Tex. ; H. Master- son and W. A. Smith, of Houston, Tex, ; and T. B. Crews and H. J. Cantwell, of St. Louis, Mo. This claim of the Mississippi Choctaw attorneys for enrollment of their clients and participation in the Choctaw Nation's estate is by no means a new contention. The claim was, under direction of law, fully adjudicated by the Commission to the Five Civilized Tribes (House Doc. 274, 55th Cong., 2d sess.) and afterwards by the Federal court, to Avhich appeal was taken (Jack Amos et al. v. The Choctaw Nation, Decisions of United States courts in Indian Territory, 465), both decisions being adverse to the Mississippi Choctaw contention for enrollment. In rejecting the claim of nonresident Mississippi Choctaws the Commission to the Five Civilized Tribes said in part : This historical review of the acquisition of this territory by the Choctaw Nation and its subsequent legal relations to it makes it clear in the opinion of this counuissiou that the Mississippi Choctaws are not under their treaties en- titled to all rights of Choctaw citizenship except an Interest in the Choctaw annuities and still continue their residence and citizenship in Mississippi. (House Doc. 274, 55th Cong., 2d sess.) In affirming the decision the United States District Court for the Central District of Indian Territory closed its decision with the fol- lowing paragraph : Toperniitnien with, perchance, but a strain of Choctaw blood in their veins, who, 65 years ago, broke away from their kindred and their natioa, and during that time, or the most of it, have been exercising the rights of citizenship and doing homage to the sovereignty of another nation, and have become strangers to the people, to reach forth their hands from their distant and alien homes aud lay hold on a part of the public domain, the common property of the i>eople, and appropriate to their own u.se, would be unjust and inequitable. It is therefore the opinion of the court that the absent Mississippi Choctaws are not entitled to be enrolled as citizens of the Choctaw Nation. The action of the D:iwes Commission is therefore affirmed and a decree will be entered for the Choctaw Nation. (Jack Amos et al. v. the Choctaw Nation, Decisions of United States courts in Indian Territory, 465.) An appeal was taken from these decisions by the attorneys for the Mississippi Choctaws to the Supreme Court of the United States and the Jack Amos case was dismissed upon motion of the attorneys for the Mississippi Choctaws (190 U. S., 873). Several years subsequent to the date of these decisions excluding the Mississippi Choctaws from enrollment this matter w^as again taken up and readjusted by the legally constituted authorities of the Federal Government and the Choctaw and Chickasaw Nations in Oklahoma, by which agreement the Mississippi ChoctaAvs were given additional time for identification and establishment of bona fide residence in the Choctaw Nation in Indian Territory. (Supple- mental agreement, "An act to ratify and affirm the agreement with the Choctaw and Chickasaw Tribes of Indians, etc.," approved July 1, 1002.) The Choctaw Nation in Oklahoma has dealt justly and liberally with the ISIississippi Choctaws, always granting them full citizenship in their nation with all emoluments thereto whenever they would agree to affiliate with the tribe, and the Choctaw Nation in Okla- ENROLLMENT IN THE FIVE CIVILIZED TRIBES. 143 homa is under no legal, equitable, or moral obligation to enroll the \ Mississippi Choctaws as citizens of the tribe in the West at this time. By the agreements negotiated between the Federal Government (i and the Choctaw Nation all native western Choctaws were required to be on the reservation by June 28, 1898, or stand debarred from enrollment and participation in the tribal estate forever thereafter, and this rule has been strictly adhered to. The time for establishment of residence on the reservation was extended to the Mississippi Choctaw claimants until July 1, 1903, giving the Mississippi Choctaws five years to move on the reserva- tion after the time for establishment of such residence had been closed to the native Choctaws. After 11 years were consumed by the Commission to the Five Civilized Tribes in making up the rolls of the Choctaw and Chicka- saw Nations such rolls were affirmatively closed by action of Con- gress on March 4, 1907. The rolls of the Choctaw Nation were held open to the Mississippi ' Choctaws from 1830 until March 4, 1907, giving the Mississippi Choctaws 77 j^ears in which to complete enrollment with full benefits of citizenship. The Federal Government as such is neither legally nor equitably ' obligated to enroll Mississippi Choctaws with the Choctaws west, and is under only such moral obligation to the Mississippi Choctaws as is due to dependent North American Indians who were originally occupants and owners of the soil and who have been deprived of their patrimony by white settlers. The passage of H. R. 12586 would completely upset and undo 11 years of careful, painstaking work of the Interior Department in settling the aifairs of the Five Civilized Tribes, turn the wheels of progress backwards for more than 20 years, and, as has been said by President Taft, " open up a Pandora's box of troubles, which the life of the present generation might not see closed." The passage of H. R. 12586 would doubtless result in stupendous claims of millions of dollars against the Federal Government on the part of the Oklahoma Choctaws because of a division of their funds among persons whom the Federal commissions and Federal courts have decided were not entitled thereto. Its passage would lend encouragement to grafting attorneys with contracts for enormous attorneys' fees, running into millions of dollars, and hold out inducement for procuring additional contracts from spurious claimants. Your subcommittee therefore recommends that the Harrison bill (H. R. 12586) be not favorably reported by the House Committee on Indian Affairs. Respectfully submitted. C. D. Carter, Chairman. J. D. Post. RoRT. P. Hill. P. P. Campbell. REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR ON THE HARRISON BILL (H. R. 12586). The Secretary of the Interior, Washington, January 8, 1915. My Dear Mr. Stephens: I have the honor to refer herein to a com- munication of August 12, 1914, from Hon. C. D. Carter, then acting chairman of the Committee on Indian Affairs of the House of Repre- sentatives, with which was inclosed a copy of H. R. 12586, entitled "A bill to reopen the roUs of the Choctaw-Chickasaw Tribe and to provide for the awarding of the rights secured to certain persons by the fourteenth article of the treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek, of date September 27, 1830." He also referred to H. R. 4536 and requested that I consider the two bUls together and make a report thereon. Upon examination of H. R. 4536, I find that said bill is identical with H. R. 19213, introduced by Mr. Harrison of Mississippi in the Sixty-second Congress, second session, upon which last-mentioned bill the department submitted to your committee a report dated July 2, 1912. H. R. 12586, introduced in the present Congress by Mr. Harrison, is a similar bill to the above-mentioned bills except that in said H. R. 12586 an additional paragraph is included in section 2 to provide for the enrollment of all persons who were identified as Mis- sissippi Choctaws by the Dawes Commission in its report of March 10, 1899, commonly known as the McKennon roll, and of all persons identified as Mississippi Choctaws by the Dawes Commission from March 10, 1899, to March 4, 1907, whose identification was approved by the Secretary of the Interior but whose names did not appear on the final citizenship rolls of the Choctaw and Chickasaw Nations. The claims of Mississippi Choctaw Indians to recognition as citizens of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma and to share in the property of said Nation are based upon article 14 of the treaty of September 27, 1830. (7 Stat. L., 335.) Pursuant to the terms of the treaty, a large number of Choctaws were transferred from Mississippi to the country west, later known as Indian Territory. These Choc- taws who so removed and tlieir descendants now constitute the main body of what is known as the Choctaw Nation. There were, however, a considerable numb(>r of Choctaws who remained behind in Mississippi, some of them under the provisions of article 14 above mentioned. Said article 14 provided that the persons who claimed thereunder shouhl not lose the {)rivilege of a Choctaw citizen, but if they ever removed were not to be entitled to any part of the Choctaw annuity. The Indians who remained behind untk'r the provisions of said article 14 received either land in Mississij)j)i or scrip, which gave the appli- cants the right to enter public lands in certain Southern States. A 88855—15 10 145 146 ENROLLMENT IN THE FIVE CIVILIZED TRIBES. part of suid scri|), however, was later commuted by a money payment. Some of the fourteenth-article claimants later made their way west and joined the main bod}^ of the tribe in the Indian Territory. The Choctaw Council by various acts recognized the right of said absentee Mississippi Choctaws to remove to the nation, and actually invited them to do so. Under the provisions of the Atoka agreement with the Choctaw and Chickasaw Tribes contained in the act of Congress of June 28, 1898 (30 Stat. L., 495), the supplemental agreement contained in the act of July 1, 1902 (32 Stat. L., 641), and later acts of Congress for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of said agreements, the claims of indivithial Mississippi Choctaw Indians to be identified and to be enrolled as entitled to share in the property of the Choctaw Nation were fully considered by the Commission to the Five Civilized Tribes and by the department after fiiU hearing, at which the claim- ants had ample opportunity to present aU the evidence which they could procure in support of their claims. Very few claimants were able to prove descent from an ancestor who received or ap])lied for benefits under the provisions of article 14 of the treaty of 1830. The history of the Dawes Commission enrollment work relative to Mississippi Choctaw claimants is very fuUy set out in a communi- cation of April 14, 1914, from William O. Beall, at one time secretary of the commission to the Five Civilized Tribes. A copy thereof is inclosed for your information. For your further information as to the history of the Mississippi Choctaw claims and of the department action in the preparation of the final rolls there is inclosed a copy of department letter of July 2, 1912, to the chairman of the Committee on Indian Affairs of the House of Representatives. Judge William H. H. Clayton in his decision in the case of Jack Amos V. The Choctaw Nation, a copy of which may be found in the appendix of the annual report of the Commission to the Five Civilized Tribes for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1901, said that no treaty or acts of the Choctaw Council or of any officer of the Choctaw Council since the treaty of 1830 could be cited, or at least he had not found them, whereby any right or privilege had been conferred, granted, or recognized in or to a Mississippi Choctaw so long as he remained away from his people, and that no right was recognized or conferred upon such absent Indian except upon the condition that he should remove to the nation, and the right was not to be consummated or enjoyed until actual removal. Mississippi Choctaw Indians who, while the opportunity was theirs imder the privileges accorded them, refused to emigrate with the tribe to the new country west, and who never shared in the bur- dens and hardships of the pioneer life incident to the establishment of the new tribal government west of the Mississippi, have at this late date (now that the tribal property of the Choctaw Nation made valuable by the emigrants is being divided per capita among the enrolled recognized citizens of the nation) no equitable right to share in said property. With respect to the persons who were identified by the Dawes Commission as Mississippi Choctaws under the provisions of the act of Congress of June 28, 1898 (30 Stat. L., 495), but who failed to remove and make settlement in the Choctaw-Chickasaw country, ENROLLMENT IN THE FIVE CIVILIZED TRIBES. 147 as required by the act of Congress of July 1, 1902 (32 Stat, h., 641, sees. 41, 42, 43, and 44), it may be said that, irrespective of their unfortunate condition of poverty and ignorance, there is no ground, legal or equitable, for holding the Choctaw and Chickasaw Nations responsible for the failure of said identified persons to comply with the law as to removal and settlement. No obligation rested upon the United States to provide means for the removal of such Indians. Referring to the class of claimants whose names were contained in an identification roll submitted by the Commission to the Five Civilized Tribes on March 10, 1899, but never approved by the Secre- tary of the Interior, your attention is invited to the fact that the commission soon recognized the inaccuracy and incompleteness of that roll and requested the department to disregard it and to return the same to the commission. In order that there might be no doubt as to the standing of said roll, it was disapproved by the department on March 1, 1907. The larger part of the persons whose names were contained on that disapproved roU,were afterwards placed on the approved identification rolls, and those who complied with the law as to removal and settlement were enrolled on the final rolls of Mississippi Choctaw Indians. In the investigation and examination of Mississippi Choctaw claims made in 1900 and the years following by the Commission to the Five Civilized Tribes every effort that was possible to be made was made by said commission to reach all persons who had any equitable claim to recognition as Mississippi Choctaws, and especially to find those who were full-blood Choctaw Indians. H. R. 4536 and 12586 in effect provide, so far as the Mississippi Choctaw claimants are concerned, a general reopening of the rolls of the Choctaw Nation, necessitating a review of all the cases which had been adversely decided by the United States courts, the Department of the Interior, and the Choctaw and Chickasaw Citizensliip Court, as well as the consideration of claims not heretofore presented or con- sidered, and em]:)Ower the Secretary of the Interior to determine the rights of the claimants upon such evidence as may be produced by the applicants, without regard to any adverse judgment or decision heretofore rendered by an> court or commission to the Five Civilized Tribes, or the Department of the Interior, and without regard to any condition or disability heretofore imposed by any act of Congress. The records of the department show tliat Mississippi Choctaw claimants have been to an unusual extent the victims of numerous extortionate contracts, and the correspondence in many cases indi- cates that contracts were obtained through misrepresentations as to the facts, and in some cases that such contracts were obtained from claimants who believed that the persons obtaining the contracts were (lovernment agents. Your attention i^- invited to the report of Inspector McLaughlin, of this department, which report appears in print in the Congressional Record of Julv 10, 1914, commencing on page 13022. Referring to section 9 of said bills, I am of the opinion that, in view of the large amount of tribal property yet to be disposed of and of other matters affecting the trioes, it would be inadvisable to abolish 148 ENBOLLMENT IN THE FIVE CIVILIZED TRIBES. the tribal organization of the Choctaw and Chickasaw Nations at the present time. In view of the facts as presented to me, I am of the opinion that no legislation should be enacted for the reopening of the rolls of the Chotcaw Nation for the benefit of the Mississippi Choctaw claimants. Very truly, yours, Franklin K. Lane. Hon. John H. Stephens, CJiairman Committee on Indian Affairs, House of Representatives. Part Eight ENROLLMENT IN THE FIVE CIVILIZED TRIBES HEARINGS BEFORE THE SUBCOMMITTEE OF THE COMMITTEE ON INDIAN AFFAIRS . HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ON THE SUBJECT OF ENROLLMENT IN THE FIVE CIVILIZED TRIBES STATEMENT OF REFORD BOND ATTORNEY FOR THE CHICKASAW NATION IN OPPOSITION TO ENROLLMENT OF MISSISSIPPI CHOCTAWS WASHINGTON GOVERNMENT PRINTING OPriOE 1916 ENEOLLMENT IN THE FIVE CIVILIZED TEIBES. Subcommittee of Committee on Indian Affairs, House of Representatives, Friday^ August IJf.^ 19 Uf. The subcommittee met at 10.30 o'clock a. m/, Hon. Charles D. Carter (chairman) presiding. The Chairman. Mr. Bond, you may proceed. STATEMENT OF MR. REFORD BOND, ATTORNEY FOR THE CHICKASAW NATION. Mr. Bond. Mr. Chairman and gentlemen of the committee, the members of the Choctaw and Chickasaw Nations ow^n an equal un- divided interest in the entire tribal moneys and properties. They own their moneys and properties in common, therefore they have a common cause and a common fight. Mr. Hurley, attorney for the Choctaw Tribe of Indians, has so carefully briefed this question and has so fully and ably argued the same, that I feel a delicacy in attempting to present the issues involved for fear that I may en- croach upon the time of the committee by often repeating or pos- sibly rearguing questions which have heretofore been fully discussed. The bill under consideration provides for the reopening of the Choctaw-Chickasaw rolls for claimants under the fourteenth article of the treaty of 1830. Mr. Carter. Does it not go further than that? Does not the Harrison bill provide for the reopening of the rolls to almost anyone? Mr. Bond. Yes; practically any person of Choctaw blood who does not now appear upon the approved rolls of the tribe could apply as a claimant. According to the reports of the commission more than 20,000 persons applied as fourteenth-article claimants. Mr. Carter. Are you going to discuss the proviso to section 2 or 3 ? Mr. Bond. Yes, sir. Section 2 of the bill provides : That the Secretary of the Interior shall be vested with the power to deter- mine the rights of said claimants upon such evidence as may be produced by the applicant, without regard to any adverse judgment or decision heretofore 4 ENROLLMENT IN THE FIVE CIVILIZED TEIBES. rendered by any court or commission to tlie Five Civilized Tribes or the De- partment of the Interior, nnd without regard to any condition or disability heretofore imposed by any act of Congress. Said section further provides : Provided further, That the Secretary of the Interior be, and he is hereby, authorized and directed to enroll, without requiring further application, under the provisions of this act, all persons who have been identified as Mississippi Choctaws by the Dawes Commission in its report of March tenth, eighteen hun- dred and ninety-nine, and commonly known as the McKennan roll ; and also all persons who have been identified as Mississippi Choctaws by the Dawes Commission from March tenth, eighteen hundred and ninety-nine, to Mnrch fourth, nineteen hundred and seven, and were approved by the Secretary of the Interior, but whose names do not now appear on the final citizenship rolls of the Choctaw-Chickasaw Nation. Mark the danger signal. Section 2 attempts to confer authority upon the Secretary of the Interior to determine the rights of claim- ants without regard to any adverse judgment or decision heretofore rendered by any court or commission to the Five Civilized Tribes or the Department of the Interior. Mark a further danger signal. Section 2 attempts to direct the Secretary of the Interior to place upon the approved rolls of the Choctaw and Chickasaw Nations, without review and without a hearing of any character, certain claimants whose rights have heretofore been denied by a tribunal of competent jurisdiction. The alleged claimants, in disregard of the restricting and restraining provisions of the Constitution, ask that the legislative department of the Government not only exercise its powers as a lawmaking body, but ask that said department of the Government exercise judicial authority and annul and vacate judg- ments. I read from Sutherland on Statutory Construction, Volume I, page 3 : Under the Constitution, the legislature is empowered to make laws; it has that power exclusively ; the Executive has the power to carry them by all executive acts into effect; and the judiciary has the exclusive power to expound them as the law of the land between suitoi's in the administration of justice. I read further from page 4 : As coordinate branches of one government, they are politically connected and bound together; but their powers and functions are not blended; they occupy no common ground, nor do they exercise any concurrent jurisdiction. I read further from page 5 : Any statute which attempts to confer powers or impose duties upon one de- partment which properly belong to the others violates the Constitution and is Toid. I read further from page 12 : The whole legislative power delegated to the Federal Government is vested in Congress, with the exceptions made in the Constitution, as in the instance of making treaties. I read further from page 13 : The power which is entirely and exclusively vested in the judiciary depart- ment is the power conferred on judicial courts and tribunals to administer punitive and remedial justice to and between persons subject to or claiming rights under the law of the land. * * * It is part of this judicial power to determine what the law is, and all questions involving the validity and effect of statutes when thus determined are authoritatively settled. ENROLLMENT IN THE FIVE CIVILIZED TRIBES. 5 I read further from page 18 : Even rules of action are not valid laws, if, when enacted by the legislature, they are judicial in their nature or trench on the jurisdiction and functions of the judiciary. The legislature may prescribe rules of decision which will govern future cases; these rules will have the force of law, so general rules of practice, regulating remedies and so operating as not to take away or impair existing rights, may be made applicable to pending as well as subsequent actions. But it has no power to administer judicial relief; it can not decide cases, nor direct how existing cases or controversies shall be decided by the court ; it can not Interfere by subsequent acts with final judgments of the courts. It can not set aside, annul, or modify such judgments, nor grant or order new trials, nor direct what judgment shall be entered or relief given. No declaratory act — that Is, one professing to enact what the law now is or was at any past time — can affect any existing rights or controversies. The text from which 1 have read is amply supported and sus- tained b}^ an unbroken line of authorities, not only from State and Federal courts but the Supreme Court of the United States, and the text read clearly establishes the fact that 3^011 can not enroll a claim- ant without regard to any adverse judgment or decision heretofore rendered by any court or commission to the Five Civilized Tribes or the Department of the Interior. Mr. Carter. Is it your contention, Mr. Bond, that the bill of Mr. Harrison recognizes that the cases have been adjudicated by the courts? ]Mr. Bond. Yes, sir ; and it is a well-known and admitted fact that practically all these cases have been adjudicated by tribunals of com- petent jurisdiction. Therefore. -I say, gentlemen, under the authorities read, it would be unconstitutional and Congress would not have the authority to enforce an act which provides that these claims shall be considered without regard to any adverse judgment of any court or any tribunal. Mr. Carter. Do you think that would be true in view of the Lone Wolf decision and the Cherokee Baby case decision ? Mr. BoKi). Yes; that would be true under those decisions. .The Lone Wolf decision, if it please the committee, did not attempt to annul the judgment of a court. It did not attempt to vacate or set aside any finding of any tribunal. It did not attempt to take the property of the tribe for the use or benefit of persons who were aliens to the tribe. It simply held that Congress had the authority to allot the lands of the tribe in severalty and dispose of the surplus. The decision in the Cherokee Baby case did not affect a judgment or a finding of a court. The Cherokee allotments had not been completed, and the Cherokee Council asked that the Cherokee babies be allotted. It was the policy of the Government to wind up the affairs of the Lone Wolf Band. Therefore Congress provided for the allotment of their lands in part and a sale of the balance, and when a part of that band of Indians attempted to prevent the allotment and the sale the court held that that legislation was within the plenary power of Congress; that their rights were not jeopardized or disturbed; that they received an equal share of lands in allotment, and received a rea- sonable consideration for the lands sold. Mr. Carter. The points decided in the Lone Wolf case, as I remem- ber, were about these: That an act of Congress had been passed for the allotment of the land of the Kiowa and Comanche Indians, 160 acres per capita, and the sale of the residue. The Kiowa Indians 6 ENROLLMENT IN THE FIVE CIVILIZED TKIBES. contended that they had not agreed to have that done and that they were not willing to take a 160-acre allotment. Is that 3- our under- standing of what the contention was? Mr. Bond. That is my understanding. Further, the Lone Wolf case is not in point with the issues being considered by the committee, for the reason that the}^ were reservation Indians and did not hold title by patent. The}^ did not have title in fee simple. Mr. Carter. Let me ask you another question, Mr. Bond, about the comparative difference between the title of the Kiowas and Comanches and the Choctaws and Chickasaw^s, since you have raised the point. You did not say quite fully just what kind of title the Kiowas and Comanches had. Mr. Bond. The Kiowas and the Comanches were a roving band of Indians having no fixed place of abode. They were placed on this land by the United States and it was given them as a gratuity. Mr. Carter. What I am particularly interested in is knowing just what the title consisted of. Did they have a patent to the land? Mr. Bond. I do not think they had a patent to the land. If they did have a patent to the land, it was a gratuity. Mr. Carter. There are three kinds of so-called titles to Indian reservations : First, there is the Executive-order title, which consists mereh^ in this, that a band of Indians is taken up and placed upon a reservation by Executive order, W'ithout giving them any other evi- dence of title to the reservation: second, you have what might be called the treaty reservation, which is a reservation acquired by In- dians by treaty, for wdiich they sometimes gave and sometimes did not give valuable consideration: third, you have the patent in fee reservation, for which not only a treat}' was made and a valuable consideration given, but for which an actual patent in fee was exe- cuted and delivered to the tribe. For my owm information, because my memory does not serve me very accurately about the Kiowas and Comanches, I was interested in knowing just what kind of title the Kiowas and Comanches had that had been interfered with by acts of Congress and which Avere sustained by court decisions, in order that this committee might know just how far the power of Congress may reach in such matters. Mr. Bond. The Lone Wolf Band acquired a right of use and occu- pancy under the treaty of Medicine Lodge. I read from the treaty: Shall be, and the same is hereby, set apart for the absolute and undisturbed use and occupation of the tribes herein named, and for such other friendly tribes or individual Indians as. from time to time, tliey may be willing (with the consent of the Tnited States) to admit among them. Mr. Carter. Now. then, let me ask you this question : In the Lone Wolf case and in the Cherokee Baby case, were the plaintiffs the authorities of the tribe or were they individuals? Mr. Bond. That is a distinction that has very appropriately been mentioned at this time. They were not the authorities of the tribe in the Cherokee Baby case; they were individuals, and the courts have held in an unbroken line of decisions that an individual member of a tribe has not such a vested right in tribal property as to maintain an action therefor : that the title is in the nation or in the tribe and not in the individual. In the Lone Wolf case, it was reported that three-fourths of the qualified voters of the tribe favored the allot- ENROLLMENT IN THE FIVE CIVILIZED TRIBES. 7 ment of the lands of the band, however, it developed thereafter that not quite the required number had asked for the allotment. Mr. Carter. Was that point discussed in either the Lone Wolf case or in the Cherokee Baby case, or do you know ? Mr. Bond. It was discussed in the Cherokee Baby case. In that case the nation was fighting for the babies and the individuals were fighting against their enrollment. Mr. Carter. Do you say that the constituted authorities of the nation were fighting for the enrollment of the babies, and that the Supreme Court decided in line with the contention of the constituted authorities of the nation? Mr. Bond. Yes, sir. Mr. Carter. Now, do you laiow of any court decisions that have settled or dealt with the right of Congress to administer tribal property in defiance of the constituted authorities of the tribe, or of the legally constituted authorities of the tribe ? jNIr. Bond. In my judgment, Congress with its plenary power could interfere with the legally constituted authorities of the tribes in the administration of their afi^airs and in the control of their property. But to what extent, would depend entirely upon the circumstances and the conditions. If a tribe acquired a right under an act of Congress, Congress could not repeal that act and thereby abrogate the right. It is a fundamental rule of law that Congress can not de- stroy a right acquired under a statute by the power of repeal. There are numerous decisions to that effect, and I see no reason why tribes should not have rights the same as individuals or corporations. There is a marked distinction between administering tribal affairs, and taking tribal property and appropriating it to the use of persons foreign to the tribe. Mr. Carter. Take the present situation as it exists to-day: The Choctaws and Chickasaws owned a reservation in Indian Territory; they agreed that the property should be allotted to the enrolled mem- bers of the tribe, and they agreed, furthermore, that the Federal Government should make the rolls. The Federal Government passed a law, in accordance with this agreement, closing the rolls as of certain date, thereby making operative the rolls that had been made for the distribution of the property in accordance w^ith the agree- ment that had been made with the tribes. Now, what I Avould like to understand is this : Has the Federal Government the right now to enroll other mem- bers over the objection of the legally constituted tribal authorities, who made the agreement, and to place other members on the rolls in defiance of the protests of those authorities with whom they had made the agreement? Mr. Bond. Yes, sir; the statement is clear. Your question will cause me, naturally, to divert from the line of my argument, but I will answer the chairman's question. I will say this: That the claimants in this particular proceeding are claiming imder the treaty of 1830. Article II of that treaty'' reads as follows: The United States, under a {rrant specially to be made by the President of the United States, shall cause to he convoyed to the Choctaw Nation a tract of country west of the Missl.ssippi River, in fee simple to them and their descendants, to inure to them while they shall exist as a nation and live on it. 8 ENROLLMENT IN THE FIVE CIVILIZED TRIBES. That provision of the treaty was carried to the patent, and the patent reads in part, as follows: That the United States of America, in consideration of the premises and In execution of tlie agreement and stipulation in the aforesaid treaty, have given and granted, and by these patents do give and grant, unto the said Clioctaw Nation the aforesaid " tract of country west of the Mississippi," to have and to hold the same, with all the rights, privileges, immunities, and appurtenances of whatsoever nature thereunto belonging, as intended " to be conveyed " by the aforesaid article, " in fee simi)le to them and their descendants, to inure to them while they shall exist as a nation and live on it," liable to no transfer or alienations, except to the United States or with their consent Mr. HiLii. That was the deed or patent made by the Government to the tribe? Mr. Bond. Yes, sir; to the tribe. I have already shown the com- mittee by all the text writers and by an unbroken line of decisions that Congress can not annul a judgment, that Congress can not grant a new trial, and that Congress can not vacate or set aside a finding of a judicial tribunal of competent jurisdiction. The courts have determined the rights of the claimants under the patent and under the treaty. Mr. Ballinger. Right in that connection, Mr. Bond, if it will not interrupt you, I would like to ask you a question : Did not Congress do precisely that very thing by the act, or supplemental agreement, of July 1, 1902, wherein it authorized another tribunal to review the judgment of the United States courts which had been declared to be a finality by the act of Jime 10, 1898? Mr. Bond. I am pleased to have j^ou ask that question. Congress can provide for the review of a judgment of a court of its own crea- tion, but all the au'thorities make a distinction between annulling a judgment and creating a court to review a judgment. There is a distinction between granting a new trial and providing for a tribu- nal for the review of a judgment. I acknowledge that Congress has authority to provide for the review of a judgment rendered by a tribimal of its own creation. That is not in conflict with anything I have said in my argument, but under this particular bill. Congress does not attempt to provide for a tribunal to review particular judg- ments against particular claimants, but Congress attempts to abso- lutely place them upon the rolls or attempts to direct the Secretary of the Interior to place them upon the rolls, absolutely ignoring the judgments denying them citizenship. ]Mr. BALLI^■GER. Right there, in this particular case being dis- cussed before the committee, the regularly constituted tribunal had found them to be entitled to enrollment, provided only that they removed and made proof of their removal. So that judgment of their right is to-day in force, and only the question as to their re- moval is in issue. Is not that correct? ^ ]Mr. Bond. I was going to explain that under the terms of the patent just read by me. and under the terms of the fourteenth article of the treaty, no individual having Choctaw or Chickasaw blood is entitled to any right in the Choctaw and Chickasaw Nations unless he lived upon the land and complied with the terms and conditions of the patent and the treaty; and the courts have upheld that con- tention. ENROLLMENT IN THE FIVE CIVILIZED TEIBES. 9 Mr. Ballinger. Eight there let me ask you another question, TN-hich, I think, will entirely clear up the atmosphere. Will you state in what decision the court has ever held that removal was a prerequi- site to a right? Mr. Bond. For your edification I will argue that question for you. Mr. Ballinger. If you will cite the decision we can refer to it. Mr. Bond. I will read you the decision. You admit, Mr. Bal- linger, that the Mississippi Choctaws reside in the State of Missis- sippi, do you not? Mr. Ballinger. Most of them are there to-day. Mr. Bond. You admit that those w^ho reside in the State of Mis- sissippi did not remove to the Indian Territory and comply with the terms of the patent by living upon the land, do you not? Mr. Ballinger. Mr. Bond, as to compliance with the terms of the patent, it has been my contention throughout that that patent to which you have referred never conveyed any interest at all, and that the interest in the western land had been conveyed by the treaty of 1820 which did not require any patent. Mr. Carter. I think that is aside from the issue, somewhat. But the patent was really the eviden("e of the title that was conveyed by the treaty, was it not? Mr. Ballikger. The patent that was issued under the treaty of 1830, to which Mr. Bond has made reference, has never been held by any court to have been a conveyance even of the legal title, but the court has held in the case of the Choctaw Nation against the United States that the title to those lands passed to the Choctaw Nation by operation of the treaty of 1820. Mr. Bond. In order to answer the argument of Mr. Ballinger, I will admit that the Supreme Court of the United States did hold that those lands were acquired under the treaty of 1820. They were acquired under that treaty. The Choctaw Nation exchanged -i.OOO,- 000 acres of land in the State of Mississippi for the reservation west under the treat}^ of 1820, but the patent to the lands involved was not issued until 1842. The nation accepted the terms and conditions of the patent. If you had contracted for real estate in 1820 and the patent or deed was issued in 1842 in compliance with a supplementary agreement made in 1830, and you accepted it without objection and retained the benefits under it, then you would be bound by its terms. Mr. Carter. Let me ask you this : Was the treaty of 1830 made by the legally constituted authorities of the Choctaw Nation in INIissis- sippi ? Mr. Bond. Yes, sir. INIr. Carter. And the rights involved in or concluded by that treaty were a part and portion of the rights of the Mississippi Choc- taws ? Mr. Bond. In 1830 the Choctaw Nation resided as a whole east of the Mississippi Eiver and the Choctaw Nation as a whole made the treaty of 1830. Mr. Carter. Then you consider that all the Choctaw Indians then belonging to the Choctaw Nation in Mississippi were bound by the treaty of 1830 just as strongly as they were by treaty of 1820? Mr. Bond. Yes, sir. As a matter of fact, the treaty of 1830 was supplementary to the treaty of 1820. and superseded the treaty of 10 ENEOLLMENT IX THE FIVE CIVILIZED TRIBES. 1820. Xow, if the chairman please. Mr. Ballinger will say that there was no consideration for placing this restriction in the patent that the land must be lived upon, but you can find a consideration for plac- ing such a restriction in the patent. When the Choctaw Nation agreed to go West the United States promised and agreed with said nation that no person should have title in and to said lands who did not live on same, and that those who remained should not be entitled to citizenship unless they removed. ]Mr. Ballinger ^^ ill say that there was no consideration passing to those members Avho expatriated themselves from the nation and remained in Mississippi. But, Mr. Chairman, there was a considera- tion passing to those members because the nation left for them in Mississippi 10,000,000 acres of land, out of which they had the right to select 640 acres for each head of a family, 320 acres for each child over 10 years of age, and 160 acres for each child under 10 years of age. Was this not a sufficient consideration? Mr. Ballinger. No. That was nothing more than their share of the 10,000,000 acres to which they were entitled. Mr. Carter. Were thev entitled to that consideration under the treaty of 1820? Mr. Ballinger. No, sir. Mr. Bond. Under the treaty of 1820 their share of the 10,000,000 acres of land was not mentioned, and you, ^Vlr. Ballinger, know it was not. No allotment scheme was provided for by that treaty, and you, Mr. Ballinger, know it to be a fact. Mr. Ballinger. Under the treaty of 1820 they reserved in common all their rights as members of the tribe in the remaining 10,000,000 acres of land, and by the treaty of 1830 they were given allotments in that 10,000,000 acres, and the allotment was no more than their proportionate share would have been had all "the lands been allotted; that is. if all of the 10.000.000 acres had been allotted to the then members of the tribe. Mr. Bond. The Supreme Court held in the case of Fleming v. McCurtain et al., reported in 215 United States Reports, at page 56, that the title under the treaty of 1830 was in the tribe and that the tribe did not hold same in trust for individuals. Mr. Carter. Is it your contention that the right of a man to an allotment and to get the title to the individual portion of the prop- erty which he already owns is not a consideration? Mr. Ballinger. I do not think it would be a consideration. Mr. Carter. By the same token, then, it might be contended that there was no consideration wdiatever in the Atoka or supplemental agreement made Avith the Choctaws in Oklahoma. Mr. Ballinger. Yes. sir: under those treaties the land in the Choctaw Nation was allotted equally among all the members of the tribe, or at least provision was there made that when the residue lands were sold the proceeds were to be divided equally among all those people that were enrolled. Mr. Carter. That is going into the details and technicalities, but the real consideration that the Choctaws and Chickasaws in the Indian Territory received for making the agreements of 1898 and 1902 was the allotment and division in severalty of that which they already owned in common. Mr. Ballinger. That is absolutely correct. ENEOLLMENT IN THE FIVE CIVILIZED TRIBES. 11 Mr. Bond. Under the treaty of 1830 there was no provision made for allotments save to those who elected to remain and renounce their allegiance to the tribe and become citizens of the State of Mississippi. Those who went West were not to receive an allotment from the lands east, but all land remaining after the allotment of those who re- mained was ceded to the United States. Mr. Carter. Then, in like manner, it occurs to me it can not be said in fairness that the right of the members of the Choctaw Nation in Mississippi to individualize what was about his pro rata share of land at that time and get title to it was not a consideration. Mr. Ballinger. I will make this statement, and then I will not ask any more questions, because I do not want to interrupt counsel. In 1830 all the Choctaws constituting the Choctaw Tribe owned the 10,000,000 acres remaining in Mississippi which had not then been ceded, as well as all the western lands. By the fourteenth article of the treaty of 1830 those Choctaws who remained in Mississippi were given allotments out of the 10,000,000 acres of land, which allotments were not any more than their individual share of the 10,000,000 acres remaining in Mississippi, and there was no consideration, as I claim, passed to them for their individual shares in the western lands. Mr. Carter. Your statement is fair as far as it goes, but you neg- lect to carry it out to its logical end. The further consideration was given the Mississippi Choctaws, if the contention of these gentlemen be correct, after he had individualized his 640 acres, and so on, to his pro rata share in the division of the lands of the Indians in Indian Territory at any time that he might choose to move onto those lands, so it occurs to me that the man who did receive a consideration under the treaty of 1830, and about the only man was the Mississippi Choctaw, to wit, the consideration to allot 640 acres to the head of a family, and so on down, which was not granted to those Indians who moved to Indian Territory. This further statement, which has gone into the record, I think, several times, might be appropriate ; at that time it was a physical impossibility for any person to derive any benefit from the reservation in Indian Territory unless he moved upon it. because he could not lease the land for a longer term than one year, he could not cultivate it and remain in Mississippi, and he could not enjoy any use of that land without actually removing to and remaining upon the land. So that in the light of conditions as they existed at that time, I repeat, it occurs to me the only con- sideration given in the treaty of 1830 was that given to the INIissis- sippi Choctaws, which was denied to those who removed to Indian Territory. Mr. Ballinger. It is true that by the treaty of 1830 provision was made that the Indians who remained in Mississippi must remove to the western lands, but there was no time limit fixed in which removal should occur, and that was left open and indefinite, and it is our con- tention that before Congress or the Choctaw Nation could have di- vided the western lands and thereby destroyed the rights of the Mississippi Choctaws ample and proper notice should have been given to the Mississippi Choctaws, which notice was never given. Mr. Carter. I understand you now. Mr. Phelps. Do you maintain that the granting or the allotting of 640 acres to the head of a family who remained in Mississippi was a consideration for his remaining in Mississippi ? 12 ENROLLMENT IN THE FIVE CIVILIZED TRIBES. Mr, Carter. I am not yet maintaining anything. I am trying to get at the facts. I spoke only of the way the matter occurred to me at this time. I do not think that anything was given to him as a consideration for his remaining in Mississippi, because at that time it was the evident purpose of the Federal Government to move every one of them onto the reservation in the West as soon as possible. In the decision of Judge Clayton it is set out, and I presume he had authority for that statement, that bayonets and soldiers were ready to move them to the reservation as soon as it could be conveniently done and to restrain them from leaving the reservation after they were placed upon it. But the Federal Government at that time was confronted with the proposition of not getting any of the Choctaws to move West. The treaty had been in force for 10 years and prac- tically none of them had gone there. It has been repeatedl}' stated that the object in making the treaty with these people was to get as many of them as possible to move West; but some of the Choctaws would not sign the treaty requiring them to move West. It seems to be the general contention that the giving of 640 acres to the heads of families and so on down the line was done in order that they might get the treaty signed and the Indians moved. Mr. Phelps. That leads me to this question: Was it not a fact that the Government of the United States found it impossible to make that treatj^ with the Choctaw Indians in 1830 up until the time that they drafted the fourteenth article ? Mr. Carter. I think I stated that very plainly. Mr. Phelps. Then the 640 acres did not constitute a consideration to remain in Mississippi, and do you contend that it was just simply to satisfy those people who refused to move and that there was no power in Congress to remove those people? Mr. Carter. Again, I am not contending anything, but am simply saying how the matter presents itself to me at this time. I wanted to bring out a discussion of both sides of the question, and that was the animus for my interrogatories. I repeat, it seems apparent that the Federal (xovernment did not want the Indians to remain in Mississippi, the people in Mississippi did not want them to remain there, but they wanted to get a treaty signed by which they could start the migration. They were unable to get that treaty signed and the Choctaws refused to move. So it seems to be generally conceded that the fourteenth article was placed in this 1830 treaty to secure its adoption and induce the Choctaws to begin migration to the new reservation in the AVest. Mr. Phelps. That was the point I wanted to make clear. Mr. Ballinger. Mr. Bond, I have just one suggestion and then I will not interrupt you. Judge Clayton did render a decision, as you stated, holding in effect that removal was essential to a right in the western lands. That decision was rendered, as I recall, in the Jack Amos case. Judge Townsend, another United States judge, sitting in another district in Indian Territory, as I recall, in the consolidated ^' Mississippi Choctaw cases," held that removal was not essential to a right under the treaty of 1830 ; that the Choctaws living in Indian Territory held the land for the benefit of the absentees in Mississippi, Louisiana, or wherever they might be. So that you have two decisions of coordinate courts diametrically opposite, and there has never, ENROLLMENT IN THE FIVE CIVILIZED TRIBES. 13 SO far as I know, been a decision of a higher court on that particular point. Mr. BoxD. Mr. Ballinger, it is a very difficult undertaking for a man to make an argument in logical sequence and in chronological order -without notes, without a written statement, and without a brief; and if I am to be continually interrupted during my discus- sion of the issues, the argument will be so scattered that the com- mittee will be unable to get heads or tails out of my discussion when the matter has been closed. I will attempt now to answer one or two of your questions, and hereafter I will appreciate it if 3'OU will refrain from asking me questions initil I have had an oppor- tunity to present my argument to the committee. After I have presented my argument I will be pleased then to ansAver any question that is relevant or competent. Mr. Phelps. Mr. Chairman, I would like to say to Mr. Bond that I beg his pardon for interrupting in the course of his argument. It was not my intention to do that. The argument had become rather informal at that time, and I had no idea of at all confusing Mr. Bond. Mr. Bond. No; I appreciate that. Mr. Carter. I think the Chair can be charged for practically all the irregularities that have entered into Mr. Bond's argument. I thought it important to bring out clearly any distinction between the force that an objection from an individual or band of individuals might have as compared to the force of an objection from the legal and duly constituted tribal authorities. Mr. Bond. I think the Chair left the room shortly after I com- menced my argument and did not get the trend of my thought and the authorities cited by me. Xow, Mr. Ballinger has asked me to site him to some decision holding that, under the terms and conditions of the patent issued under the treaty of 1830, it was necessary to remove to and establish a bona fide residence within the tribal domain in order to acquire citizenship and share in the tribal funds and properties. The case of Jack Amos against the Choctaw Nation so holds, and I will dis- cuss that case fully later on in the hearing. I might also say that I have no knowledge of an opinion rendered by Judge Townsend wherein the question of removal was involved save an ex parte opin- ion entitled " In re Citizenship cases," which will be referred to later. The only Plorn citizenship case that I have any knowledge of is the E. J. Horn case decided by Judge Clayton, and that case does hold as you have stated. It will be argued that Congress has authority to pass on applica- tions for citizenship and therefore the provisions of the bill in ques- tion are within the law, but I assert that there is a marked distinc- tion between the title held by the Choctaw and Chickasaw Nations under the treaty of 1855 and the title vested in other tribes, a dis- tinction that has been recognized by the court of last resort, and when Congress contemplated the allotment in severalty of the lands of the Choctaw and Chickasaw Nations it fully realized the danger of attempting to divest them of such title by the addition of the names of claimants to their rolls without the consent of the tribe; hence, Congress agreed with the tribes as to the manner and method 14 ENROLLMENT IN THE FIVE CIVILIZED TEIBES. of enrollment and the allotment of lands. It was agreed that the right to citizcnshi]^ should be determined by a competent tribunal empowered to administer oaths and hear testimony, and Congress is without authority to annul the judgments of said tribunal and enroll without evidence and without a hearing. The judicial department has the exclusive power to determine what the law is, and the validity and effect of statutes and the rights of the claimants can not be determined Avithout passing upon the effect of the fourteenth article of the treaty of 1830, and without passing upon the effect of the patent issued in pursuance thereof; and, therefore, I say Congress could not direct the enrollment of claimants without encroaching iipon the power of the judicial de- partment of the Government. If the moneys and properties of the Choctaws and Chickasaws are taken from them by an act of Con- gress and sent to an alien people in a foreign State, the act which deprives the tribes of their property in violation of the patent and the treaty, and in violation of court decisions, should carry with it a provision giving the Court of Claims jurisdiction to determine the responsibility of the United States for such taking of property. The claimants are notoriously insolvent. The tribes are without authority to sue the United States unless permission is first granted, therefore the force and effect of the treaties and agreements made and entered into between the United States and the tribes, in the event permission to sue is refused, may be tested in a proceeding to enjoin the Secretary of the Interior from paying such moneys; how- ever, we would much prefer the right to institute a suit in the Court of Claims with the right of appeal to the Supreme Court. We trust, however, that there will be no occasion for such a suit, and trust that if Congress ever contemplates the taking of tribal moneys un- der the conditions and circumstances above named that Congress will first submit a test case to the Court of Claims with the right of appeal by either party. If, after a full hearing, Congress should conclude that the claimants are not entitled to citizenship rights as against the Choctaw and ChickasaAv Nations, but should find a set- tlement due or equities existing between the Choctaws east and the Choctaw Nation west, then Congress should authorize a suit to de- termine such equities. You often hear the assertion that the sub- committee last session reported in favor of reopening the rolls. I have read carefully the report of said committee, and I do not so construe the report. I read from said report, at page 27 : Mr. Miller. The Choctaws, as a nation, have some money and have valuable coal lands. But we must recognize a solemn trenty provision between the Choc- taws and the United States. In the treaty of 1902. article 35 begins as follows: " 35. No person whose name does not appear upon the rolls prepared as herein provided shall be entitled to in any manner participate in the distribution of the common property of the Choctaw and Chickasaw Tribes and those whose names appear thereon shall participate in the manner set forth in this agree- ment." Now, I can finish in one or two more sentences. It is a grave question whether the Choctaw Nation alone is x'esponsible and should be required to compensate, if any body does compensate, these Indians for the injustice. I am not prepared to say here what I think about it. but it seems to us that the committee ought to be agreed that these Indians are on earth. They have been injured and they ought to have some relief, and the committee, then, should say what the relief should be, and, as a prerequisite to that, we are agi-eed that we should know who they are. how many they are, and where they are. ENROLLMENT IN THE FIVE CIVILIZED TEIBES. 15 The Secretary of the Interior, in writing, states that there are records in his office now, or in tlie office of the commissioner to the Five Civilized Tribes, they heretofore having received applications for $24,000, and talvcn testimony on them covering practically all meritorious cases. They can probably make up a list that will include all who have the right and who ought to be included in the list of those to whom i-elief should be given. Mr. Carter. No doubt that would depend almost entirely upon whom the Secretary would refer it to, would it not, Mr. Miller? Mr. Miller. I do not know. I will say this to you, Mr. Carter: If this is left as it is, the Secretary of the Interior would submit a very small list, and the way we have drawn this is not to open it uj), not to let every Tom, Dick, and Harry have an investigation, but to take it up and determine where the meri- torious case are. We are of the opinion that the recommendations of said report were practically complied with at this session. The Department of the Interior reported the names of applicants who had claims of appar- ent merit and such persons were enrolled. The tribes agreed to the enrollment as a compromise and to purchase their peace, and yet they are still threatened with a practically unrestricted reopening of their rolls. It will ever be so until their properties and moneys are ex- hausted unless Congress takes a firm stand in the premises. The cases of the claimants have been the subject of congressional legislation, commission report and decision, judicial decree and determination until finally adjudicated, and the members of the Choctaw and Chickasaw Tribes are entitled to their peace. (The committee thereupon took a recess until 2.30 o'clock p. m.) AFTER RECESS. , Mr. Bond, The proponents of the bill contend that the alleged claimants are entitled to citizenship in the Choctaw and Chickasaw Nations with all the rights, privileges, and immunities of such without removing to and establishing a bona fide residence within tlie con- fines of the tribal domain. The opponents of the bill assert that the ancestors of the alleged claimants, having renounced their allegiance to the tribe, that the alleged claimants having been born without the tribe, and having refused to assume the burdens and responsibilities of tribal citizenship, and having refused to remove to and establish a bona fide residence within the tribal territory, they have forfeited their rights to tribal citizenship. The proponents of the bill ask for an interpretation of the treaty in conflict with the weight of authority in violation of two fundamental rules of statutory construction and against the treaties, laws, usages, and customs of the tribe. The opponents of the bill ask for an interpretation of the treaty in accord with the weight of authority, in harmony with two well- established rules of statutory construction, and in keeping with the treaties, laws, usages, and customs of the tribe. Principle is the very groundwork and foundation of the law; precedent is persuasive and often final; and we will establish to your satisfaction, by both principle and precedent, that the alleged claimants are without legal or equitable right to citizenship in the Choctaw and Chicka- saw Nations. Mr. Miller. If I may suggest it, I do not know that it has ever been seriously contended, or contended at all, that the so-called Mis- 16 ENEOLLMENT IX THE FIVE CIVILIZED TRIBES. sissippi Choctaws now residing in Mississippi have a legal right to be enrolled as members of the Choctaw and Chickasaw Nations. Mr. BoM). It is not contended that they have a legal right, but it is contended that the}^ have an equitable right, and it is contended that they have a political and moral right. Mr. MiLLEK. Yes; and I think on those grounds, or somewhere on those grounds, they will have to find their justification, because it has always seemed to me. and I think that has been the view of others, almost without exception, that under the treaties we have made in the last half century with the entity, at least, that was acting for the Choctaw Nation, the Mississippi Choctaws while living in Mississippi had no legal right to membership in the Choc- taw and Chickasaw Nations. But the theory upon which, it seems to me, they must justify their — I do not want to say citizenship — but U]5on which they must justify their right to some redress is that they have been despoiled of certain property rights without sufficient or adequate remuneration ; and, irrespective of the treaties that we have made and the acts of Congress that we have passed, the query is whether or not something ought to be done for them. I laiow that was the opinion of the sul)committee that investigated this matter in the preceding Congress, but I do not think I ever heard anybody make a legal argument that under the law as it stands the Mississippi Choctaw has a right to be enrolled as a member of the Choctaw and Chickasaw Nations. I may be mistaken about it. Mr. Bond. I intend to argue that the fourteenth article treaty claimants or the so-called Mississippi Choctaws have now no legal rights under the fourteenth article of the treaty of 1830, and if it is admitted that they have no legal rights under said treaty, then surely they are not entitled to citizenship in the Choctaw and Chickasaw Nations, for they have no equitable, moral, or political claims against the Chickasaw Nation. I desire to argue the legal rights of the four- teenth article claimants for the reason that the Chickasaw Tribe of Indians in 1837 purchased an interest in the Choctaw tribal lands west, and that purchase was subject only to the terms and conditions of the treaty of 1830 and not subject to any equities that might have arisen theretofore between the Choctaws west and the Choctaws east with reference to the disposition of the lands east, for the reason that the Chickasaws and Choctaws never owned any property east. ^ The Chickasaws were never a party to any litigation affecting the rights of the Choctaws east and the Choctaws west to lands in the State of Mississippi and received no damages recovered against the United States for breaches of the treaty of 1830. Therefore, I contend that now with the Choctaws and Chickasaws owning an equal undivided interest in the tribal funds, if you give citizenship to fourteenth article claimants you not only take property from the Choctaws, but you likewise take property from the Chickasaws. Therefore, if there exisits any equities, if there exists a political or moral claim between the Choctaws west and Choctaws east, that claim should be as- serted in a court of proper jurisdiction, under proper safeguards, and not asserted in the form of an action for citizenship which would take property from both tribes. I have tried to make myself clear. Mr. Miller. I understand that perfectly, and it is well taken. ENROLLMENT IN THE FIVE CIVILIZED TRIBES. 17 Mr. Bond. The second article of the treaty of 1830 reads, in part, as follows : The United States, imder grant specially to be made by the President of the United States, shall cause to be conveyed to the Choctaw Nation a tract of country west of the Mississippi Kiver, in fee simple to them and their descend- ants, to inure to them while they shall exist as a nation and live upon it. The patent executed in pursuance of said section of said treaty reads, in part, as follows: That the United States of America, in consideration of the premises and in execution of the agreement and stipulation in the aforesaid treaty, have given and granted, and by these presents do give and grant unto said Choctaw Nation the aforesaid tract of country west of the ]\Iississii)pi, to have and to hold the same, with all the rights, privileges, immunities, and appurtenances of wliatso- ever nature thereunto belonging, as intended to be conveyed by the aforesaid article, in fee simple to them and their descendants, to inure to them while they shall exist as a nation and live on it, liable to no transfer or alienation except to the United States or with their consent. The third article of said treaty reads, in part, as folloAvs: In consideration of the provisions contained in the several articles of this treaty, the Choctaw Nation of Indians consent and hereby cede to the United States the entire country they own and possess east of the ^Mississippi, and tliey agree to remove beyond the Mississippi River as early as pru'ticable. and will so arrange their removal that as many as possible of their people, not exceeding one-half of the wliole number, shall depart during the falls of 1S30 and 1832, the residue to follow during the succeeding fall of 1833. A better opportunity, in this manner, will be afforded the Government to extend to them the facilities and comforts which it is desirable should be extended in conveying them to their new homes. The fourteenth article of the treaty provides, in part, as follows : Each Choctaw head of a family being desirous to remain and become citizens of the States shall be permitted to do so by signifying his intention to the agent within six#riionths from the ratification of this treaty, and he or she shall there- upon be entitled to a reservation of one section of 640 acres of land, to be bounded by sectional lines or survey : in like manner shall be entitled to one- half that quantity for each unmarried child who is living with him over 10 years of age, and a quarter section to such child as may be under 10 years of age, to adjoin the location of the parent. If they reside upon said lands, intending to become citizens of the States, for five years after tlie ratification of this treaty, in that case a grant in fee simple shall issue. Said reservation shall include the present home of the head of the family or a portion of it. Persons who claim under this article shall not lose the privilege of a Choctaw citizen, but if they ever remove are not to be entitled to any portion of the Choctaw annuity. The first precedent construing the above sections of said treaty is found in the case of Jack Amos et al. y. The Choctaw Nation, re- ported in the Sixth Annual Report of the Commission to the Five Civilized Tribes to the Secretary of the Interior for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1899, at page 92. I will read from the opinion of' the court : In this case the proof shows that the claimants are Choctaw Indians by blood now living in the State of Mississippi ; that neither they nor their ances- tors have ever removed into the present Choctaw Nation. The claimants base their right to be enrolled as Choctaw citizens upon the terms of the second and fourteenth articles of the treaty negotiated at Dancing Rabbit Creek on September 27, 1830, and of the conditions of the patent to the landsof the Choctaw Nation executed by President Tyler in the year 1842. * * * The conditions of article 2 of the treaty, that the land should be conveyed "to the Choctaw Nation in fee simple to them and their descendants, to Inure to them while they shall exist as a nation and live on it," are carried Into the 80223—15 2 18 ENROLLMENT IN THE TIVE CIVILIZED TRIBES, pntent .-ind are the only poi'tions of that instrument wliich shod any light on the question now beinc; considered, and therefore article 2 and the conditions of the patent may be considered tojretlier. * * * Article S of tlie trenty of 1S30 stipulates that the Choctaws agree to remove all of their people during the years 1831. 3832, and 1833 to those lands. Article M of the treaty. Iiowever. provides for cert;iin privileges and rights for tliose who might choose to remain in Mississippi with a view of becoming citizens of that Stiite. They and their descendants were to receive certain lands and. after living on them for five years, intending to become citizens of the State, those lands were to be granted to them in fee simple. Then follows this very peculiar clause: " Persons who claim under tliis article shall not lose the privilege of a Choc- taw citizen, but if they ever remove are not to be entitled to any portion of the Choctaw annuity." The difficulty in construing this clause of the treaty is to ascertain the mean- ing of the word " remove." To what does it relate, and how shall we give it meaning? It certainly does not purpose to impose a penalty on the Choctaw who may choose to remove for removing, and for that reason forfeit his right to the annuity, because so long as he remained in Mississippi he was not entitled to any annuity, and therefore by removing he could not forfeit that which he did not have. If he removed he was to have no annuity, and if he remained he was to have no annuity. It is evident, therefore, that the word was not used for the purpose of forfeiting the annuity in case of removal. Then what are its uses? The very object of the treaty was to procure a removal of these people. The whole of the Cho'-taw Nation, with all of its sovereignty, its ]iowers, and its duties, was to be transferred beyond the Mississippi. It was to exercise its powers, confer its privileges, and maintain the citizenship of its people in an- other place. Those who were left behind were to retain, not this Choctaw citi- zenship but only the " privileges of a Choctaw citizen " ; that is, that when they put themselves into a position that these privileges could be conferred upon them they were to have them, and under the conditions and purposes of tliis treaty, how would it be possible for them to put themselves in such a position without first removing within the territorial jurisdiction of the Choctaw Na- tion and withii! tbe sphere of its powers;? Wh.it privilege would it be possible for the Choctaw Nation to confer or a Mississippi Choctaw to receive so long as he remained in Mississippi and out of the limits of the Choctaw Nation? By the very terms of the treaty they were to become citizens of another State, owing allegiance to and receiving protection from another sovereignty. If one Mississippi Choctaw were to commit a wrong against the person or property of another, the right would be enforced and the wrong redressed under the laws of Mississippi. The Choctaw Nation would be powerless to act in such a case. The Choctaws in that State can not vote, sit as jurors, or hold office as a Choc- taw citizen, or receive any other benefit or privilege as such. They can not participate in the rents and profits of the lands of the Choctaw Nation, because by the very terms of the grant the Choctaw people and ttieir descendants must live upon them. If they do not, it is an act of forfeittire, made so by the pro- visions of article 2 of the treaty of 1830, and also of those of the patent to their lands afterwards executed. The title of the Choctaw people to their lands is a conditional one, and one of the conditions of the grant, expressed in both the second article of tlie treaty of 1830 and the patent, is that the grantees shall live upon them. And who are the grantees? Who are these people who are to live upon the land? Unques- tionably the Choctaw people and their descendants; for, while the grant is to the Choctaw Nation, the people seem to be included both as grantees and beneficiaries. The language of the treaty is, and it is carried into the patent: " The President of the United States shall cause to be conveyed to the Choc- taw Nation a tract of country west of the Mississippi River, in fee simple, to them and their descendants, to inure to them while they shall exist as a nation and live on it." The Choctaw Nation is not " them " and can not have " descendants." And while it may exercise its sovereignty and its national powers within certain defined territorial limits, it can not "live on land." Those jirovisions of the grant which are expressed in tlie plural and attach to "descendants" and which require as a condition that the land shall be lived on beyond doubt refer to the Choctaw people and their descendants. ♦ * * There can be no question but that the second article of the treaty of 1830. negotiated 12 years before the execution of the patent, * * * was intended to convey a fee-simple title, ENROLLMENT IN THE FIVE CIVILIZED TKIBES. 19 burdened by two conditions subsequent, tbe one that the grantees should con- tinue the corporate existence of their nation, and the other that the people of that nation and their descendants should forever live upon the land. A failure of either would work a forfeiture of the title to the grantor. * * * This condition was inserted for two reasons : First, to compel the grantees to remove upon the lands; and, second, to compel them to remain on them after re- moval. It was not intended that some should go and locate on the lands and hold the title for themselves and also for the others who should choose to re- main. * * * The word " successors " was omitted from the treaty, because by its terms the Choctaw Nation was to have no successors. They were to live on the land forever or it should be forfeited to the grantor. When the technical words " successors " and " heirs " were dropped and the common word " descendants " was used, these Indians could understand it. They knew what they and their offspring were. It was to them — the people and their children — that the land was sold, and when the condition was added that the grant was to be made to them and their descendants only in the event that they should live upon the lands, they could not but understand that this implied a removal and a con- tinual residence upon them. Mr. Miller. May I ask yon a question on a point that I would like to have you elucidate fully? In the early part of the court's opinion it is stated that the Choctaws remaining in Mississippi had no annuities. Therefore by removing west they lost none. What have you to say as to whether or not that is a correct statement of the fact? Mr. Bond. That is a correct statement of the fact, because the Government paid no annuities to the Choctaws who remained, ex- patriated themselves from the tribe, and became citizens of the State of Mississippi. Mr. Miller. Are you quite sure about that? Mr. Bond. I am quite sure about that, for the reason that the an- nuities promised under that treaty were afterwards recovered in an action wherein the Choctaw Nation was plaintiff and the United States was defendant, and the annuities were distributed in the Choctaw Nation West, and the Choctaws who remained in Mississippi under the fourteenth article of the treaty received no annuities pro- vided for under the treaty of 1830. Mr. Miller. Is that what the language of that opinion says? Mr. Bond. The annuities provided for in the treaty were for the nation. Those annuities were to assist the nation who went west to endure privations and hardships in their effort to conquer a wilder- ness and establish homes in a new country. Mr. Miller. Can you state what those annuities consisted in? Mr. Bond. They consisted of $20,000 a year for 20 years. Mr. Miller. I made some special ehort to ascertain that phase of the case some time ago, and the results were not entirely satisfactory. I thought that possibly you had some additional information. Of course, tliat construction of the court is not at all the language of the treaty. Nobody could claim that was so. If there were 40 decisions like that nobody would read the terms of the treaty and read the opinion and say that that was a correct statement of what the treaty provided. Now, it may be that a subsequent action on the part of both the Choctaws and the United States relieved the United States of its obligations and changed the rights of the Choc- taws. However, I do not think that is fundamental or a determining factor in tliis controversy, but I have never been able to understand why the court used that language. The language clearly says that 20 ENEOLLMENT IN THE FIVE CIVILIZED TRIBES. if they removed west they would lose their right to annuities. Of course, if you and I used that language between us we could only mean that if they wanted the annuities they should stay in Mis- sissippi. Mr. Bond. You must construe the treaty as a whole, and the treaty does not offer annuities to anyone except members of the nation, and naturally when those who remained alienated themselves from the tribe and became citizens of the Commonwealth of Mississippi they were no longer members of the nation. Mr. Miller. Then you take the position that those who remained in Mississippi by that act severed their relationship with the tribe? Mr. Bond. They severed their relationship with the tribe, with the retention of a privilege. They reserved a privilege to remove to the nation west, to renoimce their allegiance to the Commonwealth of Mississippi, reaffirm it to the tribe, and thereby enjoy all the rights, privileges, and immunities of tribal citizenship save to share in the annuities. , Mr. Miller. Do you think that is what the Choctaws understood the language to mean when they had the fourteenth article Avritten ? Mr. Bond. That was evidently what the Choctaws understood the language to mean, because the annuities were paid to the nation, and the annuities were not paid to the individuals who remained, and the individuals who remained never claimed a right to the annuities. Therefore the nation and the individuals must have un- derstood the treaty as it was construed by the Government authori- ties who paid the annuities and as construed by the courts and the commission at a later date. Mr. Miller. I just wanted to get your ideas on that. As I said before, I do not think it is fundamental as affecting the rights of the parties at all. Mr. Bond. You were evidently confused in attempting to ascer- tain what tribal annuities were. A great many people take the po- sition that any tribal funds that are paid out to the tribe are tribal annuities. Mr. Miller. No ; I do not think that. I put the query squarely to the department to inform us, if it could, what annuities were re- ferred to and what they consisted of. Of course, all we had was their reply, and the subsequent course of events we know. They are of i-ecord. IVfr. Carter. Mr. Bond, what article of the treaty is it that pro- vides this annuity of $20,000? ]Mr. Bond. Article IT provides for the annuities. I will read same in full: Akt. XVII. The several annuities and sums secured under former treaties to the Choctaw Nation and people shall continue as though this treaty had never been made. And it is further agreed that the United States in addition will pay the sum of twenty thousand dollars for twenty years, commencing after their removal to the West, of which, in the first year after removal, ten thousand dollars shall be divided and arranged to sucli as may not receive reservations under this treaty. The terms of the seventeenth article show that the annuity of $20,000 was not to be p>aid until after their removal west, and that same was not to be paid to those receiving reservations under the treaty. ENROLLMENT IN THE FIVE CIVILIZED TEIBES. 21 Recading further from the opinion of Judge Clayton- Mr. Miller. It seems to me I recall that there was due them under the former treaty a very small payment in addition to this $20,000 a year that is provided for in this treaty. Mr. Bond. In practically all the early treaties a provision was made for annuities, and the several annuities and sums secured under former treaties were continued under the terms of this treaty, but, as a rule, the annuities under former treaties were very small. I take it that a large annuity was paid the nation west, as before sug- gested, on account of its going into a new country. It was unset- tled, uncultivated, and uncivilized. Mr. Miller. But have you ever contemplated — if there was a small annual payment in the w^ay of annuities due — that while these who would go West would have a large acreage at their disposal, those who remained would have that which is specified in the treaty; but as an additional aid to those who remained in Missis- sippi, to aid them in building homes, perhaps, not having any addi- tional aid such as the others would get who removed, they were to receive the annuities? Mr. Bond. Mr. Miller, the people who remained, or their ances- tors, had been living in practically the same section since De Soto discovered the Mississippi Kiver. In fact, I think they should have had title to that land by the right of possession, because they did not roam and move about as other tribes did. History places them in the same locality. They were not only found there under the Spanish, but under the French, and later when those possessions passed to us. And, therefore, they had homes, they had lands in cultivation, they were in a better position to earn a livelihood for themselves and for their families than a people would who were going into an absolute wilderness and attempting to reclaim it. Mr, Miller. Then the position you take is that the annuities referred to were to be paid to the Indians who moved West; and that those who first remained in Mississippi and did not go West with the main body, if they subsequently removed they would then become citizens of the Choctaw Nation west, but would not par- ticipate in any distribution of annuities to the Choctaws west? Mr. Bond. That is my contention. But I will say this, that those who did go West, I think, participated in the annuities, so far as my knowledge goes, the same as any other member of the tribe. Mr. Carter. You mean those that aftei-Avards moved West? Mr. Bond. Yes; those who afterwards moved West. Let me leave this thought with you. If the annuity you speak of should have been paid, as you seem to suggest, to the Choctaws east as well as the Choctaws west, but was not so paid, that fact would not entitle the ChoctaAvs to citizenship in the Choctaw Xation. Mr. Miller. I agree with you on that absolutely. Mr. Bond. But it might entitle them to a suit for the annuities they were deprived of, with interest since the date they became due, Mr. jSIillep.. I agree with you absolutely. That is the reason I said I did not think it was a determining factor in the query whether or not the jNIississippi Choctaws were entitled to citizenship in the nation west. 22 ENROLLMENT IN THE FIVE CIVILIZED TEIBES. Mr. Richardson. Will 3'ou in your argument consider the word "lose" in that fourteenth article: whether that is not inconsistent with your idea of the right reserved to them? Mn Bond. Yes; Mr. Kichardson, I have considered the Avord " lose " carefully. If you will permit me to finish reading the parts of this opinion that I desire to present I will then take up the word "lose" and argue same for you. Eeading further from the opinion: TV'heu the fourteenth nrticle of the treaty was framed, the uegotiatiug par- ties understood that the policy of the United States was that the Choctaws wei*e to be removed. The Choctaws, in article 3, had just agreed that they should all go. The ink was not yet dry in article 2, whereby the condition was placed in this grant to the lands that they were to live upon them or they should be forfeited, and that no privilege of citizenship could be conferred or enjoyed outside of the territorial jurisdiction of their newly located nation. Understanding these conditions the latter clause of article 14 was penned: " Persons who claim under this article shall not lose the privilege of a Choc- taw citizen, but, if they ever remove (that is, if they ever place themselves on the land and within the jurisdiction of the nation whereby those privileges may become opei'ative), are not to be entitled to any portion of the Choctaw annuity." In other words, if they ever remove, they are to enjoy all of the privileges of a Choctaw citizen except that of participating in their annuities. If this be not the meaning to be attached to the word " remove" as used in the clause of the treaty under consideration, it must be meaningless. But in the inter- pretation of statutes it is the duty of the court to so interpret them as to give to every word a meaning, and, in doing so, it must take into consideration the whole statute, its objects and purposes, the rights which are intended to be enforced and the evils intended to be remedied ; it may go to the history of the transaction about which the legislation is had and call to its aid all legiti- mate facts proven or of which the courts will take judicial notice in order to find the true meaning of the word as used in the statute. Of course the same rule of interpretation applies to treatios. Adopting these rules in the interpretation of article 14 of the treaty of 1830, I arrive at the conclusion that the " privilege of a Choctaw citizen " therein reserved to those Choctaws who shall remain, thereby separating themselves, it may be forever, from their brethren and their nation, becoming citizens of another sovereignty and aliens of their own. situated so that it would be impossit)le, while in Mis- sissippi, to receive or enjoy any of the rights of Choctaw citizenship, was the right to renounce his allegiance to tlie Commonwealth of Mississippi, move upon the lands conveyed to him and his people, and there, the only spot on earth where he could do so, renew his relations with his i>eople and enjoy all of the privileges of a Choctaw citizen except to participate in the annuities. ******* To permit men with, perchance, but a strain of Choctaw blood in their veins who. 65 years ago. broke away from their kindred and their nation and during that time, or the most of it.' had been exercising the rights of citizen- ship and doing homage to the sovei-eignty of another nation, who have borne none of the burdens of this nation, and have become strangei's to the people, to reach forth their hands from their distant and alien home and lay hold of a part of the public domain, the connnon ])roperty of the people, and appro- priate it to their own use, would be unjust and inequitable. It is, therefore, the opinion of the court that absent Mississippi Choctaws are not entitled to be enrolled as citizens of the Choctaw Nation. Mr. Miller. Now. can you state the further history of that case, so as to get it all together in the record ? Mr. Bond. After the rendition of that judgment it was still con- tended that the claimant under the fourteenth article of the treaty was entitled to citizenship in the Choctaw Nation without removal. The act of 1800 provided that— If the tribe or any person be aggrieved with the decision of the tribal au- thorities or the commission provided for in this act, it or he may appeal ENROLLMENT IN THE FIVE CIVILIZED TRIBES. 23 from sucli decision to the United States District Court: Procidcd, however. That the appeal shall he taken within sixty days, and the judgment of the court shall be final. In the face of this act it ^vas impossible to appeal, since tiie act of 189G made the judg-ment of the United States court final. Thereafter, in 1898, Congress passed an act, in part, as follows: Appeals shall be allowed from the United States Court in the Indian Ter- ritory direct to the Supreme Court of the United States to either party in all citij^nshiji cases and in all cases between either of the Five Civilized Tribes and the Ignited States involving the constitutionality or validity of any legis- lation affecting citizenship or the allotment of lauds in the Indian Territory, under the rules and regulations governing appeals to said court in other cases. Under the provisions of that act the Jack Amos case was appealed to the Supreme Court of the United States. Pending the appeal of said case to the Supreme Court, numerous other cases involving questions of citizenship in various different tribes were appealed; and the court having rendered a decision in some of said cases hold- ing that the constitutionality and validity of the act was the only thing submitted to the jurisdiction of the court, and that the court was without jurisdiction to pass upon any other matters, a great number of such cases were dismissed, among them being the Jack Amos case. Mr. Miller. So that the Jack Amos case was never reviewed by the Supreme Court? Mr. Bond. *No. Mr. Miller. That is, as to its merits. Mr. Carter. It w^as dismissed on the motion of the attorneys for the Mississippi Choctaws. Mr. Ballikger. And before the decision in the Stephens case was rendered. Mr. Bond. I will say, further, that this judgment is now final, and conclusive, so far as rights to citizenship of fourteenth- article claim- ants are concerned, who failed to remove, and the Chickasaw Tribe of Indians, having purchased subject to that treaty, and the courts having construed that treaty, the Chickasaw Tribe of Indians are entitled to insist upon removal before their funds shall be disposed of. to claimants or applicants for citizenship. Congress is without au- thority now to pass an act providing for the enrollment of those who do not remove unless Congress would first provide for a re- view of the Jack Amos case in a court of competent jurisdiction, and that court w^ould necessarily have to reverse the Clayton de- cision before Congress would be warranted in opening the rolls for citizens wdio had not removed to the Choctaw Nation. Mr. Balltnger. Mr. Bond, if that decision was conclusive as to the rights of the Mississippi ChoctaAvs, whose cases were before Judge Clayton, wdiat have you got to say al)out Judge Townsend's decision, in which he held just the reverse of Judge Clayton, in the case entitled " In re Citizenship cases," decided by him ? Mr. Bond. I have one question to answer for Mr. Richardson, and I would like to dispose of it at this time, but before I have finished my ai'gument, I will take up the Townsend decision and analyze and discuss it carefully. Now, Mr. Richardson, you asked me what construction I would put on the word "lose" appearing in the fourteenth article of the treaty. Under the rules of statutory con- 24 ENROLLMENT IN THE FIVE CIVILIZED TRIBES. stniction, treaties must be construed as a whole. The second article of the treaty provides in fee simple to them and their descendants, to inure to them while they shall exist as a nation and live upon it. You will admit that under the language of the second article of the treaty, there was imposed upon the members of the tribe a duty to live upon the land conveyed by a patent Avhich was subsequently issued and which contained the same language. Now, you must construe every other article of that treaty, if possible, so as not to conflict with or destroy Article II of the treaty ; and when you construe the language, persons ^vho claim under this article *' shall not lose the privilege of a Choctaw citizen, but if they ever remove, are not entitled to any portion of the Choctaw annuity," you must construe that article so as not to conflict with Article II, and when you do, you are irresistably drawn to the conclusion that that privilege which they shall not lose will not avail them anything unless they remove, because Article II says they must remove. In other words, they must live upon the land w^hich would necessitate removal. Then, when the word " remo^ e " is used in connection with the privilege which they shall not lose and in order to make it har- monize and accord with section 2, it necessaril}'- follows that they must remove in order to enjoy that privilege, and in order to fulfill the terms and conditions of the patent and of Article II. Another thought: You can not treat as redundant and reject as surplusage words that may be given a meaning in a treaty. What are you going to do with the words " if they ever remove " ? Let us read that language and leave out the words " if they ever remove " : Persons who clnim under this article shall not lose the privilege of a Choctaw citizen, but are not entitled to any portion of the Choctaw annuity. The reading of that language with those words left out says that they shall not lose the privilege. It says they shall not have any annuity, and therefore the words " if they ever remove " are treated as surplusage and redundant, and when you treat them as surplusage and redimdant in the face of Article 11, which says they must live upon the land, and in the face of the patent which says they must live upon the land, you violate a fundamental rule of statutory construction. Mr. Miller. What have you to say to this : A man claiming under Article XIV of the treaty, received 640 acres of land. He had three children over 10; they each received 320; that would be 960 plus 630, 1,600 acres of land. They all lived on it five years, and received a patent for it. then immediately removed to the Choctaw Nation West and claimed property rights in the tribe west. Could he do that? Mr. Bond. He could do that ; yes, sir. Mr. Miller. What w^ould be the reason for giving him such rights as that? Mr. Bond. The reason for giving him such rights and privileges and the right to benefits far in excess of those accorded to other members or individuals was the anxiety of the Government to re- move those people from the State of Mississippi to lands west. The Government, in order to accomplish its purpose, afforded the party who was entitled to the lands mentioned by you no protection what- ever in the way of restrictions. His lands were alienable ; they could be sold after the required residence, disposed of, alienated; no re- ENEOLLMENT IN THE FIVE CIVILIZED TRIBES. 25 striction on alienation was imposed, and it had been the policy of the Government practically from time immemorial not to allot Indians without placing certain restrictions on alienation, and there- fore, I say, the object of the Government was to remove those people West. \Vhen the Government found that they would have to move them at the point of the bayonet, as some of the records show, it then sought other means to enter into a treaty, and used sophistry and ingenuity and offered in the end land to those who remained, with the privilege of removal and placed no restrictions on the land, hoping that they would, when the five-year limit had expired, sell same and leave the State of Mississippi and remove West. Mr. Miller. Do you not think they may also have had in mind the Indians who moved west would never own in severalty any of the lands given to them there : simply be owned by the tribe as an entity, and they would have the right to give up and use it in common '( Mr. Bond. Well, that's rather a difficult question to answer; it's hard to anticipate what those who made that treaty and negotiated it had in their minds for the future. It was evidently their intention that those lands would be held as community lands for a number of years. Mr. Miller. Well? Mr. Bond, But surely Mr. Miller. The treaty says " always." Mr. Bond. Congress contemplated some time that Indian govern- ments in the United States should cease; that some time all Terri- tories should become States of the Union. Mr. Miller. Don't think it was, then, Mr. Bond. Mr. Bond. Why, it was only 3() years after the adoption of the treaty of 1830 until the treaty of 1860 vras made, which provided for an allotment of these lands in severalty. Mr. Miller, Well, the only reason for my inquiry was to develop the possibility that the annuities referred to would be the thing, and all payments by the United States to the Indians, west, and very likely any funds going into the hands of the Uniteill set apart as a permanent home for them the tract therein described in wh:'t afterwards became the State of Kansas, was intended to in- vest a present legal title thereto in the Indians, which title has not been for- feited and has not been reinvested in the United States; and the Indians nre not estopped from claiming tlie benefit of such reservation. Eeading from the opinion of the court : By the third article of the treaty it w;is further agreed that such of the tribes of the New York Indians as do not accept and agi'ee to remove to the country set apart for their new homes witliin five years, or such other time as the President mny from time to time appoint, shall forfeit all interest in the lands so set apart to the United States. Now, mark yoit, " or such other time as the President may from time to time appoint." A distinction is drawn by the authorities be- tween the case of a private grantor, who may reenter in the case of a breach of a condition subsequent, and the Government, which can only possess itself of hinds by legislative or judicial action. It will be observed that the forfeiture is conditional, not upon the actual removal of the Indians to the Kansas reservation, but upon their acceptance and agreeing to removal Avithin five years, or " such other time as the President might from time to time appoint." The difficult point in the case, in its equitable aspect, is whether the protests of the Indians and their final refusal to remove in 1846 do not estop them from> claiming the benefit of the reservation made for them. This is the main defense in the case. Upon the other hand, no time was fixed by the President for their removal : no foriual notice w'as ever given them to remove; but at various times, and particularly at tlie council held at Cattaraugus June 2. 1846, called by the connnissioners to learn the final wishes of tlie Indians as to emigration, the chiefs of the four tribes present were unanimous in the opinion that scarcely any Indians who wished to emigrate remained. This action constitutes prac- tically the only claim of forfeiture. There is no finding that the other five tribes did refuse. The practical application which counsel seek to make of this partial refu.sal is to justify the Governmet, not only in appropriating the Kansas lands, but, infei-entially, in failing to make any other compensation to the Indians for the seizure and sale of the Wisconsin lands. In view of this it seems to us that to justify a forfeiture it should appear that the repudiation was as formal and broad and as unequivocal as the acceptance; that the Presi- dent should have fixed a time for the removal and should at least have made a formal tender of performance. This was simply a question of forfeiture. No question of citizen- ship was involved, and since the President of the United States didn't comply with the condition precedent and since five of the tribes had never expressed themselves, the court held that there was not a forfeiture; and forfeitures are not favored, and besides, the Government had received the lands belonging to the New York In- dians in the State of Wisconsin in exchange for Kansas lands, and the United States couldn't have been damaged by reason of the court holding that there Avasn't a forfeiture. Mr. Ballingek. Mr. Bond, in that same case did not the question arise as to the distribution of the proceeds, and indirectly the ques- tion as to citizenship, and did not the court hold that even Indians who had gone to Canada and gave up their allegiance to the United States were entitled to share in those funds? 30 ENEOLLMEXT IX THE FIVE CIVILIZED TEIBES. Mr. Bond. The question of citizenship was not involved, and if you will examine the opinion of the court you will so find. The court so states. And I want to say, further, that in the fourteenth article of the treaty of 1830 there is only one condition precedent, that is a con- dition that the claimant thereunder should remove in order to enjoy the privileges of tribal citizenship. There is no provision for notice by the President; there is no provision for notice by the tribe; there is no provision whatever as a condition precedent to be performed by the tribe or by the United States whereby the fourteenth article claimant could say, " Why, you have not performed your condition precedent, therefore you can not claim a forfeiture as against me." The cases are not analogous; they are not parallel in any respect. (The subcommittee took a recess until 10.30 the following morn- ing.) SuBCOM:sriTTEE OF Committee on Indian Affairs, House of Representatives, Saturday^ August 15, 191Jf. The subcommittee met at 2 o'clock p. m., Hon. Charles D. Carter (chairman) presiding. STATEMENT OF ME,. REFORD BOND— Continued. Mr. Bond. Mr. Chairman, the case of the New York Indians v. The United States was originally tried in the Court of Claims, and is reported in 18 Court of Claims Reports, at page 448. The Court of Claims in rendering the opinion in that case used the following language : This is not a question of Indian citizenship or tribal custom or couimunal ownership in Indian property, but is simply a question of the subject matter and purpose of a contract and of the intent of those who entered into it. I desire now to distinguish the case of the United States v. The Cherokee Nation, reported in 202 United States, at page 101. In speaking of the above case Mr. Cantwell, of counsel for proponents, used the following language: This Eastern Cherokee case in regard to the rights of the Eastern Cherokees is analogous to tlie rights that we are contending for to-day. In other words, the principle upon wliich they recovered their rights is the same principle upon which we ask these rights for the Mississippi Choctaws. except that we think our rights are very much more strictly secured by treaties than the rights which were securoe Town- send and reported in volume 4, Indian Territory Iveports, at page 214. Mr. Carter. What is the case? Mr. BoA'D. The case is entitled " Ikard v. Minter." Mr. Richardson. What is the date of the delivery of the opinion? Mr. Bond. The opinion was delivered September 25, 1902. Judge Townsend was the trial judge. The case was appealed and affirmed by the appellate court. I will read you from the syllabus: Showing tliiit he was a Mississippi Choctaw was not siifHcient, for prior to 1S9S the j\rississippi Choctaw not then on the regular roll of the Choctaw Katioa could not hold lands in the Choctaw Nation, but had only the right to go before the Commission to the Five Civilized Tribes and make the necessary proof, securing his enrollment under the act of Congress of June 2S, 1S9S, and the act of Congress of INIay 31, 1900. Judge Townsend evidently had a change of heart and he evidently had a change of mind, because he says that they, the Mississippi Choctaws, had no right until 1898, and in this general opinion enti- tled '' In re Citizenship cases," he says that they were Choctaw citi- zens all the time, and that he had heard of nothing that prevented them from being Choctaw citizens. Now, let us read further from Judge Townsend's own language, not from the appellate court affirm- ing him. On page 221 he says : The Court. I recollect a little about It, because when I wrote the general opinion that I gave in these citizenship cases I went through every treaty from 1TS4 down, and read every one of them, and at that time I was pretty familiar with it, but I have been annoyed so much in trying lawsuits since that time that I have nearly forgotten everything I knew of that question. But my recollection at that time there were conditions; they had got to sell their lands and come to this country; and that this provision in the Curtis Act is the first provision giving that recognition. Now listen: They had got to sell their lauds and come to this country. Judge Townsend's language verbatim ! Evidently, gentlemen of the committee, he had just left his mining interests in Colorado when he handed down that general opinion. In 1900 or 1902 he had been on the bench for three, four, or five years, and his early legal training was evidently coming back to him. Yet you gentlemen tout " In re Citizenship cases " as being an opinion of the court. If it had been an opinion in a case on trial, and it was not, he would have reversed himself after a more careful and deliberate consideration, as is shoAvn ])y the opinion in the Ikard-Minter case. Why. Mr. Ballinger says that after that "In re Citizenship" case opinion was rendered by Judge Townsend attorneys visited the Indian Committees of Congress and so impressed them with that opini(;n that they had an act j^asscd in 1897 re(]uiring the commis- sion to repc;rt as to the rights of the Mississip])i Choctaws. The act reads as follows : • That the commission ap]iointed to negotiate with the Five Civilized Tribes in the Indian Territory shall exann'ne and rei)Ort to Congress whether the Mis- sissipi)i Choctaws, under their treaties, are not entitled to all the rights of Choc- taw citizenship, except an interest in the Choctaw annuities. I Avill read in part from the report of the commission, in com- pliance therewith, and contained in House Document No. 274, second 42 ENROLLMENT IN THE FIVE CIVILIZED TRIBES. session of the Fifty-fifth Congress. It is very elaborate, and I will read only a few short passages : The Mississippi Choctaws are the descendants of those Choctaw Indians who declined to remove to the Indian Territory with the tribe under the provisions of the treaty made with the United States September 27, 1S30. * * * They claim the right to continue their residence and political status in Mississippi as they and those from whom they descended have done for G5 years, and still are entitled to enjoy all the rights of Choctaw citizenship, except to share in the Choctaw annuities. * * * What their political status is in the State of Mississippi is defined in the fourteenth article of the treaty. Their ancestors, each, was to signify, within six months after the ratification of tlie treaty, his desire to remain and become a citizen of the States, which would entitled them to G40 acres of land and a less amount to each member of his family, and after a residence on the same of five years, with intent to become a citizen, are then entitled to a patent in fee, and are thereby made citizens of the States. Tbeir ancestors having done this, they claim, under the concluding clause of said article, that their ancestors could and they now can continue such citizenship and residence in Mississippi and be still entitled to all the rights of a Choctaw citizen in the tribal property of said nation in the Indian Territory, except tlieir annu- ities. This clause, upon which the claim rests, is in these words: "Persons who claim under this article shall not lose the privilege of a Choc- taw citizen, but if they ever remove are not to be entitled to any portion of the Choctaw annuities." But this construction is in direct conflict with the very purpose for which the treaty was made, and with the nature of the title to the lands in the Ter- ritory secured to tlie Choctaws by it, and to the whole structure and adminis- tration of their government ever since under it. * * * Tliere can be no longer doubt that the present title is in tlie members of the tribes alone, and that the United States has pledged itself to so maintain it. and that it so does, in the belief of both parties to the treaty that such was the title from the beginning. No man can, therefore, as the title now stands, have any interest in these lands unless he is a member in one of these tribes. Now. it has been a law of the Choctaw Nation from the beginning of its ex- istence, recognized by tlie Sujireme Court and by Congress, that no man can be a citizen of that nation who does not reside in it and assume the obligations of such citizenship before he can enjoy its privileges. To "enjoy the privileges of a Choctaw citizen " one must be a Choctaw citizen.- * * * This historical review of the acquisition of this territory by the Choctaw Nation, and its subsequent legal relations to it, malies it clear, in the opinion of this commission, that the ^lississippi Choctaws are not, under their treaties, entitled to "all the riahts of Choctaw citizenship except an interest in the Choctaw annuities." and still continue tlieir residence and citizenship in the State of Mississippi. Then the commission concludes its opinion with this statement: In conclusion, it seems to the commission that the importance of a correct decision of this question, both to the Mississippi Choctaws and to the Choctaw Nation, justities the pro\ision for a judicial decision in a case provided for that, purpose. They therefore suggest that in proper form jurisdiction may be given the Court of tHainis to pass judicially upon this question in a suit brought foi that purjiose by either of the interested parties. The Chairman. When was that decision rendered? Mr. Bond. January 28, 1898. Now, gentlemen of the committee, time and again I have heard from the floor of the House and from the floor of tlio Senate tliat the provision in the act of 1900 and in the agreement of 1902 providing for the removal of the Choctaw before he should enjoy Choctaw citizenship was simply put over by designing parties, and tliat certain Members of the House and of the Senate had no idea that such provisions were being injected into the act or into the agreement. And you gentlemen have heard the same argument. ENROLLMENT IN THE FIVE CIVILIZED TRIBES. 43 Wliere were the distinguished gentlemen of intellectual excellence when the act of 1897 was passed calling for this report? Where were the gentlemen of sophistry and ingenuity and fine debating qualities when this report was filed as a House document? If the gentlemen of legal attainments were not satisfied with that document, why did not they ask that it be submitted to the Court of Claims, with a right of appeal to the Supreme Court of the United States, as suggested by the commission ? Tell me that they did not know that there was going to be a provision placed in the act of 1900 and the agreement of 1902 that the Choctaw must remove before he could enjoy citizen- ship, in the face of the Jack Amos case and in the face of an ex- haustive opinion filed as a House document. Congress took the vieAV that Judge Clayton rendered a just and fair decision. Congress took the view that Judge Clayton's construction of the fourteenth article of the treaty was correct, because Congress did not refer this question to the Court of Claims as suggested bv the commission, but passed an act providing that the Mississippi Choctaws should have a certain time within which to remove. Congress acted with full knowledge and with full information with reference to all these facts. This entire document, consisting of several pages, deals with prac- tically but one question, and that is the question of removal, and yet that is the question which was supposedly put over without the knowledge of certain Members of Congress. Let us see what Mr. Cantwell has to say about the legislation which grew out of this report. I read from page 11 of the hearing before the subcommittee last session: The stiitement I desire to make is made in belialf of several thousands of claimants to rijjhts in the Choctaw and Chickasaw Tribes, whose rights. I undertake to show by I'ecord evidence, have been recognized by Congress, but the recovery of whose rights has been defeated and the rights piMctically nullified by the enactment of legislation at the instigation of interested persons for selfish ends. I believe I can show that this was accomplished by a conspiracy, and that the powers of the United States Government have be^ usurped by the conspirators. Keading further from Mr. Cantwell's statement, on page 50 : It is not conceivable, because JMcMurray smuggled through Congress, in 3902, an agreement between himself and the officers of the Dawes Commission, who were absolutely ignorant of the effect of the agreement, that this agreement iu any way binds Congress so as to prevent it from righting those wrongs, or that Congress intended, by this smuggled act, to change its policy. And mark you, Mr. Cantwell bases practically his entire argument on one question, and that is that under the fourteenth article of the treaty of 1830 the Mississippi Choctaw has the full right to citizen- ship, has the full right to share in the distril)ution of tribal funds and properties without removal, and it is evident that Congress, hav- ing before it the report above referred to, acted advisedly. Now, let us go further and see Avhat Mr. Cantwell has to say about the citizenship court. McMnrray successfully invoked the power (if Congress to destroy rights fully vested by the solenni final judgments of United Sfates circuit courts by secur- ing in an unguarded hour the creation of that judicial monstrosity, the citizeu- Bhip court. It has been argued by Mr. Cantwell, not only at this hearing but at other hearings, that the act creating the Choctaw citizenship court absolutely nullified and abrogated every judgment that had been 44 ENROLLMENT IN THE FIVE CIVILIZED TRIBES. rendered by the T'nited States courts in the Indian Territory. I have argued before that Congress can not nullify judgments; that Congress can not grant a new trial : that Congress can not abrogate a decree. I desire to offer now the decision rendered by the Su)3reme Court of the United States in the Wallace- Adams case, wherein the act creating the Choctav^'-Chickasaw citizenship court was fully discussed; and j^ou will note in that case that counsel for the claimants made the same contention that ISIr. Cantwell has made here — that the act attempted to nullify a judgment. But the Su- preme Court did not agree Avith counsel. Perhaps I had better read from the act creating that court and then refer to the decision. I read in part from section 31 of the act of 1902 : In the exercise of such api)ellate .iuriSdiction, said citizenship court shall be authorized to consider, review, and revise all such judgments, both as to find- ings of fact and conclusions of law, and m:'y, wherever in its judgment substan- tial justice will thereby be subserved, permit either p;;rty to any such appeal to talce and present such further evidence as may be necessary to enable said court to determine the very right of the controversy. And said court shall have power to make all nee.lful rules and regulations prescribing the manner of taking and conducting said appeals and of taking additional evidence therein. I read from the opinion of the court in the case of Wallace v. Adams, reported in Two hundred and fourth United States, at page 415 : And while it is undonbteilly true that legislatures can not set aside the judg- ments of courts, compel them to grant new trials, order the discharge of offend- ers, or direct what slejis shall be taken in the progi-ess of a judicial inquiry, the grant of a new remedy by way of review has been often sustained under particular circumstances. Reading further: The United States court in the Indian Territory is a legislative court, and was authorized to exercise jurisdiction in these citizenship cases as a part of the machinery devised by Congress in the discharge of its duties in respect of these Indian tribes; and assuming that Congress possesses plenary power of legislation in regard to them, subject only to the Constitution of the United States, it follows that the vaTidity of remedial legislation of this sort can not be questioned miless in violation of some prohibition of that instrument. In its enactment Congress iuis not a.ttenipted to interfere in any way with the judicial department of the Government, nor can the act be properly regarded as destroying any vested right, since the right asserted to be vested is only the exemption of these judgments from review. I stated to the committee at the previous hearing that Congress could not review the judgment of the Supreme Court of the United States, because it is not a legislative court. All Federal courts are legislative courts created by acts of Congress, save the Supreme Court of the United States, which is a constitutional court. I desire to read a short passage from the case of Wallace v. Adams, which is a very clear statement of the law : It is unnecessary to consider what would have been the effect of a judgment of this court, a court provided for in the constitution, on the question of the right of a litigant to citizenship. The distinction between this court and the courts established by act of Congress in virtue of its power to ordain and establish inferior courts is shown in Gordon v. United States, 117 United States. Oni. in whicli we held that while Congress could give to the Court of Claims jurisdiction to inquire and report upon claims against the Government, it could not authorize an appeal from such report to this court unless our decision was made a final judgment, not Subject to congressional review. * * * 6^ ENEOLLMENT IN THE FIVE CIVILIZED TRIBES. 45 Consrress can not extend the appellate power of this court beyond the limits prescribed by tlie Constitution, and can neither confer nor impose on it the duty of hearing and determining an appeal from a commissioner or auditor, or any other tribunal exercising only special powers under an act of Congress; nor can Congress authorize or require this court to express an opinion on a case where its judicial power could not be exercised, and where its judgment would not be final and conclusive upon the rights of the parties and process of execution awarded to carry it into effect. Mr. EiCHARDSON. In that case, did not the Supreme Court hold that the Territorial courts in hearing- these appeals were exercising special functions intrusted to them as an aid to Congress in the per- formance of its duties, and that their acts were a little more than the acts of a commission? Mr. Bond. That is true, and their judgments are subject to review, but in all cases in which the Supreme Court has spoken the judg- ment is final and beyond congressional action. (Thereupon, at 4.15 o'clock p. m., the subcommittee adjourned until Monday, August 17, 1914, at 2 o'clock p. m.) Subcommittee of Cominiittee on Indian Affairs, House of Representatives, Monday^ August 17^ 19H. The subcommittee met at 2.10 o'clock p. m., Hon. Charles D. Carter (chairman) presiding. STATEMENT OF MR. REFOED BOND— Continued. Mr. Bond. I desire to call the committee's attention to a statement made by INIr. Cantwell, of counsel for the proponents, which appears on page 38 of the hearing before the Subcommittee on Indian Affairs of the House : A great mr.uy Mississippi Choctaws bad gone into the Territory and had not been able to be enrolled by the commission prior to June 2S, IS9S. The identifi- cation conten)i)lated by the first clause did not entitle the Mississijipi Choctaws to enrollment. Under another provision of this act of July 1, 1902, they might make bona fide settlement within the Choctaw-Chickasaw country within six mouths after identification by the commission; but he could not get any laud upon which to settle until after he should be enrolled or identified. How could he settle unless lands were given? If he undertook to go into the Choctaw or Chickasaw country at all, McJIurray ejected him, through the tribal authori- ties, as an intruder. The statements contained in this appendix by Mr. Mc- Murray show that he called upon the United States Government for soldiers to eject what he called intruders, and all persons were intruders, according to bis definition, who were not upon the tribal rolls. The old method of identifi- cation by the tribe had been abandoned, and if the Mississippi Choctaw went into the Choctaw-Chickasaw country he was liable to be ejected as an intruder because he was not on the tribal rolls, even if he went to the Indian Territory for the mere purpose of identification. That statement of counsel is unwarranted by law and by the evi- dence. However, it Avas made last session without contradiction and with no law and no evidence to controvert the statement, and neces- sarily the committee found that claimants under the fourteenth article of the treaty were rejected as intruders. Mr. Miller. The subcommittee did not make a finding to that effect, did they? Mr. Bond. Yes, sir. 46 ENROLLMENT IN THE FIVE CIVILIZED TRIBES. Mr. Miller. I should be surprised to find that they did. My recol- lection is that the statement contained in the report is based ex- clusively upon the wording of the subsequent treaties or congres- sional acts bearing upon the Choctaw and Chickasaw and the Five Civilized Tribes. Mr. Bond. On page 27 of the report of the subcommittee I find this statement by Mr. Miller : Yes, some of tliese eleven huutlred actually removed, and some when removed were ejected by otHcers of the Choctaws and Chickasuws because they were "interlopers." Some remained in the new country, but were never enrolled. Others drifted away. I think Mr. Carter knows there are some Choctaws in Oklahoma belonging to this eleven hundrel. I take it that the statement of their being ejected by officers of the Choctaws and Chickasaws because they Avere interlopers was a find- ing in accordance with the statement and argument of counsel that they were ejected as intruders. If I am incorrect I desire to with- draw the statement. Mr. Miller. I do not think the occasion for that statement is as you intimate, Mr. Bond. I will say that practically all the infor- mation that I secured was from as nearly original sources as it could be, and most of it came from out of the department. Now, I do not recall exactly what I had in mind when I made that statement, but I tliink it was this : The word " interlopers " probably is inadvisedly used ; it should be " intruders." We all know^ that there were a great many intruders that came into the country, and it was necessary for the Choctaw and Chickasaw people to keep them out. Now, I did not intend by that to say that they kept out Mississippi Choctaws only as intruders, but that the general inhibition against people coming in there who had no rights in there applied to some who might be claiming to be Mississippi Choctaws the same as the rest. I presinne that some of the individuals enumerated in this list might have been included. I have only a faint recollection of where I got that declaration in regard to the 1,100, but I think it w^as from the Indian office. Mr. Bond. If that is so, I stand corrected. I am very glad that the committee did not so find. I am pleased to know that I miscon- strued the finding of the committee on that point. However, it has been so alleged by Mr. Cantwell, of counsel for the proponents, and therefore I desired to refute it. The CiiAiRiMAN. Was there any attempt at that time made to re- move persons from the Choctaw Nation except such persons as did not comply with the laws of the Choctaw Nation? Mr. Bond. No parties were attempted to be removed from the Choctaw and Chickasaw Nations to my knowledge except those who refused to comply with the intruder laws. Any person who was not a member of the tribe w\as required under the law of the tribe to pay a permit of $1 per year for his right of residence within the tribe, and if he refused to pay the $1 per year he Avas then sub- ject to ejection as an intruder. The Ctlmrman. That was the law, but let me ask j^ou what was the practice? What percentage of the white people that were in the country at that time were paying a permit tax, would you judge? Mr. Bond. I would judge that a very small percentage of the white people paid the permit tax. If my memory serves me cor- ENEOLLMENT IF THE FIVE CIVILIZED TEIBES. 47 rectly, the tax in the Chickasaw Nation was increased in later years to $5" per annum, and I believe that after the increase very few people paid the tax. The Chairman. Is it not a fact that no removals were attempted to be made by the tribal authorities? Mr. Miller. Well, as I recall, we had a vast amount of informa- tion submitted to the committee that was down there to investigate the McJNIurray and other contracts. There was evidence that large amounts of money were used to eject intruders. The Chairman. Well, I will come to that in a minute. Wliat I am asking Mr. Bond now is, Did the tribal authorities attempt to remove them, and had they any authoi-ity to remove them? Did the tribal authorities have any jurisdiction to remove people, Mr. Bond? Mr. Bond. The tribal authorities in later days possibly were shorn of that jurisdiction, but the tribal authorities, so far as my knowl- edge goes, did not attempt the ejection of individuals; but there were other taxes in addition to the per capita tax. The Chairman. We will come to that in a moment. Mr. Bond. There was a tax per head on cattle and per dollar on merchandise. At one time the noncitizens refused to pay the cattle tax and merchandise tax, which caused the tribal and Federal au- thorities a great deal of trouble and considerable expense in the collection thereof, and there were efforts to eject the people who refused to pay those taxes. The CiiAiRiMAN. I was coming to that in a moment, but the things I want the record to show is this : Whether or not the tribal authori- ties had any jurisdiction under the laAv to remove people who were intruders, and whether they attempted to exercise that jurisdiction during your memory. ]Mr. Bond. Not during my memory, Mr. Carter. After the United States courts were given jurisdiction in the Indian Territory and after jurisdiction was conferred on the United States Indian agent, the tribal authorities had no jurisdiction of intruders whatever, be- cause they were citizens of the United States, and the tribal authori- ties only had jurisdiction of tribal citizens. The Chairman. And the only thing the tribal authorities could do was to report the matter and urge their removal Avith the Federal authorities. Is not that true? Mr. Bond. I think that was the extent of their authority. The Chairman. Well, did not the Federal authorities attempt to remove people, and was not their attempt about that time confined entirely to those people who did not pay the merchants' tax license and the cattle-tax license? Mr. Bond. That is my recollection of the matter. The CiiAiRTiiAN. Do you know if there ever was any attempt made to remove any claimants for citizenship, whether Mississippi Choc- taw or otherwise? INIr. Bond. Not to my knowledge. Mr. Richardson. Mr. Carter, if it is not improper to put in the record at this time, I Avould like to state that the record shows that Mr. ]\IcMurray, or his firm of ISIansfield, McMurray & Cornisl), brought a suit in equity to require the commission not to allot and to exclude from allotment Mississippi Choctaws who did not move within the six-month period, under the act of 1902, and he secured 48 ENROLLMENT IN THE FIVE CIVILIZED TEIBES. an injunction against the commission. The petition and the injunc- tion in that suit were introduced on the floor of the United States Senate by ex-Senator Jones, of Arkansas, and will appear in the Con- gressional Record. The CiiAiRjFAN. That may be true, Mr. Richardson, but the ques- tion that was raised was about Mississippi ChoctaAvs being removed and net being permitted to settle in the Choctaw Nation in accordance with the act requiring them to settle. Mr. Bond says that nothing of that kind was done, and Mr. Miller says that they never intended to state that. Mr. Miller. No; we never intended to state that those who at- tempted to come over under the 1902 act were intruders. The state- ment went further to say that among the 1,100 who were identified some of them were i-emoved as intruders. I do not knoAv what the circumstances and facts were, but it Avas not simply because they tried to make a settlement. Mr. Bond. I will say in reply to Mr. Richardson that the acts giving the commission authority to enroll especially required that it should not be subject to an injunction proceeding. Mr. Richardson. There was an injunction issued in that case. Mr. Miller. Do you think the provisions of that treaty of 1902 were fair and equitable as far as the Indians Avere concerned? Mr. Bond. I do. Many AA'ere identified under the act of 1898, and although they had theretofore almost three-quarters " f a century within Avhich to remoA-e, the treaty of 1902 allowed additional time for remoA'al and Avaived proof as to full bloods.' In my judgment the terms and provisions of the treaty AA^ere fair and equitable. I desire to read from the report of the commissioner to the Five Civilized Tribes to the Secretary of the Interior for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1907, at page 11: The act of Congress iipiiroved April 26, lOOfi, provided that motions for rp- heariiis; of cises adversely deterniined prior to the passapre of the act could be filed for a period of (10 days. Under this provision a hu-jre number of Missis- sippi Olioctaws, whose cbiinis had been rejected, filed motions for rehearinti of their cases, some of which had been closed for four j^ears. The Commissioner, acting under departmental instrnctions, allowed such persons to appear at the Land Otlice and designate tentative allotments pending final disposition of their claims. Through this procedure they maintained control of lands which duly enrolled citizens were entitled to select in allotment. When one motion was denied by the department the Mississippi Choctaw, often at the instance of speculators, would inunedi.itely file a second motion and then make the claim .'it the Land Office that his aiiplicatlon was not yet finally disposed of. This practice was carried on until a short time prior to the closing of the rolls, March 4, 1907. I desire to supplement the report of the commission with the law itself, Avhich provided that claimants Avere entitled to hold posses- sion of the land until their rights were finally determined. I read from section 3 of the act of June 28, 1898: That said courts are hereby given jurisdiction in their respective districts to try cases against those who may claim to hold as members of a tribe and whose membership is denied by the tribe, but who continue to hold said lands and tenements notwithstanding the objection of the tribe; and if it be found upon trial that the same are held unlawfully against the tribe by those claim- ing to be members thereof, and the membership and rights are disallowed by the commission to the Five [Civilized! Tribes, or the United States court, and the judgment has become final, then said court shall cause the parties charged ENROLLMENT IN THE FIVE CIVILIZED TRIBES. 49 with unlawfully holding said possessions to be removed from the same and cause the lands and tenements to be restored to the person or persons or nation or tribe of Indians entitled to the possession of the same. I also desire to read from section 4 of the said act, which shows that the}' Avere not only permitted to hold their lands until their cases Avere finally determined, btit they were allowed to dispose of the improA'ements Avhich they had placed thereon during the time the}^ were claiming citizenship : That all persons who have heretofore made improvements on lands belonging to any one of the said tribes of Indians, claiming rights of citizenship, whose claims have been decided adversely under the act of Congress approved June 10, 1N90, shall have possession thereof until and including December 31, 1898; and may, prior to that time, sell or disi)ose of the same to any member of the tribe owning the land who desires to take the same in his allotment. I desire to call the committee's attention to one other statement made bj' ISIr. Cantwell. I read from the hearings of the subcom- mittee, at pages IT and 24. I read first from page 17 : Hei'e was a clause inserted in the treaty — * Speaking of the fourteenth article of the treaty — for the express purpose of individualizing the Indian, of breaking up the tribal organization, of subjecting him to the laws of the white man, and of making him a citizen of 'the United States; and as a penalty for his removal from his allotment in Mississippi he was to be deprived of his portion of the Choctaw annuity then existing. Jt is quite certain the intent of the treaty at the time it was made was to encourage the Indian to become a citizen of the State, and not to discourage him. I now read from page 24: The rights of the Mississippi Choctaw were granted to induce him to remain in the State, and not as a condition that he remove to the Indian country. Reading further from the same page : The object was to provide a penalty if he should become a wanderer and was inserted to encourage him to remain on the Mississippi lands for five years and to become a homesteader. I think that argument is clearly refuted by the statement of the Supreme Court in 119 United States. Mr. Miller. It is also refuted by all the other circumstances in the case, is it not? Mr. Bond. Yes; by every circumstance and every fact. I read from page 36 of said report : Under the pressure of the demand for the settlement of the unoccupied hinds of the State of Mississii)pi by emigrants from other States, the policy of the United States in respect to the Indian tribes still dwelling within its borders underwent a change, and it became desirable by a new treaty to effect so far as practicable the removal of the whole body of the Choctaw Nation, as a tribe, from the limits of the State to the lands which had been ceded to them west of the Mississippi River. To carry out that policy the treaty of 1830 was negotiated. Reading further on page 37: It is notorious as a historical fact, as it abundantly appears from the record in this case, that great pressure had to be brought to bear upon the Indians to effect their removal, and the whole treaty was evidently and purposely executed, not so much to secure to the Indians the rights for which they had stipulated, as to effectuate the policy of the United States in regard to their removal. 80223—15 4 50 ENROLLMENT IN THE FIVE CIVILIZED TRIBES. I now desire to call the attention of the committee to a statement of Mr. Cantwell's to the effect that the act of June 28, 1898, gave to the fourteenth-article claimants a right to citizenship in the Choctaw and Chickasaw Nations without removal. Section 21 reads in part as follows : Said commissiou shall have authority to determine the identity of Choctaw Indians claiming rights in the Choctaw lands under article 14 of the treaty be- tween the United States and the Choctaw Nation concluded September 27, 1830, and to that end they may administer oaths, examine witnesses, and perform all other acts necessary thereto and make report to the Secretary of the Interior. That provision of the act does not confer upon the commission the right to enroll Mississippi Choctaws, but merely confers upon the commission the right to identify them and therefore, I take it, con- fers no right of enrollment or property right upon the Mississippi Choctaw without removal. I read further from the same section : No person shall be enrolled who has not heretofore removed to and in good faith settled in the nation In which he claims citizenship. Provided, however, That nothing contained in this act shall be so construed as to mlitate against any rights or privileges which the Missiissippi Choctaws may have under the laws or the treaties with the United States. That last proviso conferred no additional right upon the ISIissis- sippi Choctaw, but it simply held in statu quo or preserved any rights that he might have under the treaties between the tribe and the United States. Mr. Miller. Is it not a fair statement to say that that language means this, that nothing in the act will change in any degree the right or the status of the Mississippi Choctaws if under the treaties with the United States or under previous laws of the United States they have a right to citizenship in the Choctaw and Chickasaw Nations without removal ; this does not put upon them the obligation to remove ? Mr. Bond. I think that is a correct statement of the law. As a further evidence of the correctness of the statement, I desire to read from section 11 of the act: Provided, That nothing herein contained shall in any way affect any vested legal rights which may have been heretofore granted by act of Congress, nor be so construed as to confer any additional rights upon any parties claiming under any such act of Congress. I desire now to call the committee's attention to a statement made by Mr. Cantwell to the effect that under the act of 1902 the rule of evidence was changed so as to make it compulsory upon claimants to establish the fact that they were descendants from those who had re- ceived a patent under the fourteenth article of the treaty of 1830. The Commission to the Five CiAnlized Tribes, in receiving proof un- der the fourteenth article of the treaty, did not follow strictlj^ the letter of the laAV, but they looked to the spirit of the law, and not only enrolled those who could prove that they were descendants of an ancestor who had received a patent under the treaty, but also en- rolled those who could show that their ancestors were entitled to rights under the fourteenth article of the treaty, even though their rights had been defeated by the agents of the Government or through any practices of citizens of Mississippi or otherwise, and the com- mittee so found at its last hearing. ENROLLMENT IN THE FIVE CIVILIZED TRIBES. 51 After the passage of the act of 1902 the particular section in con- troversy was construed by the Attorney General, and the Attorney General held that that language was not intended to abridge any rights that claimants might have had prior to the passage of the act. The commission still continued to accept proof, even though no pat- ent had been issued to the ancestor. I will read a portion of the opinion of the Attorney General bearing on the question : Concerning said section 41 of tlie act Mr. Harrison, When was the opinion issued? Mr. Bond. The letter bearing the opinion was issued on November 23, 1904, and I take it that the opinion was issued in the year 1904 : Concerning said section 41 of the act of July 1, 1902, the Attorney General of the United States, in an opinion rendered June 19, 1903, used the following lan- guage: " This agreement must, of course, be construed in the light of the circum- stances under which it was made, and with a purpose to ascertain the intention of the parties thereto. ^Manifestly the parties did not intend to abridge the rights of any person theretofore entitled by law to identification as a Missis- sippi Choctaw, but they did intend to permit the identification of some i>ersons who had not prior to that time been able to bring themselves within the require- ments of the rules establshed by the commission — persons the evidence of whose rights under the treaty of 1S30 could not be secured, but who the Government of the United States and the Choctaw Indians, ' in their generosity,' desired should share in the benefits arising out of the provisions of that treaty." He refers in the latter part of his opinion to the full-blood rule, and speaks of it as a generosity on the part of the Choctaws. Mr. Richardson. Mr. Bond, do you mean to say that the Dawes Commission, prior to the act of July 1, 1902, had proof and identifi- cation of claimants who were what are known as scrip claimants? Mr. Bond. I mean to say, Mr. Richardson, that I practiced before the Dawes Commission more or less from the time I graduated from laAv school. I never brought a Mississippi Choctaw case but what the Dawes Commission permitted any proof to show that the ancestor was entitled to comply with the fourteenth article of the treaty, and if you could show that the applicant was a descendant from an an- cestor who was entitled to comply with the fourteenth article of the treaty, and who was prevented, by any reason whatever, from com- plying therewith, they Avould admit the applicant to citizenship on such proof. Mr. Richardson. Is it not a fact that the commission had only decided, before the act of July 1, 1902, the identification of five indi- viduals between the time that the McKennon roll was submitted on March 10, 1899, and the act of July 1, 1902, was passed, and that those five individuals were all of one family? Mr. Bond. I am not prepared to say how many individuals the commission had passed on at tliat time. I have not looked up the record, but from the finding of the subcommittee last year and from the records that I have been able to investigate, the commission never confined proof to a patentee. It is true that immediately after the passage of the act of 1902 the commission construed it literally, but the matter was passed up to the Attorney (ieneral for a decision, and after tlie decision of 1904 the commission followed the holding of the Attorney General, and between 1904 and 1907 the department chiims to have reviewed all Mississippi Choctaw cases and to have applied the broad rule of the Attorney General to all such cases. 52 ENROLLMENT IN THE FIVE CIVILIZED TEIBES. Mr. TIuRLEY. There are a great many other decisions that we can submit to the committee wherein the same holding prevailed as in the Jim Gift case, if the committee cares to go further into those decisions. Mr. Bond. Mr. Cantwell has also denounced that part of the act of 1902 which permitted full bloods to be identified and enrolled Avithout proving that their ancestors were descendants from persons who complied or were entitled to comply with the fourteenth article of the treaty of 1830. I therefore desire to read from the report of the Commission to the Five Civilized Tribes to the Secretary of the Interior for the year ending June 30, 190(), which bears on that question : The full-blood Indians living in the States of Mississippi, Alabama, and Louisiana remained innocuous in their huts and waited for the commission to take the initiative and t^eek them out. brinudng the offer of rich farms and com- fortable homes to their very doors, but they often stolidly refused to furnish any information whatever concerning; their ancestry. Claimants came from all parts of the country — from the Gulf to the Great Lakes, and from Oregon to Massachusetts — and literally submerged the com- mission with applications. It became apparent that the ignorant full blood, for whom Congress in- tended to provide, had nO record of his ancestry, and could not prove his rights under the law, and if required to do so would fail to receive the benefits of the legislation. In order that this might not happen, the following provision was embodied in the act of July 1, 1902. Then follows the provision with reference to the full-blood rule. I can not understand why counsel representing the proponents of the bill should so viciously denounce a rule which was a protection to the full bloods and which was merely a generosity on the part of the Chocta^v Nation. Mr. INIiLLER. What have you to say about this feature: Assuming that in the enactment of the two agreements the provision was de- signed to benefit the Mississippi Choctaws, it still required, in order to make application and prove their identity within six months that they had to remove to the Choctaw country west, and in your judg- ment did that requirement make it possible for any Mississippi Choctaw to take advantage of the provisions of the act? Mr. Bond. Yes, it did. Mr. Miller. Do you not think it is rather strange that no one was ever enrolled under that? Mr. BoxD. Perhaps they failed to remove, perhaps all applica- tions were made under former acts, and while the applicants received the benefit of the full-blood rale they were enrolled as of the acts under wdiich they applied, but that is a very reasonable provision and is easily explainable. In 1893 Congress passed an act looking to the allotment of the lands west. This act placed the fourteenth-article claimant on notice that there was going to be an allotment in severalty of the lands west. ^ii 1896, under an act of Congress, a commission was sent to the Indian Territory for the purpose of making the rolls. That was an additional notice to the Mississippi Choctaws. In 1898 an act was passed closing the rolls, so far as applications to the members were concerned, but preserving the rights of the Mississippi Choctaws and providing for their identification. That act gave them an addi- tional opportunity to remove and an additional notice that the lands ENKOLLMENT IN THE FIVE CIVILIZED TRIBES. 53 were to be allotted in severalty. In 1900 there was an act passed by Congress, which reads as follows Mr. Hurley. Mr. Miller, did I understand you to say that there were no full bloods enrolled under the act of 1902 ? Mr. Miller. Yes, sir. Mr. Hurley. That is not my understanding. Mr. Miller. That was the information furnished me by the Indian Office. Mr. Hurley. The cases that were pending then before the Com- mission to the Five Civilized Tribes were passed upon after that law, and they were given the benefit of that law, as shown in the Jim (jift decision, which* we have submitted here for the record. There were 24,000 more applications filed. Mr. Miller. Those applications were filed prior to July 1, 1902. Mr. Hurley. And passed on, or most of them, after that date. Mr. Miller. But no new applications were received under the act of July 1, 1902. Mr. Hurley. Xo, sir ; but, at the same time, the reason for that act was this, that there were so many applications pending from full bloods who could not prove their identity, and it was passed in order to give the commission the right to pass fa^•orably upon those full- blood cases, which was done under that act. Mr. Miller. You do not refer to any applications received under this particular provision? Ml-. Hurley. iS^o, sir; I do not refer to applications received, be- cause the applications had all theretofore been received — more than 24,000 applications in all. Among those were the applications of the full bloods who could not theretofore prove their descent from a fourteenth-article claimant. Their cases were passed on after that, giving them the benefit of the full -blood rule, or the rule that could and did work favorably to the full-blood applicants who had their applications in at that time. Mr. Carter. Let me ask yon a question : Is it not a fact that this provision was placed in the 1902 agreement for the reason that the full-blood Indians, or many of the full-blood Indians, had been un- able to establish their identity as required by former laws? Mr. Hurley. That was the very purpose for which it was in- serted, because they had so many applications from Indians in Mis- sissippi who were full bloods and whom they wanted to pass upon favorably, but to whom they could not grant citizenship imder exist- ing laws because of the fact that those full bloods could not prove descent from fourteenth-article claimants. Then the so-called full- blood rule of evidence was made operative in favor of those appli- cants Avho could not prove their rights. In other words, they were admitted to citizenship without the proof of any right of citizenship. Mr. Balltxoer. How many were benefited by the decision in the Jim Gift case? Mr. Hurley. The Jim (lift case was not a full-blood case. That case was submitted in answer to your argument that no one except the descendant of a ])atentee was entitled under that act. Jim Cift was not the descendant of a patentee, but the descendant of a scripee. The Jim Gift case was the ruling case in aduiitting those who fould prove their descent from scripees under the act of 1902, 54 ENROLLMENT IN THE FIVE CIVILIZED TEIBES. and there were probably not more than 150 or 200 citizens of that character admitted. There were 162 in all, I think, admitted as Mississippi Choctaws. Mr. Richardson. Yon do not mean identified as Mississippi Choc- taws, but YOU mean finally enrolled? Mr. Hurley. Finally enrolled as Mississippi Choctaws Mr. Richardson. I think Mr. Miller's inquiry related to the num- ber of persons who imder the act of 1902 and this legislation were finally identified. There were about 2,550. Mr. Miller. I reallv referred to those admitted to citizenship under the act of July 1, 1902. Mr. Bond. I will read from the act of May 31, 1900: Provided, That any Mississippi Choctaw duly identified as such by the United States Conmiission to the Five Civilized Tribes sliall have the right, at any time prior to the approval of the final rolls of the Choctaws and Chiclcasaws by the Secretary of the Interior, to make settlement within the Choctaw-Chicka- saw country, and on proof of the fact of bona fide settlement may be enrolled by the said United States commission and by the Secretary of the Interior as Choctaws entitletl to allotment. This act gave the fourteenth-article claimants a further notice and a further right to enrollment, in addition to that conferred upon other applicants. The act of 1902, extended the time for applica- tions and for removal and the waiver of proof therein, applied to those Avho had theretofore been identified, or who had theretofore made application, and to all cases pending, and admitted without proof all full-blood claimants. Had it not been for this legislation practically none of the full bloods could have been enrolled, as the commission had theretofore reported that such applicants were un- able to furnish proper proof. Therefore the legislation was bene- ficial to the claimants. Mr. Carter. That extended the time six months for filing the ap- plications and for removal, which gave them a year for removal. Mr. Bond. Yes. Mr. Hurley. I think that you will probably find upon a close ex- amination of the facts surrounding that period that the reason why there w^ere no additional applications filed under that act was be- cause of the fact that all the applications of the Mississippi Choctaws were in at that time. All the persons whose names appeared on the McKennon roll were applicants at that time. Mr. Richardson. They had been conducting hearings in Missis- sippi from December, 1900, until October, 1901 — that is, hearing applications Mr. Hurley (interposing). And after having received all those applications, the commission found that the applicants were without the evidence to show their right to enrollment, and this act was passed in order to give the full bloods a right to enrollment without proof. Mr. Carter. It gave them six months after identification to re- move to Oklahoma, and it gave them six months' addition time in which to file their identification papers or to be identified. The act provides as follows: All i)ersons duly identified by the Commission to the Five Civilized Tribes under the provisions of section 21 of the act of Congress approved June 28, 189S, as Mississippi Choctaws entitled to benefits under article 14 of the treaty ENROLLMENT IN THE FIVE CIVILIZED TRIBES. 55 between the United States and the Choctaw Nation concluded September 27, 1830, may at any time within six months after the date of their identification as Mississippi Choctaws by the said commission malve bona fide settlement within the Choctaw-Chickasaw country, and upon proof of such settlement to such commission within one year after the date of their said identification as Mississippi Choctaws shall be enrolled by such commission as Mississippi Choc- taws entitled to allotment as herein provided for citizens of the tribes, subject to the special provisions herein provided .is to Mississippi Choctaws, and s;(id enrollment shall be finul when approved by the Secretary of the Interior. The application of no person for identification as a Mississippi Choctaw shall be received by said commission after six months subsequent to the date of the final ratification of this agreement. Mr. Ballinger. The point I want to make in that connection is this, that the identification was not complete until approved by the Secretary of the Interior, and that in nionerons cases, perhaps in a majority of the cases, the claimants were not notified of their identi- fication until the six months' period had practically expired, and in some instances it had actually expired. Mr. Bond, I will say in answer to your statement that it was the duty of those people to remove to the Indian Territory. They had no right to remain in Mississippi and expect to be identified and enrolled and then remove thereafter. It was a condition precedent that they remove to the Indian Territory, and if they remained in the State of Mississippi awaiting identification, it was their fault. It was their responsibility and not the responsibility of the tribe or of the Government. I will read you what the Supreme Court of the United States has to say in reference to a condition precedent of that character. Bear in mind now that in the fourteenth article of the treaty there was no notice provided for. The claimants under that article simply retained the privifege of removing and simply a privilege of citizenship. There was no notice provided for in treaty, and there was no notice provided for under any other allotment act that was carried into effect. Mr. Ballixger. If they had removed prior to the time that they received notice of their identification, they would have been treatea as intruders. Mr. Carter. Mr. Ballinger, we have gone over that phase of the matter thoroughly, and I think the record shows that no person was ever dealt with as an intruder unless he failed to comply with the laws of the Choctaw Nation. Mr. Ballinger. There were a number of cases where they were removed. Mr. Caritr. There may have been some cases in which intruders were removed, but it was always for a violation of the laws of the Choctaw Nation. Citizenship claimants were not treated as in- truders. Mr. Bond. I read from the case entitled the Sac and Fox Indians of the Mississippi in Iowa r. Sac and Fox Indians of the Mississippi in Oklahoma, and the United States, reported in volume 220 United States lieports, at page 484. Now, mind you, in this case general notice was provided for the removal of the Sac and Fox Indians in order that they might enjoy their privileges of citizenship. I read from the opinion of the court on page 484 : The Court of Claims adds as yet a further reason for rejecting this claim that it does not appear how many of the Iowa Indians returuetl to Kansas to 56 ENEOLLMENT IN THE FIVE CIVILIZED TRIBES. receive their annuities, but (therein varying from tlie statement of facts found), that it does ap])ear that some of them did. The course of the Government is sanctioned in ])rincii)le by the implication of the treaty of October 1. 1859 (art. 7, 15 Stat., ;167, 469). That article recites the :,nxiety of the Sacs and Foxes, that all members of the tribes should share the advantages of the treaty, invite nonresident jnembers to come in and provide for notice to them, but adds the condilion that tho.se who do not rejoin and permanently reunite with the tribe within one year shall not have the benetit of any of the stipula- tions in the treaty contained. Now, the court in construing that section on page 487 uses the fol- lowing language : The fifth and last claim is for a share in proceeds of land ceded by the treaty of 1S59. * * * We do not see how the claim can be supported when the treaty itself provided that to benefit by it members umst rejoin the tribe, meaning the tribe in Kansas, within one year. It is suggested, to be sure, that the forfeiture, as it is called, was dependent upon notice being given as agreed in article 7, and that there is some evidence that notice was not given. The condition, however, was an absolute condition precedent to the acquisition, by persons not parties to the treaty, of any rights, if rights they can be called, notice or no notice. The only treaty to which the claimants were parties was the treaty of 1830, and it provided for removal, but made no provision for notice. So it was a condition precedent that they remove before they were entitled to citizenship. I now desire to call the committee's attention briefly to an argu- ment continually made on the floor of the House and the floor of the Senate to the eft'ect that the act of 1900 and the act of 1902 repealed and abrogated the treaty of 1830, and I desire to say here and now that I am unable to understand how any lawyer can arrive at that conclusion. I say that for this reason: The court has held that it is necessary under the treaty of 1830 for the claimant to re- move in order to be entitled to citizenship rights in the Choctaw and Chickasaw Nations. Now, pursuant to and in accordance with that decision of the court, Congress, in the act of 1900 and in the act of 1902, simpl}' extended the time within which the claimant could remove, and in no way abrogated, and in no way changed his right of removal under the treaty. He had the right of removal under the treaty, and Congress simply extended the time for removal under the act of 1900, with a limitation, and again in 1902 extended the time with an express limitation. Without a limitation on removal tribal affairs could never be settled. That was an absolute neces- sity on the part of Congress for the reason that the tribal form of Government was being abolished and the tribal affairs were being settled. Now, the claims of the Chickasaws have never been presented. I have examined volume after volume, containing hundreds upon hun- dreds of pages, but I have failed up to date to find a single argument in behalf of the Chickasaws, and I desire now to call tlie attention of the committee to the fact that the ChickasaAvs were bona fide pur- chasers for a valuable consideration; that they purchased after the. treaty of 1830 and took title subject to that treaty, but not subject to any equity that might have theretofore existed between the members of the Choctaw Nation, and not subject to any moral or political claim that have theretofore or thereafter existed between the members of ENROLLMENT IN THE FIVE CmLIZED TRIBES. 57 the Choctatv Nation. I will read from the treaty with the Choctaws and Chickasaws of January 17, 1837. I read from article 1 : It is aj^reed by tke Choctaws tliat the Chickasaws shall have the privilege of forming a district withiu the limits of their country, to be held on the same terms that the Choctaws now hold it, except the right of disposing of it (which is held in common with the ChoctavA's and Chickasaws), to be called the Chicka- saw district of the Choctaw Nation; * * and the Chickasaw people to be entitled to all the rights and privileges of Choctaws, with the exception of par ticipating in the Choctaw annuities. Article 3 reads as follows: The Chickasaws agree to pay the Choctaws, as a consideration for these rights and privileges, the sum of $530,000. Now I desire to call the attention of the committee to the treaty of 1855, which changed the title and ownership of the Chickasaws and Choctaws. I read from article 1 : And pursuant to an act of Congress approved May 28. 1830. the United States do hereby forever secure and guarantee the lands embraced within the said limits to the members of the Choctaw and Chickasiiw tribes, their heirs and successors, to be held in coumion ; so that each and every member of either tribe shall have an equal undivided interest in the whole: Provided, hoioever. No part thereof shall ever be sold without the consent of both tribes, and that said land shall revert to the United States if said Indians and their heirs become extinct or abandon the same. The Chickasaws by purchase for a valuable consideration ac- quired title to lands in the Choctaw Nation, and, as I have said be- fore, the title was acquired subject to the terms and provisions of the treatv of 1830. Article 2 of the treaty of 1830 provided for the fee-simple title to the nation, to them and their descendants, so long as they existed as a nation and lived upon it. That provision was carried into the patent and the Chickasaw Tribe of Indians took title subject to that provision, and they are entitled to the benefits thereof. They are also entitled to the benefits of the fourteenth article of the treaty of 1830, which says that the claimants must re- move in order to be entitled to citizenship. Now, if the Chickasaw Tribe of Indians acquired rights under that treaty and under that patent. Congress at this time is unable to disturb or abrogate the title acquired under the patent and under the treaty. Mr. Miller. Do you think, Mr. Bond, any acts of Congress have, up to this time, been passed by which the Mississippi Choctaws have been able to become enrolled as citizens of the Choctaw-Chickasaw Nation who would not have been permitted to become enrolled had it not been for those acts? Mr. Bond. Yes; the time for removal Avas extended by the acts of 1000 and 1!)02, and proof waived as to fidl bloods by the latter act. The Chickasaws have by agreement with Congress waived cer- tain conditions; but those conditions were waived with express limi- tations, and those limitations have expired. For example, that pro- vision of the fourteenth article of the treaty which said "persons" fixed a limitation itself. A limitation was fixed upon the persons who were parties to that treaty. It was held by Judge Clayton that the Choctaw peo])le, continuing from year to year and from time to time to invite the heirs of those persons to come to the Choc- taw Nation, and continuing from time to time and from year to year to give the heirs of those persons citizenshij) rights, waited their 58 ENROLLMENT IX THE FIV^E CIVILIZED TKIBES. right to the limitation of persons, and so continued that waiver until it became crystallized into law. The Chickasaws made prac- tically the same waiver when they executed the agreement of 1902, which permitted the heirs of those persons to enjoy citizenshp, but there was an express limitation in said agreement. A definite time was fixed within which they could exercise the right of removal. But the Chickasaws never waived the provisions of the patent which said those claimants must live upon the land, and the Chickasaws never waived the provision of the fourteenth article which said that they must remove in order to be entitled to citizenship, but reaf- firmed the provision of that article in the act of 1902 which said that they must remove. Mr. INIiLLER. Then the position that j^ou really take is that the Chickasaws have waived the right in several instances in the past and they have not waived it in respect of anything Congress ma}^ in the future do? Mr. Bond. The Chickasaws have never waived anything that Con- gress may in the future do, and the Chickasaws have never waived in the past the provisions of the fourteenth article that they must re- move in order to be entitled to citizenship. They have never waived the second article of the treaty which said that they must live upon the land, and they have not waived the provision in the patent which said they must live upon the land in order to preserve the title. If you will remember, Congress in 1902 agreed that a provision should be carried into the Choctaw and Chickasaw patents, exempting their allotment selections from taxes for a period of 21 years, or during the lifetime of the allottee. Congress afterwards removed the restric- tion upon portions of the allotment selections of the Choctaws and Chickasaws, and in the same act provided that all lands on which the restriction on alienation had been removed should become taxable. The State of Oklahoma under that act attempted to tax said lands. The tax was contested and the State court held that Congress had power to remove the exemption and make them subject to taxation. The case was appealed to the Supreme Court of the United States, and the court held that the condition in the patent exempting them from taxation was an absolute right, and that Congress was without authority to abrogate same. Now, if there was a right conferred upon the Chickasaws in consideration of the moneys they paid for the lands west, under the patent and under the treaty of 1830, could Congress now at this time abrogate that right? Congress has the right of legislation. Congress can repeal a law, but Congress can not abrogate a right acquired under the law. I read from Two hundred and twenty-fourth United States, at page (565. Choate against Trapp, secretary of the State board of equalization of Oklahoma. I read from the opinion of the court : On May 27, 1908, Congress passed a general act removing restrictions from the sale ami encumbrance of land held by Indians of the class to which theplaiutifiEs belong. Another section provided that lands from which restrictions had been removed should be subject to taxation. Thereupon proceedings were instituted by the State of Oklahoma with a view of assessing the plaintiffs' land for taxes. This they sought to enjoin, but their complaint was dismissed on demurrer. The case was carried to the supreme court of the State which held * * * that the United States, by vlrture of its governmental power over the Indians, could have substituted title in severalty for ownership in common without plaintiffs' consent and that, ENROLLMENT IN THE FIVE CIVILIZED TRIBES. 59 for want of a consideration, tbe provision that the land should be nontaxable was not a contract, but a mere gratuity which could be withdrawn at will. The court thereupon overruled plaintiffs' contention that they had a vested right of exemption which prevented the State from taxing the land at this time and dismissed their suit. There are many cases, some of which are cited in the opinion of the Supreme Court of Oklahoma (Thomas v. Gay, 169 U. S., 271; Lone Wolf v. Hitchcock, 187 U. S., 565), recognizing that the plenary power of Congress over the Indian tribes and tribal property can not be limited by treaties so as to prevent repeal or amendment by a later statute. The tribes have been regarded as dependent nations, and treaties with them have been looked upon not as contracts, but as public laws which could be abrogated at the will of the United States. This sovereign and plenary power was exercised and retained in all the dealings and legislation under which the lands of the Choctaws and Chicka- saws were divided in severalty amoug the members of the tribes. For, although the Atoka agreement is in the form of a contract it is still an integral part of the Curtis Act, and, if not a treaty, is a public law relating to tribal prop- erty, and as such was amendable and repealable at the will of Congress. But there is a broad distinction between tribal property and private property, and between the power to abrogate a statute and the authority to destroy rights acquired under such law. But the exemption and nonalienability were two separate and distinct sub- jects. One conferred a right and the other imposed a limitation. * * * The right to remove the restriction was in pursuance of the power under which Congress could legislate as to the status of the ward and lengthen or shorten the period of disability. But the provision that the land should be nontaxable was a property right. * --^ *■ it: i): Hf If The patent issued in pursuance of those statutes gave the Indian as good a title to the exemption as it did to the land itself. ■« H' ^ ^ Hf :^ it: It is conceded that no right which was actually conferred on the Indians can be arbitrarily abrogated by statute. Mr. Richardson. Must not a distinction be drawn as to the right of a patentee to enforce a condition made for his own benefit and one which is made for the benefit of the United States? Now, as I understand the case you have read from, the condition was made in there for the benefit of the patentee that his land should be exempt from taxation. In the treaty and in the patent a condition was made that the Indians should live on the land, and if they failed to do that the lands should revert back to the United States. There was a condition of their remaining on the land and that was a condition for the benefit of the United States. Mr. Bond. No; I do not so take it. The fourteenth-article claim- ants under that treaty received an allotment of land of (MO acres for the head of the family and 320 acres for each member of the family over 10 years of age, and 160 acres for each member under 10 years of age. They accepted the benefit of that treaty. Then that treaty imposed a responsibility, the responsibility that if you want citizenship you must remove. They accepted the benefits under that treaty, and they must assiune the burdens. There was a bnrden placed there, the burden of removal, and when the Chickasaws ac- quired a right in that property they acquired it on the condition that no outsider, no citizen of the United States who had no right in that property without removal, should share in the fruits and benefits of it. Mr. Richardson. Then do you contend that the restriction of the patent that they should enjoy the property so long as they lived upon 60 ENROLLMENT IN THE FIVE CIVILIZED TEIBES, it and the condition in the treaty and in the act of May, 1830, vhicb all contained the same requirement, that they were provisions put in there for the benefit of the Indian against the outsider and not for the benefit of the nation to secure forfeiture if they did not live on the land. Mr. BoM>. 1 he Indians who remained received a handsome patri- mony or they were entitled to an handsome partimony. They were entitled to receive greater allotments per capita than the Indians were afterwards allotted in Oklahoma, and when those rights were conferred upon them thei'e were certain conditions and certain re- quirements imposed for the l;enefit of those who did remove. Those who removed got nothing. They received no allotment selection in the State of Mississippi and therefore they had the right conferred upon them to preclude the others who did not remove from sharing in the fruits of their labor. The patent, the second article of the treaty, and the fourteenth article of the treaty are identical in that respect, because they say that no one who does not live on those lands shall have any benefits from them. The fourteenth article of the treaty, in accordance w^ith the other provisions of the treaty and of the patent, says that you must remove in order to enjoy the benefits of Choctaw citizenship- Mr. Miller. As I understand you, you maintain that the Indiar who remained in Mississippi thereafter were not citizens of the Choc taw Nation West? Mr. Bond. Yes. Mr. Miller. Under what theory did the ChoctaAV Nation West maintain a suit against the Government for the Indians who re- mained in Mississippi? Mr. Bond. They brought and maintained the suit for the nation and for those who claimed under the fourteenth article as individual members, for damages done to those individuals under the fourteenth article of the treaty, and if you will read the opinion in One hundred and second United States, the Cherokee Nation case, you will find that the Cherokee Nation brought practically the same kind of a suit except that in the place of individuals they said " Bands." They made the bands of Eastern Cherokees, who had refused to remove, parties to this suit. The nation recovered under that treaty and the opinion of the court is found in One hvmdred and second United States. Mr. Miller. That is all very true as to the Cherokee proposition, but the Cherokee Nation was one nation and the Choctaw was an- other, and the rights of each depend on the facts governing each. Mr. Bond. The act of Congress giving the right to sue in the Court of Claims calls them individuals. It recognizes that they had been damaged under the treaty of 1830. It did not repeal the act of 1830 which said that they must remove, or the treaty which said that they must live upon the land. Furthermore, the Chicka- saws had nothing to do with that judgment- They were not parties to that suit. They were not a joint tribe at the time when the dam- age accrued, anfl the Chickasaws did not receive one penny of that judgment. If there had been a waiver in that case it could not have applied to a nation that was not a party to the suit and who received none of the benefits under that judgment. ENROLLMENT IN THE FIVE CIVILIZED TRIBES. 61 Mr. Miller. Have yon that Supreme Court case in which the net proceeds decision was rendered? Mr. BoxD. Yes. Mr. Miller. The truth is, I do not know what language was used and I want to see tlie decision for my own information. Mr. Bond. I will say that in that suit the question of citizenship was not in controversy. It was simply a question of damages un- der a former treaty, and I will say that the treaty between the Cherokee Tribes of Indians and the treaty betw^een the Choctaws and the United States were identical as to the title. The only different provision in the treaty was that '' persons who claimed under this article shall not lose the privilege of a Choctaw citi- zen, but if they ever remove they shall not be entitled to any por- tion of the Choctaw annuity." I would like to state to the com- mittee further that at the time this suit was brought practically all the individuals referred to in that case were then citizens of the Choctaw Xation. They had removed west and there were very few individuals remaining east at the time of the institution of the suit, if any. The fact that a person was a member of a tribe in 1830 and Avas damaged undei" the terms of a treaty then existing would not preclude such person from suing for damages done thereunder on renewal of citizenship thereafter. It has been asserted that the fourteenth-article claimants are wards of the Government. It is contended that the fourteenth-article claimants being wards of the Government they are entitled to the protection of the ( Jov- ernment. and that it was the duty of the Government to remove them over to the Choctaw Nation West. Xow I will show conclusively by decisions of the Supreme Court of the United States that the fourteenth-article claimants who re- mained and now live in the State of Mississippi are United States citizens and not Avards of the Government. The United States hold over an Indian subject a dual guardianship, a guardianship of the person and a guardianship of his property. The guardianship of the person is relinquished when the Indian is made a citizen of the United States and subjected to State laAvs. The guardianship of the property is relinquished when the restrictions are removed on the alienation of the same. When an Indian is once made a citizen of the United States the Government is Avithout authority to reassert its guardianship of the person, and Avhen the restrictions .ore removed on the alienation of the ]3roperty the United States is AAithout authority to reimpose restrictions. Therefore when the guardianship of the person is relinquished by making an Indian a citizen of the United States and making him subject to State laAvs and Avhen the guardianship of the proi)orty is relinquished by re- moving the restrictions upon the alienation of the same, the Gov- ernment has no authority whatever over such Indian no more than it Avould have over any other of its sul)jects. Mr. Ballinger. Since 1830 has the GoA-ernment ever exercised a guardianship over a person in the Choctaw Nation? Mr. Bond. I think the TTnited States exercised a personal guardianship over the ChoctaAv Indians until they were made citi- zens of the ITnited States. If it did not exercise iifc, it had the right to exercise it. 62 ENEOLLMENT IN THE FIVE CIVILIZED TRIBES. I recad from 197 United States, 488, entitled " Matter of Heff." I read from the syllabus. The rofd.iiuizpd relation between tlie Government and the Indians is that of a superior and an inferior, whereby the latter is placed under the care of the foruier. The Government, however, is under no constitutional obligation to continue tlic relationship of guardian and ward and may, at any time and in the manner that Congress shall determine, abandon the guardianship and leave the ward to assume and be subject to all the privileges and burdens of one sui .iuris. >}: ^ H: 4£ sji :}; He Under the act of February 8, 1SS7 (24 Stat., 3SS), an Indian who has received an allotment and patent for land is no longer a ward of the Government, but a citizen of the United States and of the State in which he resides, and, as such, is not within the reach of Indian police regulations on the part of Congress, and this emancii)ation from Federal control can not be set aside without the consent of the Indian or the State, nor is it affected by the provisions in the act subjecting the land allotted to conditions against alienation and encum- brance, and guaranteeing him an interest in tribal or other property. :{: 9^ 4: 4: ^- ^ 4: It is said that commerce with the Indian tribes includes commerce with the members thereof, and Congress, having power to regulate commerce between the white men and the Indians, continues to retain that power, although it has provided that the Indian shall have the benefit of and be subject to the civil and criminal laws of the State and shall be a citizen of the United States and therefore a citizen of the State. But the logic of this argument implies that the United States can never release itself from the obligation of guardianship; that so long as an individual is an Indian by descent. Congress, although it may have granted all the rights and privileges of national and therefore State citizenship, the benefits and burdeub of the laws of the State may at any time repudiate this action and reassume its guardianship, and prevent the Indian from enjoying the benefit of the laws of the State, and release him from obliga- tions of obedience thereto. Can it be that because one has Indian and only Indian blood in his veins he is to be forever one of a special class over whom the General Government may in its discretion assume the rights of guardian- ship which it has once abandoned, and this whether the State or the individual himself consents? We think the reach to which this argument goes demon- strates that it is unsound. Reading further from page 509 : The fact that property is held subject to a condition against alienation does not affect the civil or political status of the holder of the title. Reading further: But it is. unnecessary to pursue this discussion further. We are of the opinion that when the United States grants the privileges of citizenship to an Indian, gives to him the benefit of and requires him to be subject to the laws, both civil and criminal, of the State, it places hrtu outside the reach of police regula- tions on the part of Congress; that the emancipation from Federal control thus created can not be set aside at the instance of the Government without the consent of the individual Indian and the State; and that this emancipation from Federal control is not affected by the fact that the lands it has granted to the Indian are granted subject to a condition against alienation and encumbrance, or the further fact that it guarantees to him an interest in tribal or other property. The district court of Kansas did not have jurisdiction of the offense charged, and therefore the petitioner is entitled to his discharge from imprisonment. Now, I will read authorities to show you that when the restriction is removed on the alienation of the land that Congress no longer has a guardianship of the property of the Indian. I read from 171 Federal Reporter, at page 907, entitled " United States V. Allen." In this case the Government of the United States authorized the institution of a number of land suits in the State of Oklahoma, and ENEOLLMENT IN THE FIVE CIVILIZED TRIBES. 63 under the act of Congress approximately 30,000 land suits were brought in the United States court for the eastern district of Okla- homa. The lower court held that the United States was without jurisdiction; that the United States was without authority to main- tain those actions because the Indians of the Five Civilized Tribes had been made citizens of the United States. The trial court was reversed, because the trial court did not take into consideration that there was a dual guardianship, the guardianship of the person and of the property, and the circuit court of appeals, in reversing the trial court, held that the United States, under a specific act of Congress, had the authority to maintain those actions for the members of the Five Civilized Tribes, regardless of whether or not the restriction had been removed on the alienation of the property. Those cases were appealed to the Supreme Court of the United States and modi- fied and affirmed, the United States Supreme Court holding that the United States, even though under this specific act, was without authority to institute a suit for a member of the Five Civilized Tribes who had had the restrictions removed on the alienation of his allotment selection. I read from the syllabus of the case in the trial court: By act of March 3, 1901, amending section 6 of tlie general allotment act of February 8, 1887, and providing, inter alia, that "every Indian in the Indian Territory is hereby declared to be a citizen of the United States and is en- titled to all the rights, privileges, and immunities of such citizens," all mem- bers of either of the Five Civilized Tribes in such territory became and remain citizens, unaffected by the fact that by subsequent legislation their tribal ex- istence was continued to await the final disposition of the tribal property or that restrictions still exist on their power to alienate their lands after allotment in severalty ; and such being their political and civil status, with full power to maintain suits to protect their rights, the United States occupies no such rela- tionship of trust or guardianship toward them as entitles it to maintain in their behalf suits in its own name, to which they are not parties, to cancel convey- ances made by them of their allotted lands. I will now call your attention to the language of the court in One hundred and seventy-ninth Federal, at page 13, wherein the trial court was reversed : The provision of the act May 27, 1908, that " nothing in this act shall be construed as a denial of the I'ight of the United States to take such steps as may be necessary including the bringing of any suit * * * to acquire or retain possession of restricted Indian lands ***},-, cases where deeds, leases, or contracts * * * have been or shall be made contrary to law with respect to such lands prior to the removal therefrom of restrictions upon the alienation thereof, such suits to be brought on the recommendation of the Secretary of the Interior, without costs or charges to the allottees, the neces- sary expenses incurred in so doing to be defrayed from the money appropriated by this act" is more than a saving clause and when read in connection with the part of the section appropriating $50,000 to cover the expenses incurred in such litigation is an implied grant of power to maintain such suits and such power extends to suits relating to allotments which were freed from restrictions by section 1 of the act in respect to conveyances or contracts previously made. The circuit court of appeals thereby holding that this act con- ferred authority on the United States to bring suits for allottees even though the restrictions had been removed on the land. Mr. Ballixger. But the cause of action must have accrued prior to the time of the removal of the restrictions? Mr. Bond. It does not make any difference Avhether the cause of action accrued prior to the time of the removal of the restrictions; it depends on whether or not the land was restricted. 64 ENROLLMENT IN THE FIVE CIVILIZED TRIBES, A number of cases went to the Supreme Court of the United States, and I will call the committee's attention to a few of the causes that were appealed. I will call your attention first to a case reported in 224 United States, at page 458, entitled " Goat v. United States." Heckmaii v. United States, ante, page 413, followed to effect that the United States has ciipacity to maintain a suit in equity to set aside conveyances of allotted lands made by allottee Indians in violations of statutory restrictions. The question in this case is: What are the restrictions in the'case of allot- ments to Seminole freedmen? The relations of the United States to Seminole freedmen by treaties and statutes reviewed, and held that the United States is entitled to maintain an action to set aside all conveyances made by Seminole freedmen of homestead lands, of surplus lands made by minor allottees, and by adult allottees if made prior to April 21, 1904 ; but that such an action can not be maintained as to con- veyances made by adult allottees after April 21, 1904. The restrictions were removed on the alienation of freedmen allottees in the Seminole Nation in April, 1914, One hundred and seventy-ninth Federal Reporter. 13, modified and affirmed as to this point. That is to say, it was modified so as not to include the land on which restrictions were removed, and affirmed with that modification. Now, I will read to the committee from the same report, at page 448, entitled Mullen v. United States : The relations of the United States and the Choctaw Indians by treaties and statutes in regard to the allotment of lands and the restriction of alienation re- viewed, and held that where a person whose name appeared upon the rolls of the Choctaw Indians died after the r.itification of the agreement of distribu- tion and before receiving the allotment, there was no provision for restriction, but the land passed at once to his heirs : in such cases the United States can not maintain an action to set aside conveyances made by the heirs within the period of restriction applicable to homestead allotments made to members of the tribe during life. One liunilred and seventy-ninth Federal Reporter, 13, reversed as to this point. I M'ill sa^^ that the case reported in One hundred and seventy-ninth Federal, at page 13. was also reversed as to that point in cases re- ported in this volume at pages 471 and 413. The case of Bartlett et al. v. United States, reported in 203 Fed- eral Reporter, holds : It is not within the power of Congress to impose restrictions on the aliena- tion of land allotted to an Indian after the restrictions imposed by prior laws have expired. The guardianship of the person of the fourteenth article claimants was relinquished when they were made citizens of Mississippi and subject to the hiAvs of that State. The guardianship of the property of said claimants was relinquished when they were granted land without restriction on alienation. The relation of guardian and ward no longer exists between the United States and such claimants, and Congress is without power to com])el their removal and without authority to force a compliance vith the treaty. Encomium after encomium has been passed upon the Choctaws, both in the House and in the Senate, and also in the committee hear- ings, but I have been unable to find a single word of praise that has ever been said in behalf of the Chickasaws? I desire now to call your attention to a historical epitome of honor, of manhood, of hardihood, of courage, of bravery, and of endurance ENROLLMENT IN THE FIVE CIVILIZED TRIBES. 65 that will stir the heart of every Chickasaw. Pickett's History of Alabama, at page 298, reads: The Cliickasaws have never been conquered. They could not be defeated by De Soto with his Spanish army in 1541 ; by Bienville with his French and southern Indians in 1736; by D'Artaguette with his French army and northern Indians; by the Marquis De Vaudreuil with his French troops and Choctaws in 1752 ; nor by the Creeks, Cherokees, Kickapoos, Shawnees, and Choctaws who continually waged war against them. No ; they were the " bravest of the brave," and even when they had emigrated to the Territory of Arkansas, not many years ago, they soon subdued some tribes who attacked them in that quarter. I read from Cushman's History of the Choctaws and Chickasaws, at page 421 : As it is the Choctaws' boast, "They never In war shed an American's blood." so it is the Chickasaw boast, " They never in war shed a white man's blood of English descent." I read on: But Bienville, still chafing like an enraged bear under the mortification of his defeat by the brave and patriotic Chickasaws, which but increased his desire and determination to destroy them and blot out their very name, devoted the year 1739 to preparation for another exterminating invasion into the country of that seemiirgly indomitable people, and as :in intidductoiy step to the more successful accomplishment and full realization of his designs he sent an embassy in March, 1739, to the Choctaws to conciliate their good will and obtain their aid. And, strange as it may appear, Bienville secured 32 villages out of 42 to the interests of the French. Bienville was greatly pleased, as with the assistance of the entire Choctaw Nation his long-cherished hopes of exterminating the Chickasaws would now be fully realized. But to make his second attack upon them a sure and com- plete sucess, without the possibility of failure, he adopted every measure possible that might strengthen his plans; therefore called into requisition all the available troops he could command not only in Illinois and Canada, but even obtained troops from France; and still, to be more sure, he chose a different route from that by way of the Tombigbee River to again invade the country of that little nation of heroes for the avowed purpose of their extermination. To the honor and praise of the Chickasaw people, it may truly be said: They fought single-handed and alone for 18 years against the French and their numerous Indian allies, kept them out of tlaeir country and maintained their independence to the last. Truly, history nowhere upon its pages, ancient or modern, records a nobler or braver little nation of people than the Chickasaws of North America. They defeated D'Artaguette and Bienville in 173G; Marquis of Vaudreuil in 1752, and Regio in 1753; and in 1771 sustained their authority over an extensive country, embracing the territory from middle Mississippi north to the mouth of the Ohio River, and from the Tombigbee River west to the Yazoo. It has been said that the Choctaws fought under Jackson at the battle of New Orleans. You will find on page 483 a commission issued by George Washington to the chief of the Chickasaws making him a captain of his militia. I read from page 522 : When the United States h:jd resolved to gobble up the Chickasaw country also, as they had the Choctaws' two years before, John Coffee was sent to the Chickasaw Nation to order Ben Reynolds (the Chickasaw agent) to imme- diately assemble the chiefs and warriors in council to effect a treaty with them. Three treaties (or rather articles) were drawn up, but were promptly re- .iected by the watchful and discerning Chickasaws. Then the fourth was written by the persistent Coffee; but with the following clau.se in.serted to catch the noble and influential chief, the incorruptible Levi Colbert, which read as follows : " We hereby agree to give our beloved chief, Levi Colbert, in consideration of his .services and expense of entertaining the guests of the nation, 15 sections of land in any part of the country he may select." 80223—15 5 66 ENROLLMENT IN THE FIVE CIVILIZED TRIBES. " Stop ! Stop ! John Coffee." shouted the justly indignant chief in a voice of thunder, " I am no more entitled to tliose 15 sections of land than the poorest Chickasaw in the nation. I scorn your infnnious offer, clothed under the false hood of ' our beloved chief,' and will not accept it, sir." It is a historical fact that when the Chickasavrs purchased an in- terest in the ChoctaAv Nation West they were placed on a scope of country immediately adjacent to the plains Indian or the wild tribes. They stood on the very frontier and beat back and fought off the hostile raids and encroachments of the warlike Comanche, Kiowas, and Apache. They stood on the very threshold of danger and stayed the hand of the aggressive Cheyenne and brave Arapahoe. They did all this for the Choctaw tribe. They stood between the Choctaw Nation and danger. They purchased their rights for a valuable con- sideration. Could a bona fide purchaser have made a greater sac- rifice ? Now, gentlemen of the committe, is it your object and purpose to grant enrollment to the Mississippi Choctaw who did not have the courage, who did not have the heart, who did not have the nerve to face a wilderness and hostile tribes, and permit him to share in the benefits of a bona fide purchaser for value?. Are you going to do that, gentlemen ? Are you going to require the Chickasaws to answer for the debts, defaults, and miscarriages of the Choctaws, if there be any ? Do you believe the courts will exact it ? Do you believe justice demands it? In conclusion let me state that in 1820 the Choctaw Tribe of In- dians had a population of approximately 19,000 residing in the State of Mississippi and owning approximately 14,000,000 acres of land, 4,000,000 acres of land were ceded to the United States for their lands west. Ten million acres were left in the State of Mississippi. Out of the 10,000,000 acres the claimants under the fourteenth arti- cle of the treaty were entitled to allotments and those allotments were of greater acreage than the recent allotments in the Choctaw and Chicksaw Nations. Those who went west went to preserve the title to the land that only 4,000,000 acres had been exchanged for, were armed in part w4th a bow and a quiver of arrows; were armed in part with a rifle, a bullet mold and a shot pouch. They were poorly clad and scantily provisioned. The entire path of their emigration is marked by the tombstones of their fallen. They made this sacrifice to preserve the title to the land west, and after privation, hardship, and endurance they conquered a wilderness, builded homes, estab- lished a form of government, and then invited their Choctaw brothers, who had remained east, who had received lands, moneys, and script to come and share what the}^ had preserved west; to come and enjoy the fruits of their sacrifices. From 3'ear to year they appropriated moneys in order that the Choctaws east might remove west; from year to year they pleaded with and entreated the Choctaws who had remained east to come west and enjoy the property they had preserved by their efforts. When Congress, in 1908, closed the rolls to applicants of their own people, they held them open for the Choctaws who remained east; in 1900 they held the rolls open for applicants who had remained east; in 1902 they held the rolls open for those who had remained east ; in 1902 they made a waiver as to proof for those who did not have the manhood and the courage to come west. Can you show me ENROLLMENT IN THE FIVE CIVILIZED TRIBES. 67 anywhere a finer example of generosity and philanthrophy? Can you show me anywhere a finer example of self-sacrifice by a tribe or by a nation ? Now, what has the United States Government done for the Choctaw Tribe? Congress promised the Choctaw Nation in 1830 that no one should have title to their land west, preserved through trials and hardships, unless they lived upon it; Congress promised the Choctaw Tribe in 1830 that no one who refused to remove and assume the burdens of Choctaw citizenship and the re- sponsibilities of Choctaw government should be entitled to share in their lands west. In 1896, when the Choctaw government sur- rendered the right to make its own rolls. Congress promised the Choctaw Tribe that the rolls would be made in accordance with its treaties, laws, usages, and customs. Congress promised the Choctaw Nation in 1908, when it surrendered its institutions and its tribal form of government, which it had passionately clung to through patriotism and national pride, that the rolls, when approved by the Secretary of the Interior should be final, and the persons whose names appear thereon and their descendants thereafter born should alone constitute the tribe. In 1902, when the Choctaw Nation made additional concessions. Congress agreed that no person whose name did not appear upon the rolls as therein provided should be entitled to in any manner participate in the distribution of the common property of the tribe; that it would keep inviolate the treaties and would not permit anyone to share in tribal funds or tribal moneys except those whose names appeared upon the rolls. The Choctaw Nation has never broken faith with the United States Government; the Choctaw Nation has never violated a treaty with the United States Government; the Choctaw Nation has never breached an act of the Congress. Will the United States Government now keep faith with the Choctaw Nation ? Gentlemen of the committee, I am a Chickasaw by blood. My em- ployment was without solicitation or effort on my part. My pro rata share of the residue of the Chickasaw estate will little more than exceed my monthly salary as attorney for the tribe, but I would be pleased to-day if the entire affairs of both tribes could be settled and forever closed, that I might go home to my law practice, feeling that I had rendered some assistance to the committee and some serv- ice to my tribe. I am indebted to the members of the committee for many courte- sies. I appreciate the time and attention devoted by you to the in- terests of my tribe. I have implicit confidence in your judgment, and I feel assured that your report will be in accord with our laws, agreements, and treaties. o Part Nine REPORT ON H. R. 12586. January 2, 1915. Hon. John H. Stephens, Chairman House Committee on Indian Affairs^ Washington^ B.C. Sir : Your subcommittee appointed to investigate and report on H. R. 12586 begs leave to submit the following observations : A careful and painstaking investigation of all treaties, laws, and other records bearing on this claim, including hearings lasting from April 1, 1914, until August 27, 1914, was gone into by your com- mittee. H. R. 12586 directs : 1. The Secretary of the Interior to enroll certain Mississippi Choc- taws upon the rolls of the Choctaw Nation in Oklahoma with a full participation in their tribal estate. 2. To reopen the Choctaw rolls for the adjudication of 20,000 or more alleged claimants. There are some Choctaws still remaining in Mississippi who have persistently refused and successfully resisted all efforts of the Fed- eral Government and the Choctaw Nation to have them move west and affiliate with the tribe. The testimony before the subcommittee discloses many thousands of persons of doubtful descent, African and other, living in Missis- sippi and surrounding States, who have attempted to assert claims as Choctaw Indians. Such Indians of real Choctaw blood as still reside in Mississippi appear to take little interest in the claims asserted by their alleged attorneys. On the other hand, those claiming remote Indian blood and of doubtful descent have manifested much interest in being enrolled and sharing in a division of the Choctaw funds in Oklahoma. The contention of these latter seems to have been inspired and augmented by certain attorneys who have sent agents among these people advising them that they were Indians and taking contracts for their enrollment for a contingent fee of from 30 to 40 per cent of recovery, and in many instances a small cash retainer in addition. According to statements and admissions of these attorneys and their agents, two firms alone, those of Cantwell & Crews, of St. Louis, Mo., and Ballinger & Lee, of Washington City, D. C, and Ardmore. Okla., hold contracts with 15,596 individuals, carrying provisions for fees aggregating $10,882,815. The testimony further shows that a syndicate for the purpose of securing the enrollment of Mississippi Choctaws and a participation in the tribal estate of the western Choctaws has been formed under 141 142 ENROLLMENT IN THE FIVE CIVILIZED TEIBES. the name "The Texas-Oklahoma Investment Co.," capitalized at $100,000, $25,000 of which has been paid in and used. The directors of this corporation are S. L. Hurlbut, of El Campo, Tex. ; H. Master- son and W. A. Smith, of Houston, Tex. ; and T. B. Crews and H. J. Cantwell, of St. Louis, Mo. This claim of the Mississippi Choctaw attorneys for enrollment of their clients and participation in the Choctaw Nation's estate is by no means a new contention. The claim was, under direction of law, fully adjudicated by the Commission to the Five Civilized Tribes (House boc. 274, 55th Cong., 2d sess.) and afterwards by the Federal court, to which appeal was taken (Jack Amos et al. v. The Choctaw Nation, Decisions of United States courts in Indian Territory, 465), both decisions being adverse to the Mississippi Choctaw contention for enrollment. In rejecting the claim of nonresident Mississippi Choctaws the Commission to the Five Civilized Tribes said in part : This historical review of the acquisition of this territory by the Choctaw Nation and Its subsequent legal relations to it makes it clear in the opinion of this commission that the Mississippi Choctaws are not under their treaties en- titled to all rights of Choctaw citizenship except an interest in the Choctaw annuities and still continue their residence and citizenship in Mississippi. (House Doc. 274, 55th Cong., 2d sess.) In affirming the decision the United States District Court for the Central District of Indian Territory closed its decision with the fol- lowing paragraph : To permit men with, perchance, but a strain of Choctaw blood in their veins, who, 65 years ago, broke away from their kindred and their uatioQ, and during that time, or the most of it, have been exercising the rights of citizenship and doing homage to the sovereignty of another nation, and have become strangers to the people, to reach forth their hands from their distant and alien homes a ad lay hold on a part of the public domain, the common property of the people, and appropriate to their own use, would be unjust and inequitable. It is therefore the opinion of the court that the absent Mississippi Choctaws are not entitled to be enrolled as citizens of the Choctaw Nation. The action of the Dawe.s Commission is therefore aflJi-med and a decree will be entered for the Choctaw Nation. (Jack Amos et al. v. the Choctaw Nation, Decisions of United States courts in Indian Territory, 465.) An appeal was taken from these decisions by the attorneys for the Mi.'^sissippi Choctaws to the Supreme Court of the United States and the Jack Amos case was dismissed upon motion of the attorneys for the Mississippi Choctaws (190 U. S., 873). Several years subsequent to the date of these decisions excluding the Mississippi Choctaws from enrollment this matter was again taken up and readjusted by the legally constituted authorities of the Federal Government and the Choctaw and Chickasaw Nations in Okhthoma, by which agreement the Mississippi Clioctaws were given additional time for identification and establishment of bona fide residence in the Choctaw Nation in Indian Territory. (Supple- mental agreement, "An act to ratify and affirm the agreement with the Choctaw and Chickasaw Tribes of Indians, etc.," approved Julv 1, 1902.) The Choctaw Nation in Oklahoma has dealt justly and liberally with the Mississippi Choctaws, always granting them full citizenship in their nation with all emoluments thereto whenever they would agree to affiliate with the tribe, and the Choctaw Nation in Okla- ENROLLMENT IN THE FIVE CIVILIZED TRIBES. 143 homa is under no legal, equitable, or moral obligation to enroll the Mississippi Choctaws as citizens of the tribe in the West at this time. By the agreements negotiated between the Federal Government and the Choctaw Nation all native western Choctaws were recjuired to be on the reservation by June 28, 1898, or stand debarred from enrollment and participation in the tribal estate forever thereafter, and this rule has been strictly adhered to. The time for establishment of residence on the reservation was extended to the Mississippi Choctaw claimants until July 1, 1903, giving the Mississippi Choctaws five years to move on the reserva- tion after the time for establishment of such residence had been closed to the native Choctaws. After 11 years were consumed by the Commission to the Five Civilized Tribes in making up the rolls of the Choctaw and Chicka- saw Nations such rolls were affirmatively closed by action of Con- gress on March 4, 1907. The rolls of the Choctaw Nation were held open to the Mississippi Choctaws from 1830 until March 4, 1907, giving the Mississippi Choctaws 77 years in which to complete enrollment with full benefits of citizenship. The Federal Government as such is neither legally nor equitably obligated to enroll Mississippi Choctaws with the Choctaws west, and is under only such moral obligation to the Mississippi Choctaws as is due to dependent North American Indians who were originally occupants and owners of the soil and who have been deprived of their patrimony by white settlers. The passage of H. R. 12586 would completely upset and undo 11 years of careful, painstaking work of the Interior Department in settling the affairs of the Five Civilized Tribes, turn the wheels of progress backwards for more than 20 years, and, as has been said by President Taft, " open up a Pandora's box of troubles, which the life of the present generation might not see closed." The passage of H. R. 12586 would doubtless result in stupendous claims of millions of dollars against the Federal Government on the part of the Oklahoma Choctaws because of a division of their funds among persons whom the Federal commissions and Federal courts have decided were not entitled thereto. Its passage would lend encouragement to grafting attorneys with contracts for enormous attorneys' fees, running into millions of dollars, and hold out inducement for procuring additional contracts from spurious claimants. Youi' subcommittee therefore recommends that the Harrison bill (II. R. 12586) be not favorably reported by the House Committee on Indian Affairs. Respectfully submitted. C. D. Carter, Chairman. J. D. Post. RoBT. P. Hill. P. P. Campbell. Part Ten REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR ON THE HARRISON BILL (H. R. 12586). The Secretary of the Interior, Washington, January 8, 1916. My Dear Mr. Stephens : I have the honor to refer herein to a com- munication of August 12, 1914, from Hon. C. D. Carter, then acting chairman of th*^ Committee on Indian Affairs of the House of Repre- sentatives, with which was inclosed a copy of H. R. 12586, entitled "A bill to reopen the rolls of the Choctaw-Chickasav,' Tribe and to provide for the awarding of the rights secured to certain persons by the fourteenth article of the treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek, of date September 27, 1830." He also referred to H. R. 4536 and requested that I consider the two bills together and make a report thereon. Upon examination of H. R. 4536, I find that said bill is identical with H. R. 19213, introduced by Mr. Harrison of Mississippi in the Sixty-second Congress, second session, upon which last-mentioned bill the department submitted to your committee a report dated July 2, 1912. H. R. 12586, introduced in the present Congress by Mr. Harrison, is a similar bill to the above-mentioned bills except that in said H. R. 12586 an additional paragraph is included in section 2 to provide for the enrollment of all persons who were identified as Mis- sissippi Choctaws by the Dawes Commission in its report of March 10, 1899, commonly known as the McKennon roll, and of all persons identified as Mississippi Choctaws by the Dawes Commission from March 10, 1899, to March 4, 1907, whose identification was approved by the Secretary of the Interior but whose names did not appear on the final citizenship rolls of the Choctaw and Chickasaw Nations. The claims of Mississippi Choctaw Indians to recognition as citizens of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma and to share in the property of said Nation are based upon article 14 of the treaty of September 27, 1830. (7 Stat. L., 335.) Pursuant to the terms of the treaty, a large number of Choctaws were transferred from Mississippi to the country west, later known as Indian Territory. These Choc- taws who 80 removed and their descendants now constitute the main body of what is known as the Choctaw Nation. There were, however, a considerable number of Choctaws who remained behind in Mississippi, some of them under the provisions of article 14 above mentioned. Said article 14 provided that the persons who claimed thereunder shouhl not lose the privilege of a Choctaw citizen, but if they ever removed were not to be entitled to any part of the Choctaw annuity. The Indians who remained behind under the provisions of said article 14 received either land in Mississippi or scrip, which gave the appli- cants the right to enter pubUc lands in certain Southern States. A 75741—15 part of said scrip, however, was later commuted by a money payment. Some of the fourteenth-article claimants later made their way west and joined the main body of the tribe in the Indian Territory. The Choctaw Council by various acts recognized the right of said absentee Mississippi Choctaws to remove to the nation, and actually invited them to do so. : Under the provisions of the Atoka agreement with the Choctaw and Chickasaw Tribes contained in the act of Congress of June 28, 1898 (30 Stat. L., 495), the supplemental agreement contained in the act of July 1, 1902 (.32 Stat. L., 641), and later acts of Congress for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of said agreements, the claims of individual Mississippi Choctaw Indians to be identified and to be enrolled as entitled to share in the property of the Choctaw Nation were ful'y considered by the Commission to the Five Civilized Tribes and by the department after full hearing, at which the claim- ants had ample opportunity to present all the evidence whicli they could procure in support of their claims. Very few claimants were able to prove descent from an ancestor who received or applied for benefits under the provisions of article 14 of the treaty of 1830. The history of the Dawes Commission enrollment work relative to Mississippi Choctaw claimants is very fully set out in a communi- cation of April 14, 1914, from William O. Be; 11, at one time secretary of the commission to the Five Civilized Tribes. A copy thereof is inclosed for your information. For your further information as to the history of the Mississippi Choctaw claims and of the department action in the preparation of the final rolls there is inclosed a copy of department letter of July 2, 1912, to the chairman of the Committee on Indian Affairs of the House of Representatives. Judge William H. H. Clayton in his decision in the case of Jack Amos V. The Choctaw Nation, a copy of which may be found in the appendix of the -annual report of the Commission to the Five Civilized Tribes for the fiscal year ended Juno ,30, 1901, said that no treaty or acts of theX^hoetaw Council or of any officer of the Choctaw Council since the treatyof 18.'^0 could be cited, or at least he had not found them, whereby any right- or privilege had been conferred, granted, or recognized i^ or to a Mississippi Choctaw so long as ho remained away from his ; people, and that no right was recognized or conferred upon -Buch ai^oixt- Indian except upon the condition that ho should remove to. t^hanfition, and the right was not to be consummated or enjoyed until act\ial removal. Mississippi. ,-Cho.c'iaw. Indians who, while the opportunity was theirs under the ^privileges accorded them, refused to en^grate with the tril)et;e..tiket iiiew ^country west, and who never shared in the bur- dens and hgfrdsbips of the pioneer life incident to the establishment of the new trilal government west of the Mississippi, have at this late date (noyc:. that the tribal property of the Choctaw Nation made valuable- by the emigrants is being divided per capita among the enrolled rw;i>gui;T^vt : to: the persons who were identified by the Dawes CommissiPTL.asiMi^issippi Choctaws under the provisions of the act of Congress of June 28, 1898 (30 Stat. L., 495), but who- failed to remove and make settlement in the Choctaw-Chickasaw country, as required by the act of Congress of July 1, 1902 (32 Stat. L,, 641, sees. 41, 42, 43, and 44), it may be said that, irrespective of their unfortunate condition of poverty and ignorance, there is no ground, legal or equitable, for holding the Choctaw and Chickasaw Nations responsible for the failure of said identified persons to comply with the law as to removal and settlement. No obligation rested upon the United States to provide ineans for the removal of such Indians. Referring to the class of claimants whose names were contained in an identification roll submitted by the Commission to the Five Civilized Tribes on March 10, 1899, but never approved by the Secre- tary of the Interior, your attention is invited to the fact that the commission soon recognized the inaccuracy and incompleteness of that roll and requested the department to disregard it and to return the same to the commission. In order that there might be no doubt as to the standing of said roll, it was disapproved by the department on March 1, 1907. The larger part of the persons whose names were contained on that disapproved roll, were afterwards placed on the approved identification rolls, and those who compUed with the law as to removal and settlement were enrolled on the final rolls of Mississippi Choctaw Indians. In the investigation and examination of Mississippi Choctaw claims made in 1900 and the years following by the Commission to the Five Civilized Tribes every effort that was possible to be made was made by said commission to reach all persons who had any equitable claim to recognition as Mississippi Clioctaws, and especially to find those who were full-blood Choctaw Indians. H. R. 4536 and 125S6 in effect provide, so far as the Mississippi Choctaw claimants are concerned, a general reopening of the rolls of the Choctaw Nation, necessitating a review of all the cases which had been adversely decided by the United States courts, the Department of the Interior, and the Choctaw and Cliickasaw Citizenship Court, as well as the consideration of claims not lieretofore presented or con- sidered, and empower the Secretary of the Interior to determine the rights of the claimants upon such evidence as may be produced by the applicants, without regard to any adverse judgment or decision heretofore rendered by an\ court or commission to the Five Civilized Tribes, or the Department of the Interior, and without regard to any condition or disability heretofore imposed by any act of Congress. The records of the department show that Mississippi Choctaw claimants have been to an unusual extent the victims of numerous extortionate contracts, and the correspondence in many cases indi- cates that contracts were obtained through misrepresentations as to the facts, and in some cases that such contracts were obtained from claimants who believerl that the persons obtaining the contracts were (lovernment agents. Your attention i^ inv^ited to the report of Inspector McLaughlin, of this department, which report appears in print m tlie Congressional Record of July 10, 1914, commencing on page 1,3022. Referring to section of said bills, I am of the opinion that, in view of the large amount of tribal property yet to be disposed of and of other matters affecting the tribes, it would be inadvisable to abolish '4^ the tribal organization of the Choctaw and Chickasaw Nations at the present time. In view of the facts as presented to me, I am of the opinion that no legislation should be enacted for the reopening of the rolls of the Chotcaw Nation for the benefit of the Mississippi Choctaw claimants. Very truly, yours, Franklin K. Lane. Hon. John H. Stephens, Chairman Committee on Indian Affairs, House of Representatives. WASHINGTON I GOTKBNUBNT PBINTINO OITICS : IMS Part Eleven I * I INDIAN APPROPRIATION BILL HEARINGS BEFORE THE COMMITTEE ON INDIAN AFFAIRS OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES PAKT 4 WASHINGTON GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE ISM COMMITTEE ON INDIAN AFFAIRS. Sixty-Fourth Congress. John H. Stephens, Charles D. Carter, Oklahoma. Thomas F. Konop, Wisconsin. Carl Hayden, Arizona. Lewis L. Morgan, Louisiana. WiLLUM H. Murray, Oklahoma. Denver S. Church, California. Charles M. Stedman, North Carolina. WiLLUM J. Sears, Florida. C.[C. Bill, Washington. John N. TttLMAN, Arkansas. Harry L. GanDy, South Dakota. Chairman, Texas. Phtlip p. Campbell, Kansas. Patrick D. Norton, North Dakota. Samuel H. Miller, Pennsjlvania. Stephen Wallace Dempsey, New York. Homer P. Snyder, New York. Royal C. Johnson, South Dakota. Franklin F. Ellsworth, Minnesota. Benigno C. Hernandez, New Mexico. James Wickersham, Alaska. James V. Townsend, Clerk. Paul N. Humphrey, Assistant Clerk. INDIAN APPROPRIATION BILL, 1917. STATEMENT OF HON. SCOTT FEEEIS, A REPEESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS FROM THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA. Mr. Ferris. Mr. Chairman and gentlemen of the committee, I have been sick in bed for two daj's v. ith the grippe and shall not try to speak very loud and will not continue very long. I wish to apologize to you, Mr. Cliairman, and to the committee for the consumption of so much time on Oklahoma matters, but in the height of good humor I must say that in this instance it is of the chooshig of the gentleman from Mississippi rather than ourselves. He comes here and attacks a provision in this bill which is trying to carry out two solemn treaties made with the Oklahoma Indians for the payment to them of their own money. Now, might I for a moment, gentlemen, say one word regarding the historical phase of this matter so that we may get started off clearly. Ninety-six years ago all of the Choctaw Indians, approximately 19,000 in number, lived in the State of Mississippi. The treaty of 1820 was made to bring about their removal. It was entered into, signed up, and in all things agreed to. Under that immediately 15,000 of the approximately 19,000 Choctaws removed to Oklahoma in obedience to the treaty and in obedience to the wishes of the Gov- ernment. They acted as wards of the Government, with the Govern- ment as the supervisor. Approximately 4,000 of the 19,000 remained in Mississippi. In IS-'iO Congress made an additional treaty with these Indians, still seeking to get them to remove to Oklahoma with their brethren, and in that treaty they put in the fourteenth article of the treaty which is the sole and only claun that tiie Mississippiiins have ever made to any rights for those who remained in Mississip])i. Let me read it : AitT. 14. Each Choctaw head of a family being desirous to remain and become a citizen of the States shall be permitted to do so by signifying his intention to the agent within six months from the ratification of this treaty, and he or she shall there- upon be entitled to a reservation of one section of (ilO acres of land, to be bounded l)y section lines of survey; in like manner shall be entitled to one-half that quantity for each unmarried child which is living with him over 10 years of age and a quarter section to such child as may be under 10 years of age, to adjoin the location of the parent. If they reside on said lands intending to become citizens of the States for five years after the ratification of this treaty, in such case a grant in fee simple shall issue; said reservation shall inchuh; the present improvement of the head of the family or a portion of it. Persons who claim luider this article shall not lose the privilege of a Clioctaw citizen, but if they ever remove are not to be entitled to any portion of the Choctaw annuity. Now the last two lines of Article XIV is the sole tiling upon which the Mississippians base tlieir claim. There can be no otner claim. They do not assert any other claim. It is all there is to it, so let us pass to that one proposition. 4 INDIAN APPEOPEIATION BILL, 191*7. Between the passage of this treaty of 1830 and 1855, 8,400 of these 4,000 that remain(>(l went to Okhxhoma, were enrolled, and m all things became nienil)ers of the Oklahoma band of Indians, leaving approximately 700 behind. These 700 Indians had the right to go ttnd take a section for every head of a family; to take a half sec- tion for every child over 10 years of age; to take a quarter section for every child under 10 years of age. I hold before you a complete list of Indian names of 143 families, taken from roUs of the Indian Office — it was then under the War Department. There are the names of 143 families who took their patent and deed just exact ly as Con- gress intended them to. Mr. (Barter. That was the heads of families, the heads of families and children, too? How many does it include all told? Mr. Ferris. Only 143 heads of families, but there are some others in addition. I present them to the committee so there can be no mistake about who they are, what they are, and that they actually received it. List nf Mississippi Choctaw Indians to whom patents were issued for land under the pro- visions of art. U of the treaty of Sept. 27, 18-30 (7 Stat. L., 3S3-3S5). Patentee. Date of patent. Remarks. Ab-be-ho-kah Afa-ma-tubbe Agnes Ah-be-nah-tubbe Ah-chee-non-tubbe. . Ah-clmk-mah-tiibbe. Ak-kah-po-tubbo Ah-la-mo-tubbe Ah-no-sa-cubbe Ah-num-po-lah Ah-to-nee Ah-to-ble-cha Ah-took-lah-ho-nah. . Ah-pa-sah-too-nah Ah-woon-te-nah Ah-wan-to-nah Al-la-tah-ho-yo Amah Anolah A-nok-ae-tubbe. . Anthle-Honah Asholata , Aira-ah-c'ho-mah . Aun-to-tubbe. . .. Bah-ne-tubbe Beams, Betsey... Bell, Robert Bo-le-ho-nah , Brashears, Alexander . Brashears, Delilah Brashears, Rachel , Brashears, Zadock (commonly called Zadock, jr.). Bryant, Louis , Buchanan, Charles , Buckles, Betsy By-ana ". Cah-mul-le ■. , Carney . Jeremiah Cha-fa-no-na Chanahajo (alias Oake Chanahajo) Cha-tamboe Che-caw (or Che-caugh) Che-mah-yo-ka Chuck-po-tubbe Christie, William Jan. 13, 1846 Sept. 3,1846 Sept. 9,1846 Jan. 20,1846 Sept. 7,1846 Aug. 18,1846 ....do Dec. 4, 1845 14,1846 24. 1845 4,1845 5, 1846 Sept. 4,1846 Sept. 7,1846 Dec. 24,1845 30. 1846 13, 1846 3, 1846 4, 1857 Oct. Dec. Dee. Jan. Mar. Jan. Sept. Feb. Nov. 3, 1837 Sept. 4,1846 Sept. 3,1846 Oct. 14,1846 Dec. 24,1845 Aug. 18,1846 Nov. 23, 1846 Dec. 14,1846 Jan. 5, 1846 Sept. 17,1841 Dec. 8, 1842 June 21,1841 Mar. 29,1842 Jan. 29, 1S40 Aug. 20,1841 Feb. 17,1838 Feb. 3,1847 13, 1846 13, 1848 3, 1846 14, 1846 9, 1846 5, 1846 ....do Dec. 28,1846 Sept. 21, 1841 Jan. Apr. Sept. Dec. Sept. Jan. And 2 children over 10 years of age and 3 children under 10 years of age at date of treaty. In hor own right and to "Vicey," her child over 10 years of age, and to "Amy" and "Kitty," her children under 10 years of age at date of the treaty. In hor own right and for her 3 children over 10 and hor 3 children under 10 years of age at date of the treaty. INDIAN APPROPEIATION BILL, 191*7. List of Mississippi Choctaw Indians to whom patents were issued for land under the pro- visions of art. U of the treaty of Sept. 27, 1830 (7 Stat. L., 33S-3S5)— Continued. Patentee. Cobb, Samuel Con-ohi-hee-tubbe Con-na-ho-te-mah Coon-oou-tah-te-mah . Cun-e-mah-tubbe Ciin-oon-tam-be Daniel Durant, P'isher Durant, Pierre Durant, Risseze E-ah-pil-lah Eahambee Eahoo-ka-chubbee. . . Eha-hah-tomah Eia Ela-ba-tubbe Do Elah-chubbe Ela-pahoka Ela-nam-tubbee Eli-o-tubbe I-^liza E mah-ho-to-nah Emanoatona E-me-sha E-minta-ham-be E-mok-lam-be E-muck-a-to-na Ey-ya-tubbe E-ya-la-ko-noh Falissa Feb-e-mah-ho-nah. Fe-le-ka-chubbe. . . Foster, William. .. Garvin, Henry Garwin, Benjamin W. Graham, Susan or Susaima. Ha-cubbe Ila-la Hall, William Hancock, Caroline D Hancock, Tubal B Hancock, Mary M Hancock, William M , Hardaway, Hartwell Harris Heccatambe , He-o-te-mah Hin-o-la Hi-a-tubbee Uoecalahoma Ho-ka Hok-la-homa Kok-o-lo-chubbe Homer,. John Hotaiahhona irotah Ho-ta-mah Ho-te-mah-lah llo-te-mah Ilo-te-nah-cbiibbe " Uotiah, Abbah (otherwise written Tloter). Ho-t i-yah Ho-to-mah Ho-to-man-ka Ho-tubbe .' Hoo-tubbe Howell, Calvert (alias Calvin H.) Hoyo Ho-yubbe I-arn-in-tubbce I-ath-le-pah I-bah-osh-tah Date of patent. Mar. 20, Dec. S, Jan. 20, Oct. U, Aug. 18, Sept. 2, Apr. 13, Apr. 12, Mav 13, Dec. 14, Dec. 24, Feb. 3, do... Oct. 14, Feb. 3, Sept. 7, Dec. 14, Aug. 18, Feb. 3, Sept. 9, Mar. 30, Sept. 4, Jan. 13, Sept. 9, Jan. 13, Sept. 8, Oct. 14, Aug. 12, 1846 1845 1846 1846 1846 1846 1848 1848 1848 1846 1845 1847 1846 1847 1847 1846 1846 1847 1846 1846 1846 1846 1846 1846 1846 1846 1845 Dec. 21,1837 Sept. 7,1846 Sept. 9,1846 Mar. 30,1846 Dec. 1,1845 June fi, 1S44 Julv 7, 1S42 Aug. 11,1845 Feb. ,1846 Dec. 6, 1845 Jan. 5,1846 June 29,1841 June 28,18.50 ....do ....do ....do Nov. 23, 1841 Apr. 13,1848 Sept. 9,1*46 Oct. 14,1846 ....do Dec. 21,1837 Sept. 8,1846 Sept. 9,1846 Dec. 2s, 1846 Dec. 4,1845 June 29,1841 Sept. 9,1846 Dec. 21,18.37 Oct. 14,1846 Mar. 30,1846 Sept. 8,1846 Sept. 4,1846 Jan. 2, 1851 Mar. 30,1846 Sept. 4, 1846 Mar. 30,1846 Dec. 6, 1845 14,1846 9, 1840 3, 1846 11,1845 July 17,1845 Dec. 24,1845 ....do Oct. May Sept. Dec. Remarks. Forhim.self and for hiscliildren. And to Ko-na-la-hona Sa-ho-yo, and Ta-na-cub- bee, her children over 10 years of age: and E-la- pa-ho-ka, her child under 10 years of age at date of treat V. In his own right and to his 2 children under 10 years of age at date of treaty. For himself and 3 children under 10 years of age at date of treaty. .\nd her child over 10 years of age at date of treaty. And to her 2 children (1 over 10 years and 1 under 10 years of age at date of treaty). 6 INDIAN APPROPRIATION BILL, 1917. List of Mississippi Choctaw Indians to whom patents were issued for land under the pro- visio7is of art. U of the treaty of Sept. 27, 1830 (7 Stat. L., SS3-335) — Continued. Patentee. Date of patent. Remarks. Ilie-ho-nah , Im-ah-ho-yo , Im-ma-no-a-ho-ka . . . Im-un-no-ubbe I-o-pon-na Isaac Isha (or Ayaha) Ish-man-tiibbe Ish-mi-ah Ish-no-ak-ke Ish-ta-bo-le Ish-te-la-mah Ish-te-o-nah Ish-ti-hok-ta Ish-tim-e-le-chubbe . Ish-tini-lah-homah . . Isli-to-niah Ish-to-nah Ispia Is-te-ubbe Is-to-noka Jacob James, Adam Jemmy Jenkins, Jack John Joel Johnson, George Johnson, Mary. Jonas Jones, John Jones, Tennessee Kan-che Kanoon-tubbe Kan-o-to-nah Ko-na-la-ho-na Koo-cha Labrouse, Mathew Lah-bah-tubbe Lah-tubbe Lap-pa-te-mah Lajjissa Lightfoot, WilUam Lila Low- ah-ho-ka Lii-ock-ho-mah Lush-ho-min-tubbe Machaia Mah-la Martha Matona McGilbry (aUas McGilverry), John. McGilbry (aUas McGilverry), John. McGilbry (otherwise called McGilvery), Lucy. McCiilbry (otherwise called McGilvery), Turner. McGilvery, Gordon Me-ha-shan-tah Me-ah-she-ciibbe Me-he-tim-ah Me-she-mah Me-hah , Mima , Min-ta-ham-bee , Mol-a-tubbe Mol-la Muncrief, Sampson Mrirphy, George , Na-con-sha Nah-ho-to-nah Nail, Benjamin , Nail, Greenwood L Nail, Marceline Nelson No-ah-ho-nah No-a-timah , Sept. Jan. 5 Mar. 30 Jan. 5 Dec. 11 Feb. 3 Dec. 14 Mar. 30 do.. Jan. 30 Oct. 14 Aug. 18 Mar. 30 Jan. 5 Mar. 30 do.. Jan. 13 Mar. 30 Jan. 2 Jan. 5 Dec. 28 Mar. 30 Sept. 30 Dec. 14 Oct. 10 Oct. 14 Sept. 9 Aug. 11 do.. Apr. Aug. Jan. Sept. Dec. Sept. Dec. Dec. Jan. Jan. Mar. Jan. Sept. Mar. Apr. Mar. Apr. Oct. Sept. Apr. Apr. Sept. June Apr. Mar. 20; Apr. 8 18 1851 1846 1845 1846 1846 1846 1848 Nov Jan. Dec. Aug. Sept. 4 Oct. 14 Apr. 13 do.. Sept. 4 Dec. Oct. i Jan. S Dec. Mar. i Sept. do do Sept. 9,1846 Oct. 14,1846 Nov. 3,1837 1846 1846 1846 1846 1845 1847 1846 1846 1846 1846 1846 1846 1846 1846 1846 1S46 1841 1846 1846 1846 1844 1846 1842 1846 1846 1845 1848 1842 1846 1846 1846 1846 1846 1845 1839 1846 1846 1846 1846 1843 1848 1846 1848 1846 1846 1848 1848 1846 1839 1845 1845 1845 For himself and 7 of his children, and to S. D. Johnson, 1 of his children. For herself and 2 children under 10 years of age at date of treaty. 1846 1845 1838 1840 1845 1846 1846 As he had 4 children over 10 years of age at date of treaty, instead of 3 children. And to Susie, her child. And to his 2 children under 10 years of age at date of treaty. INDIAN APPEOPEIATION BILL, 1917. 7 List of Mississippi Choctaw Indians to whom patents were issued for land under the pro- visions of art. U of the treaty vf Sept. 27, 18-30 (7 Stat. L., .3S.3-3.35)—C ontinxied. Patentee. Date of patent. Remarks. Nok-e-ne-ham-be. Nok-o-an-tubbe.. No-que-ah No-wah-ho-na Oak-la-yubbe Ogalainia Ogleasta Ohoya (or Ohoyo Tom) O-ka-in-cheek-mah Ok-is-tam-bee Ok-la-ho-ya Ok-lah-kah-ho-yo Oklanowah 0-na-ham-be Ona-hain-in-taiah Oon-ah-tubbe Oun-tah-che-ah Oxberry, James Pah-lubbe Panecbba Paress, Antony or Anthony. Pa-sa-chubbe Pa-shah-ho-nah Pebworth, Henry Pe-his-tubbe Pe-tah-ah-mah Pie-yah Pinson, Betsey Pis-ah-ha-mah Pish-tah-o-nah Riley, Patrick Robertson, Lewis Sahoyo Sa-lan-ma Sampson Shota Sho-tubbe Sila.s Shallahohoka Sock-a-to-nah Sotke-tubbe Sow-ah-tubbe Stabohla (alias Stapolelona). otanton, Allan Aug. 18,1846 Dec. 11,1845 Apr. 13,1848 July 17,1845 Dec. 11,1845 Sept. 8,1846 Sept. 9,1846 Jan. 20,1888 Sept. 2,1846 Mar. 30,1846 Jan. 13, 1846 7, 1846 Sept. Sept. Jan. Sept. Dec. 9,1846 2, 1841 8, 1846 5. 1845 Dec. 24,1845 Mar. 24.1841 Dec. 14 1S46 Sept. 3, 1846 Oct. 11,1843 Sept. 2,1846 Dee. 11,1845 May 14,1842 Jan. 20,1846 Aug. 18,1846 Sept. 7,1846 July 2, 1842 Sept. 2,1846 Jan. 13, 1846 Oct. 11,1843 Sept. 28,1842 Dec. 28„1846 Mar. 10,1843 Dec. 28,1846 Sept. 3,1846 Sept. 4,1846 Sept. 8,1846 Dec. 28,1846 Jan. 20,1846 Jan. 13, 1846 Dee. 24,1845 Dec. 28,1846 do Su-Sa SylUn Ta-ho-ba Tah-ho-pe-ah Tah-lah-mo-tubbe Tah-te-nah Tah-pa-nis-sto-nah-ho-nah . Aug. Sept. Sept. Dec. Sept. Jan. 18, 1846 8,1846 7, 1846 4. 1845 8. 1846 20, 1846 TaUawahomibbee . Tanacubbee Tilly Te-hr-cubbee To-bla-chubbce Toby (alias Tobba), James. Tom, Jim Tom, Jack Nov. 23,1846 Feb. 3, 1847 Dec. 28,1846 Sept. 9,1846 Aug. 12,1845 Dec. 1, 1845 rlo Feb. 26,1841 Apr. 4, 1849 Tomahoka To-ne Took-Iah-tubbe Turnbull, William. Tu.s-k;v-ah-tubbe . . . Tuskiaha Tussaka Tu-wah-kee Tu-wa-tu-cha Sept. Mar. Oct. Oct. Oct. Dec. Dec. Oct. Mar. 9,1846 30, 1846 14, 1846 11,1843 14, 1846 14, 1846 28,1846 14, 1846 10, 1843 For herself and for 3 children over 10 years ol age and 2 children under 10 years of age at date of treaty. And tojhis 2 childred under 10 years of age at date of treaty. Id his own right and to Cun-nah-ho-yo-E-lah-no- la, and Ona-tubbcc, his children over 10 years of age, and to 0-quah-ha-nah and Cun-nah-la- tubbee, his childred under 10 years of age at date of the treaty. And to Hota-tubbee, his child over 10 years of age, and lota-tubbee and E-mo-konah, his children under 10 years of age at date of treaty. And to Sinai Tom, Sophia Tom, I/Cvicy Tom, and Hamah Tom his 4 children under 10 years of ago at date of the treaty. Patent surrendered and new patent issued July 14, 1848. S INDIAN APPROPRIATION BILL, 1917. List of Mississippi Choctaw Indians to whom patents were issued for land under the pro- visions of art. 14 of the treaty of Sept. 27, 1830 (7 Stat. L., 333-SS5)— Continued. Patentee. Date of patent. Remarks. Tu-wa^tu-cha I?b-:iheni-ah I'n-ah-lian-tubbe . . . I'li-ah-tubbe I"n-ta-hi-o-che rn-tim-ah-ho-nah. . Walker, John AVard, Tobias Wa-tubbe Wes-hock-she-homa Wesley Ya-ha-mali Yem-e-tubbe Yem-ma-hubbe Yem-o-ho-nah July Dec. Sept. Jan. Dec. Sept. June Sept. Dec. Sept. Feb. Sept. Dec. Sept. Sept. 14, 1848 5,1845 2, 1846 13, 1846 4, 1S45 7, 1846 29, 1841 3, 1846 24, 1845 3. 1846 3. 1847 2,1846 24, 1845 2, 1846 7, 1846 j^ The Chairman, What is the date of that roll ? These rolls are all available in the Indian Office here in Washington. Mr. Ferris. It w^as the Douglas-Cooper muster rolls. That show^s them, and there were War Department records transferred to the Indian Office and can be had in the Indian Office. The Chairman. What year w^as it made in ? Mr. Ferris. Between 1830 and 1855, along during that period. The dates they received patent is opposite their respective names in each case. Later came an act of Congress which provided that for those who W'Ould not take land — and there was some maltreatment of Indians, by some Government agent, as suggested by Mr. Harrison- — land was not worth much at that time and only 143 families would take it. Congress came along and made a supplemental provision for these and said they may have scrip, which is a certificate w^hich allows them to take land anywdiere in three or four States that they deshe. I hold in my hand a list of Indians that received scrip, 3,885 of them m number, and there are the Indian names. Here are the dates on wiiicli they received it. This is also from the Indian Office. I wiU pass this aroimd so that you can see it. I will also incorporate it m the record so it can be referred to later. It is as follows: List of Mississippi Choctaw Indians in whose behalf scrip was issued under the provisions of the act of Congress of Aug. 23, 1842 {5 Slat. L., 518), in lieu of land to which they were entitled under article 14 of the treaty of Sept. 27, 1830 (7 Stat. L., 333-335). Anolata. Aletisteia. Anonitama. Ashahoma. Aloncsa. Anontamla (or Anotaioubbeej. Anontona. Anointubbee. Anatambee. Ataiahona. Alamautubbee. Alaboma. Anaintubbee. Alanantiibbee. Ahotema. Akomotubbce. Anocwaatonah. Atanahajo. Apatubbeo. Athpota. Antamba. Aleisteia. Alahotcma. Anokfhoto. Apolo-apah. Ashatema. Akoytellatubbee. Alchma. Atakohubbee. Altona. Anahoyo. Atabotema. INDIAN APPROPEIATION BILL, 1917. List of Mississippi Choctaw Indians in whose behalf scrip loas issued unaer the provisions of the act of Congress of Aug. 23, 1842 — Continued. Ashahema. Alanintubbee. Apala-hoka. Anciibbee (or Ooncubbee). Alatahoma. Athtolahoka. Anontee-na. Allah-ho-te-mah. Ah-fah-mo-ah. Ah-te-ubbee. Ah-pock-ah-mah-tubbee. Ah-tah-chubbee . Ah-te-uh-la-ho-ka . A-o-nah-ha-mah . A-low-a-ho-nah. Ah-pock-ar-mah . Ah-chali-fah-tubbee. An-no-sa-tubbee (or Pessahtubbee). A-bon-wa-te-mah . Ah-ta-hah. A-he-ah-tubbee. Ah-ne-la-ho-yo. Ah-took-ko. Ah-po-to-tubbee. Ah-no-yo-ka. Ah-chah-fah-le-mah. Ah-ho-te-mah. Ah-lah-ka-tubbee. Ah-fah-mo-ah. Ah-no-ah-ka. Ah-la-mah-ho-nah. Ah-na-sa. Ah-no-le-che-mah. Ah-pok-ah-nan-tubbee. Ah-pa-sah. Ah-no-lah. Ah-lock-ka-cha. Ah-to-nubbee. Ah-la-chubbee. Ah-to-shoubbee. Ah-min-tubbee. Ah-pah-lah-ho-nah . Ah-l(i-co-tiibbee. Ah-took-la. Ah-pah-tubbee. Ath-tubbee. Ah-mesa-cubbee . Ah-pah-sah-te-mah. Ah-mo-(^la-tiibbee. Ah-chi-ah-tubbee. Ah-be-hah-tah. Ah-sha-la-tubbee. Ah-h(i-la-to-nah. Ah-fliah- pa-tubby. Ah-na-chubbee. Ah-no-fa-nubbee. Abl)a-ho-nah. Ah-nocik-tah-lubbee. Ah-modu-pish-ah-cha (or He-tuck-loo-ah). Ah-to-la. Ah-no-ka. Ah-to-nau-ka. Ah-took-ah-lah. Ah-to-no-ham-bee . Ah-hath-la. Ah-pe-sah-tubbee . Ah-lo-min-chubbee. Ah-mak-ham-ubbee . Ah-no-ah-ha-cubbee . Ah-no-skoo-nah. Ah-ho-tu-nah. Ah-noho-tim-ah. An-tim-ah. Ah-na-hoak-ho-nah . Ah-chuck-ma. Al-me-ho-ye. Ah-ho-nah. Ah-na-tim-ah. Al-moon-tubbee. Al-e-he-mah. Ah-la-che. An-un-tim-ah. As-she-ap-ki-ka. Ah-kah-ne-ubbe. Ah-no-Ie-chubbe. An-thle-no-nah. Ah-be-ho-ka. Ah-chafl'a-ho-nah . Ah-che-lah. Ah-be-ne-tubbe. Ah-moon-to-uah. Ah-took-co-la (alias Andrew Wier, i. e., Ware ) . Ah-take-ah-ho-nah. Ah-ish-tim-ah. Ah-bah-ka-tubbee. Ah-be-ho nah. An-o-ok-iuah. Abit-ish-tiah. Ah-to-ko-tubbe. Al-be-ish-to-nah. Ah-che-to-nah. Ah-look-Iin-tubbee. A-mah. Ah-no-Ie-ho-na. Ah-cho-ah-ho-ka. Ah-sha-ho-ka. Ah-bah pil-a-ba-ka. Ah-kas-te-ma-tubbee. Ah-noo-se-ho-nah . Ah-to-chubbe. A h-fa b-moon-tubbee. Ah-te-ko-fubbe. Ah-nubbe. Ah-took-ah-li-ah. Ah-he-o-ke. Ah-tah-ho-nah, Ah-lo-ine. Amah. Ah-po-Ia-tubbe. Ah-be-tah-tah. Ath-la-ho-yubbe. Ah-fhe-tui)be. Ah-toki'-ah-to-nah. Ah-chc-ah-tubbo. Ah-(he-l)ah. Ah-mok-le-tuljbe, Ah-he-kah-ho-nah. 10 INDIAN APPROPRIATION BILL, 1917. List of Mississippi Choctaiv Indians in whose behalf scrip was issued under the provisions of the act of Congress of Aug. 23, 1842 — Continued. Ah-yo-mah-te-kah. Ah-lo-mah-tubbe. Ah-hooklin-tubbe. Ah-shal-in-tubbe. Ah-niuk-fil-le. Ah-lo-ko-tubbee. Ah-took-la-ho-ka. Ah-fa-ko-mc-ho-nah. An-it-im-ah. Al-mo-tubbe. Ah-ho-la-tim-ah. Ah-thliip-pik-chi-ah. Al-be-hah-tiibbe. Al-be-ho-chi-ah. Ah-ki-sah. Ali-ho-nah. Ah-chuck-mah-he-ah. Ah-ko-moon-tubbee. Ah-look-la-tubbe. Ah-ka-ko-tubbe. Ah-lo-te-shubbe. Ah-la-chun-ah. An-ha-tun-ah. Ah tho-me-ho-nah. Ah-e-nah. Ah-kah-pul-e-tubbe. Ah-to-bo-tubbee. Ah-be-ho-nah. Ah-pa sah-ho-ka. Ah-pa-Ia-ho-nah. Ah-tah-ho-nah. Ah-che-ah. Al-inoon-to-nah. Ah-fah-inoon-tubbe. Ah-sho-me-kah. Ah-ash-tubbe. Ah-no-ah-ham-bee. Ash-ha-cain-bee. Ah-ha-to-nah. Ah-no-sa. Ah-be-ne-tubbe. Al-be-ho-nah. Ah-to-la-te-mah. Ah-tah-le-ho-nah. Ah-chiah. Ah-chah-ah-tubbee. Ah-wah-te-ah. An-tubbe. Ah-Io-sho-nio-tiibbe. Ah-ho-te-nah. Al-be-te-ah. Ah-tah-le-ah. Ah-noo-tom-be. Ah-nook-wah-ah-too-nah. Ah-tah-be-le-ho-nah . Ah-to-catch-a. Ah-unk-fa-la. Ah-no-ah-ta-cubbe. Ah-e-o-ka-tim-ah. Ah-pe-le-tubbo. A h-che-ah-ho-nah . Ah-to-no-ho-nah. Ah-pa-la-ho-nah. Ah- no-ah- tam-be . Abbe-to-ble-tubbe. An-iik-fil-le-te-mah. Ab-it-is-te-ah. Ah-she-chin-ah. Ah-le-ho-ka. Ah-tubbe. Ah-ne-ho-te-mah. Ah-pis-sal-la. Ah-ho-yo. Ah-mi-yah. Ah-cha-pa-ho-uah. Ah-she-lah. A h-pa-sa- tan-he . Ah-la-che. Ah-wa-che-ho-nah . Ah-puk-yo-hubbe . Ab-be-ish-ti-yah. Atuk-lam-be. Ah-pah-lah-ho-nah. Ab-ti-ti-yah. Ah-fah-mah. Ah-fa-ko-ma-to-nah. Ah-chuk-ma-tubbe. Ah-took-la-ho-mah . Ah-no-la-ho-nah. Ah-koo-chun-tubbe. Ah-che-le-tah. Ah-( ho-mah-kah, Ah-lo-mah. Ab-be-ho-nah. Ah-lah-nah-tubbe. Ah-no-ah-tubbe. Ah-took-lah-tubee. Ah-nook-we-ah-che. Ah-ka-che-ho-nah. Ah-nook-lah. Ah-lo-mah-tubbe. Ah-to-la. Ah-cha-fo-tubbe. Ah-che-lah. Ah-pa-sa-ho-nah. Ah-nook-fille. Ah-ne-po-tubbe. Ab-it-ik-ah-ne-wah. Ah-pa-sau-tubbe. Ah-fa-ko-me. Ah-fha-le-tah. Ah-che-ah. Ah-pe-lah. Ah-t ha-fo-ho-nah. Ah-nook-fille-hoka. Ah-ne-hoon-tubbe. Ah-che-to-nah. Ah-hak-po-tubbe. Ash-tubbe. Ahe-min-tubbe. Ah-fa-no-tubbe. Ah-cha-po-tubbe. Ah-nook-we-ah. Ah-no-sa-tubbe. Ah-po-to-he. An-cha-to-nah. Ah-no-la-tubbe. Ah-pa-sa-ho-nah. Ah-no-si. An-tubbe. INDIAN APPROPRIATION BILL, 1917. 11 List of Mississippi Choctaw Indians in whose behalf scrip wa,s issued under the provisions of the act of Congress of Aug. 23, 1842 — Continued. Abbe-took-chi-ah. Ah-che-ah-so-nah . Ah-took-li-ah. Al-a-te-mah. Ah-nook-fil-la. Ah-nook-hum-ah . Ah-lo-mah-ho-nah . Ah-chuk-mo-ho-yo. Ah-fhe-ah. An-tah-ho-nah. Ah-look-le-tubbe. Ath-ta-lam-la. An-ta-te-mah. Ah-noon-tubbe. Ah-took-lan-tubbe. Abbe-neen-tubbe. Al-noon-tubbe. Ah-cha-kahi-hioo-nah . An-chok-to-nubbe . Ah-the-ho-nah. Ah-pa-sah-ho-ka. Ah-no-si. Ah-fa-ma-ho-ka. Ah-nook-cha-mah-ho-nah. Al-be-chef-fah. Ah-che-ubbe. Ab-no-la-ham-bee. Ah-wa-che-ho-nah. Ah-wah-che (alias Ah-wah-che-ho-nah) . Ah-nook-che-to. Ath-ko-la. Ab-tah-she-nali (alias Hash-tah-sho-nah). Ali-po-tubbe. Ah-hom-lah. Al-moon-tubbe (or Oon-an-cha-tubbe). Ah-man-to-nah. Ah-pok-a-mah. Ah-took-ah-lan-tubbe. Ash-ka-ma. Ah-be-ti-ah-ho-ka. Ah-yo-ah-h(j-nah. Abbe (or Ah-nah-be). An-an-to-ma. Ah-ne-he-nah. Ah-chah-lc-ho-nah. Ah-fum-ah-took-a-lo. Ah-to-ga-te-mah. Ah-ne-he-mah. Ah-nook-we-ubbe. Ah-])a-lah-to-nah. Ah -toog-la-he-nah . Ah-le-ho-tonah. Ah-to-ble-cha. Ash-chin-tubbe. Ash-te-ah-ho-nah . Ah-chi-ah. Ah-chin-tubbe. Ah-chiuk-mah-tubbe. Abbe-ho-yo. Ash-ho-nah. Ah-wan-tubbe. Ah-po-to-le. Ah-took-ah-lan-tubbe. Ah-la-mah-ho-mah. Ah-man-tubbe. Al-o-ma-cha. Ah-pe-hah-tubbe. Ah-chuck-mish-tubbe . Ah-no-ha. Ah-to-be-tubbe. Ah-no-Ia-che-mah. Ah-took-ah-lah. Ah-chuck-mah-to-tubbe . Ah-to-kah . Ah-take-ah-te-mah. Ah-to-bah-tubbe. Ah-pis-ta-ka-tubbe . An-tah-ha-mah. Ami-yah (or Emi-yah). Ah-wa-tu-nah . Ah-to-lah-tubbe. Ah-che-to-nah. Ah-chick-mah-ho-nah . Ah-lo-wa-tubbe. Ah-hum-me. Al-be-tiyah. Ah-po-la-chubbe . Ash-wak-tubbe. Ah-ho-nah. Ah-ca-no-tubbe. Ah-che-toma. Ah-che-le-tubbe . Ah-cho-ah. Ah-no-wah-tubbe. Ah-moon-ti-yah . Ah-chuck-mah-to-ka-tubbe. Ah-onk-tim-ah. Ah-oon-tam-be. Ah-tuk-la-me-ho-nah. Ah-ha-tam-be. Ah-ta-hubbe. Ah-ho-yo-tubbe . Ah-ho-gla-cha. Al-is. Ah-cha-fon-tubbe. Ah-pa-san-tubbe . Ah-be-chunk-tah . Ah-chu-nan-tubbe. Ah-pa-sam-la (or Pa-sam-lee) . Ah-ho-nah. Ah-fah-nah. Ah-fun-nee. Ah-pul-e-chubbe. Ah-ho-ka. Ah-kah-me-zubbe . Ah-cah-lah-honubbe . Ah-pa-nam-tim. Ah-chuf-fah-tako-ubbe. Ah-chunk-ma-ho-ka. Ah-po-la (or Big Billy). Ah-nook-chin-to. Ah-pa-sa-ka. Ah-the-o-hubbe. Ah-ka-ua-la-tubbe . An-la-ho-ua. Allice. Ah-to-ko-ah. Alth-to-ca-ho-nah, 12 INDIAN APPROPRIATION BILL, 1917. List of Mississippi Choctaw Indians in tvhose behalf scrip was issued under the provisions of the act of Congress of Aug. 23, 1842 — Continued. Ah-chiik-a-la. Ah-can-uon-tubbe . Ah-le-noon-tub be . Ah-mo-te-ab. Ah-pab-ta-tubbe. Ab-be-ho-ka. Ab-pa-kah-tubbe . Al-ca-in-la. A-num-brilla. Ak-an-ubbe. A-che-ho-ka. Aiigustin . Ala-ti-ya (alias Ho-le-te-a). A-bo-ha-ya. Ah-nook-fa-lah. Ah-to-sho-tubbe . Ah-pa-hah (alias Johny Walk). Ah-pis-ab-te-mah . Ah-nab-bo-te-nah . Ah-min-tubbe. Ah-no-sa-cubbe (or No-sa-cubbe). Ab-cba-can-tubbe . Ab-lab-bo-ka. Ab-pa-lab -bo-nab . Ab-lab-ta-mab. Ab-pa-san-tubbe. Ab-took-ab-Iah-him-ah . Au-a-in-ta. At-ta-tam-ca. An-ti-kubbe. A-to-ni-ciibbee. A-cba-i-a-tubbe. An-ti-cub-kubbee. Ah-be-bat-tab. Ah-fo-kab-tubbe. Ab-ue-te-mah. An-ok-cbe-to. Ab-a-wa-la. A-po-la-tubbee. Acbi-a. Al-a-Ia-ko-la. Asb-o-mo-ta. A-batb-la. An-na. A-ya-to-na. Ab-o-la-ta. Ah-la-ba-ma. Al-a-te-ma. Ano-la-bo-na (alias Yin-ma-ne-la) . A-cba-la. Ab-be-coo-cbali. An-thle-bubbe. Ans-coon-la-tubbe. Ali-tuk-la-me-bo-nab. Ab-cho-man-tubbe. Asb-tubbe. An-tu-nab. Ausb-tubbe. Ab-bi-o-tubbe. Ab-cbuck-a-la-mah. A-hu-ta. Amos. An-un-tubbe. Ab-fa-koma. Al-it-o-nah. Bun-na-lio-na. Bo-lebo-na (alias To-lo-le-lio-na). Binia. Butab. Bling-a-tubbe. Ba-maba. Beck-y. Bi-a-ta. Bil-la. Bab-fo-cubbe. Bab-pis-sah. Be-lin-go-nah. Beckey^ Bun-na-cbubbe. Bab-sa. Be-lin-kat-tab. Be-nab. Be-nan-cha-bo-ka. Bab-fun-ka. Ben. Bun-ab-tu-nab. Bum-ab-tab-ka (or Tik-be-ubbe;. Becka. Buch-ab-bono. Be-nan-cbe. Bab-la-bo-nah. Bah-bo-te-nab. Bab-te-nah. Bab-ah-nubbe. Bo-la. Bab-na-tubbe. Ba-bo-nab. Ba-ba-ka. Bab-ka-tubbe. Be-nin-tubbe. Bab-nubbe. Bell David. Basey. Becky. Bu-mab. Bat-sey. B e-lin-go-nab-gobn . Bab-nab-tubbee. Bab-tubbee. Bab-na-cbe. Be-na-tam-le. Bob-tubbe. Bob-cba-lab. Bi-o-glab. Bo-ba-le. Bah-na-tubbee. Bob Captain (alias Mingo-bo-nahj. Belink-at-tab. Can-a-bo-yo. Cboinpab. Cbe-mo-na. Cbickasa. Ciin-uea-ho-ua. Cuu-nea-tubbee. Cbarles. Con-sba-tubbee. Cbis-be-bo-ma (alias Capt. Red Post Oak). INDIAN" APPROPRIATION BILL^ WVJ. 13 List of Mississippi Choctaw Indians in whose behalf scrip was issued under the provisions of the act of Congress of Aug. 23, 1842 — Continued. Conam-o-mubba. Chonk-choo. Can-on-e-ta-la. Cun-ne-a-tubbee. Chom-pa. Ohok-ma-he-ma . Can-che-te-ma. Cunnam-an-tubbee. Can-cha-to-na. Cliil-le-tam-la. Oan-cha-ho-ka. Chonnis. Ohutfa-to-na. Can-pa-lubbee. Che-hom-bee. Co-cha-tubbee. Oun-na-cha. Cim-ne-chubbe. Cah-to-nah. Che-no-lah. Charles. Chuffa-ta-no-la. Co-lick. Cun-ne-chubbe. Cah-la-tubbee. Cun-ne-ubbee. Cun-ne-ah-tubbee. Cah-la-tubbee. Cun-ne-o-nah. (.'un-ne-ah. Chut'fa-tubbee. ('un-ah-he-mah. Carson . Cah-to-nah . Com-pal-tubbee. Con-nobn-tam-lee . Chamis. Cun-ne-isli-to-nah. Charles. ('ah-la-ho-na. (Jun-ne-clie-nah. Ciin-a-la-to-nah. ( 'un-ne-mo-nubbee. (.'e-lia. Cun-ne-ubbee. Cun-na-see. Cun-ne-ho-chubbee. (Jo-chubbee. Cun-noon-ta-raah-ho-nah . Cun-noon-tah-cubbee. f!un-noOn-tah-cubbee. Creesay. C un-ne-tara-b ee . ( 'on-che-te-mah . ('hah-ley. Cun-no-ma-tubbee. Cus-cahtick-lah (or Yock-a-na-lio-mah). Chille-tali. Cun-na-mam-leo. Chin-sah. Cun-noon-tah-chubbee.' Chum-tah. Cun-ah-ha-raah. Cun-e-mam-la. Cun-e-mah-tifm-ah. Cun-un-tah-lee. Can-un-tah-mah . Cun-e-ubbe. Cun-e-mam-lee. Cun-e-me-yubbe. ('o-ah-ho-mah. Cun-e-mah. Chaffa-to-nubbe . Gun-e-o-te-kah . Che-kah. Cun-e-mah -ho-nah. Chin-alle. Chille. Captain Bob (or Mingoloma). Che-ma-ho-ka. Co-tah. Chal-le. Ghak<-al-e-che. Cun-e-te-mah . Con-cheto-nah. Che-po-lah. Chah-hubbe. Cun-e-ish-tii-nah . Cun-e-o-te-mah. Can-e-tam-le. Chul-le. Coon-oon-tan-te-mah . Cun-noon-to-mah-la-ho-k a . Chah-ah-tubbe. Con-ah-la-chubbe. Che-ho-'nah . Chum-pah-te-mah . Cun-nc-mah-chubbe. Che-ho-te-mah. Cun-ubbe. Chuf-ah-tam-be. Con-che-ho-ka. Cun-e-mah-tim-ah . Cun-ah-min-chubbe . Chane. Cun-e-mo-nubbe. Chan-le. Cun-e-me-tim-ah . Cun-u-ta-cubbe. ('on-slie-ho-yo. (]he;f-fa-to-nah. Charl^. Chit-o-kubbe. (Jhif-fa-ti-yah. Chuf-fa-lio-ka. Chook-mam-le. ('ha-le-ho-nah. Chaf-ubbe. Cheffa-to-nah. Che-co-tubbo. Cha-wah-te-ah . Chick-a-mah. Chof-fa-to-no-wah. Cha-laii-lah. ( "hick-a-sah-ho-ka. ('h(>f-f()-li-yah. ('lK)-h()-ka (or Ah-chu-wah). ( 'he-mah . 14 INDIAN APPROPBIATION BILL, 1917. List of Mississippi Choctaw Indians in whose behalf scrip was issued under the provisions of the act of Congress of Aug. 2S, i54^— Continued. Chuk-fy-noo-sa. Chil-le-tani-be. Chiif-fa-tu-nubbe. Chef-fa-tu-nubbe. Chef-fa-ho-ka. Chick-oon-tubbeo. Chif-1'o-ti-ya. Chuf-fa-tubbee. Chef-fah-bin-Iubbe. Ciin-ne-tain-be. Che-lok-kee. (jhick-e-mah-yo-ho. Chiim-j)ah-te-mah. Can-o-ine-tubbe. Cun-e-ah-he-mah. Cun-e-ah-hok-tah . Cun-e-moon-tubbe. Cun-oon-te-mah-homah . Cum-un-mubbee. Cun-e-ah-ston-ah. Cousin. Con-ah-Ia-cha. Con-sha-lah. Cun-ouu-tam-be. Cuii-e-mah-tubbee. Con-e-moon-tubbee. Con-sha-ho-ka. Cuu-e-mo-nubbee. Choom-pah. Chum-pah-ho-ka. Chah-e-te-mah. Cun-ne-ah-ho-nah. Con-che-ton-nah. Chum-pah-te-mah . Cun-e-o-to-uah. Cun-ne-te-nah. Che-cah-ta. Cha-po-la. Chick-a-sha. Che-nii-o-ka. Cut-tah-ho-chubbee. Che-ah. Chiei'-fah-tam-Iee. Cun-ne-tubbe. Cun-ne-o-to-nah. ('hubbce. Chah-la. Com-pa-lubbee. Cun-ne-tain-bee. Cut-a-po-la. ( 'hik-mah-em-ah-tubbee. Cun-e-me-to-nah. Cole-Coleman. ('Olbert. (^ham-a-ha-jo. Che-po-ka. Cah-te-inah. Cha-fahn-to-nah. Can-cha-ho-nah (or Tan-cha-ho-nah). Cuffah-ka. ' Cun-no-mah. Co-chubboo. Cun-oon-ta-raah. Cun-oon-ta-bee. Che-ni-la-ho-ka. Con-o-he-mah. Cou-sha-ho-nah. Cun-oon-ta-kah. Chuf-fa-tubbee. Che-ho-a-to-na. ('ha-cha. Cha-co-nubbee. Co-cha-tam-co. Carson (or Ka-chi-en). Chuf-fa-ta-no-la. Cham-pa-ya (or Sham-pi-a). Chooni-pa-ho-ka. Chuffa-tubbee. Cobb Pickens. Cobb, Any. Cobb, Molly. Chu ffa-to-ke-ubbe. Chook-ah-tal-le. Cush-o-nah. Chil-le-ta. Cun-oon-tick-cah. Cunc-me-tim-ah . Chok-tah-ho-ma (or Pis-it-ti-yah). Chas-po-ho-nah. Che-mah-le-ho-ka. Cut-te-o-to-mah. Cun-ne-me-ubbe. Caleb, John. Con-she-ho-ka. Cole, Colbert. Cole, John. Cole, Augustin. Dyer, Lucinda. Dyer, Nelly. Dyer, Jeremiah. David. Dixon. Davis. Dennis. Durant, Pierre. Durant, George. Durant, Vina. Durant, Sylvester. Diu'ant, Jefferson. Durant, Isham. Durant, Sophia. Durant, Charles. Dyer, Polly. E-o-ta. E-mait-cha-tubbee. Esteeupunna-kbka. E-la-ho-yo-ta-ma . E-raach-o-nubba. Em-a-la. E-mam-ba. E-la-to-nubbee. E-li-che-to. Ea-to-na. Een-puk-a-D ubbee . Eli-lubbee. Ea-ish-ya. E-muth-pa-sa-lubbee. E-me-she-ho-na. INDIAN APPROPRIATION BILL, 1917. 15 List of Mississippi Choctaw Indians in ichose behalf scrip ivas issued under the provisions of the act of Congress of Aug. 23, 1S4'J — C-ontinued. E-lo-tu-ne. Ema-ho-na. E-yo-ko-tubbee. E-Iaah a ho-na. Eli-an-ne-ho-nah. E-a-chiil)-bee. E-a-han-tubbee. E-man-o-a-tubbee. Ea-ho-na. E-la-is-te-ma. E-la-cha. E-ma-ho-na. E-lah-ho-te-mah. E-lah-so-qiiah. E-yok-a-ma-tubbee . E-mock-mahn-tubbee. Eho-ah-to-nah. Eah-la-ho-nahr E-ho-yo. E-ah-ho-ke-ta. Emah-ho-kah. E-lah-moon-tubbee. E-a-mock-in-tubbee. E-mo-mah-ho-ka. E-ah-ho-nah. Eah-ho-imbbee. E-man-te-ah-ho-ka. E-ah-chiibbee. E-lam-bee. E-ah-tul)bee. E-o-tul)bee. E-lah-nubbee. E-lo\v-e-te-mah. E-yo.^h-moon-tubbee. E-o-nah. E-coffe-tubbe. E-ah-ha-ciibbe. E-o-kah-tubbe. E-o-kah-tiibbe. E-mak-ko-nubbe. E-lah-ho-to-nah. E-lu-uah-tubbe. E-me-la-chubbe. E-mish-toc-nah. E-lah-e-shiibbe. E-lo-nah. E-o-tim-ah. E-la-yo-kak-tubbe. E-mi-ah-tubbe. E-math-la-cubbe. E-la-pe-ah. Ela-pe-sa-ho-ka. E-le-ah-ho-nah. E-lah-pi in -ah-ho-yo . E-la-pam-lc. E-m ah-yah-ste-mah . E-lah-took-am-be . E-la-po-iuibbe. E-la-ho-tiibbe. Em-ma-lo-ho-ka. E-la-ho-ta-ka. E-lo-ho-yo. E-ok-tam-bee. E-mlth-lubbee. E-mish-ah-ho-nah. E-ah-ho-chubbe . E-iu-nubbe. Eah-kiah-ho-ka. E-ha-ho-nah. E-lap-o-tim-ah. E-male-le. E-lah-ho-tim-ah. E-lah-u-kah. E-ca-we-che. E-lah-pish-te-ah . E-lah-ho-ka. E-lah-in-im-ah. E-ah-ho-ka-tubbe . E-yak-o-tubbe. E-iah-tam-be. Eah-to-chubbe. E-ah-ho-kah-tubbe . E-lah-ne-ho-nah . E-glen-iibbe. E-lu-nah-tiibbe. E-le-no-ali-chubbe. E-ah-tah-ah-ho-mah. E-le-mah-ho-mah (or La-mah-ho-nah). E-mo-nubbe. E-lah-ii-kah. E-cah-le-ho-nah. E-li-o-te-ka. E-klen-ah-tah (or E-glen-ah-tubbe). E-ah-ho-ka. E-ki-o-nubbe. E-lah-ha-cubbe (or Il-ah-he-kah). E-ah-io-nah. E-li-o-te-mah. E-lap-no-wah. E-ah-ho-uubbee. E-ah-ho-tim-ah. E-]i-yubbe. E-yal-a-ho-ka. E-la-pa-subbe. E-la-lo-ma-tubbe. E-lah-ho-nah. E-niah-to-kah. E-le-ah-tubbe. E-la-cha-te-mah. E-ah-he-tubbe. E-ha-la-to-nah. E-Ia-ho-(o-mah. E-me-la-to-nah. E-mock-he-lubbe. ]i;-lah-he-kah (alias E-la-ha-cubbe). E-ah-lubbe. E-ho-ah-to-nah. E-la-pe-wah-ho-nah. E-ma-che-ah-ho-nah. Eah-eah-tiin-ah. E-lah-1'e-tu-nah. P>ah-to-nah. E-ah-an-lul)be. E-lah-tah-Uibbe. E-as-t.u-ubbe. Eli-pipa. E-oh-lah. E-ah-ha-lubbe. 16 INDIAN APPROPBIATION BILL, 1911. List of Mississippi Choctaw Indians in whose behalf scrip was issued under the provisions of the act of Congress of Aug. 23, i5-^;>— Continued. E-lah-pah-nubbe . r]-ah-lo-ho-tim-ah. E-Cah-tah. E-lap-in-tubbe. Ivyah-ah-to-nah. I>la shubbe (or Billy X-kon-Sliawj. E-ya-ka-tubbe. E-miyh-te-ubba. E-mo-nubbe. E-ne-cun-e-ubbe. E-yah-hubbe. l']-cha-pah-no-enah. I>lah-ho-yubb. ' E-mack-liibbe. E-li-che-tubbe. E-mah-tall-ah. E-inah-sha. E-li-chuf-caibbe. E-ma-ha. E-cba-po-tubbe. E-lo-ok-ehi-ah. Emo-nubbe (alias Im-mo-nubbe). E-lan-tubbe. E-mah-no-wah. E-mah-ho-to-nah. E-sba-ho-ka. E-lah-tah-to-nah. E-ho-ah-tiibbe. E-lah-be-nubbe. Edmund. E-yak-tubbe. E-yah-he-tubbe. E-mish-tubbe. Elah-pah-ne. E-lah-pis-ubbe. E-le-o-nah. E-lab-pe-kah. E-yab-ish-to-nah. E-chah-pah. E-Io-ma-him-mah. E-ab-hani-be. E-lah-liibbe. E-lah-ho-yubbe. E-mah-a-lubbe. E-vak-a-che. E-ii-bo-kubbe. Ivsta-bo-yo. E-lah-lo-ma-tubbe. E-cba-po-tubbo. E-lan-to-nah. E-as-ta-ho-nab. E-bak-ah-tubbe. E-yah-tu-nah. E-mi-ya-tubbe. E-mo-na-ho-ka. Ey-ali-li-yah. E-lak-cbe-te-mah. E-li-yubbee. E-bah-took-lah. E-lah-o-tiibbe. E-ah-bo-nubbe. E-yan-to-bo-ka. E-lab-po-cbubbe. E-min-to-ho-nah. E-lah-he-mah. E-la-ho-te-ah. E-ah-ho-nubbe. E-lah-pish-ti-yah. Este-mil-le. E-yak-a-tubbe. E-yi-ho-yo. E-yah-hah-tubbe. E-mal-ho-mab (alias E-mah-Ie-ho-mah). E-mah-tain-bee. E-lah-ko-tubbe. E-lab-ke-mah. E-lah-te-ubbe. E-lah-ho-yo. E-li-to-nii'bbe. E-ya-le. E-ah-tom-bee. E-li-chin-tubbe. E-li-be-nubbe. E-la-ba-cubbee. E-lap-no-an-tubbe. E-lah-che-ho-nah. E-yah-ham-bee. E-ah-ho-ka-te-mah . EUce. E-sha-to-nah. E-hu-e-te-tubbe. E-ah-cah-to-nah (or Cah-to-nah). E-mis-tubbe. E-ab-ho-te-niah. E-man-che. E-me-to-ho-nah. E-mo-no-la-cho-nah . E-ho-ah-tam-be. E-le-o-ka-te-mah. E-lah-yo-kah-to-nah . E-ah -ham-bee. E-lo-mah. E-lah-pi.sh-ah. E-cah-no-ah-ho-nah . E-ah-ho-ka. E-lah-to-nah. E-mam-bo. E-mah. E-lo-nah. E-yah-hain-ba. E-hi-o-cubbee. E-man-cha. E-mah-nin-che. E-yak-ki-ah. E-yah-hain-ba. E-hain-bee. E-ma-cha-lubbe. Eli-cha-tubbe. E-lah-pa-ah. E-Hza. E-mab. E-li-tubbe. E-lah-e-mah. E-lo-yah-tubbe. E-lik-hon-ah. E-lah-pio-ubbe. Em-bo-tah. E-ah-te-mab. E-o-kah-tubbe. E-cha-po-tubbe. INDIAN APPKOPRIATION BILL, 1917. 17 Lint of Missinsippi Choctaw Indians in wJiose behalf scrip uas issued under the provisions of the act of Congress of Aug. 'JiS, 1842 — Continiied. Elian-ne-ho-uah. Ex-ah-kah-ho-tubbe. E-lani-bee. E-mah-lah-te. E-no-\vah. E-hiin-mah-la-t ubbe . E-ah-sha-tubbee. E-lah-ho-yo-ho-nah . E-ah-lo-ho-nah. E-lo-inon-to-cubbee. E-me-le. E-li-za. Eah-che-hiibbe. E-lah-tiin-ah. E-o-cutch-ah. E-chah-pah. E-mah-shah-chubbe. E-ah-ham-bee. E-lah-pe-ah-ho-nah . E-mah-om-be. E-to-pok-a-nah. E-meen-tah-ho-nah. E-li-oon-ah. E-lah-tubbe. E-lap-ik-e-bah. E-yon-tah. E-mipah. E-mo-thah-tubbe. E-ii-o-te-mah. E-lan-tiibbe (or Tish-o-pi-a). E-a-chubbe. E-la-ha-lu-ta. E-lo-ni-ah. E-Io-ho-ka. E-liza. E-mo-na tubbe. p]-o-fa-tubbe-to-uah (or To-cubbe). E-whah-to-nah. E-ah-kah-tubbe. E-lah-imi-tubbe. E-hi-ha-cubbe. E-la-te-mah. E-iiiah-lubbe. E-ah-tahn-tubbe. E-ah-ki-ah-to-nah. E-ah-ho-nubbe. E-li-o-nubbee. Katamia Charles. E-inil-la. E-la-hn-teina. E-laii-tul)be. E-la-(a-i-li<)-na. Ea-ish-tubl)0. E-math-lo-la. Ecn-ta-ho-ka. E-ma-lubbee. E-iio-ka. E-li-/,a. E-lo-\va-tubbe. Eliza. E-la-took-e-la. E-lo-ma-fhubbe. E-la-pa-nubbo. 25134— PT 4—16 2 Elijah. Ellen. E-o-lah. E-lah-pam-la. E-lah-we-tubbe . E-ye-me- tubbe. E-ioom-ah-ho-kah. E-li-emah. E-lah-pa-lubbe. E-no-wah. E-me-le-hubbe. E-la-u-ka-tubbe. E-lah-pun-te-mah. E-me-la-ho-na. Fay a. F'annubbe. Falle-cheto. Fal-a-min-chubbee . Fe-ma-la. Fa-nubbee. Fe-tick-ah-chubbe. Fil-e-ah- tubbe. Fo-kah-lin-tiibbe. Fe-temah-ti-mah . Fe-le-kah. Fal-ah- moon- tubbe . Fe-le-nubbe. Fe-le-tah. Fe-laka-tubbe. Fil-e-ah-tim-ah. Fo-ko-lin-tubbe. Fah-hah-mah-ho-nah . Full-o-mo-tubbe. Fil-e-mam-le. Fal-lal-moon-tubbe. Ful-le-ho-mah. Fun-ne-ho-mah . Fa-la-moon-tubbe. Fil-e-ti-yah. P'e-lah-moon-tubbe. Fil-e-tubbe. Fo-look-a-che. Fish-o-ho-cubbe . Fo-le-na-te-mah. Fa-lam-c- tubbe. Fish-u. Fil-o-cutch-e. Fa-lam-a-tubbe. Fal-am-a-tubbo. Fal-am-ah-ho-ka. Fil-e-tah-ho-nah. Fal-ali-mo-tubbc. I<^lle-moon-tubbe. Fallo-ah-ham-be . Fil-e-mah. Fil-e-to-nah. Fc-le-moon-tubbe. Fe-lern-e-tubbe. Fin-niin-tubbe. Fille-tah. Fut-cha. Fil-le-ca-tubbe. i"'ill('-nian-tubbe. 18 INDIAX APPROPEIATION BILL, 1917. List of Mississippi Choctaw ImUans in whose behalf scrip ivas issued under the provisions of the act of Congress of Aug. 23, 1 842~V ontinucd. Fall lah-mah. ]'\in-c-uhl)e. F()-lub-l)e-chubbe. Fo-l()()k-a-clie. Fitrh-ik-iio-wah. Fish-ali-he-lubbe. Fah-lam-beo. Fillu))bee. Fil-e-mon-o-ti-ma, Fil-e-mah-tubbe, Fa-lo-mah. Fee-cliubbe. Foster, Thomas W. Foster, (icorge H. Foster, Elija G. Frazer, Sweeny. Fo-ca-tubbee. George. Gibson. Go-ma-chubbee. Gibson. Gowin, Betsey. Hol-la-chee. Him-mo-ka-to-na. Hoya (or Ahoya). Hothma. Ha-ma-yo-lubbee . Hoth-ta-ma. Hok-a-tiibbe. Ha orho. BiUubbee. Hoy-e-ta-na. Hoyo-ho-tubbee. High i-ho-na. Hoi hi chubbee. Fem-a-fhe-na. Ho-pa ka-che. Hus-he-Mingo, Ho-ka-lo-che. Ho-te-ma-ta. Ho-(i-a-ka. I lo-te-mo-na-ho-ka. llul-tuk-ho-ma. llollah. Ili-a-ca-to-na. llan-nul)bec. Hia-cutch-ee (or Hi-yo-ca-chee). Ho-ta-cubbee. Ho-but-a-ka. Hi-a-lubbee. Ilo-te-o-a. ilo-lel -tah-ho-nah. Ho-to-nah-chubbee. Hi-ack-co-nubbee. Hick-a-tom-bee. Hi-a-la. Hal -la. lio-che-fo. Ilo-te-mah. Hop-pa-la-tubbee. He-ne-ah-ho-nah. Ho-to-man-cha. Ho-ta. Ho-tah-ho-nah. Ho-tam-bee. Ho-lah-tubbee. Han-nah. Ho-ha-cubbee. Hith-ah. Ho-nibbee. Him-mock-ah-bee. Hi-ah-la-ho-mah. Ho-te-man-chubbee. Ha-chah. Ho-pa-na. Ho-gla. Ho-cho-na. Hick-a-to-mah. Ho-tan-te-ni-ah. Hi-o-tah. Ha-la. Ho-te-nubbee. Ho-to-nah. Ha-cubbee. Hi-o-te-mah. Hun-o-nah-tubbee. Ho-pi-ah. Ho-te-ah. Ho-bah-cha-ho-nah . Ho-te-ah-ho-nah. Ho-yo-pa-tiibbe. He-kah-tubbee. Ha-cha. Ho-chubbe. Plo-nah. Ho-ta-che-ho-nah. Ho-lima. Hah-tak-lam-ah. Hock-la-ho-nah. Hun-niibbe. Ho-tim-ah. Ho-tah-at-tiibbe. He-kah-tubbe. Ha-le-tubbe. Hi-oiin-ubbe. Ho-lah-bah-ho-nah. He-kuh-ti-mah. Ho-tan-yah. Ilo-tish-tam-be. Ho-tish-im-ah. Ha-ka-a-ho-mah . Hal-le. He-kak-ti-niah. Hok-la-ho-nah. Ila-o-lc-tini-ah. Ho-lini-e-ah. Hah-tak-ubbe. Ha-tick-illa. Ho-tik-la. Ho-tah-(ah. Hi-ne-ubbe. He-cubbe. Ho-te-ah. He-u-ah-le-tubbe. Ho-to-nah. Ho-ne-Iam-be. Hol-l)a-tubbe. Ho-ne-mah. He-nah-ho-mah. Hook-e-la. INDIAN APPROPRIATION BILL, 1917. 19 List of Mississippi Choctaw Indians in whose behalf scrip was issued under the provisions of the act of Congress of Aug. 23, 1842 — Continued. Hi-ah-ka-tubbe. Hath-la. Hi-o-tubbe. He-vo-ho-nah. Hool-lo. Ho-ka. Ho-cha. Ho-te-mi-ah. Hon-oon-tam-ba. Hi-ah-ka-tubbe. Hi-e-le-ho-nah. Ha-lubbe. Ho-tira-ah-che. Ha-la-che. Ho-te-an-ah. Hota-tim-ah. Ho-lis-ah-tubbe. Ho-yo-ubbe. He-challe. Ho-pak-o-nah. Ho-te-ah. Hik-it-e-ah-ho-nah. Ho-tin-lubbe. Ho-yo. Hon-ah-ho-tubbee. Hah-be-nah. Ho-yo-nubbe. Ho-bah-tam-tubbe. Hok-e-lo-tubbe. Ha-took-lubbe. Ho-te-tubbe. Hush-e-ho-mah. Ili-yo-hx. Ilol-le. Ili-een-ah-tubbe. llo-le-ti-ah. Ilolla-ti-yah. lIok-k)-tubbe. Ilo-bah-to-mah. Ho-tan-tu-nah. Hi-o-to-nah. Ho-tc-mah. Ilill-a-tubbe. Ilo-lis-so-ho-nah. IIo,s-to-no-che. Hio-yale. Ili-yah-kubbe. Ho-chuF)be. Han-tubbe. Hush-.shook-ho-mah, Ilo-te-inah. no-kah-tub])e. Ho-to-inah. ITus-ke-ah-hooc-ta. IIo()-1<'-inah. Ile-hibbe. Ilo-yubbe. Hah-la-le. Ho-to-nah. Hool-bah-tubbe. Hushe-te-mah. Hok-sa-gee. Hi-yok-ah. Hi-ape-ha-sa. Ho-pi-yah . Hoo-sah-tubbe. Hoo-che-mah. Heith-lah-tho-nah. Ho-tubbe. Ho-mok-o-nubbe. Ho-to-pah-le. Hoth-te-nubbe. Ho-be-ti-yah. Hin-che. Ho-te-kubbe. Hoth-te-nubbe. Ho-tubbe. Ho-pah-ka-ho-nah . Hush-hook-ho-nah. Hi-tuke-pa-ho-ma (or Yak-i-ah). Hush-e-no-wah. Hi-em-e-te-mah. Hi-o-tubbe. Hi-a-lee. Ho-yubbe. Hash-ah-i-ta-nah . Hi-a-lee. He-ki-yuable. Ho-te-nah. Hi-en-e-chubbe. Hah-mook-la-ho-nah. Ho-chon-chubbe. Ho-pa-hin-tubbe. Ho-tish-le-ah. Ho-te-yah. Ho-te-mah. Ho-yo-ho-nah. Hoy-ubbe. Hi-ak-ah. He-yape-ah-ha-jo. Hi-yak-hubbo. Ho-che-fo-tubbe. Hol-la-ho-nah . Han-ah-to-nah. Hi-ah-co-nubbo. He-no-nah-tubbe. Hool-bah-tubbe. Ho-nah. Ha-ba-nah. Ho-nah. Ho-pah-ka-tubbe. Ho-lah-cha. Ho-lah. Ham -bee. Ho-ni-o-nubbee. Ho-te-mah. Ho-yn-an-tubbe. Han-ah-mock-ah-yah. Ho-tn-ak-ah. Ho-lah-ho-nah. Hon-to-nah. Ho-lah-te-mah. Hoo-nah. IIn-me-ho-tul)l)0. Ho-bah-(uni-bce. Hah-nubboe. Hi-ak-o-lubbee. Han-nubbe. 20 INDIAN APPEOPRIATION BILL^ 1917. List of Mississippi Choctaw Indians in whose behalf scrip was issued under the provisions of the act of Congress of Aug. 23, 1842 — Continued. Hool-bah-ho-nah . Hik-e-yah. Ho-nah . rii-ah-ka-tubbe. He-lubbe. Ha-man-che. Ho-knbbe. Hik-ah-che. Him-ah-\)bbe. He-ka-che-ho-nah . He-ah-ka-isb-to-nah. Ho-ka. Him-nuk-iibbe. Ho-ba-tubbe. Him-moc k-ara-bee. Ho-te-mab. Hi-a-to-iiah. Ho-yo-pab. Ho-ta-bo-iiab. Ho-tab-kih-ba-mah. Ho-le-ba-cbubbee. Ho-cbe-nah. Ha-ta-niab-bo-nab. Ho-ka. Ho-te-nab-ho-nah. Ho-pab-kah. Ho-pi-ab-tubbe. Ho-sMn-she-bo-mah. Ho-yo-pa. Ho-e-o-iia. He-a-ka-ti-iia. Hotcb-a-ka. Ilo-ba-te-i-a. Ha-tubbe. Hob-tab. Hi-ab-ko-mibbe. H L-ab -ka-mab-tubbe. Ho-le-to-pab. H( -ta-cubbe. Hick-a-tubbe. Ho-yo-ka. Ho-to-nab. Hetty. Ho-te-niab. Ho-jji-ab-bo-niab. Ho-no-que-ah. Huii-oon-pab. Ho-i)ab-cubbe. Ho-cbab. Hono-ki-o. Ha-cubbe. Hoth-te-ma-bo-yo. Hotb-te-ma-ho-yo. Ho-ma-a-cbee. Hik-in-tubbe. Hick-a-tubbe. Ha-yo-pa. Hali-son. Ha-to-na. Ho-ba-tish-ubbe. Ho-ti-kab. Hok-ta. Ho-ka-lo-tubbe. Husb-to-nubbee (alias Ae-ma-lo- cubbe, alias 0-gle-isb-ti-a). Ho-vo-bo-nubbee. Ho-iin. Ho-na-cbi-to. Ho-cba.. Ho-cba. Ho-te-ook-a. Ho-vo. Hol-la. Ho-e-ho-nah. He-ke-ah-bo-nah. He-kab. Ho-ba-te-yab. Ho-to-uab. Ho-chubbe. Ha-mook-lab-tubbe. He-to-nab. Ho-te-ini-ah. Ho-yvibbee. Ho-tam-bee. He-in-tira-ab. Hoo-too-nah. Hoo-la-te-i-a. H ock-lo-batt-ah . Ho-ba-lab. Ho-yo-ki-ab. Hock-a-la-tubbee. Hash-ta-sbo-nab. Is-te-a-ka-ia-bo-na. Ts-tam-ba. Is-tilla-bala-tubbee. la-ma. Ts-ti-e-a-tubbe. Ish-kumma. Is-tam-ba-la-bee. Ista-pe-ca-nubbee. Isb-te-mei-a-mibbee. Is-tam-cba. Is-tim-a-la-bo-na. Is-o-,s2;la-te-ina (alias Oclatema-Im- mil-o-bo-na). Is-tam-tubbee. Isb-tam-yab. I-ubbee. Is-tam-to-na. Is-ta-bo-la. Iste-man-cba-ho-na. I-o-\va-cbe. Ick-a-na. Im-ubbee. I-a-tubbee. Im-mish-to-nah. I-a-mab. I-suin. Isb-a-tvibbee. I-sim. Ish-te-mabn-a-chubbee. Im-mab-la-bubbee. Im-mi-e-ho-to-nah. I-ab-nin-tubbee. Ish-wa-chubbee. I-to-tubbee. INDIAN APPEOPBIATION BILL, 1911. 21 List of Mississippi Choctaw Indians in whose behalf scrip was issued under the provisions of the act of Congress of Aug. 23, 1842 — Continued. sh-to-niah-ho-nah . m-sey. m-moch-fo-quah-tubbee. ^sh-ton-te-mah. ck-neth-lo. a-hubbee. sh-tim-a-so-yo. m-mah-tha-chubbe. s-un-mah. -o-glah-tubbe (or Hustuk). -a-mah. lla-ho-nah. sh-ta-ka. Ooos-ta. sh-ta-ho-nah. sh -sham-bee. -orth-la. lla-ho-ka. lla-glah-to-nah. a-mah. sh-te-lah-mah. sh-wah-ki-yo. sh-te-mah-ka. con-nah. m-mah-no-wah-ho-nah. 'm-mock-kah-ho-nali. o-piin-na-chubbee. m-mish-ti-yah. -o-ke-a-to-nah. sh-tah-shubbee. sh-tah-hxh. m-me-ho-ba-tubbee. ^sh-to-mahlone-chubbee. ^sta-min-cha-tubbee (or Mincha). m-mah-lah-te-mah. lla-con-a-tubbee. -ok-lo-tiibbe. -e-ne-tim-ah. n-pak-nah-ho-nah . m-ah-illa. ye-le-he-mah (or I-la-ho-nah) . saac. m-my. k-o-nah-te-mah . sh-te-ah-ho-nah. sh-te-lah-ne. sh-tah-ho-va-ho-nah. m-ah-lo-ho-nah. sh-lah-ho-ka. sh-ta-mah-ho-nah. t-a-pe-sah. sh-te-mi-ah. n-lah-tim-ah. m-al-to-va. m-e-lubbe. sh-te-mah. 'sh-to-me. !s-tubbe-hattah. sh-tu-nah-tubbe. sh-ta-ah-ho-nah. sh-taho-nah. o-ka-to-nah. m-])iui-ah. s-shan-ke-ho-yo. Ish-ho-ni-ye. Ish-tubbe-ho-ka. Im-an-o-tik-a. Ish-tan-we-che. Im-ah-ho-nah. Ish-to-nah-che-ho-nah. In-Uih-tubbe. Im-om-ubbe. Ish-tah-hibbe. Im-ah-ho-yo. Illa-ho-yubbe. Insh-kam-ah. Ish-tal-ath-i-ah. Ish-tal-lah-ho-nah . Im-ah-ho-ka. Is-ho-ka (or Ath-le-ho-ka), I sh-tah-yo-co-nah . In-am-be. I-yo-nah. Isii-pah-lah-te. In-am-be. I-3'O-nah. Isii-pah-lah-te. Im-ah-tish-e-ho-nah. Ish-im-ah-ho-ka. Ish-te-mi-o-nah. In-lah-to-nah. Im-pun-ah. Ish-ti-ah. Ish-tam-mo. Ish-te-me-le-ho-ka. Ish-ti-ah. I-ath-le-pah. Im-ah-le-ho-nah. Ish-ta-lubbe. Ish-te-mi-ah-ho-ka. Is-te-che. In-lah-ho-nah. I-ah-che-ho-nah. Im-ah-tah-ho-nah. Ish-to-ni-ye. Ish-tem-bo-la. Im-uk-tah-nubbe. Ille-tubbe. Tm-ah-chi-ah. Ish-mi-ah-ho-nah . Is-sta-cha. Ish-tni-ok-eu-ah (or Ish-ton-ah-kue-ab, or Nok-we-ah). I-yok-e-tubbe. Ish-un-ah-ho-ka. Im-mah. I-e-ah-ho-nah. Tm-ho-ah-to-iiah. Tm-i-e-ah-ha-tiibbe. I.sh-t()-ka-ho-tim-ah. Ish-te-me-lu1)be. Ish-ho-yo. Im-ok-po-to-tubbe. l!sh-tul)be. Ik-io-ne-nah. Ish-ta-lo-la-tvibbe. Is-tubbe. Ish-no-wah. 22 INDIAN APPROPRIATION BILL, 1917. List of Mississippi Choctaw Indians in whose behalf scrip was issued under the provisions of the act of Congress of Aug. 23, 7,?^^— Continued. Isaac. In-lah-f'ubbee. Ish-ah-hok-ta. Im-ah-ho-yo. Ish-tah-ham-me. Ish-ta-uek-la. I-tun-la-tubbe. Is-te-me-chubbe. Im-ah-no-ah-tim-ah. Isli-tah-tubbee (or Big Jacob). Is-til-i-ah-ho-ka. Ish-ti-o-pa. I-yo-co-nubbe. Ish-te-ah-ho-ka. Im-al-tali-ho-nah. I-ok-la. Ish-tah-hook-tah . Ish-tah-tubbe. Ish-ti-ah. Il-ah-chaf-f ubbe . I-a-nah. Im-uth-ta-ha-to-nah. Ish-li-vah. I-o-ko-nubbe. I-map-kan-che. Itte-ho-mis-tubbe. Im-mo-nubbe. lUah-ish-te-mah. It-ta-mith-ubbe. Im-me-ho-nah. I-tu-nah. It-ah-ho-bo. Tsh-me-ah. Ib-ah-no-wa*h. In-chuk-mah-ho-yo. I-bak-ah-hubbe. I-lah-yo-kubbe. I-ha-kon-bee. Illah-no-la. Iha-gah-tubbe. Ish-te-ma-ho-nah. Tn-too-lah. T-ha-kah-tubbe. I-lap-im-hah. Im-ah-talle. I-ape-ah-tubbe. I-ik-len-ah. I-yo-ke-nubbe. I-hik-c-tubbee. I-mut-te-ali. I-ok-('he-ho-ka. Im-ah-yah. I -em-ma. In-tu-la-ho-ka. Ish-to-pah-nubbe. r-la])-o-nah. 1,'^h tan-te-mah. Ish-ko-( hubbe. I-o-pa-cliee. Ish-la-ho-ka. Ish-ta-bo-ki. Im-o-na-ho-ka. I-it-tu-lah. Ish-te-mak-ah. Ik-tah-te-mah. Ish-te-mi-yah. Ish-te-ma. It-e-lak-na. Ik-be-tubbe. Il-ah-ish-to-nah. Ish-tik-ah-tubbe. In-sha-la-tubbe. lo-yah-hubbe. I -yah. Ish-tah-pak-mah. I-ask-ka-mah. Il-le-ho-ka. I-oath-ah. Il-ah-e-mah. Im-ish-too-nah. I-m-ah-tha-kah. Im-ah-i-sha. I-m-mil-le. Ik-lan-ah-tah. Im-ish-le-ah. I-a-che-ho-nah. Ish-ti-o-nah. I-hool-bah-tubbee. I-lah-ho-tubbe. I-hi-o-tubbe. I-lah-ha-be to-nah. I-bah-wa-che. Il-ah-ish-te-mah. I-een-la-hubbe. I-o-ga-be. I-o-kul)be. I-sham. Isk-te-kubbe. I-ha-ne-iibbe. It-e-ok-chak-ko. Ish-tah-ho-ho-tubbe. I-yo-mah-ho-ka. I-o-gle-te-mah. Ish-tah-ho-cubbe. Ish-te-mah-le-chubbe . I-yo-nah-te-mah . Ish-tah-ho-nah. I-lik-e-tubbe. I-al-ba. Ish-tan-tubbe. In-tah-hubbe. Im-ah-no-wabbe. Ish-tal-lah. In-lab-tubbe. Ish-tah-tubbe. Is-te-ini-o-nah. Ish-tesh-tan-be. I-yo-nan-te-nah Ish-tah-ho-nah. Ik-ham-ah. I-ath-le-pah. Ish-tan-to-nah. Ish-ta-ne-mah-tubbe. I-orth-Uih. I-yo-ko-mah. Ish-ta-hem-ah. I-e-ton-lah. Ish-te-mah-ho-nah. INDIAN APPROPKIATION BILL, 1917. 23 List of Mississippi Choctaw Indians in whose behalf scrip was issued under the provisions of the act of Congress of Aug. 23, 1842 — Continued. I-niath-pis-a-tam-be. Ish-ho-ya. Ish-tah-a-mah. Ish-tah-he-niah. Ish-tah-ah-ho-mali. I-tiii-Iuh-him-ah. Is-chaf-ul)l)e. I-yo-lah. Ish-tah-ho-nah. Ish-tou-tin-ah. I-kah-po-lubbe. Im-me-ho-ka. I-an-ta-tublje. Ish-tah-ho-nah. Ish-ti-o-khi. Ik-lan-ul)be. Ish-to-ho-yo. I-o-liou-iil)be. Ish-ten-oah-to-nah . Ik-len-ah. Ish-to-nan-chi. Ish-pah-na. Ish-tini-uii-ho-ya. Lsh-a-ho-nah. Io-ka-chul)be. Il-la-con-nah-tiibbe. Ish-tin-nio-na-chu})be. I-co-mah. Im-ul)l)e. Im-moon-tubbee . Ik-ko-nah-ho-nah . 11-la-ino-to-nah. Im-inah-ho-nah. Illa-ho-chubbce. Im-il-le. Iin-ah-ho-tonah. Is-tini-ah-ham-be. I-o-paii-ubbe. In-ah-hil)be. In-ish-tani-be. Ish-to-nie-hah-tul)be. I-it-ah-niiblic. Im-ah-to-nah. I-ok-lo-lmbbe. Iii-n()-1ul)l.e. lKh-ta-li()-hibl)e. l-wah-tii-iiah. I-ah-ka-ho-che. I-yo-ho-nah. Ii[i-ah-nc)-le-ham-l)e. It-e-mi-ya- (or Man-ya). I-yo-wa. Lsh-te-fhubbe. Il-l(>-n()-wa. Ish-iu)-\va. Im-iiia-no-lc-ho-yo. Is-8tul)lH'f'. Im-po-iuih. Im-iii()ii;la-rhiil)l)o (or 0-'j;lah-chul)l)e). Im-iiic-yah-ho-iiah. Ini-nio-nah-ho-ka- (alias Na-wa). Im-pi-ah. I-o-niah . 1-o-gla. sh-tim-mah-la. -a-min-tah-ho-ka. sh-ta-ah-ha-cubbe. m-mah-sho-inah . 1-b-che. sh-tah-ho-pah. sh-tah-hi])be. t-tah-lo\v-cchah. m-ino-iiah-to-nah . m-nio-ua-tul)be. sh-te-mah. sh-tahn-tah. m-mah-tiyah. sh-ti-a-mah. -anah. m-me-sha. sh-tah-ho-we-cha. sh-stanthly. s-te-me-i-a. m-mo-na-ho-yo. -cha. m-ma-to-ho-ho-na (or A-to-ba). m-mah-sah-che. s-ton-a-ka. o-glah. ck-glen-a-hee-rha. sh-te-maho-nah. 1-ie-o-tubbe. m-al-to-bah. m-ah-lah-ho-nah. -o-koon-ah. k-1 e-ho-nah. m-mah-na-chubl)ee. m-mis-te-mah. -mah-pi-sah-timah. -mah-tah. -o-ka. -o-a-ho-ma. Uah-payn-to-nah (or To-nah). -ah-ho-to-nah. sh-te-mah. -la-tubbe. -o-ma. ackson. ack (alias Ona-lubbee). oshua. ones, Jenny, oel. ohn. ohn. ohn-im-mey. ackson. o8e])hus. ipie. ackson. ep. etferson. osey. um-pah (or Chum-pah), ohny. ake. inny. o-se. im. 24 INDIAN APPROPRIATION BILL, 1917. List of Mississippi Choctau^Indinns in whose behalf scrip was issued under the provisions of the act of Congress of Aug. 23, 1842 — C'ontinued. Joses. Johny. Joliii. Jc])e. Jim-Tom. John. Jinny. Jackson. Jones, Levi. James. Kan-slie-lio-to-ma . Kan-cha. Kunnea. Ke-yo-cu1)be. Kon-the-tubbe. Kan-oon-tubbe. I\on-che-ho-ka. Kan-oon-tubbo. Kan-clie-to-nul>be . Kon-che-tam-be. Kun-e-moon-tiibbe. Kom-pil-lali. Kon-e-toon-tubbe. Kon-fhe-ti-ah. Kan-che-ti-ah. Kan-oon-ta-tubbe . Kan-oon-ubbe. Kon-me-mah-ubbo . Kon-oon-tah-tubbe. Ko-tah. Ka-chubbe. Kis-ah-nah. Kon-che-tubbe. Kan-au-ren-tiu-tubbe . Kem~ish-to-nah . Kam-pa-lubbe. Koocli-abbe. Ko-mubbe. Kan rhe-le. Kun-ne-ahto-nah. Ka-ne-tim-be. Kun-nal-le-tubbe. Kan-cha-tubbe. Kan-cho-ma-ha. Kah-ne-tah. K()-nan-( hubbe. Ka-tha-ho-nah. Kan-che-tam-be. Kah-no-ma-ho-nah. Kis-tubbe. Kan-the. Kun-ne-ah-ho-nah. Koos-ta-na. Kut-tah-hah. Kah-il-le. Ka-tublie. Kah-non-te-ubbe. Kanche ho-ka. Kun-o-tah-ho-nah . Kah-po-tubbe. Ke-ille. Knn-ne-a-tnbbo. Kam-pe-tnbbe. Ka-to-nah. Kah-tam-ljco. Ka-yu-hubbe. Kush-oon-an-che-hnbbo . Kun -nc-ah-ho-nah . Ka-ha-le-ho-nah. Ko-bah-tom-bee. Kal-?o-tah. Kush-ah-nam-bee. Ke-lis-ta. Kah-lo-tubbe. Kik-e-te-raah. Ke-yo-ho-nah. Kan-ah-to-nah. Kiin-e-mah-ho-nah. Kiish-oon-a-miis-tnbbee. Ka-yo-ho-mah. Kal-po-tubbe. Koo-chubbe. Ka-o-ciibbe. Kxm-e-tom-be. Kam-pillah. Kam-pilla. Kon-kah-noos-ko-bo. Kush-oon-an-cha-ha-ba. Ko-noo-tubbe. Kim-e-ah-to-nah. Ke-ah-na-chubbe. Ko-tah. Kan-pho-mm-phe-hubbe (or Billy John). Knn-ne-ah-ho-nah. Ka-no-yo-he-kubbe. Koo-tah . Kan-cha-tom-la. Kan-che. Kuth-lee-lee. Kmi-e-an-che-ha-la. Kim-ah-ho-tubbe . Ko-na-ohiibbe. Ka-lo-ho-na. Ko-ke-i-a. Ka-o-tnbbo. Ko-chubbee. Kan-a-ho-te-ma. Kish-i:-mus-tnbbe (or Ka-lubbee). Kon-che-ho-nah . Ka-sa. Ke-ka. Kan-allo. Koo-cha-tiyah. Kan-che-ho-nah . Kah-no-me-he-mah . Kiiph-ah-hooc-ta. Kun-o-te-ma. Kurney, Charles. Kon-o-moon-tah. Ken-che-to-ah . Kearney, Oreesay. Kearn(>y, Wilson. Kearney, Josephus. La-pin-tnbbe. Lewis. Lorn a. Look-fan-cha. Laris. INDIAN APPROPRIATION BILL, 1917. 25 List of Mississippi Choctaw Indians in whose behalf scrip was issued under the provisions of the act of Congress of Aug. 23, 1842 — Continued. Lo-sho-ma. Liishta. Lo-ka. Lo-mo-ka. La-pa-sa. Lo-mah-ka. Li-la. Litf-mah. Li-la. Lah-^a. La-man . Lah-pah-ho-nah . Lucy. Lo-ma. Low-ch-te-mah . La-t^ho-mah. La-mah . Li-za. Lah-sa. Lah-po-ka. Lo-mah-ta-ka. Lali-pah-te-mah . Lu?h-pam-le. Look-o-la-tubbe. La-po-te-mah. Le-ah-ho-nah. Lo-man-to-nah. Lucy. Lo-s*ho-mah. La-mah-ho-nah. Lo-ma-tubbe (alias E-la-lo-ma-tubbe). Lo-mah. Lah- wah-ho-n ah . Lo-ko-tam-be. Lo-sho-na. Low-ah-tubbe. Lah-ta-kah (or Tom Billy). Lo-ho-no-tubbe. Low-wa-txibbe. Loo-pa. Lah-ha-niibbe. Lo-niah-to-nah. Lap-ah-la. Lo-mah. La-pa-sa-ho-nah . Lah-habbe. Lash-pah. Lah-nah-che-ho-nah . La-sho-ma. Le-neah-ho-nah . Low-ah-che. Lah-mah-ha-cubbe. Lap-oon-ah-hah. Lo-mah . Low-a-chiibbe. Low-um-che. Lo-ma. Lah-pahn-la. Lo-mah-ho-shul-bee. La-fah-tah. Li-wca. Lewis. Lo-mah-tubbee. Le-ah-ho-ka. Lah-puh-ma-tu-mah. Lucy. Lo-wa-to-na. Lo-wa-ho-ka. Lo-ma-ho-na. La-ho-na. Lo-wa. Lub-bee. Lirea Ann. Lc-ma-ka. Lovie. Lo-mah. La-ti-ma-sha. Low-a-tam-na. La-sin. Li-la. La-i-e-ma-ho-na. La-pa-ta-ma. Lah-ma. La-pish-no- wah . Loo-ak-ish-tubbe. Lap-ah-hove-ta. Lah-pim-a-ho-ka . La-pa-chubbee. Lucy. Lo-wa- tubbe. Low-in-cha. La-po-nubbee. Ma-ha-to-na (or Wahatona). Molly. Min-ta-ho-to-na. Manc-che. Mon-in-tubbe. Min-te-mibbe. Mak-kee-ha-to-na . Ma-al-e-he-ma. Mut-ta-ho-na. Mul-tubbee. Mal-cho-na. Mon-to-na. Mal-a-ke-tiibbe. Mach-ca-ho-na. Man-sha-tubbee. Ma-hubbee. Ma-to-na (alias Ona-to-na). Me-hi-a-te-na. Ma-ho-la-tubbee. Me-ah-te-ubbe. M-le-ah. Mal-le-te-ah. Me-ah-tubbee. Mi-yah. Mo-min-tubbee. Mock-an-tubbee. Mason. Mina. Mon-tah . Me-mock-a-wah. Me-he-to-nubbee. Mah-la-ho-na. Me-ah-sho-nah. Mary Ann. M e-ah-sham-tubbee. Meah-sho-tubbee. Mock-ah-to-nah. Me-la-ho-nah. 26 INDIAN APPKOPEIATION BILL, 1917. List of Mississippi Choctaw Indians in ivhose behalf scrip was issued under the provisions of the act of Congress of Aug. 23, i,5?4^— Continued. Mo-me tim-ah. Me-ha-tiibbe. Mok-a-chubbee. Mah-no-te-naah. Me-ah-ish-tam-be. Mak-ah-le-ho-nah . Math-la. Ma-che-tubbe. Min-tah-hubbee. Mah-han-tubbe. Me-la. Mak-ah-hi-ah. Me-ah-sho-tubbe. Me-ash-e-mah. Mak-a-le-ho-ke. Mo-min-tubbe (alias Mo-ma-cha). Mah-to-nah. Mah-ke. Mah-ye (alias Ok-lih-mi-ah). Mah-he-cubbe. Me-he-yo-ka-lubbe. Me-ah-shu-nah. Min-te-hubbe. Moc-ah-be. Mal-le-tubbe. Me-he-le-ho-nah. Mah-ah-tah-ho-nah. Me-o-chubbe. Mi-ah-tubbee. Mak-ah-ho- tim-ah. Me-he-o-tim-ah. Mak-e-ubbee. Me-hah-tali-tah. Me-he-looth-tubbe. Mingo-homa. See Capt. Bob. Me-tah. Me-ash-f a n e-u bbe . Me-ah-che. Me-hah-tish-te-ah. Min-te-ho-yo. Me-ali-shiii-tubbe (or Me-ash-in-tubbe). Me-ah-ho-ka-tiibbe. Me-she-uiah-tubbe. Mah-le-le-ho-nah. Me-chubbe. Mi-ah-tim-ah. Me-yo-to-nah. Mo-iiah-tubbe. Mish-tah-tubbe. Miu-to-cubbe. Malle. Min-te-nubbe. Mah-ho-nah. Me-ah-i-ah-chu-nah . Min-to-ha-nah. Min-ta-chubbe. Me-ah-sho-nah. Mis-oii-an-ha-tubbe. Ma-hi-ye. Mah-ha-cubbe. Me-ah-chubbe. Mah-le-le. Mi-ah-tubbe. Me-hah-kah-tim-ah. Man-chubbe. Mo-sho-le-tubbe. Me-shu n-tah-tubbe. Mish-een-ah-to-nah. Mah-le-ah. Min-te-chubbe. Me-ah-she-mah. Me-hah-tim-ah. Me-la-he-yo-che (or Math-le-hi-o-ja). Me-ah-to-co-nah. Me-ha-ah-chubbe. Mo-niin-tubbe (or Billy Jackson). Mo-min-che. M-ha-che. Me-ha-te-kubbe. Me-cam-bee. Mo-sha-kal. Mue-la-le-chubbe. Mingo-hapia (alias Ne-ta-cubbe). Me-sham-bee. Mi-o-niibbe. Mi-yah-ho-nah. Mo-ehu-lak-a. Mah-to-nah. Mam-bah. Mo-min-che. Mul-la-le-ho-nah. Me-ash-pal-lah. Mah-li. Moon-tah. Me-ha-tubbe. M-she-he-kubbe. Me-ha-che. Mush-a-lah-kah. Ma-he-tubbe. Mul-a-tubbe. Mah-lah. Minte-ho-nah. Ma-ko-ka. Man-tubbe. Mo-uim-tubbe. Me-tah-lah. Mi-yah-tubbe. Mah-ka-tubbe. M ah- yah. Me-hat-e-she. Mah-ko-cha. Mah-ho-tubbe. Muk-am-bee. Mulla-tubbe. Mi-ya-cubbe. Me-ha-che- tubbe. Me-yah-tiibbe. Ma-ha-te-tubbe. Maho-ka. Me-ho-te-ah. Me-she-mah-ho-nah. Muk-ln-tiibbe. Me-ha-to-nam-bee. Me-haw. Me-shom-to-yah. Me-ha-che-to-nah. Muttul-bee. Me-ah-sho-ka. INDIAN APPROPEIATION BILL, 1917. 27 List of Mississippi Choctaw Indians in xvhosc behalf scrip was issued under the provisions of the act of Congress of Aug. 23, 1842 — Continued. Mah-la-ho-ka. Me-sham-le. Me-ha-took-ho-nah. Mah-le. Mab-e-ti-yah. Mal-as-ho-iiah. Ma-sho-la. Ma-chnbhe. Me-he-mah. Ma-ah-she-mah. Me-sha-tubbe. Me-sha-tubbe. Me-shone-tah-tubbe . Me-ho-te-mah. Moon-tubbe. Me-han-to-tubbe. Me-ah-sho-nah. Me-ah-sho-tiibbee. Me-he-o-tubbee. Mok-in-lubbee. Me-mah-tam-be. Me-ah-to-chubbee . Me-sham-be. Me-hah-to-nah. Me-ah-she-nah. Mah-la. Mus-shu-le-lah. Me-ah-tubbee. Min-te-lubbee. Math-la-tubbe. Me-shune-tubbee. Mi-hah-tim-ah. Mo-nim-tom-ba. Me-ash-onn-te-mah . Me-ha-la-ho-nah. Me-ha-to-nah. Mish-oon-tubbe. Mah-la-hn-nah. Me-ash-in-tubbe. Mok-o-nu])be. Mok-a-tubbe. Me-she-mah-tubbe. Me-hah. Me-shoi)n-tah-ta,h. Mah-le-ho-ka. Me-he-ah-te-mah. Me-ah-shu-nah. Me-ah-ho-nah. Me-hi-o-tubbee. Min-ta-hubbee. Moon-ta. Moon-tah. Me-la. Ma-ha-lo-ma-tubbee. Min-ta-ho-ka. Ma-hon-to-nah. Ma-ha-cha. Ma-ho-nah. M-ah-sho-nocka. Mo()n-tub>)ee. Me-o-tubbce. Mah-le-ah-tah. Min-tc-hubbee. Ma-an-too-nah, Mal-la-le-ho-nah . Ma-lo-la-ho-nah. Ma-lubbee. Mi8-to-bo-yea. Mook-ka-fa. Mi-yah. Min-tah-chubbe . Min-te-ho-yo. Me-he-tam-be. Ma-ha-to-na. j\Iin-ta-hiibbe. Me-ah-8hia. Me-ha-to-na. Mish-sham-be (or Me-ash-am-be) . Me-a-tube. Mal-la-ho-ka. ]\futh-toon-bah. Mook-ah-hi-yah. Mah-la- (or Suckey). Mah-han-to-nah. Moon-tubbe (or Moon-tah). Mah-la-tubbe. Mint-tiibbee. Ma-ka-le. Muk-a-to-na. Mas-sa-la. Me-lin-ga-li-ah. Mat-he-chubbee. Mis-ta-i-a-ho-ka. Ma-ho-hit-ubbe. Ma-lis-sa. Mi-ha-ya-tubbe. Molly. Moon-tah. Mary. Maa-shem-a-ho-ka. Me-ah-tim-mah. Moon-tubbee. Me-he-ubbe. Mis-tubbe. Ma-ham-bee. Me-shi>m-kubbe. Mul-la-le-ho-nah. Mo-hah-to-nah. M-ha-che-ho-nah. Ma-ha-tai-omubbec. Me-hi-a-tubbee. Min-tubbce. Na-i-o-ka. Nancy. No-a-'te-ma. Nat. Nancy. Ne-take in-lubbee. No-wa. Nok-o-nubboo. Nok-anv-ta-ya. Nin-ta-ho-ma. Nock-ubba. Nock-iic-nii-yubbee. Mol-a-tubbcc. Nok-ne-a-tubbe. Nah-na-e-mah. Nah-sa. 28 INDIAN APPROPRIATION BILL, 1917. List of Mississippi Choctaw Indians in whose behalf scrip was issued under the provisions of the act of Congress of Aug. 23, i54;^— Continued. Nock-a-way-chubbee. Nock-a-la-ho-te-mah . No-se-ho-nah. Ne-hi-ah-to-nah. No-ah-ho-tubbee. Nock-a-che-tubbee. Nock-a-na-ho-nubbee . No-la. No-ah-to-nubbee. Ne-la. Nock-a-na-chubbee . Nock-a-nubbee. Nock-e-a-chubbee (or Chub-bee). Na-chubbe (or Nock ne-chubbee). Nokis-tah-ahah. Nan-to-wah-yo. Nook-a. No-ke-mo-nubbe. No-wah-ho-ka. Nok-e-ne-ti-yah. Nock-un-ani-be. Nock-e-mah-shubbe . Nok-is-ni-ubbe. Nok-se-ka-tubbe. Nok-ish-to-nah. Nok-e-ne-ubbe. Nok-ko-ah-ho-mah . Ne-tock-oosh-tah . Nok-ish-tah-ok-la-tubbee. Nancy, or Un-an-che. Nok-ne-ho-tubbe. Na-po-le. Ne-le. Nok-e-na-tambe. Nok-e-mo-nubbe . Nok-ne-to-lubbe. Nok-ah-pe-sah. No-la. Nook-fa-lah (alias Ah-nook-pa-la). No-wah-ho-cubbe. Na-tubbe. Nock-i-o-tubbe. Nok-in-tambe. Nok- ne-hah-tah-e. Nuk-ok-ah-ho-mah. No-ah-ho-nah. Nok-e-chubbe. Nok-ne-ha-tubbe. Nok-ish-ti-yah. Nok-i-ne-lah. No-wah-te-mah. Ne-tock-am-be. Nok-is-tubba. Nok-ish-to-nubbe. Nu-vva-ho-ka. Nook-tah-lubbe. Nok-ho-raah. Nok-na-thub-be. Na-wabbe. Ne-tah-cubbe. Ne-tuk-o-ka. Na-o-ka. Nok-we-tah. Nok-e-wa-tubbe. Nok-ish-ti-ubbe. Nok-ho-tubbe. Noon-chubbe. Ne-tuk-ah-che. Nok-ne-la. Nok-e-ne-tubbe. Nok-a-ne-la. Nok-nam-be. No-wa-hubbe. Nok-a-shubbe. Nok-a-chubbe. Nok-ish-tah-shah . Ne-nok-kinm-bee. Nulth-la (or E-la-bo-ti-ah). Nok-ish-te-ubbe. Nok-neen-tubbee. Nok-e-ne-fe-nah. Ne-tuk-dh-chick-e-ma. No-wah-tam-be. Nuk-sho-pubbe. Nok-ne-ti-yah. Ne-ash-e-nubbe. Nok-ish-tam-be . Nok-a-man-che-ka-bee. Nah-ho-lo-mustubbe. Nok-ish-tubbee. Nook-wa-tubbe. Na-ho-sa. Nok-me-hat-tubbee. Nok-ho-ma-hajo . Nok-ish-to-tiah. Nok-ne-o-ka-tubbee . Nok-nin-che. Nok-ni-ta-hubbe. Nok-wan-be. No-wah. Nok-o-un-cha-hubbe . Nok-chu-nubbe. No-wah-ho-nah. Nok-ne-tubbe. No-la. Nah-sho-lah-ho-nah. No-sa-kah. Nush-ko-ho-to-ko-lo. Nock-e-ne-tubbe. No-wall. Nock-e-na-lah-nubbee. Nock-ne-a-che. Nok-ish-ti-yah. Ne-tah-che-to. Nock-fil-e-hi-yah. Nuk-she-pa-ubbe. Ne-tak-e-mah. No-sa-kah. Nok-ne-een-tubbe. Nu-\va-tom-bee. No-sa-kah. No-ah-tubbe. No-ah-hubbe. Nah-min-ah-ho-ka. No-h-ne-man-to-nah. Nock-a-ne-lah. Nah-ho-te-mah. Nock-ish-to-nubbee> INDIAN APPKOPEIATION BILL, 1917. 29 List of Mississippi Choctau' Indians in whose behalf scrip ivas issued under the provisions of the act of Conqress of Auq. US, 1842 — Continued. if Congress of Aug. 23, i5^;i'— Continued. Nan-no-ha-ho-nah . No-le-ham-be. Nok-ne-tubbe. Noke-e-ne-ene-hubbe. No-ko-she. Nok-is-tom-be. Ne-tuk-e-lubbe. No-a-ham-ba. No-kan-yo-ka-tu-na. Na-ne-ma. Nan-cha. No-cum-mah-ho-ka. No-ka-tah. No-wa-yah. No-wah-ta-kah. Nock-ho-mah-hah-cho . No-wa-ho-nah. Nan-ne-ubbe. No-sa-cubbe. No-quo-ah-tubbe. Nock-a-chook-ma. Nock-pe-la-sa. No-e-em-yea. Nok-a-ha-Ia-jee. No-la. No-a-ho-na. Nok-e-fil-la-ho-na. No-la-ho-na. Nok-pa-la. No-wah-he-mah. No-sho-bah. Nook-chin-tubbe. Na-wa-ho-ka. Nok-ne-o-ka-tubbee. Nok-an-e-tubbee. Nim-nok-ha-cubbe. No-wah-ho-ka. Nok-ish-te-mah-yubbe. Nook-fille (or l-il-le). Ona-tubbe. Oak-la-te-a. Oon-ta-che-a. Oon-te-a-tubbe. Ona-chee. Ona-ho-ka. Ok-pe-a-hubbee. Ok-le-me-i-a. 0,s;lc-as-te-ma. Oke-c'ha-te-ma. Ona-tubbee. On-wa-ka. Ona-te-na. On-a-to hoyo. Og-]am-is-tubbee. 0-na-ho-ka. 0-on-la-cha. 0-nok-fil-la-tubbee (alias lillatubbee). 0-gki-hubbee. Oke-me-i-a. Ok-a-ish-ba-la-la. 0-gle-a-te-ma. Ooon-ka-hubbee. 0-glah-lio-nubbee. Ooon-tim-to-ka. 0-nah-he-chubbee. Oon-nah-tom-tubbee. Ogle-ho-lah. 0-gIah-non-nah. 0-na-chubbee. Oo-nah-tubbee. Oke-la-we-tubbee (or Ohe-lin-tubbee). 0-tim-po-nubbee. 0-nah-te-ah. 0-nah-tubbee. Oon-nah-ho-ka. Oon-a-tem-bee. Ogle-mi-o-nah. 0-glah-no-wah-cha. 0-nah-hubbee. Oon-na-ho-kee. 0-nubbee. Oon-nah. Ow-wah-te-ah. 0-gla-ham-bee. Oon-ta-ho-yo. 0-quun-tah. Oon-ta-mah-chubbee. 0-gla-ubbee. Ow-we-chah. 0-lubbee-to-nah. Oppa-sah-he-mah. 0-gla-ho-te-nah. Oon-tah-zubbee. 0-thulck-a-ho-yo. Oon-ta-kah. Ok-lish-ti-ah. Oas-te-nubbe. Oon-ah-tubbee. Ok-chubbee. Ona-hin-hibbe. 0-mol-le-tubbe. Oon-cha-la. Oon-ah-chubbe. Oon-ha-tubbe. Ok-la-ho-tubbee. Ok-che-tim-ah. Ok-lah-o-mah. Oon-te-ah-tubbee. Ok-la-me-ash-ali. Oon-ah-he-tubbe. Ok-'lah-tubbe. Oth-la-lio-'nah. Oon-ag-cliubbe. Oon-an-c-he-ah-tubbe. Ok-cha (or Ela-ok-chubbe). Oc-chock-ah-tubbe. Ok-in-to-la-ho-nah. Oon-ta-tubbe. Ok-lah-ho-tubbe. 0()n-ubl)e. ()k-ah-in-cliuk-mah. Ok-ish-te-niali. ()k-la-lia-mah. ()k-ah-che-ah. ()k-lce-han-tubbe. Oon-te-ka-ah. Onah-te-mah. ()k-lah-le. Ok-ish-tah-na. Ok-ah-fab-nia-ho-nah. 30 INDIAN APPROPRIATION BILL, lOll. List of Mississippi Choctaw Indians in whose h{ihalf scrip was issued under the provisions of the act of Congress of Aug. 2.3, 1842 — Continued. 0-na-te-ah. Ok-Iah-oka. Ok-le-mi-ubbe. Ok-lah-chubbe. Ok-hah-che-tah. Ok-i-yo-me-ho-nah. Oon-ali-hubbe. 0-nah-hubbe. Ok-lah-tim-ah. Ok-po-clies-he-mah. 0-ma-tubbe. Oon-ah-he-mah. Ok-la-o-nah . On-wak-ubbe. Oon-ah-hook-ta. Oon-wah-tubbe. Ok-ish-ta-mah-ho-mah. Ok-le-an-ne. Ok-lam-ba. Okisli-ti-yah (or Ish-ti-ah). Okis-tha-chock-ma-haka. Ok-a-hubbe. Ok-a-la-an-cha-hubbe. Ok-eha-tubbe. Ok-li-yah. Ok-ti-e-che-mah. On-te-ma-ho-zo. Ok-le-mi-yah. Okah-no-wah. Oon-te-mah. Oon-ti-o-mah. Oon-te-ah-tiibbe. Ok-lu-hubbe. Ok-ah-cbe-ah-honah. Ok-la-to-mah. 0-kis-ti-yali. Ok-la-cbe-bo-ka. Ok-a-to-la-be-nah. Oon-ubbe. Ope-ab-kubbe. Ok-la-bo-nah. Okah-ta-ho-nab. Okis-tali-la-bo-nah. Ok-che-ha-to-nah . 0-cbee. Onem-chehubbe. Ok-le-muttab. Ok-lab-yab-bo-nab. Ok-le-mab-cbe-ah-ho-nah. 0-na-cbe-bubbe. On-ti-o-mah. 0-na-ha-tubbe. Ok-la-bee. O-fa-bo-mab. Onab-bo-kab. 0-na-he-mab. Oha-nubbe. On-tab-e-mab. 0-nan-cbe-tim-ah. On-te-i-tubbe. On-te-kah. Ota-kubbe. O-te-ab-tubbe. Oke-la-lie-mah. Ok-la-no-wah. Ok-la-he-yubbee. Oon-ti-e-mab. Ok-lak-in-tubbe. Ok-lun-gee-hubbe. Ono-che-bubbe. Ok-li-ho-ka. Ochee. Obe-nab. Ok-cba-tiibbe. Ocbee. 0-nab-che-ho-yo. Osh-ta-bab-ba. Ok-la-hubbee. 0-tbah. 0-nab-tah. Oath-la-cbe. 0-ka-ish-te-e-mab. 0-nab-be-niah. Ok-la-ho-nubbe (alias Muk-o-nubbe). Ok-cha-tubbe. Ok-la-she-ho-nab. Oon-ubbe. Ok-lah-he-mah. 0-nab-tnbbe. Ok-li-ah. Oka-isb-te-niab. Oon-ab-bo-cbubbe. O-ka-in-chuck-nah. Oon-an-fba-bubbee. Oon-ab-he-mah. Oua-book-ta. Ouan-cbe-hubbe. Ok-cba-tubbe. Ok-la-hubbe. Ok-le-mo-mah. Ok-lo-hab. Ok-a-yo mab. Oo-naw-mab-o-tubbe. 0-man-too-uah. Oun-tam-be. Oun-ab-ban-tubbee. Oun-ab-bo-yo. On-ta-cubbee. Ok-la-kin-ah. 0<)U-ab-b(iok-tab. Ok-cba-tu-nah. Oon-to-ah-tubbe. Oon-ali-bo-uab. 0-kish-ti-me. Ok-ah-sta-mah Ok-lab-cbe-bo-yo. Ok-is-tau-tah. Oo-tiib-ba. O-ne-nii-yali. Oo-hah-tubbe. Owa-tubbe. O-nab-chubbee. Oon-tba-bab-yo-tubbee. Og-li-ini-a. Ouu-uubbee. 0-nali-fba-tubbee. 0-kah-che-ab. Oon-take-ubbee (alias Take-ubbe). INDIAN APPROPEIATION BILL^ 1917. 31 List of Mississippi Choctaw Indians in tchose behalf scrip was issued under the provisions of the act of Congress of Aug. 23, 184^ — ^Continued. 0-lah-tin-tiibbee . 0-gle-o-iiah . Ok-is-te-ino-nah. Ok-la-ho-nah. Ok-ish-tal-o-hah-ho-ka. Onah-che-hain-be. Outh-la-hubbe. On-to-bah-nah. Oke-lish-ti-yah. Oon-a-liam-bee. Oon-hik-ah. Ok-lan-hoo-nah. 0-ta-she-mak. Ok-labba (or Tap-pe-na-ho-ma). O-na-ho-ka. 0-na-ham-bee. 0-iia-he-ma. Ok-la-ha-la. 0-nali-tick-ah. 0-nah-ha-mah. Oon-shu-ah-ho-ka . O-niibbe. 0-lah-hahii-cha. 0-kah-ho-te-niah. 0-nah. 0-glock-ka-yo. 0-glah-mah-ka. Oon-nook-a-mah. Oon-tock-ah-iie-ubbe. Oak-is- ta-cha. O-nook-cha (or Onook-chubbe). Ok-i-a-cha (alias Tah-nap-pe-ho-ja). 0-mah-sha. O w-\va-cha-h o-nah . 0-gle-a-tubbee. Ok-a-ha-chubbee. Oon-tan-tubbee. Oth-la. 0-gla-o-ha-t ubbe . O-gla-ha-ma. 0-hit-le-to-iia. O-y^e-ah-tubbe. Ok-la-ho-tiibbee. 0-ka-lan-che-hubbee. Ob-la-lah. Ok-i!^-tah-lo-la. Ok-Ia-him-ah. Ok-la-lie-hibbe. Ok-chil-e-ht'ka. Oth-la-chiibbe. On-ah-ta-kah. Og-lali-ham-lee. Ona-tuV>be. Ok-li-vok-ubbe. Oli-o-ka. Ok-lah-ho-nah. Ohul-in-tubbe. Ok-lo-hab. Ok-a-la-che (or Ish-to-pah-nubbe). Ok-lali-o-nah. Oh-no-ho-te-ma. Ok-ish-tal-la-\vah-bo-nah. Oh-to-gah-lan-tubbe. 0-gli-o. Oon-ah-tubbe (or Un-chu-tubbee). 0-na-tubbee. 0-gle-ash-ubbe. Ok-Ia-ka-tubbee. Ooclury, Pallas. Ooclury, George. Ooclury, Cyrus. 0-glish-ti-yah. Oon-te-mah. Ok-ain-to-la. Pan-a-cha. Po-sho-a-tubbe. Pis-ubbe. Phillis. Pis-ha-lo-ti-ma. Pis-am-ok-an-tubbee . Pis-ak-a-chook-e-ma. Pis-a-tubbe. Pis-ah-o-te-ma. Pa-lam-a-ho-ka. Pa-shuth-lo-ke. Pa-le-sa-ho-ka. Paush-o-nubbee. Pom-fillah. Pis-ah-ke-a-tubbee. Pah-nah. Palla-machubbee. Pah-hah-cho. Pis-sah-hoke-ta. Phil-le-ti-ah. Pick-but-tah. Pal-la. Pusley. Pusk-co-chubbee. Phil-le-kah-ja. Pis-sah-ha-mah . Po-sha-to-nubbee. Peggy. Palla. Phil-le-mah. Peter. Pal-wah-chubbee. Pis-tick-e-ah. Pah-lam-mah. Pis-subbee. Po-tah. Po-nubbee. Pah-sho-nah. Pish-tan-ta-tubbee. Pah-sha-ho-te-mah . Picken.«!, Rachel. Po-lul)ba. Pa-tu})bo. Pc-lubl)o. Pis-ah-to-ke-mah. Pls-ah-ho-ka-tubbe. Pis-ah-lo-lio-ka. Pis-ah-ho-ka-tubba. Pah-nah . Pis-ah-tik-cubbe. Pis-ah-lo-ho-ka. Pis-ah-ho-ka-tubba. Pah-nah. Pis-ah-tik-cubbe. 32 INDIAN APPEOPEIATION BILL, 1911. List of Mississippi Choctaw Indians in whose behalf scrip was issued under'J,hi\provisions of the act of Congress of Aug. 23, 1842 — Continued. Pok-o-chubbe. Pe-sa-che-ho-nah. Pis-ah-tim-lah. Pis-ah-hom-be. Pa-sa-chubbe. Pis-a-ho-kah-tim-ah. ^ Pis-tek-e-ubbe. Po-tubbe. Pock-om-e-chubbe. Pock-ah-ma. Pe-le-ham-be. Pel-le-sah-ho-nah. Pis-ah-ehe-tubbe. Pe-ah-hubbe. Pith-le-le. Po-te-Ie-chubbe. Pis-te-ah-tubbe. Pun-all. Pis-ah-tu-nah. Phe-lin-tah. Pis-ah-tim-ah. Paunch-tunah. Pis-ah-chan-tubbe. Pis-ah-ho-chubbe. Po-nok-to-Chubbe. Po-shon -she-hubbe. Pul-ke-tubbe. Pis-ah-tam-be. Pis-ah-tish-ubbe. Phe-la-cha-ho-ka. Pis-ah-tim-o-nah. Pis-ah-chim-ah. Pa-la-chubbe. Pah-lubbe. Pe-tam-o-tubbe. Pis-ah-ho-tu-na. Pis-ah-ho-ka-tim-ah. Pis-is-tubbe. Pah-lah. Po-lah. Pis-subbe. Pis-ah-cho-ho-nah. Pis-took-chubbe . Pah-sah-che-mah. Pah-vali. Pul-ka-tiibbe. Pis-ah-ho-kah-tim-ah. Pis-ah-mok-in-tubbe. Pis-ah-ho-tim-ah. Pe-he-lo-tubbo. Pah-.«ah-ho-nah . Pon-the.*e-tubbe. Pa-la-sa-ho-mah. Pip-ah-chf'-ho-yo. Pash-ah-ho-mah. Pa-sha-ho-nah. Pig-ah-ho-nah . Pis-ah-tubbe (alias Ah-pa-sa-tambe). Phil-e-mo-yah. Pis-a-ham-bee. Pa-sah-te-niah. Pe-yah-ho-ka. Pis-ah-man-tublie. Pash-ah-ho-yo. Puk-an-ho-ka. Pi-yah-hooc-ta. Phil-e-ah-ho-yo. Phil-e-mon-te-kah. Pis-ah-cha-hubbe. Pis-sah-te-mah. Pul-Ie-ho-nah. Po-la-tubbe. Pis-sa-che-ho-yo . Pis-sa-ho-ka. Po-ka. Pah-lah-hubbe. Pah-ta-tubbe. Pis-sah-ho-nubbe. Pis-sa-ham-bee. Pis-sah-e-kah. Pis-8ah-ho-nah. Pis-to-pun-ne. Pis-sah-te-kah. Po-tah. Pis-e-ho-temah. Pis-sah-lah-he-mah. Pun-ubbe. Paush-ok-chi-ah. PiH-ah-to-nah. Po-ta-mah. Poush-is-nah-ho-mah. Pis-ah-on-te-mah. Pis-took-cha. Pa-nubbe. Pis-ah-to-she-mah. Pauyh-ok-chea. Poo-tah. Poush-is-to-nubbe . Pis-sah-che-te-mah. Poush-is-te-nubbe. Pa-sa-tubbe. Pe-ha-tubbe. Po-tah. Phil-e-ma-hubbe. Phil-e-moon-tubbe. Phil-e-ho-nubbe. Pa-.^a-tom-ba. Posh-e-mah. Pis-a-cha-tubbe. Posh-an-o-wabbee. Pas-cum-me. Pauhih-ik-ish-o. Pul-ka. Pis-sah-ka-to-nah. Pis-ah-ta-cubbe. Pis-te-ah. Pash-i-o-nah. Phil-o-moon-tubbe. Pash-ish-te-ubbe. Pis-i-to-kubbee. Pis-took-chah. Po-sis-ti-yah. Pis-sah-te-mah. Pul-lah. Pis-sah-mock-an-tubbe. Po-shah-tubbee. Pa-sah-ho-nah. Peg-ga. INDIAN APPEOPEIATION BILL. 1917. 33 List of Mississippi Choctaw Indians in whose behalf scrip was issued under the provisions of the act of Congress of Aug. 23, 1842 — Continued. Po-tho-tah. Pa-sam-bee. Phil-le-ah. Pus-sah-kah. Pis-sah-koke-ah-ta-mah. Pis-ah-kah. Po-shiit-tah. Pis-am-be. Pe-le-chubbe. Pis-ah-tim-ah. Posh-a-ma-ta-ka. Pis-ah-ti-ah . Pis-ah-o-gla. Po-tubbe. Pa-sah-ho-nah. Po-nah. Pis-ah-ish-no-wah. Pis-ah-ho-min-ah. Pes-ta-ge. Pah-na. Pe-no-la-Perry. Pis-a-tubbee. Po-to-tubbe. Pe-ah-shubbee. Pis-sah-hah-tubbe. Pah-sho-nah. Pis-sah-nah-to-nah . Po-shah-loke-ta (or Po-shock-ta). Pockin-am-bee. Pis-liubbee. Pash-ho-mah. Pocka-na-yah. Pe-tah. Pis-sah-tubbee. Pan-shisk-tu-na. Pi-al-e-ho-ka. Pis-a-to-nubbee. Pa-shulvba-tubbee. Po-cham-ba. Pa-sa-chubbee. Pis-a-be-tubbee. Posh-a-mus-tubbee . Pi-sa-te-a. Pia-aho-ka-tubbee . Peter. Puck-chuubbee. Puth-kin-tubbee. Pan-she-o-ha. Pa-sul)bee. Pah-ha-mah. Peel-ah-tubbee. Pis-ah-to-cubbee. Po-tiibbee. Pis-tah-ho-nah. Pis-ali-ho-nah. Pis-ah-ho-ka-to-nah . Pok-ah-kx-ho-nah . Pis-ah-te-niah. Po-she-mah. Pa-sha-ho-to-na. Pis-ah-jah. Poc-ah-loop-ka. Pis-at-i-ah. Pis-ah-che-ho-nah . 25134— PT 4—16 3 Pone-lah. Pis-took-chah. Poush-ish-to-nah . Pis-ah-she-te-mah . Pa-sah-ho-nah. Pis-ah-han-bee. Pis-sah-ho-to-mah . Pis-sah-ham-be . Po-to-tubbe. Pis-at-am-te-mah . Phil-e-men-tu-nah . Pis-sah-che-hubbee. Pil-ah-tubbe. Poon-tah. Peas-tubbe. Pis-ah-ha-lubbe. Pa-chul)lie (or La-pa-chubbee). Pis-ah-tubbee. Po-she-mah. Pen-mis-sah. Polly. Quah-na. Quish-tut-tah. Row-le. Raybarn. Sah-o-yo. Syla. Smith. Shi-mi-ah. Sukey. Sophy. Sampson. Susa. Shok-ta. Socka. Span-a-min-go. Stela. Stay matubbee. Stan-ti-ma. Si-e-na. Syop-a-tubbee. Shuk-a-tubbee. Sta-ta-he-ma. Ste-a-ho-te-ma. So-kin-nah. Stam-mah-han-to-mah. Shock-ko-yea. Shin-e-ah. Sina. Stim-ah-ha-tubbee . Stah-tubbee. Silis. Sta-ah-nubbee. Stil-la-chubbee. Sha-ho-ka. Sho-na-ho-ke-ta- (or T'ush-ho-nah). Sam . Sarah . Sho-mi-yah. Suckey. Sully-ho-yo. Sto-nah-chubbee. Sutte. vStah-na. 34 INDIAN APPROPRIATION BILL, 1917. List of Mississippi Choctaw Indians in whose behalf scrip ^vas issued under the provisiont of the act of Congress of Aug. 23, 1842 — Continued. Shum-to-nali . Sah-lio-nali. Shah-lah-lah. Sofa. Sho-mo-lahka. Sah-la. Sha-mah-ho-yo. Sill-la-ho-nah. Sak-e-tini-ah. She-mah-la-to-nah . Sha-ka-pa-ho-nali. Sho-tul)li('. Sal-la. Suck-a. Sham-pa-no-ka. Sam-me. Sho-uah. Sah-un-me-ho-ka . Sho-tim-ah. She-ko-pah-ho-iuah . Sah-tiibbe (or Pish-tubbe). She-ne-po-tubbe. Sho-te-mah . Shum-pa-la (or Chuink-ul-a-ka). Shan-io-tubbe. Sham-pi-e. Stah-nubbe. Sho-nah. Sile. Sha-ne-kia. She-se. Sham-ta-ho-ka. Sho-moon-tah . Sho-mah-la-tubbe. Ste-mok-ka-yo. She-mah-ho-yo. Sha-ka-ho-mah . She-mah. Stah-ho-nah. Shon-\va-no. Stuk-a-tubbo. Shu-wak-ki-yah. Sho-mi-yali . Stoo-nok-a. Ste-ma-lali. Stu-na. Sal-lie. Stea-le. She-ma. Sho-tubbe. So-kutchi. She-co-pam-be. Shi-ah-kah. Sal-le-ok-ka. Sok-ka-1 i-ah . Shah-ni-o-tubbe. Sally. Sal-lie. Sho-mah-ho-ka . Sham-bee. Sak-ka-tubbe. Sho-tubbec. Sum-e-hah-chubbe. She-co-pan-she-hubbe. Sha-nook-a. So-ma-ka. Sock-ki-a. Si-a-na. Sah-chah-ho-iiah. Sal-la. She-me-ho-ka. She-co-pah-lo-mah . Shim-to-nah. Sa-ho-yo. Shi-ka-jo-na-wa . Ste-ma-ho-yo. Solomon. Shah-pa-ja. Shi-yah. Sham-pi-o-nah . Sal-la. Smith. Shah-i)ah-ho-mah . Shah-mah. Sah-mi-o-ka. Sho-nak. Se-a-no-la. Sta-fa-na. Ste-a-tubbee. Si-e-la. Sta-lubbe. Sally. Sho-wa. Ste-ma-ho-yo-ho-na . Stan-cha (alias Ste-ma-ya, alias Kon-che). Sham-pi-a. Sti -ma-la. Sa-ba-la. Sin ah. Si-na. Shah-nah. Sham-tah-o-ka . Sah-ho-ba. Ste-ah-ho-ka. Sho-tubbee. Si-la. Tan-a-bon-ubbe. Tan-e-cha. Tan-a-chee. Tho-po-nubbe. Tom-pe-i-a. Tem-mepa-pona . Tik-conubbee. Tis-ho-chi-le-ta. Tahiibbee. To-ta-ho-yo. Ta-ho-na. To-i-ya. Tik-]m-tubbee. Tus-cubbeo-ha. Tus-ka-cm-itta. Tam-a-ho-la-na (alias Stam-a-ho-to-na). Tlk-lo-nubbee. Tis-jia-ham-ba (alias Tis-ho-ham-ba). Tik-beia. Tem-a-ka. Tam-a-ho-ua. Tal-a-ho-na. Tam-a-tiibbee. Tuk-a-la-ma-ho-na. INDIAN" APPEOPRIATION BILL, lOlT. 35 List of Mi from. They only got a total of 11,000,000. Mr. Ferris. That is true. Mr. Harrison. The scrip was issued with the understanding that half of it should be issued in Mississippi and the other half in Okla- homa. Mr. Ferris. That is true. The other 3,400 out of the approxi- mately 4,000 went over and got the rest of its money at $1.25 an acre. And their names are here. Nearly all of them emigrated to Oklahoma after they had received land in Mississippi and became full beneficiaries in Oklahoma also. Now, gentlemen, here is the attitude of these people — these treaty relations with these people happened almost 100 years ago — 96 years ago — these Indians, a good many of them, had been over to Okla- homa at one time and another and received not only their pro rata in Mississippi but likewise received certam lands and payments in Oldahoma. Then some of them journeyed back to Mississippi where they desned to live. Their descendants live there now. Of course the treaty Indians are long since dead. One hundred years have elapsed since then, but their scattering and remnant descendants, mixed blood, intermarried with every people on earth, are still there. Dropping back now to the fourteenth article, which is the only claim that they have ever claimed or had — it is all that Senator John Sharp "Williams, or that Mr. Harrison makes, and if they have any rights at all it is under that. Now my colleagues and I from Oklalioma might tell you one thing, and the Members from Mississippi would tell you still another thing. Now let us see what the courts will tell us, and let us see what the Secretaries of the Interior tell us, what the Dawes Commission tells us, all dealing with this precise section 14. Members of the committee who have not given f^reat attention to this might well go astray following me; they might perchance go astray following the Mississippi delegation, but certainly they can not go astray if they follow the courts empowered to pass upon this thing when it does pass upon it. I hold in my hand an exact copy of the Jack Amos decision, which is the decision of a Federal court passing on this precise section 14 of the treaty of 1837. This case arose in the regular way. Jack Amos, a full-blood Mississippi Choctaw in 1896, with 97 full-blood Choctaw Indians came before the Dawes Commission in Oklahoma and said, "We arc unwilling to remove to Oklahoma, but under the 40 INDIAN APPROPRIATION BILL, 1917. fourteenth article we are entitled to stay in Mississippi and enjoy the full rights of citizenship. They said by their petitions and by their argument then precisely what Mr. Harrision says now. JACK AMOS ET AL. AGAINST THE CHOCTAW NATION. In this case the proof shows that the claimants are Choctaw Indians by blood now living in the State of Mississippi; that neither they nor their ancestors have ever removed into the present Choctaw Nation. The claimants base their right to be enrolled as Choctaw citizens upon the term of the second and fourteenth articles of the treaty negotiated at Dancing Rabbit Creek on September 27, 1830, and of the conditions of the patent to the lands of the Choctaw Nation executed by President Tyler in the year 1842. (Durant Ed. Choctaw Laws, p. 81.) Articles 2 and 14 of the treaty of 1830 are as follows: ■'Art. 2. The United States, under a grant specially to be made by the President of the United States, shall cause to be conveyed to the Choctaw Nation a tract of country west of the Mississippi River in fee simple to them and their descendants, to inure to them while they shall exist as a nation and live on it, beginning near Fort Smith, where the Arkansas boundary crosses the Arkansas River, running thence to the source of the Canadian Fork, if in the limits of the United States, or to those limits; thence due south to Red River, and down Red River to the west boundary of the Terri- tory of Arkansas; thence north along that line to the beginning, the boundary of the same to be agreeable to the treaty made and concluded at Washington City in the year 1825. The grant to be executed so soon as the present treaty shall be ratified. "Art. 14. Each Choctaw head of a family being desirous to remain and become a citizen of the States shall be permitted to do so by signifying his intention to the agent within six months from the ratification of this treaty; and he or she shall thereupon be entitled to a reservation of one section of 640 acres of land, to be bounded by sectional lines of survey; in like manner shall be entitled to one-half of that quantity for each unmarried child which is living with him over 10 years of age, and a quarter section to such child as may be under 10 years of age, to adjoin the location of the parent. If they reside upon said lands, intending to become citizens of the States, for five years after the ratification of this treaty, in that case a grant in fee simple shall issue. Said reser- vation shall include the present improvements of the head of the family or a portion of it. Persons who claim under this article shall not lose the privilege of a Choctaw citizen, but, if they ever remove, are not to be entitled to any portion of the Choctaw annuity." The conditions of article 2 of the treaty, that the land should be conveyed "to the Choctaw Nation in fee simple to them and their descendants, to inure to them while they shall exist as a nation and live on it," are earned into the patent, and are the only portions of that instrument which shed any light on the question now being considered, and therefore article 2 and the conditions of the patent may be considerd together. The whole object of the treaty of 1830 was to procure the removal, as far as practi- cable, of the Choctaw people to the lands west of the Mississippi which they now occupy. The Supreme Court of the United States, in the case of the Choctaw Nation V. United States (119 U. S., 36), after reviewing the treaties of 1820 and 1825, says: "In the meantime, however, under the pressure of the demand for settlement of the unoccupied lands of the State of Mississippi by emigrants from other States, the f)olicy of the United States in respect to the Indian trilaes still dwelling within its )orders underwent a change, and it became desirable, by a new treaty, to effect, as far as ])racticable, the removal of the whole body of the Choctaw Nation, as a tribe, from the limits of the State to the lands which had been ceded to them west of the Mississippi River. To carry out that policy the treaty of 1830 was negotiated." Again in the case, page 27, the court says: "It is notorious as a historical fact, as it abundantly appears from the records of this case, that great pressure had to be brought to bear upon the Indians to effect their removal, and the whole treaty was evidently and purposely executed not so much to secure to the Indians the rights for which they had stipulated as to effectuate the ])olicy of the United States in regard to their removal." Articled of the treaty of 1830 stipulates that the Choctaws agree to remove all of their people during the" years 1831, 1832, and 1833 to those lands! (7 Stat. L., 333.) Article 14 of the treaty, however, provides for certain privnleges and rights for those who might choose to remain in Mississippi with a view to becoming citizens of that State. They and their descendants were to receive certain lands and, after living on INDIAN APPROPEIATION BILL^ 1917. 41 them for five years, intending to bccoine citizens of the State, these lands were to ba granted to them in fee simple. Then fellows this very peculiar clause: "Persons who claim under this article shall not lose the pri\ilege of a Choctaw citizen, but if they ever remove are not to be entitled to any portion of the Choctaw annuity." The difficulty in construing this clause of the treaty is to ascertain the meaning of the word "remove." To what does it relate and how shall we give it meaning? It certainly does not purpose to impose a penalty on the Cho( taw who may choose to remove for removing, and for that reason forfeit his right to the anniiity, bee ause, so long as he remained in Mississippi he was not entitled to any annuity, and, there- fore, by removing he could not forfeit that which he did not have. If he removed, he was to haA'e no annuity, and if he remained he was to have no annuity. It is evident, therefore, that the word was not used for the purpose of forfeiting the annuity in case of removal. Then, what are its uses? The very objec t of the treaty was to procure a removal of these people. The whole of the Choctaw Nation, with all of its sovereignty, its powers, and its duties, was to be transferred beyond the Mississippi. It was to exeri ise its powers, confer its privileges, and maintain the citizenship of Its people in another place. Those who were left behind were to retain not this Cho( taw citizenship r)ut only the ' ' pri\'ileges of a Chor taw citizen. ' ' That is, that when they put themselves into a position that these privileges cotdd be conferred upon them they were to have them, and under the conditions and purposes of this treaty how woidd it be possible for them to put themselves in such a position without first remo\'ing within the territoiial jurisdiction of the Choctaw Nation and within the sphere of its powers? What privi- lege would it be possible for the Choctaw Nation to confer, or a Mississippi Choctaw to receive, so long as he remained in Mississippi and out of the limits of the Choctaw Nation? By the very terms of the treaty they were to become citizens of another State, owing allegiance to and receiving protection from another sovereignty. If one Mississippi Choctaw were to commit a ■wTong against the person or property of another, the right would be enforced and the wrong redressed under the laws of Mis- sissippi. The Choctaw Nation would be powerless to act in such a case. The Choc- taws in that State can not vote, sit as jtirors, or hold office as a Choctaw citizen or receive any other benefit or privilege as such. They can not participate in the rents and profits of the lands of the Choctaw Nation, because by the very terms of the grant the (JhoctaAv people and their descendants must live tipon them. If they do not, it is an act of forfeiture, made so by the provisions of article 2 of the treaty of 1830, and also of those of the patent to their lands afterwards executed. The title of the Choctaw people to their lands is a condi ional one, and one of the conditions of the grant, expressed in both the second article of the treaty of 1830 and the patent, is that the grantee shall live upon them. And who are the grantees? Who are these people who are to live upon the land? Unquestionably the Choctaw people and their descendants; for, while the grant is to the ('hoctaw Nation, the people seem to be included, both as grantees and beneficiaries. The language of the treatv is, and it is carried into the patent: "The President of the United States shall cause to be conveyed to the Choctaw Nation a tract of country west of the Mississippi River, in fee simple, to them and their descendants, to inure to them while they shall exist as a nation and live on it." The Choctaw Nation is not "them" and can not have "descendants." And while it may exercise its sovereignty and its national powers within certain defined terri- torial limits, it can not "live cm land." Those provisicms of the grant wliich are expressed in the jilural and attach to "descendants" and which require as a condi- tion that the land shall be lived on beyond doul)t refer to the Clioctaw people and their descendants. Whatever effect upon the title tlie limitation upon the rights of alienation expressed in the patent, so that the lands c-an not be sold except to the grantor or by its consent, may have, there can be no ciuestion l)ut that tiie second article of the treaty of 1830, nc^gotiated 12 years before the execution of the patent, and in which no limitation on the right of alienation is expressed, was intended to convey a fee-.simple title, burdened by two conditicms subsequent, the one that the grantees .should continue the corporate existence of tlieir nation, and the other that the people of that nation and their descendants should forever live upon the land. A failure of cnther would work a forfeiture of the title to (he grantor. Now, why was it that this fees-simple title was to be burdened by the condition that the grantee must live on the land? In the light of the knowledge of the conditions that then existed the answer is plain. The policy of the Federal (iovc?rnn)ent at that time relating to the Indian tribes, was to move them upon a reservation and keep them there; and if the Indians, either singly or in numbers, shotdd stray off, soldiers with guns and bayonets were used to drive them back. This very treaty was negotiated 42 INDIAN APPROPRIATION BILL, 1917. with the Choctaws for that very purpose. Hence the condition in the grant that they should live on the land or it should be subje'^t to forfeiture to the United States. This condition was inserted for two reasons: First, to compel the grantees to remove upon the lands; and, second, to compel them to remain on them after removal. It was not intended that some should go and locate on the lands and hold the title for themselves and also for the others who shoidd choose to remain. This woiUd defeat the very object of the conditions. These lands were conveyed to the Choctaw people to be held by them as tenants in common. This intention of the second article of the treaty of 1830 is expressed by the Tise of the words "them and their descendants" and of tlie clause that they were to "live on the land." Both of these clauses are expressed in the plural, and evidently do not relate to the nation as a corporate body. That a tenancy in common was intended is made clear by a consideration of section 3 of an act of Congress entitled "An act to provide for an exchange of lands with the Indians residing in any of the States or Territories, and for their removal west of the Mississippi River," approved May 28, 1830 (4 U. S. Stat. L., 412). The section reads as follows: "Anrl be it further enoctecl. That in the making of any such exchange or exchanges it shall and may be lawful for the President solemnly to assure the tribe or nation with whif'h the* exchange is made that the United States will forever secure and guarantee to them and their heirs or successors the country so exchanged with them and, if they prefer it, that the United States will cause a patent or grant to be made and executed to them for the same: Provided ahvays. That such lands shall revert to the United States if the Indians become extinct or abandon the same." At the time the treaty of 1830 was negotiated (Sept. 29, 1830) this act had been on the statute books of the United States for four months, and as a matter of course the commissioners to negotiate the treaty were familiar with it. But the language used in this act to limit the estate is "to "them, their heirs, or successors." The language used in the treaty to limit the estate therein granted is "in fee simple to them and their descendants," and then conditions are attached not named in the statute. Why the word "successors" was left out of the treaty is plain, but why the word "heirs" was changed to the word "descendants," unless it was that a word should be used within the comprehension of those untutored Indians, who knew nothing of the tech- nical phrasing of the common law used in the conveyance of real estate, is not easy to determine. The word "successors" was omitted from the treaty because by its terms the Choctaw Nation was to ha^-e no successors. They were to live on the land forever or it should be forfeited to the grantor. When the technical words "succes- sors" and "heirs" were dropped and the common word "descendants" was used, these Indians could understand it. They knew that they and their offspring were. It was to them — the people and their children — that the land was sold ; and when the condition was added that the grant was to be made to them and their descendants only in the e^-ent that they shovild liA'e upon the lands, they could not but understand that this implied a removal to and a continual residence upon them. As a further evidence that the parties understood that by this transaction the land was to be held in common by the people, the treaty of 1833, article 1. proA-ides, after describing the lands, as follows: "And pursuant to an act of Congress approved May 28, 1830, the United States do hereby forever secure and guarantee the lands embraced within the said limits to the members of the Choctaw and Chickasaw tribes, their heirs and successors, to be held in common, so that each and every member of cither tribe shall have an equal undi- vided interest in the whole: Provided, however. No part thereof shall CA-er be sold without the consent of both tribes and that said land shall revert to the United States if said Indians and their heirs become extinct or abandon the same." (4 U. S. Stat. L., 276.) If this be true there is no holding in trust by the corporate body of the Choctaw Nation for the benefit of the people, but the people themselves have the title and hold in common. "A tenancy in common is a joint estate in which there is unity of possession but separate and distinct title. The tenants have separate and independent freeholds c)r leaseholds in their respective share, which they manage and dispose of as freely as if the estate was one in severalty. * * * The interest of one tenant in common is so independent of that of his colenant that in a joint conveyance of the estate it would be treated as a grant to each of his own share of the estate." (Tiedeman on Real Property, 235.) And therefore any condition of the grant would be as binding on each of the tenants in common as if the estate was in severalty and vested in the individual tenant. And therefore the condition named in the second article of the treaty of 1830 and in the INDIAN APPEOPEIATION BILL, 1917. 43 patent, that "'they shall live on ihe land,"" is hindinti: individually upon each and upon all of the grantees. In the third article of the treaty the Choctaws agreed to move all of their people within three years, and the United States intended that they should go. But, by the fourteenth article of the treaty, provisions were made whereby those who should decide to remain and become citizens of the State of Mississippi, in the event that, because of the intolerance and persecution of the whites, which they themselves had so bitterly experienced, or for any other cause, they might become dissatisfied with their altered conditions and their new citizenship and desire to follow them to their new homes and thereafter exercise with them in their own country the privi- eges of citizenship they could do so, except that they were not to participate with them in their annuities, the lands which they were to receive in Mississippi being deemed a compensation for that. When the fourteenth article of the treaty was framed the negotiating parties under- stood that the policy of the LTnited States was that the ('hoctaws were to be removed. The Choctaws, in article 3, had just agreed that they shoxdd all go. The ink was not yet dry in article 2, whereby the condition was placed in this grant to the lands that they should live upon them or they should be forfeited, and that no privilege of citizenship could be conferred or enjoyed outside of the territorial jurisdiction of their newly accjuired nation. L^nderstanding these conditions, the latter clause of article 14 was penned : "Persons who claim under this article shall not lose the privilege of a Choctaw citizen, but if they ever remow — that is, if they ever place themselves on the land and within the jurisdiction of the nation whereby those privileges may become opera- tive — are not to be entitled to any portion of the Choctaw^ annuity." In other words, if they ever remove, they are to enjoy all of the privileges of a Choctaw citizen except that of participating in their annuities. If this be not the meaning to be attached to the word "remove" as used in the clause of the treaty under consideration, it must be meaningless. But in the interpretation of statutes it is the duty of the court to so interpret them as to give every word a meaning, and, in doing so, it must take into consideration the whole statute, its objects and purposes, the rights which are intended to be enforced and the evils intended to be remedied; it may go 1o the history of the transaction about which the legislation is had and call to its aid all legitimate facts proven or of which the courts will take judicial notice in order to find the true meaning of the word as used in the statute. Of course, the same rule of interpretation applies to treaties. Ado]iting these rules in the inter])retation of article 1 ! of the treaty of 1830, I arrive at the conclusion that the "privilege of a Choctaw citizen'" therein reserved to those Choctaws who shall remain, thereby separating themselves, it may be forever, from their brethren and their nation, becom- ing citizens of another sovereignty and aliens of their own, situated so that it would be impossible while in Mississippi to receive or enjoy any of the rights of Choctaw citizenship, was the right to renounce his allegiance to the Commonwealth of Missis- sippi, move ujxiTi the lands conveyed to him and his ])er]ile, and there, the only spot on earth where he could do so, renew his relations with his people and enjoy all of the jjrivileges of a Choctaw citi?.en, except to j)articipate in the annuities. As an evidence that the Choctaw people themselves took this view of the question, attention is called to the fact that their council has passed many acts and resolutions inviting these absent Choctaws to move into their country, and on one occasion appropriated a considerable sum of money to assist them f)n their journey; and until the past two or three years have always promjitly placed those who did return on the rolls of citizenship, but never enrolled an absent Choctaw as a citizen. On December 24, 1889, Ihe General Council of the (Choctaw Nation passed the following resolution: "Whereas there are large numbers of Choctaws yet in the States of Mississippi and Louisiana who are entitled to the rights and privileges of citizenship in the Choc- taw Nation; and "Whereas they are denied all riglits of citizenship in said States; and "^Miereas they are too poor to immigrate themselves into the ('hoctaw Nation: There- fore be it ''Resolved b)j the General Council of the Choctaw Nation assembled, That the United States Government is hereby rerpiested to make provisions for the emigration of said Choctaws from said States to the ('hoctaw Nation," eti-. The language is not that they are entitled to the rights and privileges of Choctaw citizenship in the States namerl, l)ut "who are entitle! to all the rights and privileges of citizenship in the Choctaw Nation," and the prayer is that because of the fact that they are denied the rights of citizenship in the State.s that the United States will 44 INDIAN APPROPRIATION BILL, 1917. remove them to a place — ^their own country — where the rights of Choctaw citizenship may be enjoyed by them. As a further evidence of the fact that all of the parties to the treaty, the United States, the Choctaw Nation, and the Mississippi Indians themselves, have always understood that the Mississippi Choctaws were entitled to none of the rights of a Choctaw citizen so long as they remained in that State, attention is called to the fact that the lands in Mississippi which were ceded to the United States by the Choctaw Nation by virtue of the treaty of 1830 were, under the laws of the United States, sold. The Choctaw Nation claimed that they had never been paid any consideration for them, and that the United States justly owed them the net proceeds arising out of the sale. For many years this contention was carried on before the departments of the Government, commissions, and other tribunals. Finally, by treaty, it was sub- mitted to the Senate of the United States for decision. That body found in favor of the Choctaw Nation. The case then went to the Court of Claims, and from there to the United States Supreme Court, in which court judgment was finally rendered for nearly |3, 000,000. This judgment was rendered in November, 1886. The money was tm-ned over to the Choctaws by the United States, and by them, with the knowledge and consent of the United States, divided among their own people who lived in the nation. Not one farthing of it was ever paid to an absent Mississippi Choctaw, and no portion of it was ever claimed by them. During this whole litigation, running through many years, no effort was made to make themselves parties to the suit. And when the money was finally paid to the Choctaw authorities to be divided among the people they made no claim for any part of it, and entered no protest to its Ifeing paid to the resident Choc- taws, nor havethey brought suit for their share since. The other party to the treaty, the United States Government, the guardian of these Indians, paid the money without ever making any provisions for the Mississippi Choctaws to get their share or intimating that anything was due them. Wlien it is remembered that this money was the pro- ceeds of the sale of the lands in Mississippi belonging to the united Choctaw people while they lived in that State, and that the great bulk of the Mississippi Choctaws had never received one farthing for their share in the lands. If they, living in Mis- sissippi, are entitled there to the rights of a Choctaw citizen it is remarkable that they did not assert their rights. Again, a few years ago, the interest of the Choctaws to lands lying west of their present boundaries was sold by them to the United States for a considerable sum o money. This, like the other, was promptly divided among the resident Choctaws with the knowledge and consent of the United States, and without protest or claim of the ]\Iississippi Choctaws. If they are entitled to the privilege of Choctaw citizens without removing into the boundaries of the nation they are and were entitled to their pro rata share of this money. If they do not understand that they have no claim to the rights of citizenship without moving into the country why have they, for the past 65 years, silently stood by and permitted these kinds of transactions to be had without claim, protests, or suit? The Eastern Band of (Jherokees. now residing in North Carolina, sustained a rela- tionship to the Cherokee Na,tion almost identical to that sustained by the Mississippi Choctaws to the Choctaw Nation. Like the Mississippi Choctaws, there were some amoiig them who were averse to movirg to their new countr>% west of the IMississippi River. Provisions were made for them by the treaty of New Echota — the treaty of 1835— between tlie Cherokee Nation and the United States similar to those with the Choctaws by the treaty of 1830. When the Cherokee people moved to the present home of the ('herokees, these remained behind in North Carolina, where they have ever since resided. Like the Choctaw treaty of 1830, the treaty of New Echota pro- wled that tlieir lands should be ceded to them and their descendants, and so forth. The Cherokee Nation, by virtue of a treaty with the United States, afterwards sold some of these lands. The Eastern Band of Cherokees, in North Carolina, unlike their Mississippi Choctaw brethren, ])romptly demanded their ])r() rata of the proceeds of this sale, and upon beiig denied at oiice sought and obtained permission of the United States to sue the Cherokee Nation in the Court of Claims for this money, and also, in the same suit, to sue for another fund which was created bv the treaty of New Echota, consisting of certain annuities in tlie sum of $214,000, "of which the Eastern Band of Cherokees claimed a pro rata share. The suit was brought, and the Court of Claims, in a very elaborate and learned decision, decided against the right of the Eastern Band of Chero- kees to recover, upon the ground that those Cherokees, by the act of remaining in North Carolina, had alienated themselves from the Cherokee Nation to such an extent that they could not claim any rights of a Cherokee citizen ^\■ithout moving into the Cherokee Nation and there being readmitted in accordance with the constitution INDIAN APPROPRIATION BILL, 1917. 45 and laws of that nation. The case was appealed to tlie Supreme ('ourt of the United States, and there the decision of the Court of Claims was affirmed. (Eastern Band of Cherokees v. U. S., 117 U. S., 288.) In that case the Supreme Court, after reviewing all of the treaties and statutes relating to the matter, concluded by saying: "If Indians in that State (North Carolina) or any other State east of the Mississippi wish to enjoy the benefits of the common property of the Cherokee Nation, in what- ever form it may exist, they must, as held by the Court of Claims, comply with the constitution and laws of the Cherokee Nation and be readmitted to citizenship as there provided. They can not live out of its territory, evade the obligations and burdens of citizenship, and at the same time enjoy the benefits of the funds and common property of the nation. These funds and that property were dedicated by the constitution of the Cherokees and were intended by the treaties with the Ignited States for the benefit of the united nation, and not in any respect for those who had separated from it and become aliens to their nation. We can see no just ground on which the claim of the petitioners can rest in either of the funds held by the United States in trust for the Cherokee Nation." It seems to me that this decision of the Supreme Court, founded on a case so nearly similar to the one at hearing, conclusively settles the contention in favor of the Choc- taw Nation. Indeed, in tliat case the Supreme Court expresses a very strong intima- tion that those provisions of the treaty of New Echota relating to and providing for these Cherokees who should refuse to move West ^\ere confined in their operation to that class of Cherokees then in esse, and the rights conferred by those provisions of the treaty did not descend to Iheir offspring; that the descendants of those Cherokees did not succeed to the rights of their ancestors under the treaty. The language of the Supreme Court is : "Nor is the band (Eastern Band of Cherokees), organized as it now is, the successor of any organization recognized by any treaty or law of the United States. Individual Indians who refused to remove West and preferred to remain and become citizens of the States in which they resided were promised certain moneys, but there is no evi- dence that the petitioners have succeeded to any of these rights. The original claim- ants have probably all died, for 50 years have elapsed since the treaty of 1835 was made, and no transfer from them to their legal representatives is shown." (lb., 310.) The court proceeds, however, to decide this case, as heretofore shown, on the ground that the Indians composing the Eastern Band of Cherokees had not removed into the Cherokee Nation and reassumed their citizenship under the constitution and laws of that nation. I am disposed to the opinion, however, and will so hold, that the descendants of the Mississippi Choctaws, by virtue of the fourteenth article of the treaty of 1830, are en- titled to all of the rights of Choctaw citizenship, with all of the privileges and property rights incident thereto, provided they have renounced their allegiance to the sover- eignty of Mississippi by moving into the Choctaw Nation in good faith to live upon their lands, renewing their allegiance to that nation, and putting themselves in an attitude whereby the)^ will be able to share in the burdens of their government. The reason for this conclusion is, to my mind, made morally certain when it is remembered that ever since the treaty of 1830, now for the period of nearly 67 years, with the excep- tion of the past 2 or 3 years, the Choctaw Nation, by its legislative enactments, and by its acts so long continued that by custom they have become crystallized into law, have universally admitted all who should remove to this country and rehabilitate them in all of the rights and privileges of citizenship enjoyed by themselves. The counsel for the claimants lay considerable stress on the effect of the provisions of article 13 of the treaty of 1866 between the United States and the Choctaw Nation. (14 Stat., — .) By the eleventh and twelfth articles of that treaty a scheme was devised by which the lands of the Choctaw and Chickasaw Nations were to be surveyed and divided and allotted to the individual Indians, provided the councils of the respective nations should agree to it, which, however, they have refused to do. A land office was to be established at Boggy Depot in the Choctaw Nation. When all of the surveys were completed, maps thereof were to be filed in the said land oHice, subject to the inspec- tion of all parties interested, and immediately thereafter notice of such filing was to be giyen for 90 days, calling upon all parties interested to examine said ma])s, to the end that errors in the location of occupancies, which were to be noted on the map, might be corrected. Then followed article 13 of the treaty, which is as follows: "Art. 13. The notice required in the above article shall be given not only in the Choctaw and Chickasaw Nations, but by publication in the newspapers printed in the States of Mississippi and Tennessee, Louisiana, Texas, Arkansas, and Alabama, to the end that sucli Choctaws and Cliickasaws as yet remain outside of the Choctaw 46 INDIAN APPROPRIATION BILL, 1917. and Chickasaw Nations may be informed and have opportunity to exercise the rights hereby given to resident Choctaws and Cliickasaws: I'rovided, That before any such absent Clioctaw or Chickasaw shall be perniittetl to select for him or herself or other, as hereinafter provided, he or shesiiall satisfy the register of the land oflice of his or her intention, or the intention of the party for whom the selection is to be made, to become bona fide resident in the said nation within five years from the time of selection and should the said absentee fail to remove into said nation and occupy and commence an improvement on the land selected within the time aforesaid the said selection shall be canceled and the land shall thereafter be discharged from all claim on account thereof." From an examination of this article of the treaty it will be seen that the Choctaws and Cliickasaws recognized the right of absent members of their nations to participate in the allotment and subsequent ownership of their lands to the same extent as they themselves enjoyed, but on conditions, however; First, that they should satisfy the register of the land office of their intention to become bona fide residents in the said nation within five years from the time of said selection; and, second, that within the said five years they should actually remove into the said nation (there is a statute of limitation); and, third, that within the said five years they should occupy and com- mence an improvement upon the selected lands. It will be observed that this latter clause imposes a condition on absent Indians nowhere required of the resident ones by any clause of the treaty. They were required to move into the t'ountry and show their good faith and their intention to remain bona fide citizens of the nation by actual occupancy of the land and an expenditure of money in its imjirovement. The notice was to be given them in order that they might have an op])ortunity of removing into the nation and there residing and resum- ing their rights as citizens; but care was to be taken, and safeguards provided by which their removal was to be actually had, and that was to be done in good faith. First, the register of the land office was to be convinced by such proof as might satisfy him of the intention of the absent Indian to become a bona fide resident of the nation before he was allowed to make a selection; and, second, that was to be followed by an actual occupancy and improvement of the land; and if he failed in this, it worked a forfeiture of his rights. Nowhere within the whole treaty is any right recognized or con- ferred on an absent Indian except consummated or enjoyed until after actual removal. No treaty or act of the Choctaw Council or of any officer of the Choctaw Nation since the treaty of 1830 can be cited, or at least I have not found them, whereby any right or pri^dlege has been conferred, granted, or recognized in or to a Mississippi Choctaw 80 long as he shall remain away from his people, but there are an infinitude of such acts and conduct granting and recognizing such rights and privileges to him after he shall have moved away. The provisions of the treaty of 1866, so far from being an authority in favor of the contention of claimants, seems to me to be strongly against him. To permit men with, perchance, but a strain of Choctaw blood in their veins, who 65 years ago broke away from their kindred and their nation, and during that time, or the most of it, have been exercising the rights of citizenship and doing homage to the sovereignty of another nation, who have borne none of the burdens of this nation, and have become strangers to the people, to reach forth their hands from their distant and alien home and lay hold of a part of the public domain, the common property of the people, and a])proi)riate it to their own use would be unjust and inequitable. It is, therefore, the opinion of the court that absent Mississippi Choctaws are not entitled to be enrolled as citizens of the Choctaw Nation. The action of the Dawes Commission is therefore affirmed, and a decree will be entered for the Choctaw Nation. Mr. Norton. That is the gist of Mr. Harrison's case. Mr. Ferris. Exactly his contention now. Now let us see what the "Federal court says: This is not a case out of point, but is simply a decision of the exact issue now before this committee where the facts are identical. Mr. Hastings. You want to make that clear, that that exact ques- tion was raised in the Jack Amos case. Mr. Ferris. Yes; Jack Amos and 97 full-blood Choctaws, then residing in Mississippi, were carried over by some attorneys to Okla- homa and came before the Dawes Commission and said: Under the fourteenth article of the treaty we are entitled to be enrolled; we are entitled to share in this land; we are entitled to share in tliis money and still keep our residence in Mississippi. INDIAN APPROPKIATION BILL, 191*7. 47 This is the winding up clause of Judge Clayton's decision. The Chairman, What is the date of that decision ? ^Ir. Ferris. 1896, I think— no, 1897. They came before the Dawes Commission in 1896 and were turned down flat. This was on appeal to Federal court from the Dawes Commission, who had already held they could not be enrolled under Article XIV of the treaty. But listen to what the court says. The whole case will be settled in your mind once and for all. Mr. Thompson, This was on appeal from the Dawes Commission ? Mr. Ferris, Yes; it was first tried before the Dawes Commission, and they turned it down liat. It was preposterous to assume that those people could live in Mississippi and retain the allegiance of their people nearly 100 years, and then decide to go to Oklahoma and get then" land and still remain in Mississippi. To do that would let them profit by the refusal to do what Congress intended them to do ; yes, to profit by refusing to do the things they agreed to do. Congress called upon the Dawes Commission in 1897 for a report on this very subject. The commission's report is a Senate document which I am inserting herewith. It is as follows : [House Document No. 271, Fifty-fifth Congress, second session.] Report of the Commission to the Five Civilized Tribes. [Letter from the Secretarj^ of the Interior, transmittme; a report of the Commission to the Five Civilized Tribes relative to the Mississippi Choetaws.] Department of the Interior, Washington, February 2, 1898. Sir: I have the honor to transmit herewith a copy of a report of the Commission to the Five Civilized Tribes, relative to the Mississippi Choetaws, made in pursuance of the folloAving provision contained in the Indian appropriation act of June 7, 1897: "That the commission appointed to negotiate wttli the Five Civilized Tribes in the Indian Territory shall examine and report to Congress whether the Mississippi Choetaws under their treaties are not entitled to all the rights of Choctaw citizen- shin, except an interest in the Choctaw annuities." Very respectfully, C. N. Bt.iss, Secretary. The Speaker of the House op Representatives. report of the commission to the five civiuzEi^ tribes upon the question "whether the MISSISSIPPI CHOCTAWS UNDER THEIR TREATIES ARE NOT ENTITLED TO ALL THE RIGHTS OF CHOCTAW CITIZENSHIP, EXCEPT AN INTEREST IN THE CHOCTAW ANNUITIES," REQUIRED BY ACT OF CONGRESS, APPROVED JUNE 7, 1897. To the Congress of the United Stales: The Commission to the Five Civilized Tribes were required by act approved June 7, 1897, to "Examine and report to Congress whether the Mississippi Choetaws under their treaties are not entitled to all the rights of Choctaw citizenship, except an interest in the Choctaw annuities." The commission has attended to that duty, and make the foUow^ing rej^ort: The Mississippi Choetaws are the descendants of those Choctaw Indians who declined to remove to the Indian Territory with the tribe under the provisions of the treaty made with the United States September 27. 1830, under which the Choetaws obtained their present reservation in the Indian Territory. There has never been a census taken of them, but they are estimated to number at the present time about twelve hundred. These are represented to be a poor and feeble band, somewhat scattered in different parts of the State of Mississippi, but located mostly in the counties of Nes- hoba, Newton. Leake, Scott, and Winston. They claim the right to continue their residence and political status in Missi.ssiiJjji as they and those from whom they descended have done for 65 years, and still are entitled to enjoy all the rights of 48 INDIAN APPROPRIATION BILL, 1917. Choctaw citizenship except to share in the Choctaw annuities. This claim is based on the fourteenth article of said treaty, which is in these words: "Article XIV. Each Choctaw head of a family being desirous to rernain and become a citizen of the States shall be permitted to do so, by signifyino; his intention to the agent within six months from the ratification of this treaty, and he or she shall thereupon be entitled to a reservation of one section of six hundred and forty acres of land, to be bounded by sectional lines of surv^ey; in like manner shall be entitled to one-half that quantity for each unmarried child which is living with liim over ten years of age; and a quarter section to such child as may be under ten years of age, to adjoin "the location of the parent. If they reside upon said lands intending to become citizens of States for five years after the ratification of this treaty, in that case a grant in fee simple shall issue; said reservation shall include the present improvement of the head of the family, or a portion of it. Persons who claim under this article shall not lose the privilege of a Choctaw citizen, but if they ever remove are not entitled to any portion of the Choctaw annuity." What their political status is in the State of Mississiptpi is defined in this fourteenth article of the treaty. Their ancestors each was to signify within six months after the ratification of the treaty his desire to remain and become a citizen of the States, which would entitle them to 640 acres of land and a less amount to each member of his family, and after a residence on the same of five years, with intent to become a citizen, are then entitled to a patent in fee, and are thereby made citizens of the States. Their ancestors having done this, they claim, under the concluding clause of said article, that their ancestors could and they now can continue such citizenship and residence in Mis8issippi and be still entitled to all the rights of a Choctaw citizen in the tribal property of said nation in the Indian Territory, except their annuities. This clause upon which the claim rests is in these words: "Persons who claim under this article shall not lose the privilege of a Choctaw citi- zen, but if they ever remove are not to be entitled to any portion of the Choctaw annu- ity- " But this construction is in direct conflict with the very purpose for which the treaty was made, and \vith the nature of the title to the lands in the territory secured to the Choctaws by it, and to the whole structure and administration of tlieir government ever since under it. No fact is better established than this, that the leading motive, if not the only one, on the part of the United States, was to get the Choctaws out of Mississippi and into what is now the Indian Territory. They accordingly pro\-ided in the second article of the treaty, among other things, that the Choctaws should live on the land ceded to them by it in the Indian Territory. That article is in these words: "Article 2. 'i he United States under a grant specially to be made by the President of the Unifed States shall cause to be conveyed to the Choctaw Nation a tract of country west of the Mississippi River, in fee simple, to them and their descendants, to inure to them while they shall exist as a nation and live on it (here follows a des- cription of the land). The grant to be executed as soon as the present treaty shall be ratified." And the Choctaws agree in the third article to remove all their people to this terri- tory during the years 18ol, 1832. and 18;^3. Now, to construe the concluding clause of the fourteenth article to mean an offer to those who refuse to go with their brethren to the new territory an equal share in the new lands with those who go and the additional fee simple of 640 acres of land in Mississippi and ( itizenship if they do not go is to offer a bounty to those who refuse to go, and would defeat the very purpose of the treaty. Not one would have gone when offered s) mu h better terms f )r staying. It is well known that the Choctaws were very reluctant to enter into this treaty at all, because a portion of them — the ancestors of these claimants — refused to leave with the main body, and the treaty was not exer-uted till the provisions of the fourteenth article were made for those unwilling to leave with their brethren. But the United States did not cease its orig- in-al purp )se to se lire the removal of them all to the new country, even those pro- vided for in the fourteenth article. Thev, therefore, inserted the concluding clause to that arti< le to the effect of a continuing offer and pledge, that if they did ever "remove" — that is, if thev ever changed their minds and concluded to remove — the fact that they had been freeholders and citizens of Mississippi should not bar them out of Choctaw citizenship, Init that they should share like all the rest in everything but the annuities. Thus construed the clause is a standing inducement to those Indians to remove in accordance with the purpose of the treaty instead of a standing bounty to remain and thus thwart that purpose. IXDIAX APPKOPEIATION BILL, 1917. 49 In addition to the condition which entered into the title that the grantees must "live on it" or lose it, the nature of the title was sir h that these claimants could derive no benefit from it without livinG: on it, and by remaining in Mississippi it would be worthless to them. It is a territory in common, and has l^een held as such from that day, 1830, till now. Now, no tenant in common, who voluntarily leaves the common property to the occupancy of his cotenants, can ever claim of them any of the fruits of its use. So that these Mississippi Choctaws, if they are cotenants with the resident Choctaws in these lan-^s in the Indian Territory, must first go there and occupy them with their cotenants or forego any use of them. Another condition cf this title is that the ut I am so sure they are woefully mistaken. I am so sure the results would not be pleasing even to Mississippi to see transpire what would transpire if they were ever enrolled. I hold in my hand photographs of four convict=5, all negroes, who are the star witnesses in this enrollment propaganda, and I will teU you a number of things they have done. They are all convicts but one [exhibiting photographs to members of the committee]. The Chairman. Why are they numbered, Mr. Ferris ? Mr. Ferris. That is the number in the penitentiary. These men this summer appeared as witnesses, and they appeared for the same attorneys who had been continually advocatmg this enrollment legis- lation, tlie principal promoter of whom is Webster Ballinger, an attor- ney of this city. Webster Ballinger formed a partnership this summer with two attorneys by the name of Lindly and Rodkey, the firm name being Ballinger, Lindley & Rodkey, and set up shop and opened offices in a building where the Commissioners to the Five Civilized Tribes held their offices in Muskogee, Okla. They served 44 petitions to come and cross-examine on enrollment cases that they claimed were entitled to be on the roll. In 33 out of the 44 cases he has, Alec Nail, one of these parties that I showed you the picture of, appeared as a witness. This man, a full-blood negro, 72 years old, can neither read nor write, and who in each case completely impeached himself. In 20 of the 44 cases Webster Burton, who is in the penitentiary, ap- peared, and W. M. James — his name and record number are all near. Ilis penitentiary number is 6087, Oklahoma State penitentiar}^. He appeared four times out of 44. And I hope that I can have time to go over this with some of you to show you how the Oklahoma Indians have been harassed for years by these attorneys. I know we have to come before Congress often on Oklahoma matters. We have almost half of the Indians m the United States in Oklahoma, and no doubt the Oklahoma delegation appears burdensome to this committee and to Congress, but somewhere, some time, this committee of Congress shall know what is going on behind the scenes and why it is they in one form or another are trying to put these men on the rolls. [These INDIAN APPEOPEIATION BILL, 1917. 55 unprofessional attorneys go down to Oklahoma and ^Mississippi and they find stock witnesses, ignorant negroes, four convicts who have been used 33 times out of 44 cases as a witness to identify men who they claim should go on the rolls. Mr. Norton. I ask that that be put in the record. ]Mr. Ferris. I will do that with a great deal of pleasure. Mr. Norton. Now, you sa37^ those men were used as witnesses ? Mr. Ferris. Yes; this summer. Mr. Norton. In Mississippi? Mr. Ferris. In Oklahoma; right in Muskogee. But they are work- ing the same thing in Mississippi and on a much broader scale. Their activities down there are the subject of a Government report also. I will also put that in the record. It is as follows : Confidential Report. [Subject: Operations of Ballinger, Lindly & Rodkey in preparation of enrollment cases.] December 27, 1915. Hon. Gabe E. Parker, Superintendent for the Five Civilized Tribes, Muskogee, OJcla. Dear Mr. Parker: In August last, in accordance with instructions from you to assist the Choctaw national attorney, Hon. P. J. Hurley, I entered into an investiga- tion, under his direction, of a number of petitions for the enrollment of certain persons as citizens of the Choctaw Nation, these petitions having been presented by Mr. Webster Ballinger, an attorney of Washington, D. C, to the department and trans- mitted to Mr. Hurley for investigation. Since that time, however, I have been un- able to devote more than six or eight weeks' time altogether upon this work on account of other official duties in connection with your office. My information is that the department accepted copies of these petitions as mem- oranda of an advisory nature. Mr. Ballinger having indicated that he intends to present such petitions to Congress for the purpose of securing the enactment of legis- lation placing the names of such petitioners upon the rolls of the respective tribes in which they claim the right of citizenship, the tribal attorneys have been furnished, by the department, with copies of the petition filed by Mr. Ballinger for the pur- pose of enabling them to make such inquiry into these cases prior to the convening of Congress as would bring out the facts determining the applicants' equitable title to enrollment. Several hundred of the petitions filed by Mr. Ballinger have during the last several months past been forwarded to this office by the department, with instructions to advise the department whether applications for enrollment had been filed by these petitioners within the period allowed by law during which such applications could be received. The majority of these petitions were filed by persons seeking enrollment as citizens by blood and as freedmen of the Creek Nation. Many of the petitioners seek enrollment as citizens by blood and freedmen of the Cherokee Nation. Altogether, I am advised that perhaps 400 separate p^ttitions have been filed by Mr. Ballinger and transmitted by the department to this office. It is estimated that these petitions involve the rights of i)erhai)s 1,500 individuals. This indicates the broad scope of the operations of Mr. Ballinger and his assistants, who began work in Oklahoma preparing these particular cases just a little more than one year ago. The value of the pro])erty involved in the claims of these petitioners, making a rough esti- mate thereof, easily reaches $2,000,000, and in all probability a close study of same will show that as much as $3,000,000 in property rights are involved. AH the petitions sent this office by the department have been relurned, and as no file was kept of them here, I am compelled to make my estimate of the number from the persons who handled them in this office. I have endeaA'ored to list the petitions transmitted to Mr. Hurley by the depart- ment, and I have found 40 cases invoh-ing the rights of 210 persons, all seeking enroll- ment as Choctaw citizens. Taking the generally acceptecl estimate of the property value of an indiddual interest in the Choctaw Nation, viz, $5,000, as a basis upon ■which to form an estimate of the amount of property involved in these 40 cases ]ust named, and multiplying $5,000 by 240, we have the startling total of $1,200,000. I give these figures to show the importance of these matters to the tribes interested. 56 INDIAN APPROPRIATION BILL, I'Jl". I ha^■e had but little time to assist Mr. Hurley in the iuAestigation of these enroll- ment cases, as I am the only person connected with this office who is assigned to gen- eral inspecting work, and I have merely spent what time I could from my regular work in assisting him . A work of such vast importance, to be done thoroughly, should have constant attention of a number of experienced investigators for some months. I have not been instructed and ha\'e made no attempt to investigate anj^ of the petitions filed by Mr. Ballinger other than those of persons seeking enrollment as citizens of the Choctaw Nation with the exception of one case that I have investigated for the Chickasaw national attorney, Hon. Reford Bond. Howe\-er, incidentally, I have taken a few affidavits and depositions in connection with petitions filed for enrollment as citizens of other tribes wherein criminal practices were indicated. My purpose in this report, of course, is not to go into the merits of the indiA'idual cases investigated by me, as I leave that for Mr. Hurley to do. I desire merely to bring your attention, in a general way, to the facts uncovered by my inAestigation which show reprehensible and criminal practices on the part of tlie individuals employed by Webster Ballinger in connection with the preparation of these cases, that you may be informed concerning what is going on in connection therewith within the limits of the Five Tribes, and esi^ecially the nature of the business conducted by these persons under the same roof with your office. On October 15, ]914, Mr. Webster Ballinger came to Muskogee and engaged, in person, tliree office rooms located on the second floor back of the Metropolitan Build- ing, the building occupied, as you know, by your offices, together with the offices of other United States officials. It is my understanding that Mr. Ballinger did not remain here long, establishing in these offices Mr. Mat M. Lindly, an attorney of McAlester, Okla.. and Mr. Perry Rodkey, an attorney of Okomah. Okla. Printed on the outside doors of these offices appear the names of Webster Ballinger, M. M. Lindly. and Perry Rodkey. I attach sample of the letterheads used by these attor; neys. (See Exhibit A.) Upon this letterhead appears the name of Webster Bal- linger, attorney at law, rooms 245-247 Metropolitan Building, Muskogee, Okla., which occupies the center of the paper, with the names of M. ^M. Lindly and Perry Rodkey in the upper left-hand corner. The manager of the Metropolitan Building, Mr. J. L. Wagner, advises me that Mr. Ballinger assumed the responsibility fcr the payment of the rent for the offices named, and has paid it since by his personal check. (It might be noted just here, however, that Mr. Wagner stated to me that a number of Mr. Ballinger's checks had been re- turned unpaid by the bank in Washington upon which they were drawn.) From the time these offices were occupied, Mr. Lindly has been on duty practically daily, apparently in charge of the work. Mr. Rodkey has spent some time here, but it is my understanding that he has operated out of Okemah, Okla., his home town. I am jnepared to establish the fact that Mr. Lindly has been ])aid a salary by Web.«ter Ballinger, of Washington, D. C, at least a pa-t of the time, since entering into these cases, besides his office expenses being paid ]> ■ Mr. Ballinger. There is in existence, I understand, a contract between Mr. Ballini. er and the other two attoi'neys named, which ])robably pro\ades that these attorneys are to share with Mr. Ballinger in any fees that may be hereafter allowed in these cases. I have made but little inquiry concerning the history of Mr. Rodkey, or co:i(,'erning his reputation at this time. As he has maintained headquarters at Okemah and I have been investigating the Choctaw cases out of ^luskogee, I have not had occasioii to devote any time to an investigation of his operations. Mr. II. B. Seddicum, Govt^rnment farmer at Okemah, Okla., uses the following language in k letter addressed to me referring to Mr. Rodkey: "Mr. Rodkey has nothing here only his horre. and that is heavily incumbered, and in fact, \xutil he went to work for Webster Ballitiger, he was in a very bad way finan- cially, but I understand he is getting his expenses paid while doing this work, and will get a good bonus when Ballinger gets his commission. * * * He has no office here, but is working sometin)es in the office of Charles E. Guthrie and Z. J. Thompson." I quote further from his letter as follows: "I have nevei' heard ]\Ir. Rodkey represent that they were connected with or were Government officers or employees, but said thej' were being greatly assisted by Mr. Allen's office, the national attorney, as they were close together at I\Iuskogee, and when the parties came over there part of them were taken care of in his office, and they were also being assisted by the office of the Five Civilized Tribes, and the department knew and approved of what they were doing. (See Exhibit B.) It should be needless for me to comment that Mr. Rodkey's alleged representations to Mr. Seddicum concerning the assistance rendered by Judge Allen's office and the office of the superintendent for the Five Civilized Tribes is an absolute misrepresenta- tion. Judge Allen denies that he rendered any assistance whatever to these persons, and I know that the office of the Five Ci^dlized Tribes has not given them any aid. INDIAN Al'PKOPRIAlION UIIJ., 1M7. 57 Mr. Piodkey's alleged stateinent that the department knew and approved of their work is without doubt also a misrepresentation. Such statemer.ts, however, are mild indeed when compared with the misrein'esentations made by Mr. Lindly and his a^isociates, which will be hereafter commented upon. Mat M. Lindly, who ha? practically been in charge of the Muskogee office of Mr. I^allinger since he opened the same, is a resident of McAlester, Okla. He was, several >ears ago, Chief Deputy United States marshal at McAlester, but, I am reliably in- formed, lost his position on account of excessive use of intoxicants. He \\'as admitted to the bar at McAlester, and since has been employed in the preparation of enrollment cases in which Mr. Balliuger has been interested, together with a limited amount of probate practice. I attach a letter from Supervising Field Clerk S. G. Brink (see Exhibit C), who has been acquainted with Mr. Lindly for several years, having been . formerly stationed at McAlester, from which I quote as follows: "He (Mr. Lindly) has not been entirely sober or out from under the influence of liquor for several years, at least that is my impression, because I do not think I ever got near him that the smell of liquor was not aground him . ' ' I attach also a letter addressed me by Field Clerk R. L. Allen, of McAlester (see Exhibit D), in which he uses the following language with reference to Mr. Lindly: "I have interviewed three business men of this city relative to the standing of Mat M. Lindly, and in each their reply was practically the same: "His standing in the city of McAlester is very low.' I am not personally acquainted with Mr. Lindly, but from what I have been able to learn about him he is a man addicted to the excessive use of intoxicants, and Mill stoop pretty low for a dollar, and has been engaged to some extent in grafting among the Indians." I find upon investigation that Mr. Lindly 's chief lieutenant in this work has been Nelson Durant, an intelligent, fairly vrell educated negro, m ho poses as a lawyer and preacher. He has the reputation in police circles of being a resourceful crook who has made a livelihood for years by jjracticing deception and fraud, principally upon the members of his own race. He has been in jail several times in Muskcgee and \Vagoner Counties, charged with obtaining money under false pretense, and has served one term in the Oklahoma State Penitentiary at McAlester, Okla., having been sentenced there from Muskogee County in March, 1909, for a term of three years, having been con- victed upon the charge of obtaining money under false pretense. He was discharged on expiration pardon August 27, 1911. I attach his photograph, which I obtained from the warden of the penitentiary, which gives his prison number as 803. (See Exiiibit E.) Durant has been one of the chief organizers. Perhaps 20 or 30 other negroes have been employed as field workers, and in this way the applicants v/ere asseml)led and herded into Muskogee. It is a fact well knowii to most of the occ iipan.ts of this build- ing that thousands of negi'oes have visited the offices of Ballinger, Lin,dly & Rodkey during the past year. They have simply gone up to these offices in droves, filling the halls and making themselves generally obnoxious to the occupants of the other offices on the second floor. Mr. .Taneway, formerly chief of field diAdsion, advised me recently that ^^r. Lin.dly had told him that Mr. Julius Golden, the n.otary public who took the acknowledg- ments t(j the ])etitions and aflidavits prepared in the Muskogee office of these attorneys, had made ])erha])s as much as $1,500 (luring the last year in fees (Lindly remarking incidentally that he was complaining because one or two owed him small fees). This large amount of money indicates the extent of the business done by these attorneys. I believe a close investigation will bear me out in the statement that out of the several thousand persotis who have visited the offices of tliese attorneys since they were opened that 99 per cent have been persons of negro blood. Through the efforts of the large number of negroes a.ssociated with ^Ir. Lindly and Durant, it was advertised throughout most sections of the Five Civilizocl Tribes that the rolls of these tribes had been reo])ened, and that CJovernmeut men from \\'ashington, D. C, had establi.'^hed themselves in the Indian agency building at Muskogee for the purpose of taking a])plications. Mr. Lindly has posed as the Government re"j>resentative. There is no doubt in my mind that he has led these gullible negroes to believe that he was rei)resentin.g the United States Government in the work being done by him. I will hereafter refer to testimony of various persons who have sworn Ihat 'Sir. Lindly so rei)re.senled him- self to them. Every circumstance — -the renting of Ihese offices in what was practi- cally a Governmen.t building, the em]iloyment of criminal negroes in the organizations, and the uniform system of nusre"])re.sentations ijracticed by them — all eslablish, in my mind, the fact that a well-laid scheme was concocted l)y the originators of this business. It is the evident purijose of Balliuger, Lindly & Rodkey to so operate their business that the responsibility for the violation of law will rest upon the negro 58 INDIAN APPEOPEIAIION BILL, 1917. tools who have been. ein])loyed i)y them. I shall first attempt a detailed statement of facts shown, by my investigation of the Choctaw enrollment cases investigated. Durant occnpied office No. 245 of the suite rented by I\Ir. Ballinger, which served, to some extent, as a waiting room. Mr. Lindly occupied office Xo. 247, which con- nects with the former through an alcove. A very small room about the size of a large clo.set, but with an. outside entrance, is sandwiched between these two offices and is numbered 246, I l)elieve, but is connected with only the one office No. 247. The evidence shows that Durant examined the pro.spective applicants first; that he had copies of the printed roll of the Five Tribes, which he consulted in coiinection with his interviews with these persons; that he made pencil memoranda which he worked out and submitted to Mr. Lindly, who himself prepared the petitions on a type- writer for the signature of the applican.ts. The data from which the affidavits were prepared in support of the petition.s was made out in like manner by Durant and written out in proper form by Mr. Lindly, in person, on a typewriter. The little office referred to seems to have been used by Durant as a private consul- tation room where he extorted money from the applicants. Mr. Hurley and I obtained exhaustive dei:)Ositions from a dozer or more persons who have filed petitions through the attorneys named for enrollment as citizens by blood of (he Choctaw Nation. All of these applicants are negroes of the illiterate, unreliable type. In their examinations they were nervous and evasive, demonstrat- ing fully both by their conduct on the witness stand and by their answers that their claims are in fact fraudulent. Their petitions as drawn by Mr. Lindly, su]rported by affidavits, establish prima facie cases. In each case examined the petitioner alleges blood relationship with persons connected with prominent full-blood Choctaw families, who are identified in such petitions by roll number. Cross-examination of these negro claimants develops the fact that they have no knowledge whatever of any relationship to the persons whose identity is so positively asserted in petitions signed by them. If these claimants signed these petitions, knowing the contents thereof, they committed perjury in so doing. The person who supplied the data upon which "these petitions Avere based and i)ut before them by Mr. ]>a]linger' ; associates in this office. These witnesses were ]).ud from 50 cents to §2.50 (uich by every applicant for whom they made an affidavit, and exacted a promise of additional consideration from many. I obtained exhaustive statements from each of these negro witnesses, and I attach comi)letc copies of such lestimonv. The affidavits of these witnesses, as they appear attached to the applications filed by Mr. Ballinger are relied upon to pro/e Ihit the applicant is of Choctaw blood, purporting to show clearly the ancestry from which this blood was derived, identifying, by roll number, many alleged blood relati\cs who were enrolled as Choctaws by blood, and going into detail as to why such ai)]ilicant h' d f viled of enrollment by the Dawes Commission. With not one oxcoi)tion, every I'.fFdavit filed by Mr. liallinger 60 INDIAN APPFiOPUIATION BILL, 1917. in support of the petitions of these so-called ('hoctu.ws by blood, purporting to have been executed by these v'itnesses, is false in its entirety. These negroes testify, in the first place, that they had not known one of the applicants before they met such applicant in Mr. Ballinger's office at the time they made the affidavits. Alec Nail is an old negro of the ante bellum type. (See his photograph attd.ched as Exhibit K.) He is a Choctaw freedman, and has resided all of his life in the Choc- • taw Nation. He seems proud of the fact that he has had quite an extensive acquaint- ance among tlie Choctaws. In his egotism he almost goes to the extent of claiming that he knows every person who has lived in the Choctaw Nation since his boyhood. I imagine that he was in his glory seated in Mr. Biillinger's Muskogee office as his principal witness in Choctaw enrollment cases where he coidd boast, to his heart's content, before the hundreds of negroes who visited these offices. He at once became, in his own mind, a very important person. The money that was paid to him by these negro applicants for enrollment as citizens by blood doubtless caused his imag- ination to run riot, and led him to believe, for the moment perhaps, that certain persons, prominent Choctaws whom he had heard of all of his life, who were found upon the roll books by Durant, were in some way related to these applicants. Never- theless, he swears before me that he never met one applicant for whom he made an affidavit before he met such applicant in Mr. Ballinger's office. He admits that they all had the appearance of being of negro blood; admits that he does not believe that there is any relationship existing between these applicants and the persons with whom they claim relationship in their several petitions. When confronted with his various affidavits, he states that he told Lindly time and time again that he knew nothing about their ancestry, and that he was testifjang in these affidavits only that he knew the persons referred to therein, not intending to identify them as ancestors of the applicants. It is evident that Durant and Lindly have both been guilty of subornation of perjury in the preparation of all of these petitions and affidavits. I am setting out below excerpts from the testimoTiy of Alec Nail, given before me on July 31, 1915, with reference to certain features touched upon by me: ''Q. \\Tiat is your occupation? — A.' Ain't able to do nothing now. "Q. '^Tiat have you been doing since you have been in Muskogee? — A. I not done anything. I liked to have died last summer and if it had not bgen for Mrs. Hester, Senator Owen's mother-in-law * * *_ "Q. Well, have you made any money at all since j^ou reached Muskogee? — A. None to amount to anything. "Q. Have you made any? — A. Sometimes when I witness for people down here they give me a dollar and sometimes $1.50. "Q. \\niat people do you refer to that paid you this money? — A. Those that claimed. * * * Those that make application for enrollment as citizenship. "Q. WTiere is that office located? — A. Metropolitan Building. "Q. Do you know the number of the room? — A. No, sir; I would not know it if I was looking at it. Rodkey, Lindly, and Ballinger is printed on the door of the office. ■'Q. The Metropolitan Building is the building that the Indian agency is in? — A. Yes, sir. "Q. Do you know any of the persons that you signed affidavits for? — A. No, sir. "Q. Were you personally acquainted with them? — A. No, sir; I don't believe I was. "Q. You merely accepted their statements as true, what they told you concerning their parentage? — A. I did not consider their statements; they would say they were kin to Willie Johnson. •'Q. Did you believe what thev told you or not?— A. I have just thought about that. ''Q. You had no other reason, excei^t their own statements, to believe they were children of Choctaws ?^ — A. No, sir. ■'Q. Do you know Mr. Ballinger? — A. I have never seen him. •'Q. Who keeps the oflice down there? — A. Nelson Durant and Judge Lindly. He type wrote whatever is down. "Q. Any other person? — A. Mr. Golden; he swears the people in. "Q. What did Mr. Lindly do, exactly?— A. lie type wrote and w^ould go in the room where the colored lawyer was. "Q. Would Durant \mte it down with a pencil? — A. I guess so. "Q. And would hand it over to Lindly and Lindly would write it out himself on the typewriter? — A. Yes, sir. •'Q. Were these affidavits read over to these persons before they signed them? — A. Well, the majority of times they were, at least mine were. IXDIAN ArPROPRIATION BILL, V.ni. 61 ■'Q. Your aflidavits were read over to you? — A. I supposed they were. I can't read. ■'Q. The}- pretended to? — A. They had me lhinkin» so. :(: :i: ^ :{: ^ ^ :»; "Q. Did not all of these apy)licants or claimants think they [referring to Ballinger Lindly ct Rodkey] were in the Government service? — A. I am not positive about that, but it is likely to believe that they were in the Government service, for he would not take any pay for what he did — Mr. Laidly. ■'Q. You think he was in the Government service? A. Yes, sir; I hear him say that you could not pay him a thousand dollars, and if the Goverujnent didn't have him, some one did." There is filed with the application for enrollment of Annie Abernathy, of Muskogee, Okla., who ai)plied for enrollment as a Chocta.w citizen by blocd, an affidavit purport- ing execution by Alec Nail before Julius Golden, a notary public, on May 6, 1915, in which Nail, among othei' things, testifies as follows: ■'That he is well and personally acquainted with the aT>plicant and that he has known her since she was a small girl; that he was also well and personally accjuainted with both her father and mother. Her mother was Caroline Tyson, nee Frazier. He was a three-quarter Choctaw Indian by blood; that her father was Sam Tyson, who was a full-blood Chi'-kasaw Indian who lived in the Choctaw Nation, near old Fort Towson. * * * That the said mother had quite a number of brothers and sisters. [Here names several]. That her said father had brothers that I also knew. [Here names them.] * * * That he had known the applicant at the different places that .she has lived near Bokchito, Caddo, and in that part of the country until she came to Muskogee, some three or four years ago." I C£uote below from Alec Nail's testimony given before me on July 31, 1915, which is a part of the testimony referring to the affidavit from which I have jugt quoted: "Q. Did you make this affidavit? — A. Not all that that is stated there. "Q. Did you sign a statement relative to these facts? — A. No, sir. They took the roll book out and pointed to a number and asked if I knew so and so, but they could get that without me. "Q. Did you swear that you knew all these applicants of your own personal knowl- edge? — A. No, sir. What did they call that woman, Annie Abernathy? "Q. Her name as it appears here is Annie Abernathy, nee Frazier. — A. She is just a yellow woman. She is not a Choctaw at all. She is just a nigger around Muskogee. That is all there is to it. "Q. You said just now you were not acquainted with this woman until she was in- troduced to you? — A. Yes, sir; they took out the roll book and asked me if. I knew a Frazier, and I said yes. "Q. You know nothing about this woman's parentage or any of her relatives? — A. No, sir. She had negro blood in her. I did not think she was related to them Fraziers, as they were Indians and this woman was negro. "Q. You say that Mr. Lindly wrote this affidavit? — *-\. He tyi^ewrote them and would give them to the colored lawyer. "Q. Was this colored lawyer in there all the time you made these affidavits? — A. Yes, sir. "Q. You were reciuired to raise your right hand and s\\ear to this aflidavit to which you attached your thumb mark? — A. Yes, sir." In an affidavit pur))orting execution by Nail, filed by Mr. Ilallingcr, with petition of Mary Reeves, nee Hampton, for enrollment as a citizen by blood of the ( "hoctaw Nation, Nail is made to testify, among other things, that he is well and personally actiuainted with the grandfather of the apj)licant. and that his name was Isaac Hampton. He is then made to go into the history of the Hampton family, pretending to i^hing; that she was mentally all right but did not have the faculty of speech. Did you state this in Mr. Ballinger's office? — ^A. No, sir; there was no need of it. "Q. Did you know this woman when she was a small child? — A. No, sir." In an affidavit made before Julius Golden, a notary public, on June 22, 1915, filed by ]\fr. Ballinger in support of the petition of Josie L. Arnold, nee Lewis, for enroll- INDIAN APPEOPEIATION BILL, 1917. 63 ment as a citizen by blood of the Chickasaw Nation, Alec Nail is made to testify in part as follows: "That he knows the applicant, Josie L. Arnold; that he also knew her mother, Sofia Lewis, nee Kemp, and all the Kemp family; that the father of her mother, Sofia Lewis, nee Kemp, was Jackson Kemp. * * * The applicant was raised bp old Aunt Caldonia Green, a colored woman, who was formerly the slave of her grand- father, Jackson Kemp." In his examination by me on July 31, 1915, relative to this petitioner, Josie L. Arnold, Alec Nail testified in part as follows: "Q. Did you make this affidavit? — A. I know the name of some of those Kemps, they would ask me about people named Kemp that I knew, and I would state whar I knew. This woman was looked up on the roll and they would ask me if I knew the Kemps, and say go to work and name how many you know, and I would go and name as many as I knew. "Q. You can not say that you know this applicant? — A. No, sir; I know I don'r know her. "Q. You did not know any of the people that you met in that office? — A. No, sir. * -x- * * * * * "Q. Did you know a Sofia Lewis, who was a Kemp before she was married? — A. I don't know; I can't remember. "Q. Did you ever know a Jackson Kemp? — ^A. Why, sure; yes, sir. "Q. What relation was Jackson Kemp to Sofia Kemp? — A. I couldn't say. "Q. You were made to swear in this affidavit that I read you that this woman who appeared in the office downstairs is a daughter of Sofia Lewis, who has been a Kempj and that Jackson Kemp was the father of Sofia Kemp. What do you know about that? — A. I don't know nothing about that. I don't know who Sofia Lewis was; she may have been the mother of the one making application. Q. You do not remember Sofia Lewis? — A. No, sir; I don't. ******* "Q. WTiat blood was Jackson Kemp?— A. He was a full-blood. He looked to be. "Q. Full-blood what?— A. Chickasaw. " Q. Did you make an affidavit down there for any person who was not a negro? — A. Not to my knowledge, except Jackson Barrett, and another white man I forget; let's see, Mr. Eubanks. ******* "Q. Wei'e all the women for whom you made affidavits down-stairs negroes? — A. Yes, sir; all negroes, I believe. ******* "Q. Can you read? — K. A little in the Bible. Can't read to do no good. "Q. Can you sign your name? — A. Oh, no. Can't write a line. ******* "Q. Mr. Lindly knew that you did not know this woman? — A. Yes, sir; I told him so. ******* "Q. So Mr. Lindly wrote on the typewriter the affidavit that you made?— A. Yes, sir. "Q. And you say you told Mr. Lindly that you did not know any of the applicants, and did not intend to identify them? — A. Yes, sir. "Q. Well, what were you doing down there?— A. I would prove that I knew the Choctaws. Advise them. ******* "Q. It was your understanding that you were merely to testify that such a Choctaw family lived at one time, and you would testify as to remembering that family; you did not testify that the claimants were related to any of the members of the families you have mentioned?— A. No, sir; I couldn't." As a matter of fact, investigation tends to show that this claimant for enrollment, Jo.sie \j. Arnold, was probably ])orn and reared in Louisiana, not having removed to this country until some few years ago, although she swore before me that she was born and rai.'scd in the Chickasaw Nation at Wiley. ITor claim is absolutely fraudu- lent, and she committed ])erjury in her testimony l)ofore me. I quote further from Alec Nail's testiniony as foll()\ss: "Q. Do you recall a woman who claimed to be a descendant of the Wright family of choctaws? — A. I recall a woman that claimed to be a daughter of old Leonard Wri'dit . 64 INDIAN APPROPRIATIOlSr BILL, 1917. I " Q. Had you ever seen tliis woman 1)efore you met her in Mr. P>allinger'H office? — A. Never did. ******* " Q. Was Leonard Wright a brother of okl Goa". Wright? — A. Yes, sir; Allen Wright's father at McAlester. "Q. W'cvQ they full-bloods? — A. Yes, sir: old Gov. Wright was a full-blood. ******* " Q. Was this woman who claimed to be a daughter of Leonard Wright a negro? — A. Yes, sir: she was yellow. "Q. She was yellow?— A. Yes, sir; I told them to send that [indicating papers in this case filed l>y Ballinger] to McAlester, but they would not do it. Three Te.x:as witnesses were there to that. "Q. You say they had three Texas witnesses to witness that? — ^A. They had two; I will say that. Bill McOombs brought them up here. ******* "Q. Do you know Jarnes Goings? — A. Yes, sir; I know a Jim Goings since I have been here. "Q. Did you first meet him in Mr. Ballinger's office? — A. Yes, sir; the first time in my life. (This man is an applicant for enrollment as a Ghuctaw citizen by blood. W. L. B.) "Q. Do you know the father a:id mother of this applica it, Jim Goings? — A. No, sir. "Q. Do you know whether the father's name was Henry and the mother's name was Frances? — A. No, sir. "Q. Did you ever know a Henry and Frances Goings? — A. Yes. sir; I have heard of that family; but that thing [indicating affidavit] was made a long time before I saw it. ■■Q. What do you mean? — A. They took his application in a long time before they knew I was here. I was sick, but they referred him to me, and when I got up his application was made out already, and I was just asked about the Goings family, and 1 said I knew them. * * * * * * * "Q. There is an affidaAit attached to this application filed by Mr. Webster Bal- linger. acknowledged by yoii before Julius Golden, a notary public, on March 23, 1915, in which you are made to state that you first met this applicant more than 30 years ago at Doaksville. — A. No, sir. "Q. And that you were well and personally acquainted with the father and mother of this applicant. Henry and Frances Goings, and that you knew the brothers of Henry (iidngs, and that their names were George, James, and Alfred? — A. I do not know that at all; they are all on the rolls, them I gave. "Q. And that their oldest one died before the war. Did you make this statement to any person in ^Slr. Ballinger's office? — A. Not like you are reading it. * * * ■ * * * * "Q. You did not know any of the people that you met in that office? — A. No, sir. "Q. What office do you mean when yon refer to that office? — A. Well, it says Ballinger, llodkey & Lindly. They say it is their names on that door. ******* "Q. Do you know how much you got for making this aflJidavit? — A. No, sir; some- times I got a dollar, sometimes §1.50, and sometimes $2. "Q. Who gave you this money? — A. The applicants; the one making the applica- tion. They paid me the money I got. •' Q. Did" you ask for the money?— A. They said if you do not pay the witnesses and notary fees the papers do not go out of the office. They said that they was to get two old members of the tribe, and I was in the Dawes Commission one day and they employed me to see about it. I did not have any confidence in it. "Q. You told me, did you not, that most persons who applied for enrollment down there in their office as Indians by blood were negroes? — A. Every one of them. "Q. And they tried to get on the blood roll?— A. Yes, sir; and I would say, why don't you get on the rolls with me; but they said they would get on the blood roll." I have quoted rather fully fnmi the testimony of Alec Nail, for the reason that it shows clearly the cliaracter of the work done by Mr. Ikillinger and his assistants in- Oklahoma. A review of the twenty-five or more enrollment cases filed by Mr. Web- ster Ballinger, which have the artidavits of this chief witness. Alec Nail, attached, shows that all of them were prepared under the same circumstances, being, in fact, manufactured cases from the beginning. INDIAN AFI'ROPRIATIOX BILL, 1917, 65 Wobpter Burton, another chief ])rofessi()nal Avntness in Choctaw enrollment cases tiled by Mr. Ballinger, is a negro of the illiterate class, entirely unreliable; in fact, of the indolent petty-thief type. He is a Chickasaw freedman, and his sole occupation for months was loafiug around the offices of Ballinger, Lindly & Rodkey, getting what money he could from the negro asjnrants for enrollment as citizens by blood of the Choctaw Nation for making afhdaA'its for them. Dozens of these worthless, perjured affidavits signed by thumb print accompany petitions of various persons applying for enrollment as Choctaws by blood filed by Mr. Webster Ballinger. Althougli in these affidavits Burton is made to testify to family histories of these applicants in detail, he testified before me as follows: "Q. You made quite a mimber of affida\ats down there? — A. Well, I signed some. ■'Q. In Mr. Ballinger's office? — A. Yes, sir. "Q. How many affidavits do you suppose you made? — A. J have no idea. "Q. Were you personally acquainred with all the persons for whom you made afhdavits? — A. Was I acquainted with them? "Q. Were you personally acquainted with them? — A. No, sir; I was not. "Q. Were you acquainted Avith any of them? — A. No one. I told them that. "Q. You had never seen one of the persons? — A. No, sir; never seen them." Continuing, he testifies how these affidavits were prepared: "Q. Who prepared the affidavits that you signed? Wlio wTote them? — A. Lindly type wTote them out. ' "Q. Did you tell him what to wTite in thses affidavits? — A. No, sir; I told him of the Indian people I knew. ••C^. Did Mr. Diu-ant have anytliing tri do with the preparation of these affida- vits? — A. Well, I am going to speak that the best I know how. Durant would fill them out. "Q. He would write them out \nth a typewTiter? — A. Yes, sir; whatever tribe these people were, he would WTite that out and if I knew that tribe, he would write that out. I gave them all to understand that I didn't know them. "Q. Did Durant question you himself as to your knowledge? — A. No, sir. ■'Q. Did Mr. Lindly question you as to the extent of your knowledge? — A. No, dr; he didn't. "Q. Did he simply write out these affidavits without asking you?— A. He wrote these affidavits from the questions wTote otit from the roll book, for the Indians on the roll. "Q. Who would find them on the roll? — A. Durant or those Indians would take the roll book and find them. "Q. After these affidavits were written up on tlie typewTiter by Mr. Lindly were the affidavits read to you? — A. Yes, sir. "Q. By whom?— A. Golden. "Q. By Golden?— A. Yes, sir. "Q. He was a notary? — A. Yes, sir. "Q. Can "you write your name? — A. Can't write at all, or read. •'Q. You signed these affidavits by thumb mark? — A. Yea, sir." Burton acknowledges that he was paid from 50 cents to |2.50 each for making these affidavits, and that he had been promised as much as $100 additional by eeveral appli- cants, if they were successful in securing enrollment. I quote from a letter dated August 9, 1915, addressed to me by Mr. M. L. Garrett, United Stat38 probate attorney at Tishomingo, referring to Webster Burton: "I have talked to several who know him while he lived in the Adcinity of ^lilburn, Okla., and the most of them say that his reputation was pretty bad, that they never knew of his being prosecuted for any crime except the one mentioned al)0A'e (fornica- tion)." I quote further from the testimony of Webster Burton given before me: "Q. Have you been in the penitentiary? — A. No, sir. "Q. Have you been in jail? — A. Yes, sir. "Q. How many times have you been in jail? — A. I can't tell you. "Q. A number of times? — A. Several times. " Q. What were you charged with?— -A . Whisky and fighting. "Q. Whisky selling? — A. No, sir. "Q. Introducing? — A. Yes, sit. ******* ■'Q. What counties were you in jail?— A. I have been in jail in Fort Smith and Tishomingo." I am attaching hereto a copy of Burton's testimony before me. I could go into detail and show the different false affidavits that were made by him, referred to in this 25134— PT 4— 16 5 . _ . 66 INDIAN APPROPRIATION BILL, 1917. testimony, but I believe all tliat it is necessary for me to state here is that it would be practically a repetition of the testimony of Alec Nail, as set out above. Every affi- davit purporting to have been made by this man and filed by Mr. Webster Ballinger is false practically in its entirety. Another negro professional witness of Ballinger, Lindly & Rodkey is William James, heretofore referred to, now serving as convict No. 6087 in the Oklahoma State Peni- •ientiary. His affidavit is submitted by Mr. Ballinger in support of a dozen or more 'Choctaw petitions for enrollment, and perhaps as many as 50 Creek petitions for •enrollment. He is of the criminal type, and would perjure himself in any matter for 3. small sum of money. He has never resided in the Choctaw Nation, yet we find his a,ffidavit, as stated, attached to a dozen or more petitions filed l)y Mr. Ballinger on behalf of persons seeking enrollment as choctaw citizens by blood, which are intended to prove the Choctaw blood of such applicants and trace the blood relationship of the -applicants to certain Choctaw ancestors. It is needless to make the comment that these affidavits are entirely false. James, in his testimony before me, frankly admits that he had no knowledge of the facts testified to by him in these various affidavits. I quote briefly from his statement made before me as follows : "Q. Were you paid anything for mailing these affida\dts? — A. No, sir; I wasn't paid anything; not until they got it through outside of a little expense money. "Q. If the men got these cases through, what were you to rceeive? — A. I was to get $25 a head. "Q. You were to get $25 a head?— A. Yes, sir. ^'Q. Who promised you that? — ^A. The ones that were making the applications. ■"'Q. Did Mr. Lindly or Durant, or anyone else, sanction that? — A. No, sir. They ididn't sanction that at all; the applicants that were making the applications if they got through were to pay the witness fee. "Q. How did the applicants come to promise you $25? — A. For making a witness for them" "Q. Did you ask the witnesses to agree to pay you $25 for acting as a witness for them? — A. I asked them what they would allow me for making it: for helping them through . ■'Q. You exacted that? — A. Yes, sir. ^'Q. You said just now, James, that you wert to have your expenses paid. Who agreed to pay your expenses? — A. The ones who were making applications gave me 50 cents." Julius Golden, a notarv public of Muskogee, Okla., has taken the acknowledgments to all of the petitions and affidavits made in support thereof prepared in the Muskogee office of Ballinger, Lindly & Rodkey, as heretofore shown. Testimony of these applicants and witnesses shows that the applicants paid Golden, as notary fees, from 75 cents to $2. In most instances they were charged $2, whereas the petitions pre- sented by Mr. Ballinger elo not contain more than three or four jurats. The State law prescribes 25 cents as a maximum fee allowed a notary public for signing and placing his seal upon a jurat. It is shown that Golden did not do any clerical work 1 n connection with the preparation of these affidavits. Mr. Lindly has been accredited with the statement that Golden has made, during the last year, as much as $1,500 in notary fees from the applicants who appeared at the Muskogee offices of Ballinger, lindly & Rodkey. However, Mr. Golden states to me that all jurats were signed and sealed by him in triplicate, and that he In no case charged more than the legal fee. It is reasonable to suppose* that he has divided his fees with Lindly and Rodkey, but this is denieel. Golelon is a real estate elealer, and has resided in Muskogee for seven or eight years. He appe-ils to me as a cautious Jew, not very conscientious, but he would take precautions to avoiel violating any law. I do not believe he would hesitate to enter any scheme to defraud, if he thought that he could not be reached by the law for his connection therewith. So in tliis case. When I brought to his attention the fact that it had been established that practically all of the affidavits made before him by the applicants and witnesses in these .enrollment cases were false, he inquired if I thought there was any danger in his continuing to take acknowledgments in such cases. Of course, I advised him that he would have to exercise his own judgment in the matter, but personally I certainly would not care to have my jurat attached to -perjured affidavits. I understand that he continued to act as notary for the attorneys named after his conversation with m(i just referred to. As stated previously by me hendn, precaution has evidently been taken by the principals connectetl with this enrollment work to avoid criminal prosecution for the outrageous fraud perpetrated by them and their agents upon many ignorant citizens of this State, and for the assistance given through unscrupulous, elesigning persons, mostly Negroes, in an attempt to perpetrate fraud upon the Five Civilized ^Tribes by the presentation of scores of false claims for enrollment. INDIAN APPROPEIATION BILL, 1917. 67 I understand that the petitions presented by Mr. Ballinger were not accepted by the department as applications for eru'ollment. Therefore no United States statute could be resorted to under which to prosecute any of the persons shown to be guilty of preparing or making the false and perjm-ed affidavits referred to. On the other hand, I do not believe that any State law covers the case. False swearing before a notary public in such a matter does not appear to be defined as perjury by the stat- utes of this State. I shall now refer to other criminal featm'es brought out in connection with my investigation of these enrollment cases. In the first place, there has evidently been a conspii'acy formed to lead as many ignorant persons as possible to believe that the rolls of the Five Tribes have been reopened, and that Mr. Ballinger and his associates were Government agents sent out for the purpose of enrolling all those persons who were entitled to enrollment who failed in securing their rights before the Dawes Commission. Two intelligent, shrewd, unscrupulous, designing negroes. Nelson Durant and William H. Vann, have proved the most active chief lieutenajits. As stated pre^•iously herein, Durant is an excon\ict. He poses as a lawyer and preacher, but I am ad\dsed that he has never been admitted to the bar, and I take it for granted that if he preaches at all among the negroes it is for the purpose of fur- thering his fraudulent schemes. He is without doubt a crook of the first water. He sustains this reputation among those who know him, and the fact that he was employed by Ballinger, Lindly & Rodkey as one of their chief organizex's and operators proves to me the character of the work contemplated by them. My understanding is that William H. Vann has been admitted to practice before the courts of the State as an attorney, and has resided around Nowata and Sapulpa, Okla., for some years. He is regarded as a shrewd, scheming negro. Nelson Grubbs, another negro, whose post-office address is probably Nowata, Okla., has operated more or less in connection with Vann. In every locality in wliicli I have made any inquiry touching the operations of Ballinger, Lindly & Rodkey I have found that one or more scheming negroes have been employed to herd the applicants for the evident purpose of sending them into Muskogee to be fleeced by Durant and Vann. The evidence gathered by me tends to show that both Durant and Vann have collected various sums of money from the persons seeking enrollment, the indications being that they have obtained all the money that it was possible for them to induce the various persons to part with. A number of persons have sworn that Mr. Lindly and Mr. Rodkey both represented themselves as Government officials, and practically every person interviewed by me who has had any dealing with these individuals states that Durant, Vann, Grubbs, and others associated with them, openly represented themselves to be in the Govern- ment service, stating in that connection that the rolls of the Five Tribes have been open ed . I here quote from the statements of several Ballinger claimants and some of their witnesses, made before me, whose complete testimony I do not believe It is necessary to attach, for the purpose of this report. I first quote from the statement of Jennie Wilson, a negro, of Tulsa, Okla., made before me November 18, 1915, who applies for enrollment, through Mr. Ballinger, as a Choctaw citizen by blood, as follows: ■'Q. Before whom did you make this application for enrollment?— A. Perry Rodkey. '•Q. Where does Perry Rodkev live? — A. His office at that time at Okmulgee (Okemah?). "Q. Do you know whether Perry Rodkey is employed by Webster Ballinger, an attorney of Washington, D. C? — A. Yes, sir; I suppose so — -from Washington. I don't know who he was under. "Q. Webster Ballinger — ^is that the name Mr. Rodkey gave you as the name of the person by whom he was employed? — A. lie didn't give me any name. He said he was working for the Government; heard him speaking— — • "Q. Is that what Mr. Rodkey told you? — A. I heard him say that. "Q. Did he tell you that?— A. I don't know that he was talking to me. I heard him talking to some other person. "At Okemah?— A. Yes, sir. "Q. You went to see him at Okemah?— A. Yes, sir. "Q. WJiat did he state to these other persons, using the exact language that he used concerning his being employed by the Government? — ^.\. Well, I couldn't state it and be correct about it. lie was just talking about enrolling Indian blood rights * * * working for the Government. "Q. Did he tell you he was in the employ of any particular department of the Government?— A. IvTo, sir. 68 INDIAN APPROPEIATION BILL, imi. ■'Q. Any particular bureau of the Government? — -A. No, sir. "Q. The Department of the Interior, Indian Office? — A. No, sir; I didn't hear him say that. "Q. Led you to believe that he was working for the Government. — A. Yes, sir. '■Q. You believed that when you made this application? — A. That was my under- standing. " Q. Did you have to pay him any money? — 'A. No, sir; not a cent. "Q. Did he tlemand any money?— A. No, sir. "Q. Did you deal with him direct? — A. Yes, sir. '■Q. Deal with any other person? — A. No, sir; took my statement himself. '■ Q. Did he write it himself on the typewriter? — A. No, sir; had some one. "Q. Man or woman? — A. Man. "Q. Do you know the name of the man?— A. Mr. Guthrie. *'Q. Your petition for enrollment filed by Webster Ballinger appears to have been sworn to before Chas. E. Guthrie on March 12, 1915. This is the application that you refer to?— A. Yes; that's it. '■Q. Did you pay Mr. Guthrie? — A. No; only the notary fee. •'Q. How" much?— A. $3. "Q. What was this .|3 for? — A. Notary seal on my application and my children's. ******* " Q. Did you sign any kind of a contract to pay them anything ?^ — -A. No, sir. '■ Q. Did you give them any power of attorney ?^ — A. I don't know how papers were fixed up. I didn't sign any papers to pay. "Q. You understand that the rolls are closed? — ^A. Closed? "Q. Yes. — A. Years ago. "Q. Do you understand that they have been reopened? — A. Well, yes: open to enroll Indian blood rights. "Q. Who gave you to understand that the rolls have been reopened".' Who has given you that understanding? — A. Where I was trying to be enrolled." I quote now from the testimony of Graham W. Wilson, a negro notary public of Tulsa, Okla., the husband of Jennie Wilson, from whose testimony I have just quoted: "Q. Who approached you in the matter of the enrollment of your wife's children and herself? How much did you pay for the work done in her behalf? — A. Mr. Rod- key came here to Tulsa first. A crowd of us went then to Muskogee where we imder- stood that Mr. Rodkey was located. I took my wife along. After we got there we found that Mr. Rodkey was sick, so we couldn't see him. Wejwent to the office where we understood he was located and found Mr. Lindly. Mr. Lindly told us to state our case to a colored man named Durant — Nelson Durant. Nelson Durant told me that he would have to have S;35. That for $35 he would put my wife and children on the rolls. I told him that I had a letter from Mr. Rodkey in which he stated that there would be no charge. I told him we would wait and see Mr. Rodkey, and, if necessary, go to Okemah to see him; later we went to Okemah. We did not pay Mr. Rodkey anything, but paid the notary public a few dollars, I have forgotten the exact amount we paid for the notary's work and typewriting. " ' I quote now from the statement of Mary Ross, a negro citizen of Haskell, Okla. (made before P. J. Hurley, Choctaw national attorney, Nov. 23, 1915), in the matter of her application for enrollment as a citizen by blood of the Choctaw Nation. "Q. \\hen you came over here to Muskogee whom did you see in Muskogee? — ^A. I came to that office. "Q. In this building?— ^A. I suppose so. "Q. Were you led to believe they were enrolling people? — A. I asked and they said they were. "Q. That they were enrolling people? — A. Yes, sir; I asked for Ballinger and Lee and Lee was gone and Ballinger was in Washington, D. C, and they were hired by the Interior but this man that was doing this writing, he told me he was hired and was getting a salary to enroll people, and this colored man "Q. Did this man tell you he w^as hired by the Secretary' of the Interior? — A. Yee, sir; his duty was to enroll the applicants. ''Q. Did he tell you whether or not he could take any fees for his services? — A. He would'nt take a penny; was being paid by the Government. "Q. Who was the colored man? — A. Nelson Durant. That is the man I gave the monev to. "Ql What money?— A. The $5. "Q. How much did he ask for?— A. .$25. "Q. What was the reason? — A. He was charging. I asked him how come him to charge, and he said these witnesses. I wouldn't pay him a cent, so I says. I went back and stalled him. INDIAN APPROPRIATION BILL, 1917. 69 "Q. You did pay Nelson Durant $5? — A. Yes, sir; and I paid $1.75 to a little bitty fellow. "Q. AVhat is he, a notary public? — A. Yes, sir. ******* '■Q. What did Nelson Durant say that you should pay this money for? — A. He said do you think I am up here for my health, and takes a book and hunts your relatives, and he writes who I am and who my people are, and he carries this thing in on a piece of paper. "Q. Whose office? — A. Stout man's. ******* "Q. Will you send me those letters you claim to have received from Ballinger? — A. Yes, sir; I will hunt them all up, lots of them are postal cards. He told me the roll was open. '■Q. How long ago has it been? — A. Not very long. "Q. Has it been six months since he wrote you? — A. Said he would let me know and for me to keep up and see when the roll, the Choctaw rolls were open. ■'Q. ^Mren was that? — A. A good while ago. '•Q. These men that took your application, what office of the Interior Department did they say they represented, the Secretary of the Interior, the Commissioner of Indian Affairs, or the Superintendent of the Five Civilized Tribes? — A. The Secre- tary of the Interior. They told me Choctaws and Creeks and Cliickasaws and there was a Creek and a Chickasaw Indian there, Susan Harrison enrolled her child the same day I was enrolled and another woman from the Cherokee Nation the same day and there was four of us. there was six enrolled there that day. ••Q. Did those people claim they were authorized by the Government to enroll those people? — A. This white man told me he was getting a salary from the Govern- ment to enroll the people, he wouldn't take any money from them. I never offered him any. He sat in front of the table. The old man, both of them talked so plain, I was getting the value of the land in money. I told them I didn't care for the land I would take anything. I ^vill set up the "cigars and he says Mrs. Rose I wouldn't take a penny from you or anybody I ever saw to do this work because the Government has me hired. I am getting my salary from Washington. D. C. I said if I was to get any money I wouldn't mind setting them up. ••Q. That was in Ballinger's office? — A. Yes, sir. "Q. The colored man was Nelson Durant? — A. Yes, sir. •Q. Who was the white man doing the speaking? — A. He didn't say what his name was. He was a big fat man, not as tall but hea\'ier than you are. I think it was Judge Lindly; he told me he was raised in the Choctaw Nation. "Q. Did he say that he was from McAlester? — A. Yes, sir; South McAlester. ******* "A. I did not think it was fraudulent by them coming out so public but if it had been in a private place I wouldn't have wanted to see about it, but I was told by lots of people that these was in this offic'c. A public place, a fine place ]:)efore a crowd of people. I never thought about it being a fraud. If I am prosecuted for anything I can hold this man and this colored man who carried me into this office and this white man copied off of this piece paper and puts it on two piece of paper. He keeps one. they keep one. This colored man writes in this room out of a book, then he cairies it in there. He claims he finds your relatives on the roll and all I swore to is that my mother said that the Folsoms was my people and the Flaxes were her people. I was born after my father died. ■■Q. You would not have gone before these people if you had not thought them officers of the United States? — A. Sure, 1 wouldn't have paid tlie colored man $5. I wouldn't have paid them the $15 but my mind did not feel right. After I had con- soled him and told him I would send in §15, I talked to several lawyers and they said he was a grand rascal, had been to the pen, and that Lee had run off for some cause." Doss Buffington, a negro citizen of Muskogee, Okla., who made application through Mr. Ballinger for the enrollment of himself as a citizen by blood of the Choctaw Nation, testified before me on August 5, l!)15. in part, as follows: "Q. Tell me what coTinectiou you had with the jhtsous operating in an office on the second floor of this building. Doss. — A. You mean those commissioners down tlicrc? "(^ Do you c'ull them conuuissioners?— A. Yes, sir; that is what they said. ■Q. From what .source did you learn that this was a coninu.'rstan(l it. that you were approached on the street V)y 70 INDIAN APPROPRIATION BILL, 1917. William Thompson, a colonul man, who told you that some persons located in this building were enrolling persons who had been left off of the rolls; that they were GoA'ernment men sent here for that purpose, and that you accompanied William Thompson to that office, which is located in the Metropolitan Building in which the Indian agency is located, and, as I understand yoii. you found Nelson Durant. You know him? — A. Yes. sir. ''Q. He is a colored man?^ — -A. Yes; sir. ■'Q. Nelson Durant told you that you would have to get some money l)efore he could talk to you? — A. Yes, sir. "Q. How much?— A. $15. "Q. Was this before you stated your case to him?- A. Yes, sir. I had to do that before they would hear me at all. ■*Q. Before you stated your case? — -A. Yes, sir. "Q. You went off then to get the money? — -A. Yes, sir. "Q. Did Nelson tell you he was in the Government service?- A. That he waa working for them. "Q. That he was working for white men? — A. Yes, sir. "Q. And that they were in the Government service?^ — A. Yes, sir. "Q. Did he tell you their names?- — A. Rodkey and Lindly. "Q. Do you know the given name of Rodkey or Lindly?- — A. No, sir. "Q. You say you went off and got the $15?— A. Yes, sir. "Q. And vou came back that night? — A. Yes, sir. "Q. Who with?— A. Will Thompson. "Q. Did ho say he was working for these people too? — A. Yes, sir. "Q. You came back to the office of these persons that night about 8 o'clock and you found Will Thompson, Nelson Durant, and Will Moore there?— A. Yes, sir. "Q. Will Moore a colored man?- — A. Yes, sir. "Q. William Thompson?— A. Yes, sir. "Q. What occurred there? — A. After I went in Nelson wanted to know if I had the money and I said yes, I was ready, and he said we would get to work and do business, and he called me in another dark room back there and I gave him the $15. "Q. And you went in alone?- — A. Yes, sir. "Q. And the room was dark?— A. Yes, sir; there was no light in that room. "Q. You paid him the $15 in that little room?- — A. Yes, s'r. "Q. What else occiirred?— A. They then took up my case. They questioned me then. "Q. Who questioned you?— A. Mr. Lindly. "Q. Did Nelson Durant take you in Lindly's office?— A. Yes, sir. "Q. Had you met Mr. Lindly before? — A. Yes, sir; I met him that day. "Q. What did Mr. Lindly tell you that day? — A. He didn't talk to me any that day much; he told me they were sent there by the Government, something like that, to look after people who were left off of the roll. "Q. Mr. Lindly told you that?— A. Yes, sir; he says you will have to pay your witnesses and notary fees. He told me I would have to do that before anything else took place. "Q. You are positive that he told you he was sent there by the Government?— A. Well, Mr. Lindly he told me that. He says to me, I don't want a penny of your money; 1 am getting paid for taking up these petitions. " Q. After you went in Lindly's office with Nelson Durant what cocurred?— ^A. They went to writing my affidavit up. "Q. Who (juestioned you?— A. Mr. Lindly. "Q. Did Nelson Durant question you?- — A. No, sir. "Q. Well, did Mr. Lindly write your answers down?— A. Yes, sir; he had a notary. "Q. Well, who was writing?— A. Mr. Lindly. "Q. You are of negro blood? — A. Yes, sir. ******* "Q. Whereis Will Moore now?— A. I don't know where he is; he is dodging around. "Q. What is he dodging?— A. He got into some trouble. I don't know what he got into. "Q. Are the officers after him? — A. Yes, sir; something about some mortgage. "Q. Have you talked to others on the outside about the work that is being done down stairs here?— A. Yes, sir; I have talked to several folks and they all seem to think it wasn't much good. "Q. I think yoii told me not long ago that these people thought it v^m^ the Govern- ment that was doing this? — A. Well, they did think so. INDIAN APPEOPEIATION BILL, 191*7. 71 "Q. You talked to persons on the outside who thought it was the Governmeut? — A. Yes, sir. "Q. A number of persons? — A. Yes, sir." Mary Reeves, a negro resident of Vian, Okla., who is an applicant for enrollment through Mr. Ballinger, as a citizen by blood of the Choctaw Nation, testified before me on August 6, 1915, in part, as follows: "Q. T\Tiom did yoii go to see about making this application for enrollment? — A^ Mr. Lindly; that is who I make application to. ''Q. Where is Mr. Lindly located?— A. On the second floor of this building. * * ■ * * * * * "Q. Is Mr. Lindly in the Governmeut service? — A. Yes, sir; I reckon so. ■'Q. Do you know what position he occupies?^A. All I know is that he made oufc my application. "Q. AATiat makes you believe he is in the Government service? — A. I 'lowed by that, I didn't think he would make out my papers if he wasn't." John Harrison, a negro resident of Keefeton, Okla., who has applied for enrollment through IVIr. Webster IBallinger, as a citizen by blood of the Choctaw Nation, testi- fied before me on August 10, 1915, in part, as follows: "Q. How did you happen to go to Mr. Lindly's office to make application for enrolT- ment?- — A. I just heard of him being here for that pm'pose from other people, ao F just went. "Q. WTiat was told you, exactly, about his business? — A. Well, I don't know, sir; I can't tell you. "Q. Were you told that he was in the Government service? — A. I don't kno'vr whether he was in the Government service or not. "Q. WTiat was your belief about it when you went to him? Did you go to himr under the impression that he was a Government man? — A. Yes, sir; I think that is what I understood. "Q. You understood that before you went to him?— A. Yes, sir. '*Q. Did he give you to understand that he was in the Government service? — A. f never asked him." Elizabeth Sexton, a negro, of Tulsa, Okla., who has applied for enrollment as a citizen by blood of the Choctaw Nation, through Mr. Ballinger, testified before me on November 19, 1915, in part, as follows: "Q. Before whom did you file your application for enrollment? — A. Before whont did I "Q. Yes.— A. You mean the notary? "Q. Yes, and the person with whom you filed your application.' — A. The man that was working for him — I could call his name if I heard it. For Mr. Rodkey^ "Q. Mr. Rodkey?— A. Mr. Perry Rodkey. "Q. Lives in Okemah? — A. I don't know where he lives. "Q. His office is at Okemah? — A. Yes. "Q. WTiere cUd you see him? — A. Here in Tulsa, and one of his met- "Q. Did Mr. Rodkey represent to you that he was in the employ of the Govern- ment. — A. I guess so. "Q. Did Mr. Rodkey state to you himself that he was in the employ of the Govern- ment? — A. Yes, sir. "Q. He told you himself?- A. There was another man working for him— "Q. Did Mr. Rodney tell you himself that he was in the Governmeut ser\ice? — A. Yes, sir. "Q. ^^^lat language did he use in telling you that he was in the Government serv- ice?- — A. He said he was — the Government had him seeing after the Indians and their claims — that was his business. "Q. You say that ho had some one working ior him? — A. Another man. I would know his name, but can't call it. "Q. Guthrie? — A. Yes, sir. "Q. ('harles E. Guthrie?- — A. Yes, sir; white man, tall and slender. "Q. You swore to this application before Mr. (Juthrie?- A. No, sir; Wilson was there to, the notary. * * ih * * * * "Q. Did you have any conversation with Mr. Guthrie concerning whether he was in the Government ser"\dce? — A. I heard that there was a man here. I went on the train to see Mr. Rodkey. "Q. Did you have any conversation with Mr. Guthrie?— A. No more than what I asked him. I asked him if he was in the Government service. "Q. He did n(jt say that he rcj)ros< nted the Government, or Interior Department,, or any bureau of the Government, did he? — A. No, sir, he said he was working for Mr. Rodkey; that he was one of the men that Mr. Rodkey put out to help him. 72 INDIAN APPROPRIATION BILL^ 1917. "Q. Did he say that Mr. Rodkey was in the (Joveinment service? — A. Yes, sir. "Q. Did Mr. Rodkey himself told you that he was in the Government service? — A. Yes, sir. ■Q. Did he say what department or bureau he was working under? — A. No, sir. "Q. He said that he was in the Indian service? — A. Yes, sir; I went to Muskogee fo see him. So many people there I couldn't see him long. Don't talk to him but a little bit. Wanted me to meet him in Okemah. I couldn't never go down there. "Q. You understand that the rolls were closed in 1907?- — A. Yes, sir. "Q. Has it been represented to you that the rolls have been reopened? — A. Heard they w'ere reopened and I coinmenced trying. '■Q. \Mio told you?- — A. I couldn't specify the person. Heard it from different ones — different ones talking about it. " Q. Did a good many colored people here in Tulsa go before those persons at Musko- gee and Okemah?- — A. 1 don't know sir. Just know one woman that went to Okemah. There ain't two dozen here that I know. "Q. Your understanding was that these persons that were taking these applica- tions were in the Government service? — A. Yes, sir." Charley Willard, a negro of Tulsa, Okla., made an aftidavit in the enrollment case of the claimant whose testimony has just been quoted from, and I secured his state- ment, from which I quote below. (I understand that this man acted, to some extent, as an agent for those persons in Tulsa, working Anth G. W. Wilson, a negro notary public) : "Q. You applied for enrollment before these people who were getting up these applications? — A. Yes, sir. "Q. "\Miom did you apply for enrollment before? — A. I went to Muskogee to see these people. "Q. ^^^len you went down to Muskogee to see these people I suppose you had an inter\dew with them. \Miere were these people located, these people you went to see about your application? — A. Up in a big building, where the Dawes Commission is. On the second floor. "Q. You found many others there? — A. Office crowded. ■■Q. Mostly colored? — A. Yes; colored and Indian mixed, white and half-breeds. "Q. Who did you talk to down there?— A. I applied— I talked to Mr. Perry Rodkey and Mr. Lindly. Asked was it sure enough true, ^^'as the roll open for these people. I went down one day to see about it, then I went about two weeks later. Asked his price. Xelson wanted $5 himself. "Q. Nelson Durant the man you refer to? — A. Yes, sir. He got up all the state- ments. Mr. Lindly did the tjpewriting. I told these people I didn't want to pay — I told these people I heard the rolls were open, but I didn't want to pay ''(.}. How much did Nelson want? — A. §10. and he said that was for notary fees •Q. You understand Nelson Durant is a lawyer? — A. Yes, sir. ■■Q. What did you understand about Mr. Rodkey and Mr. Lindly's positions? — A. \\ hy, Mr. Rodkey said he was working for the United States. Mr. Lindly he was not charging anything. "Q. Did Mr. Lindly say that? — A. Said Government paying him in these citizen cases. "Q. Was that the general understanding? — A. Yes, sir. •■Q. With those with whom you talked? — A. Yes, sir. ''Q. You did not pay them anything yourself? — A. No, sir. "Q. Did you pay Nelson Durant anything? — A. $2 and paid the notary $1.75. "Q. They wanted $10? — A. I didn't have it and I wouldn't pay it. "Q. How much did you pay Nelson? — A. $2 and notary §1.75; §3.75. They asked me for the rest of the money. "Q. You applied for the enrollment of yourself as a Creek by blood? — A. Yes, sir; and my children. Some of them are on, one dead child not on. "Q. You are trying to get on the blood roll? — A. Yes, sir. I got the deeds down there for two of them." Jane Driver, a negro woman, of Tulsa, Okla., who has made application through Mr. Webster Ballinger for enrollment as a citizen by blood of the Choctaw Nation, testified before me on November 17, 1915, in part, as follows: "Q. You told me that you paid Alec .Xail §2.50 for making an affidavit? — A. Yes. sir. "Q. And another colored man §2.25 for making an affidaAdt? — A. Yes, sir. •'Q. Was his name Wel)ster Burton?— A. I couldn't tell you. "Q. Then you paid the notary §2? — A. Yes, sir. "Q. And you paid the man who took you down to Muskogee, Chas. Willard, §2 and his fare to Muskogee and retiu-n? — A. Yes. sir." INDIAN APPEOPRIATION BILL, 1917. 73 W. H. Short, a white citizen of Morris, Oklu., appeared in my otiice on Avitjust 3, 1915, and upon beinj? advised by him that his wife, Lillie Short, nee Cornelius, had applied through Mr. Ballinger for enrollment as a citizen by blood of the Creek Na- tion, I obtained a sworn statement from him, from which £ ijuote below: ■■Q. Now, who approached you in this business — who first came 1o you and told you aboiit this enrolling business? — A. The Bakeis. ■'Q. Where do they live? — A. Morris. "Q. Are they Indians? — A. Yes, sir; claim to be. "Q. What did they say to you, exactly? — -A. They told me — 1 don't recall just tlie words — they told me a man named Durant was seeing about this business and that they were going to see him about it, so I came with tliem. "Q. Did you see Durant? — A. Yes, sir. "Q. Where did you find him? — ^A. I found him on the second floor of this building. "Q. In the back office? — A. Yes, sir. "Q. Did you get acquainted with anyone else coiyiected with that office? — A. There was another gentleman in there . •'Q. Do you know his name? — A. I knew it then, but Cjan't call it now. "Q. Was his name Lindly? — A. Yes, sir; Lindly was the name. "Q. Did you get acquainted with any other person connected with that office? — • A. No, sir; I didn't. "Q. Do you know whether Mr. Webster Ballinger is connected with that office? — A. Yes, sir, I think he was. "Q. In what capacity? — A. I do not know; it seems to me like all the papers were made to Webster Ballinger. ''Q. Wliom did you talk to first? — A. Durant. ■'Q. What did i)iu-ant represent to you that he was doing? — A. Why he claimed that he was working for the Indians and trying to prove their rights. "Q. Did he represent himself to be in the Government service? — A. Well, f won't say for siu"e, l)ut I believe he did. "Q. Do you know what language he used to give vou that impression? — A. No, sir; I don't. "Q. You can't say what he stated to you exactly? — A. No, sir; I can't. "Q. Did these Bakers that told you about these people state to you whether they were in the Government service or employ? — A. I believe they did; I think that Baker told me the Government had them em])loyed. ■'Q. What kind of a contract did you make with Durant — any? — A. No, there was no contract to it. When I first came down here I paid him $5 to go over the rolls and he said that was all he could do then, but to come back and when I came back next time — a week from that date — I brought my wife and he took me to one side and said: ' I am ready for business if you have the money, but we can't do anything if you can not pay for it, as we have to go out to the Dawes Commission upstairs and get some stuff and it will cost you $25.' I told him times were mighty hard and it looks like I am paying out money for something I dou"t know anything about. I ])aid him $20, and lie fooled around and got the papers hxed uj) and got a notary to sign them. "Q. How much did you pay the notary public? -A. It seems to me that I paid the notary public $2.50, making $27.50 I was out. "Q. Is that all you have paid out?- — A. .Yes, sir. ■■Q. Did either you or your wife sign any powers of attorney or any kind of a cmi- tract in Mr. Ballinger's office? — A. No, sir; not that I know of. "Q. Or any other place? — A. No, sir." On the same day the above statement was lakeu I obtained the statement of Mr. J. ^^'. Sutton, a white citizen of Morris, Okla., who appeared at my office with W. II. Short, from whose testimony I have just quoted. 1 quote from Mr. Sutton's test inumy as follows: 'Q. IIow did you happen to accompany Mr. Short here?— A. Well, he heard of this commission, and others had heard of it and told us. Our neighbor, Mr. Baker, told us, and I came to try and assist him. ■'Q. You say you heard something about liiis in the neighborhood?- A. He did from Mr. Baker-- that is the first I heard of it; ImU we didn't believe it. •Q. You didn't believe what? — A. We didn't believe it was a legal transaction, for tlie rolls had been clo.sed. 'Q. And as it came to you, what impression did it make on your mind; was it that (rovernmeiit officials were enrolling persons? — A. No, sir; it never did come to mind that way. I told him it was a fraud, until I came (lowu here and talked with them in this l)uilding, and I was then satisfied, for I thought it was the Dawes Com- mission. 74 INDIAN APPROPRIATION BILL, 1917. "Q. It l)eiiig riglil in the building with the Indian oflice, you thought if it wasn't right it would be stopped? — A. Yes, sir. "Q. If there Avas any fraud, it would be stopped? — A. Yes, sir; I thought it was all right, as I thouglit it was in the Dawes Commission house, and I supposed then that there was something to it. '■Q. From what you had previously heard in your neighborhood, did you get the impression from persons in the neighborhood that the Government was enrolling persons? — A. Yes, sir; that is the way they talked — that is the way I understood it. That it was a legal affair by the Government, who was enrolling these persons that was left off, and as this girl is a niece of my wife, and is an Indian, and we could prove it "Q. Was there anytliing that occurred in the office of these persons that made you suspicious of their connection with the Government service? — A. Yes, sir. '■Q. What was it, exactly? — A. Well, they had some colored fellows there thatAvere very ignorant, and they offered to be witnesses for people, and came to me and told me, or offered to help me, and I told them we already had all the help we wanted. "Q. Did they want pay for their services? — A. I suppose they did; I told them we had all the evidence we wanted. ■■ Q. Do you know any persons who have paid any money to these men on the second floor of this building? — A. Yes, sir; Mr. Short. "Q. Do you know any other person? — A. Yes, sir. "Q. Who? — A. One of my boys paid some money. "Q. What is his name?- — A. Jimmy — J. D. Sutton. "Q. Where does he live? — A. Morris. "Q. How much did your son pay? — A. $5. "Q. Who did he pay that to? — A. I supjjose he gave it to his wife. His wife is one of the Baker family. My son paid his wife's part. My son married a Baker. "Q. What amount did the other members of the Baker family pay?— A. They paid $5 a head, and these men sent out for $5 more the other day. " Q. Do you know whether that was paid?— A. Yes, sir; they sent it to them. They sent if a few days ago; it was for another Avitness; old grandpa Baker sent it to them. "Q. What is his name?— A. I don't know. Old grandpa Baker is all I know. He is an old man. ''Q. All of these people you speak of, are they Indians?— A. Well, my son is an In- dian, and those others claim to be Indians but have not proved it^this Baker family." The testimony of Mr. W. H. Short, referred to above, shows that his wife was not a resident of the Creek Nation on June 28, 1898. James Goings, a negro citizen of Depew, Okla., who has applied for enrollment, through Mr. Webster Ballinger, as a citizen by blood of the Choctaw Nation, testified before me on November 19, 1915, in part, as follows: "Q. What did Gould represent to you? Did he represent that the rolls were open?- — A. No, sir; he didn't represent to me that they were opened. "Q. What did he tell you about it?— A. He told me after I was telling him about a^he was reading in his papers and he said 'Jim, this roll is going to be open. Seems * * * since you said, * * * i have been reading where these rolls are go- going to— —' "Q. You went to Muskogee?- — A. Yes, sir. ■'Q. Who did you see?— A. Mr. Lindly. "Q. See anyone else?— A. No, sir. There was a gentleman in the office, but I can't phu'C him. '■(^ What did Mr. Lindly tell you? — A. He told me that I would have to employ an attorney to investigate. 'Q. Did he suggest some attorney to you?^ — A. I asked him who was attorney there, and he said there was two or three around there, and about that time in walked Nelson Durant and I employed Nelson Durant. "Q. What sort of a contrart did you make with Nelsou Durant?^A. I was to pay him cash in hand. I wys to pay him $27. He said he would look up the book. He would charge $27. "(J. Did you pay him the money?— A. Yes, sir; $27. "Q. Pay him that day? — A. No, sir. After I was down there and he told me \a t)ring those five grown children. "Q. Did you pay him anything at all the first time?— A. $7.50. '■Q. Forwhat purpose did you pay him this $7. 50? — A. He claimed he had to go and li)ok up the books. "Q. You ]Kiid him $7.50 to look up (he books?- — A. Yes, sir. "Q. What books was he to look up? — A . I don't know, sir. He didn't tell me par- ticularlv what books. INDIAN APPKOPKIATION BILL^ l!»n. 75 "Q. You gave him $7.50 in cash?^-A. Yes, sir. "Q. First time yon were down there?- A. Yes, sir. ■'Q. When was that?- A. Aloni,' in February. ■'Q. Of this year? — A. Yes, sir. ■'Q. Any one witness you pacing him tliat money?- A. No, sir; there was nobody in the oflice but me and him at that time. "Q. Did he giA'e you a receipt for it? — A. Yes, sir; but J haven't it here. "Q. You have the receipt at home?— A. Yes, sir. "Q. He said to come back again with your five children? - A. Grown children. "Q. You took them back?^A. Yes, sir. •'Q. \\Tien did he tell you about bringing more money down? — A. He said all those grown ones would have to pay $5 apiece for entering fees. What he said ■'Q. You went down there afterwards and took your five grown children with you? — A. Yes, sir. ■■Q. Did each of these children take money along with them? — A. No, sir. •'Q. They didn't give any money? — A. I got the money myself. ■'Q. Had he told you that you would have to bring some more money? — A. $1 more; $17.50 for me." " Q. Did you take him thai $10? You gave him that $10? — A. Yes, sir. ■Q. How much more? — A. $5 apiece for the children. •Q. How much in all?~A.' $25. ■'Q. Gave him $25 for the children?— A. Yes, sir. ■■Q. They paid you the money to give to him? -A. All but one. That was Birdie, She was living with me and 1 pay hers. ''Q. How much did this make in all that you paid Durant? — A. $10, $17.50, and $25. Let's see, $42.50 in all. Would be $42.50 near as I could come to it. ■'Q. Did you get any receipt for the money? — A. I got a receipt for myself for $17.50. He told me he would send all the receipts of the kids — their receipts. ''Q. Do you know whether he did this? — A. No, sir; I don't. ■'Q. Did you have any understanding as to whether Mr. Lindly or this man Durant were in the Government serA-ice? — A. I understood that Mr. Lindly was in the Government service. "Q. Who told you that Mr. Lindly was in the Government service? — A. He told me himself. He was working for the Government and he was not allowed to charge any fees. If Government knew he charged any fees he would be hoisted from the office. "Q. He told you that himself? — A. Yes, sir. ■'Q. Anyone else present when he told you?- A. Yes, sir; I think if I make no mis- take there was an old man Nails. ■Q. Alec Nails?— A. Yes, sir; if 1 make no mistake think he was in there at the time. "Q. What did Durant tell you? He tell you he was in the Government service? — A. He said he was attorney looking up the cases like for myself. "Q. What did he tell you about Lindly? — A. He sa'd he would look up my case and if it was agreement with Mr. Lindly — whatever Mr. Lindly said when he looked it up — when he looked it up he would turn it over to Mr. Lindly. "Q. Do you know whether Mr. Webster Lallinger, of Washington, D. (\, was con- nected with that office? — A. I heard he was after I went in. ******* ■'Q. What did Alec Nail charge you for making an affidavit for you? — A. $5. "Q. You jiaid that independent of the other money you paid to Durant?— A. Yes, sir. "Q. You gave $5 to Alec Nail?— A. Yes, sir. •'Q. Hand it to Alec Xail? -A. Ye.s, air. * 4: ■ :J: :); :(: * * ■'Q. Did tiould tell you that tho.se i)ersons were in the Goveruincni ser\ice? — A. He told me that Mr. Lindiy was." Mollie Nathan, a reliable old colored citizen of P(trter, Okla., who has applied for enrollment as a citizen of the Creek Nation, through Mr. Ballinger, on August 27, 1915, testified, in part, before Judge II. (\ Allen, national attorney for the Greek Nation, as follows: "Q. Who told you they were enrolling people? — A. Mr. Howard, Emmett Howard. "Q. Who is he?— A. He keeps the post office; he used to be a banker. 7t) INDIA>; APPKOPKIATION BIJ.L, lUH. "Q. He is the postmaster there now? — A. Yes, sir. "Q. What did he tell you about it? — -A. He said the rolls is open now and you ought to try again and see what you can do. ******* "Q. After you talked to Mr. Howard you came down to Muskogee? — A. Yes, sir. "Q. Who brought you here? — A. Well, I came on the train, but several came with me. '•Q. Who came with you? — A. Nellie Hawkins and Morris Steven. ■'Q. Where did you first meet Nelson Durant? — A. Right here at this place. "Q. Had you known him before? — A. No, sir. '■Q. What did he tell you? — A. He got the book and hunted up iny people and found them right now ; no trouble to find them. My mother was a half sister to Jane Doleman; she is dead now. "Q. She is on the roll? — A. Yes, sir; she is on the roll all right. "Q. Now, then, what did he tell you about enrolling you? — A. Well, he said he didn't see nothing in the world to hinder me from getting my right. "Q. Did he say they were enrolling people? — A. Yes, sir. "Q. What did he tell you about Mr. Ballinger? — ^A. Didn't tell me anything about Ballinger. He said how much money I must get. and I went back and told Mr. Harsha about it, and he said, 'Aunt Mollie, watch your business, and don't let them beat you, you too old,' and I told him what they said it would take to pay. Ballinger said it would take some more witnesses, and so I came and ask for you, then, and they said you wasn't in, and so I went back home then and see Mr. Harsha and got the money. "Q. Did they tell you they were representing the Government? — A. No, sir. '•Q. AMiat did they say? — A. Well, sir, Mr. Allen, I couldn't tell you all they said. Mr. Ballinger said this, and now I am telling you the truth. Judge, Mr. Ballinger — I don't know whether he is the man that got the money or not, I am telling the truth, but I know Mr. Ballinger told me this, 'Now, when you get out of here they will ask what I charged, and you tell them what I charged you. You say you haven't paid me a cent, "and if you don't get nothing I don't get nothing.' "Q. Did he tell you Durant was working for him? — A. Well, Durant presented these names. Durant hunted up the names and brought the book in. "Q. Where was Durant when he told you you had to raise the $50? — A. In the first little room. "Q. Before you saw Mr. Ballinger? — A. Yes, sir. "Q. Did you talk to Mr. Ballinger about the $50? — A. No. sir; I never opened my lips to him about that; I don't know why I didn't, and Morris told him who I was and who my people was. "Q. When was it you paid this money to Durant? — A. In March, when T enrolled, when Mr. Ballinger "did this printing work. "Q. The first time you came down here you didn't get enrolled because you didn't have the money? — A. No, sir; just hunted up the papers, and Durant told me I would have to have that money. '•Q. How much money on the 5th of March did you give Durant? — A. $20, and then I went and got the children just as quick as I could. "Q. .\ few (lays later?- -A. Yes, sir; and then I gave hini $l(i.50 again, and now wait, that ain't all. and they k<'])ton sending me cards 1 had to get all, and I went and got him and brought him in and he said 'Mamma, from what 1 read in the papers it might l)e all right, Imt if you see Judge Allen he can tell you,' and I said I couldn't find you and in a few days I seen in the papers you was gone to Washington. Let's see- -that's $8f>.50 isn't it' and then 1 was out $4 more. •■'Q. Did you give that $4 to Durant? — A. My son did. 'Q. Your son gave it to Durant? — A. Yes. sir. '•Q. That is $40.50 you ga\e in all?- A. Yes, sir. "'Q. Where did you get this uioney?- A . I borroweil it iroui Mr. Harsha. luul I have gut to work now and pay the interest. ■'Q. What })ecame of the other $9.50? — A. Going back antl forward. 1 had to go clean to Viau for one of the children. ******* "Q. You paiindly's office. I j>aid him 50 cents for making an affidavit for me." I quote now from the testimony of Tennessee Ricketts, a negro resident of Tulsa, Okla., given before Choctaw National Attorney Hurley on November 27, 1915. She is an applicant for enrollment, through Mr. Ballinger, as a Choctaw citizen by blood : "Q. How much did you pay the man who took this petition? Who prepared this petition? — A. He charged me for A\Titing $3 or $3.50. "Q. Where did you make this petition? — A. Okemah. "Q. What was the man's name? — A. Perry Rodkey. ''Q. Did he tell you who he represented? Who Perry Rodkey represented? — A. He told me he was working for the Indian Affairs. "Q. For the Government? — A. Yes, sir. "Q. Did he say he represented the Secretary of the Interior?— A. I don't know. He told me he wasn't to charge nothing for it. Somebody at Washington had him doing this way. "Q. Did you understand that the Government was paying him? — A. I don't know, lie told me he wasn't to charge me nothing for it, only for the typewriting. I don't know whether he told me the Government or not. He told me he was working for Indian Affairs. "Q. P^or the Commissioner of Indian Affairs? — A. I guess so. He told me Indian Affairs. "Q. You paid him $3?- A. For the typewriting. "Q. Who did you give the $3 to?- A' I don't know what his name was. I gave it to the typewriter, $3. "Q. Who was present when he told you he was working for the Commieeioner of Indian Affairs? — A. His typewriter was there. "Q. Was the typewriter a man or a woman?— A. Man. 78 INDIAN APPROPRIATION BILL, 1917. •'Q. Was your (kughter there?- A. All my children -wu? there. All but one, in Texas. ■Q. Where did you first hear about Perry Rodkey? — A. Did you understand that he was enrolling people? — A. When I first heard of it. She heard of it somewhere. She heard about it somewhere, and I wrote. He told me he wasn't em-olling. He said he was sending up petitions. When we went down there he said he wasn't en- rolling, just sending up a petition to ask for the names to be put on." Amy Barnes, a negro woman, of Henryetta, Okla., testified before me on Decem- ber 1, 1915, in part as follows: ■'Sometime during the fall of 1914 my son-in-law, Floyd (Jrayson, who had just returned from the town of Henryetta, advised me that he had learned that day that there was an Indian agent in Henryetta enrolling persons who had been left off the rolls by the Dawes Commission. I went into town the next day and_ went around to see these persons who were said to be enrolling people. I found the place crowded with colored people and Indian folks. I talked with the heavy-set gray-haired man who seemed to be in charge of the business, but I can not recall his name. This stout gray-haired man whom I talked with the first day told me that they had been sent out by the Indian agent in Muskogee for the purpose of enrolling those who had been left off of the rolls by the Dawes Commission. I am satisfied that he told me this. It seemed to be the understanding of every one with whom T talked that these persons were in the Government service." I ciuote from the testimony of Floyd Grayson, the son-in-law of the above-named woman, as follows: ' ' I accompanied my mother-in-law the next day to town and went around with her to see the persons said to be enrolling people. There was a big crowd in the offices waiting to see them, Indians and colored folks. I went in with, my mother-in-law and my sister-in-law, Missouri Sanders, went along also. We talked with a heavy-set, gray-haired white man. I think that he had a little gray mustache. (This answers the description of Mr. Mat M. Lindly. W. L. B.) I do not know whether the man's name was Lindly. I swear positively that he told my mother-in-law in my presence that the Indian agent at Muskogee had he and the athers that were with him out enrolling the persons that had been left off by the Dawes Commission." Charlie Gould, a white man who resides near Depew, Okla., was employed by Ballinger, Lidly & Rodkey as a field worker, and 1 quote below from testimony taken by William H. Reynolds, field clerk of Atoka, Okla., in November, 1915, con- cerning the representations made by this man, which shows that this man endeavored to obtain money upon the representation that he was working iinder persons who were employed by the Government. "Q. Your name is D. S. Newton? — A. Yes. "Q. Your residence is at Ada, Okla.? — A. Yes, sir. •'Q. Did you know Charlie Gould? — A. No; I never met him before. •'Q. He introduced himself when he called on you, did he? — A. Yes. •'Q. For what purpose did he come to visit you? — A. Well, he come and ask me if I was eligible for enrollment, and if so if I would like to get on the roll, and I said I was and would like to be placed on the roll. " Q. Did he make overtures to you that he could enroll you? — A. No; he did not say, but he said that there was a man in Muskogee that was placing the names on the roll. •' Q. Did he make any effort to get any money from you? — A. No. •Q. Did he say to you that the other party would charge you anything? — A. Yes; that the other party would charge me S50. "Q. Did he tell you who this party was that was in Muskogee? — A. He did. "Q. After telling you who this party was did you call this party up?— A. No; I wrote him, but never have heard from him. 'Q. Who was that party, Mr. Newton? — A. I don't remember his name. •Q. Was it Mr. L. M. Lindley?-~A. I believe that was his name. ••Q. You wrcte Mr. I>indley,"then? — A. Yes. •■Q. You have not heard from Mr. Lindley? — A. No. "'Q. Did Charlie Gould represent to you that he was a Government em})loyee? — A. No: he said this fellow Lindley was an employee of the Government, and said Lindley was sent from Washington. "Q. He led you to believe that in his conversation that Lindley was a Government employee and "that he was working under Lindley? — A. Yes." I quote now from the testimony of Jim McFarland, a resident of Ada, Okla.: •Q. Do you know one Charlie Gould? — A. Yes. INDIAN APPROPRIATION BILL, 1917. 79 ■'Q How long have you known Charlie Gould? — A. I have known Charlie Gould for the last 15 years. I lived by him for about six years. "Q. Do you remember meeting Charlie Gould in the last two or three weeks? — A. 1 met him wdthin the last two or three weeks. ■'Q. You had a conversation with Charlie Gould at that time, did you? — A. Yes; two or three different times while he was here. •'Q. Did he make any overtures to you to enroll your wife?— A. He did not get right out and tell me at the time, but from his talk it appeared to me that he would try to get her on the roll and said she can't get no land; but he said she could get the money, and this matter would have to be done between Friday and Monday. ■ ' Q. Did he want to make any charges for the services? — A . He didn't say he would charge me anything, but he said to me that I would have to have $50; he said it would be of no use of me going — her father could take her. ■'Q. Did he represent himself to you that he was a Government employee? — A. Well, I don't think he put himself as a representative of the dejjartment, but he was working for some man in i\fuscogee. •'Q. Did he lead you to believe that the party he was working for was working for the Government? — A. Yes. ■'Q. He talked with you several times about enrolling your wife? — A. Yes." I quote now from the testimony of Lon Wormington, a resident of Ada, Okla.: ■'Q. Who introduced you to Charlie Gould? — A. He introduced himself. "Q. For what purpose did Charlie Gould form your acquaintance? — A. To get my wife enrolled, he said. ■ ' Q. What overtures did he make to you in reference to getting your wife enrolled?— A. He said just pay $50 and go to Muskogee, and that there is another party there would enroll. He said it was through this party that they would have to be put on the roll. "Q. Did he give you that gentleman's name? — A. No. "Q. What further conversation did he have with you as to the enrolling, after you have paid him $50? — A. He didn't say only just said that he would enroll them, was all, and that they would draw the money something like $2,000 or $3,000. "Q. Did you pay him $50?— A. No, sir. "Q. Did he say to you he was in the employ of the Government? — A. He said this other party was. "Q. The other man was in the ernploy of the department? — A. Yes. "Q. Did he give you the other party's name? — A. No, sir. ■'Q. Did he say as to what branch of the Government the other party was working under? — A. No; he did not; he just said he did not know. "Q. Did he tell you that tliis other party was in the Metropolitan Building at Muskogee? — ^A. I don't believe he said what building he was in; 1 know he didn't. "Q. I'll ask you if by the conversation you had with Charlie Gould that you were led to believe that he was in the employ of the department? — A. Yea." I quote now from the testimony of M. B. Lewis, a resident of Ada, Okla.: "Q. Do you know one Charlie Gould? — A. I would know him, I think, if 1 see him again. "Q. Who approached vou in reference to enrolling you on Chickasaw roll?— A. Yes, for $50. "Q. When did he tell you that the roll would be opened or closed?— A. Well, he did not say anything about opening roll, but he said that the rolls will be closed oa Saturday, but he would hold them until Monday. ■X- * * * -x- * * " Q. Did he represent liimself to be an employee of the United States Government? — A. r won't say, but he represented himself that he was a partner of this man in Mus- kogee, who sent him out to get the people enrolled. "Q. Did he lead you to believe that in his conversation that he was a Govern- ment employee?— A. Yes; he said that he was sent down there by the Government to get the people on the roll." Manna Bruner, a negro resident of Rentiesville, Okla., heretofore referred to, was at first one of Ballinger, Lindly & Rodkey's principal field workers, but later, after some of his operations were investigated by Field Clerk H. M. Tidwell, of this ofJice, he seems to have dropped out of this line of work. He is of a criminal type, and the chief of police of Muskogee stated to me, a few days ago, that Bruner had been in 80 IXDTAX APPROPRIATION BILL, 1917. jail a iminbor of time?, if not in tlic penitentiary, and that he belonged to the criminal f'lass. 1 ()Uote from a letter dated December 1(5, 1914, from Charles V. Pyle, land appraiser of tl)is office, as follows: "Mr. Mattison says Manny Bruner is a 'plausible nigger,' has an impressive way, and is very convincing in his statements to colored folks, and with his positive guar- anty that he will have them enrolled and secure an allotment or the money equiv- alent, has got a great deal of money. Informant gave me the names of several per- sons, one white man, who he knew had been defrauded. * * * The witnesses are scattered. * * * It is said that Bruner is well known in Muskogee and Eufaula, as he has (h)ne terms in both comity jails. Mrs. H. O. Frederick, Renties- \-illo, Okla., also the wife of tlie station agent, both colored, and John Smith, white, <'hecotah, are among the victimized." I quote now from an affidavit of Will Smith, of Mclntosli County, and made before J, A, Hurl, a notary public, on January 27, J 9 15: "I hereby state on oath that during the early fall of 1914 one Manny Bruner came to me and offered to place my wife, Mattie Smith, and my children, Sus'e, Cohmibus, and Joiney Smith, upon the Cherokee roll of Indians for the siim of $10. He also stated that he would place me on the same roll, but I told him I was a white man. He stated positively that he would and could place my wife and children on the above-referred-to roll and that they would receive money in lieu of land. I paid him So and afterwards paid Pleas Guest $1 for him, making a total of $6. I have never heard from him since that time." Several months ago complaint was made to the Indian Office direct concerning the organization of a society among the colored citizens in the vicinity of Vinita, Okla., it being alleged that William H. Vann and Nelson Grubbs were the organizers. The complaint was referred by our department to the Attorney General's office and reached the United States attorney for the eastern district of Oklahoma, who in turn referred the complaint to our office for further investigation. It will be noted that Vann and Grubbs are both referred to heretofore herein as field workers of Ballin- ger, Lindley, and Rodkey. Testimony shows that these men organized a so-called Cherokee Freedmen's Association and collected initiation fees and monthly dues, incidentally getting what additional money they coidd from the members to prose- cute applications for enrollment for them. I quote below from sworn statements of a few of the victims given before Field Clerk McCay, of Vinita, Okla., in October, 1915. Calvin Ross, a citizen of Vinita, Okla., testified, in part, as follows: ■'Q. Have you ever heard of an organization known as a Cherokee Freedman Asso- ciation? — A. Yes. ■'Q. Do you know Nelson Grubbs? — A. Yes. ■Q. Do you know Willie Vann? — A. Yes; I know him when I see him, but I am not acquainted with him . ■'Q. Nelson Cirubbs and Willie Vann were organizers of this association, were they not? — A. I do not know whether they were or not — I think that was their business. ■'Q. Did you pay any money to anyone? — A. Yes. ••Q. Whom did you pay it to? — A. Paid it to AVillie Vann. "Q. How much did you pay him?— A. I paid him $1, Willie \'ann, and my two daughters paid him 75 cents each. •Q. What is your daughters' names? — A. Ottie Ross, the other name Minnie Ross. •Q. Nelson Grubbs and Willie Vann told you, did they not, that if you paid them this money they would get you on the freedman roll and would get you some land? — A . They did ; land or money. "Q. Did these two men say to you that they were in the services of the United States Government? — A. They told me that they had been authorized by two law- yers to get those names and send them in. ••Q. Did they tell you the lawyers were working for the Government? — A. Yes. "Q. Now, were those lawyers' names BalUnger, Rodkey, and Lindly? — A. Yes. ■Q. You paid this money into the hands of William Vann? — A. Yes. '■Q. The reason you paid this money to William Vann was because they represented to you they were Government men, and that they were working with the above firm of attorneys, who were also Government men, and in consideration of your paying them this money they would get you on the rolls and get land or money for you, is that the way it waa? — A. Yee, sir." I quote now from the testimony of Willie Pack, of Vinita, Okla.. given before Mr. McCay: 'Q. Do you know Nelson Grubbp? — A. Yes, sir; I do. INDIAN APPROPRIATION BILL^ 1917. 81 "Q. Have you ever heard of an organization known as a Cherokee Freedman's Association? — A. Yes. " Q. Nelson Grubbs and William Vann were organizers of this association, were they not? — A. Yes, sir. "Q. Did that association meet at Island Church? — A. Yes, sir. "Q. Did these people represent to you that if you would pay them for their work they would get you on the rolls and get you some land ?^ — A. Yes, sir. "Q. Did you pay them any money? — A. Yes, sir; I did. " Q. How much money, in your opinion, did you pay them? — A. Me and my mother together paid them about $300 or $400. "Q. Whom did you pay this money to? — A. To Nelson Grubbs and this other man, William Vann. "Q. Did Nelson Grubbs and William "Vann tell you that they were connected with the Government of the United States? — A. Yes, sir; they did. "Q. What did they say about this? — A. He said if we paid them money and signed up papers that they would get us on the rolls and get our land. "Q. Did these men tell you that they were hired by the Government?^ — A. Yes, sir. "Q. Did you ever hear of a firm of attorneys by the firm name of Ballinger, Lindly & Rodkey? — A. Yes, sir; they were the ones who were going to put us on the rolls. "Q. Did Nelson Grubbs and William Vann say that the above firm of lawyers were also Government men? — A. Yes. They said they were Government men. " Q. You paid this money into the hands of Nelson Grubbs? — A. Yes, sir; I sure did. "Q. And the reason that you paid this money to William Vann and Nelson Grubbs was because they represented to you that they were Government men and that they were working with the above firm of attorneys who were also Government men, and in consideration of you paying them this money that they would get you on the rolls and get land for you, is that the way it was? — A. Yes, sir. "Q. Do you know of any one else who heard these men tell you they were in the Government service? — A. Yes, sir; but I can't call their names now." I have read letters written by both Mr. Lindly and Mr. Ballinger in which they referred to the work of this Cherokee Freedmen Association, showing that they are interested in that organization . I have been unable to investigate further the workings of thia association. William H. Vann, however, has operated apparently most of the time independent of any connection with this association. I now quote from a letter, the original of which is in my hands, which was addressed by William H. Vann, and is in his own handwriting, to W. W. Grayson, of Laredo, Tex., xuider date of August 31, 1915: " I am ivorken with the U. S. department in the enrollen of those citizen children that did not get any lands so you see / am next to all kinds of business now if you don't want this money you must say so in your letter to me then I will report the facks to the Department then they can do the next thing. * * * i will also put Charlie on the roll and he will draw $2,080.00 in money, as he didn't get any land. Write me to 507 E. Hobson, Sapulpa, Oklahoma." (The underscoring is my own. W. L. B.) I quote now from the testimony of W. M. Ingram, a white man, a resident of Sapulpa, Okla., given before Field Clerk ('. A. Stevens on November 27, 1915: "Q. You claim that parties have approached you relative to getting you enrolled in the Cherokee Nation? — A. Yes a party by the name of Vann who is described as fol- lows: 'A mixed breed, has one foot crooked, five feet seven, weighs a1)out 250, wears a black mustache, is dark colored. He told me to come to Muskogee and he would have the witnesses down there. He told me that I had a deadshot case. That I should raise $40 and bring it to Muskogee. I did not go to Muskogee for the reason that I talked to several parties aixd they advi-sed that he was a fraud. " Q. Do you know of any other parties who claim to |be representing the United States Govenxment enrolling parties in either the Creek or ('lierokee Nations? — A. No one but this fellow at Bristow by the name of (iuel (Gould) . I don't know whether he ever received any money to place parties on the roll. He didn't exactly tell hne he was an agent of the United States Government, but from the way he talked he led me to believe that he was working for the United States (ioverumont." Mattie E. Farrar, a young colored woman, a resident of Muskogee, ( )kla., a])p('ared in my office on December 10, 1915, and alleged tliat lier father, Austin Farrar, of Okmul- gee, Okla., had paid William Vann $50 upon an a])pli(alioTi for enrollment made by him as a Freedman. She states further tliat Vann wanted ?50 more and tliat her father had promised to pay him the additional $50. It appears from tliis woman's statements 25134— PT 4r-lQ 6 82 INDIAN APPROPRIATION BILL, 1917. to me that her father has neither legal nor equitable title to enrollment as a Freed- man. I am satisfied that powers of attorney were obtained by Ballinger and Lindly from all the persons whose applications they prepared, to Mr. Ballinger. However, as none of the applicants whom I ciuestionecl seemed to recall that they had signed such a paper, I am inclined to believe that they signed such powers of attorney without knowing what they were signing, practically all of them being illiterate persons. I attach hereto a copy of a power of attorney, the original of which I have m my files. (See Exhibit L.) Considering the testimony I have quoted herein in connection with section 17 of the appropriation act approved August 1, 1914, which is set out below, it appears to me that this law has been openly and wantonly violated by the persons working for Mr. Ballinger in Oklahoma: "Sec. 17. Unless the consent of the United States shall have previously been given, all contracts made with any person, or persons, now or hereafter applicants for enrollment as citizens in the Five Civilized Tribes for compensation for services in relation thereto, are hereby declared to be void and of no effect, and the collection or receipt of any moneys from any such applicants for citizenship shall constitute an offense against the laws of the United States, pimishable by a fine of not exceeding $500 or imprisonment for not exceeding six months, or both * * *." (See act of Congress, approved Aug. 1, 1914.) It is probable that further investigation of the operations of these persons in Okla- homa would result in the gathering of a vast amoimt of cumulative evidence covering the points touched on in the excerpts of testimony set out in this report. If it were not a fact that these men have worked among ignorant, unintelligent persons whose testimony in a court of record would be weak, little trouble would be experienced in securing numberless indictments against a dozen or more of Mr. Ballinger's assistants and field workers in the State of Oklahoma for conspiring to defraud, impersonation of Government officers, and for violation of section 17 of the act of August 1, 1914, referred to above. Several months ago our department referred complaints against William H. Vann and Nelson Grubl)s to the Department of Justice with a view of bringing criminal action against these persons if they were found to have \iolated any law. The United States district attorney subsequently requested this office to make further investiga- tion of their operations, and the matter was referred to me with verbal instructions to cooperate with the United States attorney's office. I am presenting to him at this time the evidence referred to herein showing that these individuals have imperson- ated Government officers for the purpose of defrauding the persons to whom such false representation was made, and further that they have violated section 17 of the appro- priation act approved August 1, 1914. Incidentally, I believe that it would be advisable to take up with the United States attorney's office the question of the sufficiency of the evidence herein referred to upon which to base criminal action under the United States statute against Nelson Durant and Manna Bruner. The Federal grand jury meets in Muskogee in January next, and if the United States attorney's office deems criminal action warranted by the facts the evidence can be presented to the grand jury at that time. Under the United States statute covering the offense the false personation of a Government officer must be coupled with the intent to defraud the Governmert of the United States or some individual. Although the evidence referred to herein tends *o show that both Perry Rodkey and Mat M. Lindly have represented themselves as {government officers, yet it is evident that they have studiously avoided the accept- ance of any money directly from the applicants. As most of the evidence referred to herein was gathered by me during the time I was working under the direction of Hon. P. J. Hurley, Choctaw national attorney, I suggest that he be furnished a copy of this report for his Information. I recommend the reference of this report to the honorable Commissioner of Indian Affairs for his advice in the premises. Sincerely, yours, Wm. L. Bowie, (Detailed) Special Investigator. INDIAN APPKOPEIATION 5ILL, 191'7. 83' Webstee Ballinger, Attorney at Law, Rooms 245-6-7 Metropolitan Building Okemah, Okla., March 22, 1915. Mrs. LiDDi Stevens, Tulsa, Okla. Dear Madam: I have not heard from you for a long time. We are ready now for you to make your application for enrollment. We have been writing up applica- tions at our office at Muskogee all winter. Let me know at once where you are, and if you are ready to make your application. I am at home at Okemah now, and will be here for a couple of weeks. Write me at this place. Hoping to hear from you soon, I am, Yours truly, Perry Rodkey. (Exhibit A.) Department op the Interior, United States Indian Service, Local Field Representative, Five Civilized Tribes, Okemah, Okla., August 19, 1915. Mr. Wm. L. Bowie, Special Investigator, Muskogee, Okla. Dear Sir: In answer to your of the 6th relative to the operations of Perry Rodkey and M. M. Lindley will say that I am not well acquainted with Mr. Lindley, as I only met him some time ago when he was over here assisting Mr. Rodkey in the enrollment of missed allottee or getting powers of attorney signed to have them enrolled; then they were working in the office adjoining mine. Mr. Rodkey is here now and still in the same business; he informed me yesterday when I met him on the street here that he had instructions to work Creek County, as there were about 400 allottee that were missed and entitled to enrollment, and that he expected to work at it next, and would have some of them brought over to Welty, near the county line, and go up there certain days and meet them in a bunch and get it fixed up. I have never heard Mr. Rodkey represent that they were connected with or were Government officers or employees, but said they were being assisted greatly by Mr. Allen's office, the national attorney, as they were close together at Muskogee, and when the parties came over there part of them were taken care of in his office, and they were also being assisted by the office of the Five Civilized Tribes, and the depart- ment knew and approved of what they were doing. I have never heard of them asking a fee or taking any money for their work, the only cost to the citizens being 25 cent8 for notary fee for taking the acknowledgment for signing the powers of attorney. As to Nelson Durant, I am not acquainted with and do not know at all. Mr. Rodkey has nothing here only his home, and that is heavily encumbered, and in fact until he went to work for Webster Ballinger he was in a very bad way financially, but I understand he is getting his expenses paid while doing this work, and will get a good bonus when Ballinger gets his commission. I do not know of Rodkey being a grafter, as he has nothing, and never had much, although he has been here ever since this town started, and never was able to accumulate much. I have heard that he has been used as a tool for some of the grafters some long time ago. Mr. Rodkey is living here, and is in town at present. He has no office here, but is working some time in the office of Charles E. Guthrie and Z. J. Thompson, of Okemah. Respectfully, (Signed) Harry B. Seddicum, Government Farmer. (Exhibit B.) 84 INDIAN APPROPRIATION BILL, 1917. Department of the Interior, United States Indian Service, Local Field Representative, Five Civilized Tribes, Hugo, Okla., August 7, 1915. Mr. Wm. L. Bowie, Special Investigator, Muskogee, Okla. My Dear Mr. Bowie: Receipt is acknowledged of your letter of August 6, 1915, relative to one Mat. M. Lindley, formerly of McAlester and now of Muskogee, Okla. In reply, beg to advise that I have been acquainted with Mr. Lindley for about 12 years, and I knew his relatives, who are a rather prominent family in Illinois, before I came to this country. For some five or six years before statehood Mr. Lindley was an office deputy in the office of the United States marshal for the central district of Indian Territory. Since statehood he has been practicing "at" law in McAlester until recently. His law business was very meager, and I believe the bulk of his clients were Indians. I never knew of his doing anything particularly "raw," or if I ever heard of anything I do not at this time recall it. He has not been entirely sober or out from under the influence of liquor for several years, at least that is my impression, because I don't think I ever got near him that the smell of liquor was not arOund him. I think he has been associated with Webster Ballinger for several years, and, if I remember correctly, he appeared before Judge Pollack, of the department, when he was in Oklahoma looking up allottees who had been left off the rolls. T. B. Latham, W. R. Harris, W. P. Freeman, or Georga Miller, all former United States officials in the central district, and all of McAlester, could perhaps give you more definite information. They are all reliable and prominent men. With best wishes, I remain. Sincerely, yours, (Signed) S. G. Brink, Supervising Field Clerk. (Exhibit C.) Department of the Interior, United States Indian Service, Local Field Representative, Five Civilized Tribes, McAlester, Okla., August 14, 1915. Mr. Wm. L. Bowie, Special Investigator, Muskogee, Okla. My Dear Mr. Bowie: Receipt is acknowledged of yoiu" letter of the 6th instant, requesting certain information relative to the history of Mat M. Lindley; also photo- graphs, thumb prints, descriptions, etc., of Nelson Durant, William M. James, and William Thompson. In reply thereto beg to state that I have interviewed three business men of thia city relative to the standing of Mat M. Lindley, and in each their reply was practically the same: "That his standing in the city of McAlester is very low." I am not per- sonally acquainted with Mr. Lindley, but from what I have been able to learn about him he is a man that is addicted to the excessive use of intoxicants, and will some- times stoop pretty low for a few dollars, and has been engaged to some extent in "grafting" among the Indians. There is also inclosed photographs of Nelson Durant and William M. James; also thumb prints of the latter, together with description of Willie Thompson, who, I pre- sume, is the same as the William Thompson described in your letter. Trusting this is the information sought, and regretting the delay in obtaining same, as the photographs had to be taken, and William James is a trusty out on the farm, thereby difficult to see him, I am, Respectfully, (Signed) R. L. Allen, Field Clerk. (Exhibit D.) Nelson Durant, No. 803. Oltlahoma State Penitentiary, McAlester, Okla. Age, 44; black. Received March 9, 1909. Sentence, 3 years. Crime, false pretense. From Muskogee County. Height, .5 feet 4\ inches. Went out "on expiration pardon, August 27, 1911. (Exhibit E.) ->- ^ ^^ ^> -< Z .-r, S CD > C C ^ 0) C K - 'X (t ; - a ~ I.CVV ^ -^ ^ 03 b' t T - An=Q ■ 3 -' - ^ = < = rt> ^ & (Exhibit F. Ben (Jravson, No. 173!i Willuuu James, No. 60S7. Okhilioma .Slate Peiiiteiiliary, McAlesler, Okla. Age ti4; Ijlai-k. Term, li years. From Muskogee County. Received Oklahoma State Penitentiary August i. 1915. "Crime, false personation. Height, 5 feet 7| inches. (Exhibit G.) William Thompson, Xo. (iiW'J. Oklahoma State Penitentiary, McAlesici, okla Scnleiucil .Tulv 2:1, 1915. Term, 3^, years. County, Tulsa. Crime, forgery. .Vge, .■)(1. Hair, lilack. Eyesdeep maroon. Complexion, dark" brown. Weight, 151. IJuild, medium. Xativily, Oklahoma. Occupation, farmer. Remarks: Depre.s.sed-cut scar one-fourth inch to right outer corner right eye. oblong-cut scar three-fourths inch above right eyebrow at center forehead. (Exhibit n.) Wik'V Mrlllln h l'915. Tfiiii, . (Exhibit I.) lii:.':.'. oklahoiiia Siaic I'cnil eiitiary, McAlester, Okla. Sentenced Oftol)er, From Muskof^ec CuuiUy. Crime, obtaining money under false jjretense. (Exhibit K.) INDIAN APPROPRIATION BILL, 1917. 85 Department of the Interior, Office of the Superintendent for the Five Civilized Tribes, Muskogee, Okla., July 31, 1915. In the matter of the enrollment of various persons as citizens of the Choctaw Nation. Alec Nail, being first duly sworn by William L. Bowie, deputy clerk of the United States Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, on oath testifies as follows: Examination by William L. Bowie on behalf of the Superintendent of the Five Civilized Tribes: Q. WTiat is your name? — A. Alec Nail. Q. Your age? — A. I am going on 73. Q. ^\^lere do you live? — A. Here. Q. ^Vhere were you born? — A. I was born 4 miles south of Doaksville, Tex. Q. Are you on the rolls of any of the Indian tribes?— A. Yes, sir. Q. WTiich tribe?— A. Choctaw. Q. Freedman? — A. I am. Q. What is your roll number? — A. I don't know, sir; I can't read. Q. Well, how long did you live south of Doaksville? — A. Well, the old people claimed when we moved to Blue I was 11 years old. Q. ^\^lere do you mean when you say you moved to Blue? — A. A creek. Q. You were 11 years old when you moved to Blue?^A. Yes, sir. Q. ^^^lat is the name of the post office? — A. There was none where I lived. Q. WTiat is the nearest post office now?^ — A. Caddo. Q. How far from Caddo did you live? — A. Old Caddo has become a railroad sta- tion — 6 miles. Q. How long did you live on Blue? — A. Until I became grown. I was 22 when they surrendered . Q. Was you living on Blue then? — A. Yes, sir. Q. How "long did you stay on Blue after that? — A. I think I stayed with theold boss about one year, and I left and came to Boggy Depot, about 15 miles on this side. Q. How long "did you live at Boggy Depot? — A. Up until last November. Q. Then you came to Muskogee? — A. Yes, sir; I came to Muskogee last November. Q. And lived in Muskogee up until this date? — A. Yes, sir. Q. ^\'hat is your occupation? — A. I ain't able to do nothing now. Q. What have you been doing since you have been in Muskogee? — A. I ain't done anything. 1 liked to died last summer and if it had not been for Mrs. Hester, Senator Owen's mother-in-law Q. Well, have you made any money at all since you reached Muskogee? — A. None to amount to anything. Q. Have you made any? — A. Some time when I witness for people down here they give me a $1, and sometimes $1.50. Q. \\'hat people do you refer to that paid you this money? — A. Those that claim, those that make application for enrollment for citizenship. Q. Where is that office located? — A. In the Metropolitan Building. Q. Do you know the number of the room? — A. No, sir; I would know it if I was look- ing at it. Rodkey, Lindly & iiallinger-was printed on the door of the office. Q. The Metropolitan Building is the building that the Indian Agency is in? — A. Yes, sir. Q. \\ho first talked to you, Alec, about acting as a witness down in that ofiice? — A. Well, I couldn't positively say now; I think the fellow that hunted me was Jackson Barrett. He claimed to be a nephew of old man William Johnson, Gov. Johnson, he was governor for a while. Q. Well, what did Jackson say to you? — A. He asked me if I knew William Johnson and his children, and 1 said 1 did, and he said he was a son. 1 told him I knew Silas and Tommy; Tommy ran for governor Q. He asked you to act as a witness for him? — A. Yes, sir. Q. Where did he see you? — A. Down in town, on the street somewhere. Q. He brought you uj) to Ballinger's office? — A. Yes, sir. Q. And you acted as a ^^itne.'^s for him? — \. Yes, .sir. Q. You signed an affidavit? — A. Yes, sir, I witnessed for Jackson's family. Q. Did you sign an affidavit down there for Jackson Hariett? — A. I guess ao. Q. Who did you make that affidavit before? — ^A. Golden. Q. Where is Mi . (iolden's office? — A. Down on the first floor of this building. Q. The Metropolitan Building? — .\. Yes, sir. Q. What did you get for making this affidavit for Jackson Barrett? — A. Got a dollar, Q. Who paid you the dollar?- -.\. Jackson. Q. Were you promised any additional sum of money if this claim of Jackeon's went through?— A. No, sir; he said he would never forget me. S6 INDIAN APPROPRIATION BILL^ 1917. Q. He said if he got on he would remember you, did he?— A. Yes, sir. Q. You have acted as a witness for a number of people since that time, have you not? — A. Yes, sir. Q. Do you remember the names of some of those persons for whom you signed affidavits?— A. No, sir; I don't believe I do, but if you have some of the cases I done witnesses, I would know Q. Do you know any of these persons that you signed affidavits for? — A. No, sir. Q. Were you personally acquainted with them? — A. No, sir; I don't be lieve I was. Q. You merely accepted their statement as true, what they told you concerning their parentage?— A. I didn't consider their statement, they would say they were kin to William Johnson Q. Did you believe what they told you, or not? — A. I have just thought about that. Q. You had no other reason except their own statement to believe they were children of Choctaws? — A. No, sir. Q. Do you know Mr. Ballinger? — A. I never seen him. Q. Who occupies the office down there? — A. Nelson Durant and Judge Lindly, he typewrote whatever is down- — — Q. Any other person?- — A. Mr. Golden, he swears the people in. Q. What did Mr. Lindly do exactly? — A. He typewrote, and would go in the room where the colored lawyer was. Q. Would Durant write it down with a pencil? — A. I guess so. Q. And would hand it over to Lindly and Lindly would write it out lumself on the typewriter? — A. Yes, sir. Q. Were these affidavits read over to these persons before they signed them? — A. Well the majority of the time they were, at least mine were. Q. Your affidavits were read over to you?— A. I suppose they were, I can't read. Q. They pretended to?— A. They had me thinking so. Q. You say you never saw Mr. Ballinger? — A. No, sir. Q. He has never been down here since you have been with them?— A. No, sir. Q. Do you know who rents or pays for this office?— A. I reckon Mr. Lindly. Q. What connection did Mr. Ballinger have with the office? — A. I don't know. The way I understand is that they claim that is Ballinger's work and that Rodkey and Lindly was working for him. I don't know whether that is true or not. Q. Do you know whether Mr. Ballinger is connected with the Government serv- ice? — A. No, sir. Q. You do not know? — A. No, sir. Q. What is your understanding in regard to that matter? — A. Well, the way I under- stand it is that he Is in Washington to present this evidence before Congress by power of attorney. Q. You understand that he has power of attorney? — A. That is what they said. Q. Do you know whether Mr. Lindly or Mr. Rodkey are in the Gbvernment serv- ice? — A. No, sir; I don't know; I am unable to say. Q. Were you told by any person that they were in the Government service? — A. No, sir. Q. Did you ever tell any person they were in the Government service? — A. I couldn't because I don't know; I didn't believe they were though. My reason for that is that it was not Government business. I had my children read the papers, and I couldn't see it from the papers. Q. Did you hear any person say they were in the Government service? — A. No, sir, I don't think I have. Q. Did not all of these applicants or claimants think they were in the Government Service? — A. I am not positive about that, but it is likely to believe that they were in the Government service for he would not take any pay for what he did, Mr. Lindly. Q. You think he was in the Government service? — A. Yes, sir; I hear him say you could not pay him .?1,000, and if the Government did not have him someone did. Q. You say, though, that you heard others say he was in the Government service?^ A. W^ell, probably I have; I couldn't be certain about that. Q. Did any of these applicants say anything to you that led you to believe they thought these men were connected with the Government service? — A. Well, I might have. The way they said — it was supposed he was a Government man by him telling the applicants he would not take pay. I thought so, for I don't see how in the world he could live and not take pay unless the Government was supporting him. Q. These persons connected with the office in question did not pay you anything, did they?— A. No, sir; never gave me a nickel. What all I got I got from the people I witnesses for. Q. Have you done iny other work since you have been in Muskogee, since Novem- ber? — A. No. sir. INDIAN APPROPRIATION BILL, 1917. 8-7 Q. When did you first come up to this office and act as a witness? — A.' I don't know whether the latter part of the winter or the first of the spring. Q. Did you sign these affidavits by thumb mark? — A. Yes, sir; I had to because I can't read or write. Q. You are requested to make your thumb print here on a piece of paper for the purpose of identifying your thumb mark. (Witness makes thuinb impression on blank sheet of paper, which is attached hereto.) Q. Are you acquainted with Mary Ross? — A. No, sir. Q. You do not know a Mary Ross? — ^A. No, sir. I read you an affidavit purporting to have been made by you before Julius Golden, notary public, on March 9, 1915, filed by Mr. Webster BalUnger, with the petition for the enrollment of Mary Ross and her child as citizens by blood of the Choctaw Nation: "Alec Nail, being first duly sworn, on oath states that he is 72 years of age and that he lives near Boggy Depot, Okla. "That he knows the applicant, Mary Ross; her maiden name was Mary Fulson; she was the daughter of William Fulson, who was mostly considered a full-blood Choctaw, but may have had some white blood; that her mother was Fannie Fulson, and she was a mixed blood, about three-fourth Choctaw. "Affiant further states that he knows where the applicant was born, and that it was in Old Atoka, near the toll bridge on Old Lady Flax's place; that she lived there until she was a good-sized girl, and then her mother took her to Oklahoma City. "I Ipst track of her then for a good many years and was talking and inquiring about her last fall to Julius Fulsom, at Atoka; he stated that her mother had died, and that she was just l,eft to go it alone and that she was somewhere and he had also lost her. "I have been staying in Muskogee for some time, and have met her and now know that she lives at HaskeU, and she tells me that she has lived there for the last past two years. "The other places she has lived she has t! Id me about, and I know the peaces, but can't say how long she Uved at any of them only what she tells me. "I know nothing of her child only what she tells me. "Affiant further states that he was personally acquainted with the Fulsom family, to which the father of the applicant belonged, and that the said father of the appli- cant had about seven or eight brothers and that they were all enrolled Choctaws that lived to be enrolled; that the names of the ones that I know best and remember were Emmerson Fulson, Dr. Fulson, Jidius Folson; that were finally enrolled; William died a long time ago. (Signed, by thumb mark.) "Alec Nail." Q. Did you make this affidavit? — A. No; not all of that. I know the ^yoman that they are talking about that claimed William Fulson was her father; that is about all I know. Q. You made this affidavit that^— ? — A. She claimed that William Fulson was her father. I know him, and that is all I know, and what I told them; I don't know her. Q. You did not know this woman who represented herself to be Mary Ross? — A. No sir. Q. Had you ever seen her? — A. Not to my knowledge. Q. You knew nothing about her parentage?— A. No, sir; only what she claimed I knew William Fulson. Q. You sav that she claimed to be the daughter of William Fulson?— A. Yes, sir, Q. What VV'illiam Fulson; where did he live?— A. I don't know where he lived up to his death. I don't know only where Julius is living. Q. Did William have any brothers? — A. Yes, sir. Q. Name them? — A. Rufus. Q. Where did he live when you knew him? — A. They lived down on Blue. Q. What direction from Durant? — A. East. Q. IIow far from Caddo?— A. Well, I don't know, sir; I don't know exactly how Q. Was William Fulson married?— A. I don't know that. Q. How old a man was he?— A. If he had lived he would have been as old as 1 am I reckon. Q. When did you know him? — A. In my boyhood days. Q. IIow long has he been dead?— A. I don't know now; I don't know when ho died, or where he died, or whether he is dead at all. Q. Do you know whether he had any children? — A. I don't know. Q. You do not know when he died?— A. No, sir; no, sir. 88 INDIAN APPROPRIATION BILL, 191'7. Q. You say that voii do not know whether he was married or not? — A. No, sir; I am certain of one thing, and that is, if he was married at all it was not to Mary Ross's mother, for Mary Ross is colored. Q. What is this woman's color? — A. Just a shade darker than I am. Q. Just a shade darker than you are? — A. Yes, sir. Q. You are what they call ? — A. Dark bay. Q. ^\'hat did you get for making this affidavit for Mary Ross? — A. I don't know whether $1 or $1.50. Q. Was the affidavit read over to you? — A. Every one that my thumb is on was read over. They said they read them over, but from what you said there they did not read that. Q. Would you have signed an affidavit testifying that you knew this family and that you knew her father and mother? — A. No, sir; becaus'e I don't know the family or the mother, but only the man she claimed was her father, but am not positive he was or not. Q. Do you know a man by the name of Thos. F. Eubanks? — A. Yes, sir; know him since he has been coming up to this office. Q. You never saw him before? — A. No, sir. Q. Was there a white man by this name who came up to this office and made appli- cation? — A. Yes, sir. Q. Do yoii know where he lives? — A. No, sir; somewhere in the Creek Nation. Q. How old a man is he? — A. Looks like he is about 50 or 55 years old; not as old as I am. Q. You say you never saw this man until he asked you to be a witness for him? — A. No, sir; would not know him this morning if I would meet him. Q. Did you know his parents? — A. No, sir; I forgot now what he said; he chimed kin to some Indian family Q. Do you know Joe Eubanks? — A. Is he a Choctaw? Q. Do you know Joe Eubanks? — A. No, sir; I don't reckon so. Q. Did you ever know a William Eubanks? — A. Yes, sir; I think so. Q. You think? — A. I am not positive. Q. Do you know where he lived? — A. No, sir; they used to live close to Wheelock. Q. Is Wheelock close to Fort Towson? — A. Yes, sir; in Towson County. Q. How far from Fort Towson? — A. I don't know. I left there when I was 11 years old and I couldn't say. Q. Do you know a Betsy Robbins? — A. I don't know but I know some Choctaw Robbins. Q. Did you ever know a Besty Robbins who married a Eubanks? — A. No, sir; I don't know that, because I didn't know who they married. I read you an affidavit purporting to have been made by you before Julius Golden, a notary public, on March 2G, 1915, filed by Mr. Webster Ballinger with the petition for the enrollment of Thomas F. Eubanks et al. for enrollment as citizens by blood of the Choctaw Nation: "Alec Nail, being first dulv sworn, on oath stated that he is 72 years of age, and that he lives at 1206 South Third Street, Muskogee, Okla. "That he has recently met the applicant and that he is well and personally ac- quainted with the Choctaw Indians that he claims to have been his ancestors. "That his said father, ^^'illiam Eubanks, was the son of old Joe Eubanks and that were always counted full blood; they lived like full bloods. They lived about 4 miles east of Fort Towson, where I lived until I was 12 years old. I further know that some of the same family moved up to near Old Scullyville, where the applicant says he was born. "I knew Betsey Robins, the woman that he says is his mother, and have been told that she married a Eubanks ; in fact it was generally known that she married a Eubanks; she lived in huts just like the other full bloods and was counted full blood. "All the above persons referred to were C'hoctaw Indians and all lived in either the Choctaw or Chickasaw Nations. "Affiant further states that he has heard read the affidavit of old Isaac Fulsom, with whom he was well and personally acquainted and if there had been any doubts about the parties being Indians, he would never have given them such an affidavit. (Signed, by thumb mark.) "Alec Nail." Q. What do you know about this affidavit; did you make it? — A. Yes, sir; as far as the Robins family is concerned I did, but I don't know anything about the Eubank family. Q. You just told me that you were not acquainted with Betsy Robins? — A. I am acquainted with the Robins family, but I am not certain that I am acquainted with Betsy Robins. INDIAN APPROPRIATION BILL, 1917. 89 Q. This affidavit states that Betsy married a Eubanks; is that correct? — A. I don't know anything about her marriage. Q. You state in this affidavit that William Eubanks was this applicant's father; that he was the son of old Joe Eubanks and you have just stated to me that you did not know this person? — A. Well, not to my mind, but if you would call over their names I could recall them. I never knew nothing of the Eubanks until they came here. Q. Was this affidavit read over to you before you made your thumb print thereon? — - A. Yes, sir; they read them over; I don't know what they were doing. Q. ^\Tiy did you make an affidavit that you knew the persons named in the affidavit when you state to me that you do not know them? — A. I don't know as I did. I am positive that I swore I knew the Robins. Q. What was given you for making this affidavit? — A. I am not certain of the amount. Q. Do you remember what was given you for making this particular affida^dt? — A. No, sir; I don't; it was not much. Q. Are you acquainted with Annie Abernathy or Annie Frazier? — A. I don't remember an Annie Frazier. Q. Well Annie Abernathy or Annie Frazier? — A. No, sir; I am not acquainted with them. Q. Did you ever know a woman by the name of Caroline Tyson or Caroline Frazier? — A. Yes. sir; I am acquainted with them; they were Chickasaws. Q. They were Chickasaws? — -A. Yes, sir; they are Chickasaws. Q. Did you know Sam Tyson? — A. Yes, sir. Q. Who was he; was he a Choctaw? — A. Chickasaw. Q. Where did Sam Tyson live? — A. In the early days he lived at the mouth of the AVashita. Q. That is not close to Fort Towson? — A. No, sir; 100 miles away. Q. You say that you know Caroline Tyson or Caroline Frazier? — A. Caroline Tyson I think they called her. Q. Did Caroline Tyson have any brothers or sisters? — A. I don't remember whether 8he did or not. Q. Did you ever know Susan Factory? — A. Factory, yes, sir. Q. Who was Susan Factory? — A. P\ill blood Chickasaw family. Q. Do you know who her mother was? — A. No, sir. Q. Did she have any brothers or sisters? — A. Wilson Hawldns. Q. ^\'illiam Hawkins you say? — A. Yes, sir. Q. Did he go by the name of Frazier at any time?— A. No, sir; not that I know of. Q. Did you ever know a Dudley Frazier? — A. Yes, sir. Q. Was he related to Wilson Hawkins? — A. No, sir. Q. Did you know Tom Frazier?— A. Yes, sir. Q. Was he related to Caroline Tyson? — A. Not that I know of. Q. Was Dudley Frazier related to Caroline Tyson? — A. I don't know, they claimed kin. Diidley and Tom are kin. Q. Kin to each other? — A. Yes, sir. Q. You do not know whether they were kin to Caroline Tyson? — A. No, sir; I don't know. Q. Did you know a Jim Alber.son? — A. Yea, sir; I knew him. Q. Did you know Jim Alberson's wife? — ^A. The only Jim Alberson I know is a colored man. Q. Colored man? — A. Yes, sir. Q. Do you know a Joe Tyson? — A. Yes, sir. Q. Did he have aiiy brothers?— A. I think he did; the Jim Tyson I know though is a negro. Q. Did lie have a brother named Ed? — A. He might of had, 1 am not certain. Q. How al)out Dudley; was it Dudley Tyson or Dudley Frazier that you knew? — ^A. I knew Dudley Frazier, they are part Indians, one-half bloods. Q. What is the other half? — A. White; a white-looking Indian. Q. Tom also?— A. Yes. Q. You say you knew a George Frazier?^ — A. No, sir. Q. You say you do not know a Wilson Frazier? — A. I think I do but I don't think I mentioned him in the affidavit. Q. Was Joe a negro? — A. Yes, sir. I read you an affidavit purporting to have been made by you before Julius Golden, a notary public, on May 6, 1!)15, filed by Mr. Webster Ballinger with the petition for the enrollment of Annie Abernathy as a citi«en of the Choctaw Nation: "Alec Nail, being first duly sworn, on oath states that he is 70 years of age and that he lives 1206 South Third Street, Muskogee, Okla. 90 INDIAN APPROPRIATION BILL, 1917. "That he is well and personally acquainted with the applicant and that he has known her since she was a small girl. "That he was also well and personally acquainted with both her father and mother. Her mother was Caroline Tyson, nee Frazier, who was a three-quarter Choctaw Indian by blood; that her father was Sam Tyson, who was a full-blood Chickasaw Indian who lived in the Choctaw Nation near Old Fort Towson . "I don't know when he died; when I moved away from that part of the country he was still living; after that the applicant came to near Caddo and in that part of the nation, and neither her father and mother came with her; I was informed that they were both dead and had died at or on the old home near Fort Towson. It was called the old Sam Tyson place. "That the said mother had quite a number of brothers and sisters, some of whom I am informed, were enrolled and some died before final enrollment. I knew Dudley, Tom, George, and Wilson Frazier; all of these were full-blood Choctaws; she also had fiome sisters, Susan was the oldest one; Joe Factory's wife, Jim Alberson's vnie, were also sisters and full bloods. "That her said father had brothers that I also knew; they were Joe and Ed Tyson- they both got allotments and they are called full-blood Chickasaws; he also had a sister Mary that was allotted. "That he has knowTi the applicant at the different places that she has lived near Bokchito, Caddo, and in that part of the country until she came to Muskogee, some three or four years ago. "(Signed, by thumb mark) Alec Nail." Q. Did you make this affida\'it?- — A. Not all that that is stated there. Q. Did you sign a statement relating all these farts?— A. No, sir. They took the roll book out and pointed to a number and asked if you knew so and so, but they could get that ^nthout me. Q. Did yoxi swear that you knew all these facts of your own personal knowledge?' — A. No, sir. AVhat did the call that woman— Annie Abernathy? Q. Her name as it appears here is Annie Abernathy, nee F'razier. — A. She is just a yellow woman; she is not a Choctaw at all. She is just a nigger around Muskogee; that is all there is to it. Q. You said just now that you were not acquainted with this woman until she was introduced to you?— A. Yes, sir; they took out the roll book and asked me if I knew a Frazier, and I said >es. Q. You knew nothing about this woman's parentage or any of her relatives?- A. No, sir; she had negro blood in har, I didn't think she was related to them Fraziers, as they were Indians and this woman was negro. Q. You say that Mr. Lindly wrote this affidavit?— A. He typewrote them and would give them to the colored lawyer. Q. Was this colored lawyer in there all the time you made th-s affidas^it?- — A. Yes, sir. Q. Were you required to raise your right hand and swear to this affidavit to which you attachad your thumb mark?— A. Yes, sir. Q. You don't remember what this woman gave you for making this affidavit for you?— A. No, sir; I don't exactly. Q. Are you acquainted "uTth ^lary Reeves, nee Hampton?— A. There has been some Hamptons down to that office, some that claim to be Hamptons. I don't remember now whether there was any named Mary or what. Q. Did you sign an affida\dt as a witness for a woman named Hampton?— A. I think so. Q. You had not seen or knew this Woman previously to the time she came here? — A. Never seen her until that day. Q. Was she a colored woman? — A. Yes, sir; she was a yellow woman. Q. Do you remember who she claimed were her parents?- — A. I think she claim that she was kin to the Hamptons down there, to the Choctaw Hamptons down there and she claimed to be related to them. Q. Do you know what particular Hampton she claimed to be her father? — A. No, sir; I have forgotten now which one; several of those old men down there. You have it there. Q. What do you mean by saying I have it here?— A. Who she claimed was her daddy; I can't remember what she claimed. Q. You mean that you would take what they said about their parents and swear to what they told you?- — A. No, sir; I would only swear what I knew about the Indians. I read you an affidavit purporting to have been made by you before Julius Golden, a notary public, on May 14, 1915, filed by Mr. Webster Ballinger, w ith petition of INDIAN APPROPRIATION BILL, 1911. 91 Mary Reeves, n^e Hampton, for the enrollment of herself and others as citizens of the Choctaw Nation. "Alec Nail, being first duly sworn, on oath states that he is 72 years of age, and that he lives at 1006 South Third Street, Muskogee, Okla. "That he is well and personally acquainted with the grandfather of this applicant; his name was Isaac Hampton; that he had three brothers, Joe, Jim, and Nicklos, and all of them were the first emigrants from Mississippi to the Indian Territory, or among the first. "That all four of them raised families and I was well acquainted with the older one; I never knew but one child that Isaac Hampton raised, although there might have been others that I don't now recall; the one that I do remember was Delia Hampton. "Affiant further states that the said Delia Hampton had a little girl child; that they lived with her said father, Isaac Hampton. "That one of his plantations, and the one that he lived on when I left that part of the country, was at the mouth of Kiamiche River. "That all of the abo\e-named Hamptons were full-blood Choctaw Indians. "That all of the older ones of the Hamptons died before final enrollment, but left children that are on the roll. I know Ji lius and Ben Hampton that are enrolled and allotted; they are the children of the aboA-e-named Nicklos by his second wife, which was a white woman. "His first wife was a full-olood and they raised a family; one of them I remember is Collin Hampton; he is aboiit my age and lives near McAlester. The above-named Ben Hampton lives at Chickasha, and Julius lives at Caddo. "There are many more that I know or have known that are allotted and all of them are the descendants of the same common ancestor of this applicant or his brothers. "Affiant further states that he is not personally acquainted with the family of this applicant and only knows about them and that she has quite a family and that they are now all li\T.ng at or near Vian. Okla. "(Signed, by thumb mark) Alec Nail." Q. Did you make this affidavit? — A. Yes, sir; I made it. I made part of it, but I didn't make all of it, because I couldn't of — I couldn't of. Q. \Miat part of this affidavit did you make that was of your personal knowledge? — A. I knew old man Wade, old man Nicies and Ben Hampton; they had the boll book and would ask me if I knew them and I said, yes, sir; I know them. Q. They would take the roll and you told them that you were acquainted with them? — A. Yes. sir. Q. Did you sign an affidavit for more than one family in the office of Webster Bal- linger? — A. I don't remember, I think that was the only one. Sometimes they would come up and have 8 or 10 yearlings with them. Q. You say that you didn't know about the parents of this woman here? — A. No, sir; I don't know that. That petition was to go down in the Nation and was to be iden- tified by the Choctaw people. She had the papers and went down to be identified. Q. Have you ever been down to Fort Towson or that neighborhood since you left? — A. No, sir; I was 11 years old when I left. Q. Have not been over there since that time? — A. No, sir. Q. You have been away from there about 62 years? — A. Yes, sir. Q. Are you acquainted with Alice Cole? — A. No, sir; I don't recollect that I know her. Q. Did you sign an affidavit in Mr. Ballinger's office for a woman named Alice Cole? — A. Alice Cole; I don't remember her; probably I have, but I don't know whether it was that name or not. I read you an affidavit purporting to have been made liy you before Julius Golden, a notary public, on April 14, 1915, filed by Mr. We])ster I5ailing(>r with a petition for the enrollment of Alice Cole as a citizen by blood of the Choctaw Nation: "Alec Nail, being firf^t duly sworn on oath states that he is 72 years of age, and that he lives at Muskogef', Okla. "That he has only known the applicant a short time; but that he has always known the parties that she claims are her descendants; thyt the Hill Davis that she says is her father was always considered a full-blood Choctaw Indian and had some cattle, and he just looked after them and grazed them from one range to another from (^oalgate to Red River and east of Shawneetown. He had two l)rothers, Jim and Joe Davis. They were all Snake Indians and Jim Davis was the secretary, and I paid my fees to him. I don't know if they or either of them are alive now or not. "That her said mother, Lulu Davis, n6e Wilson, was the wife of the said Bill Davis and she was the sister of old John Wilson and he is living, about 6 months ago. There 92 INDIAN APPROPRIATION BILL, 1917. is another, named George, who came from Mississippi; that is, I have heard my parents say that they came from Mississippi with him. "All of the Wilsons of this family are full-blood Choctaw Indians. (Signed by thumb mark) "Alec Nail." Q. Did you make this afTidavit? — A. I think so; part of it. Q. A\'hat part did you make? — A. That Choctaw part about the Davis family. I remember the woman you gave in as a Choctaw about Alice Cole. Q. You remember who Alice Cole was? — A. Yes, sir; after you read her name. Q. Had you ever seen that woman before? — A. No, sir; a perfect stranger. Q. You knew nothing about her ancestors? — A. Yes, sir; I know those Davises. Q. You don't know that the Davis family was related to her, do you? — A. No, sir; she acknowledged that she came out of Texas and then stayed in the Nation. They kept her there a day and a half. Q. They kept her there a day and a half? — A. Yes, sir. She was just a Texas negro. I told them I didn't think she had a drop of Choctaw blood in her. They would ask me if I knew those Indians and I would say yes, sir; I know them. They would say do you know George Davis or Jim Davis, and I would say yes, sir; I know them. If they had not had the roll book, they would not of had as many people. Q. Do you remember what this woman paid you for making this affidavit. — A. Sh9 promised to give me $2.50, liut I only got a dollar. Q. What did Durant get from this applicant? — A. That is the secret part of it. Q. Did you ever see the applicants give him any money? — A. No, sir; you couldn't see them. Q. Why? — A. Because they went in that cut-off so you couldn't see them — little room there. Q. W^ho went in there with him? — A. Durant and the claimants. Q. Were they alone? — A. Yes, sir. Q. He seemed to do all of the talking? — A. Yes, sir. Q. Who paid Mr. Golden, the notary public? — A. Those people who made the affidavits. That would be $2, as they said the law required them to have two wit- nesses and would charge $2. Q. What was that for? — A. Notary fees they called it. Q. Do you know a person named Jane Driver? — A. I don't remember. Q. Did you sign an affidavit identifying such a person in Ballinger's office? — A. No, sir; I never identified a soul in that office; they have not a man in that office that I knew. I read you an affidavit purporting to have been made by you before Julius Golden, a notary public, on May 11, 1915, filed by Mr. Webster Ballinger with a petition for the enrollment of Jane Driver as a citizen 1y Ijlood of the Choctaw Nation: "Alec Nail, being first duly sworn, on oath states that he is 72 years of age and that he lives at 1006 South Third Street, Muskogee, Okla. "That he is well and personally acquainted with the applicant and that he knew her long time before she was married ; "That he knew her grandmother, Becky Turnbull, and she was a full-blood Choc- taw Indian; she was the sister of Old Bob and Bill Turnbull, who were among the first Choctaws from Mississippi to the Indian Territory; ' ' That her mother was Harriett Turnbull, who married a man by the name of William Brown and was only half-blood Choctaw Indian; "That when I first knew the applicant she was li\ing in Towson County and that they moved from there to Kiamisch County and lived there a long time and then moved to Qaddo and from there to the Creek Nation, about five years ago. "I just know that she has two children; one named Jesse that was drowned since she came to the Creek Nation; the other is still l>i\ing and must be about 20 years of age. "I know the applicant to be the same person that I knew when she was quite small for the reason that she never could talk to amount to anything; when she was small she could not talk hardly at all and now does not talk intelligently; that is, as far as speech is concerned. She was always mentally all right but did not have the faculty of speech. "I had a talk a long time ago with Henry Bynum and Willis Tobler, both full- blood Choctaws that were looking after the enrollment of the Choctaws, and they both told me that she had been looked after and that she was all right. "They were then agents for the "Snake" faction, and said he had enrolled her there, and that was sufficient. He enrolled me the same way, but I afterward enrolled with the Dawes Commission. "I was the town king and was appointed by Chitto Harjo at one of his councils at the Old Hickory Camp Ground, in the Creek Nation. (Signed by thumb mark) "Alec Nail." INDIAN APPROPRIATION BILL, lO'lT. 93 Q. Did you make this affidavit? — A. I know that when — I just don't know. I know that when — I don't understand it. Q. Did you ^ve Mr. Lindly the facts contained in this affidavit? — A. Well, I either gave him the facts or gave them to Durant. Q. Did you make this statement to Lindly? — A. Not all of what he said in there, I didn't. Q. Did you make this statement to Nelson Durant?- — A. Part of that. Q. What part did you make to Durant? — A. Well, I don't know. I have known this family a good while, but to know whether this applicant had Indian in her or not I don't know that. I asked her why she was not on the roll, and she said that Henry Bynum and Willis Tobler Q. That is all you know about it? — A. Yes, sir; I never seen her until I seen her down in that office. Q. You say you never knew her before she came to that office? — A. Yes, sir; this woman was an insane woman; you couldn't understand a thing she said; that is a God's fact. Q. Was Judge Lindly in the room when these applicants were examined? — A. Yes, sir; they were examined by him. Q. Ail of them? — A. Yes, sir; the witnesses were examined by him. Q. Who examined them first? — A. Well, it was written down by Nelson Durant in a little room. Q. How many rooms have they? — A. Two outside of the little room. Q. How large is the little room you speak of? — A. A very little room. Q. 'Wliich room was Nelson Durant in? — A. Next to where the white ladies worked. Q. Which office did he have, the one the applicants waited in? — A. He stayed in the room where the applicants first went. Q. And Lindly was in the other room? — A. Yes, sir. Q. And would they first be examined by Nelson Durant? — A. I don't know whether you would call it that. Q. Would he ask them questions first? — A. Yes, sir; he was guided by the roll book, got their roll number and age from the roll book. Q. And after he examined them would he take them in to Mr. Lindly? — A. Yes, sir; a great part of the time he would hold what he was reading. Q. He read it off to Lindly? — A. Yes, sir; the applicants did not have much to say when they came in there. It was already written off. Q. Mr. Lindly did not question these persons himself, then? — A. Not a great deal. Q. Did you talk to Mr. Lindly about these applicants?— A. Yes, sir; he would ask me about the people they were talking about. Q. WTio wrote your affidavit? — A. Mr. Lindly. Q. Did he question you as to what you knew about the applicants?— A. Yes, sir; about every one of them. Q. Mr. Lindly did? — A. Yes, sir. Q. I thought you said he took what Nelson Durant would tell him?— A. It is this way : Nelson Durant would write up what the applicants had to say and hand it to Mr. Lindly and then Mr. Lindly would (juestion me about what I knew about the appli- cants "and write it out on the typewriter. Q. Would Nelson Durant question you first as to what you knew about the appli- cants? — A. Yes, sir; he would ask me if I knew those people. A woman or man would claim to be a Choctaw; take the Hunter family; do you know Tom Hunter and that he has a grandson ; do you know that, and I would say, yes, sir. Q. You know nothing about the ancestors of this woman who calls herself Jane Driver? — A. No, sir. Q. Do not know whether she is a Choctaw by blood?— A. No, sir; I don't believe there is a bit in her. Q. This woman who calls herself Jane Driver, was she a negro?— A. Looks just about like I do. Q. Just about your color? — A. Yes, sir; about my color. Q. In this affidavit which you made in support of the petition of Jane Driver for enrollment as a citizen of the" Choctaw Nation, you are made to state that you knew this applicant when she was a small child; that you remember that she could not talk to amount tf) anything; that she was mentally all right but did not have the faculty of speech. Did you state this in Mr. Ballinger's office?— A. No sir; there was no need of it. " Q. Did you know this woman when she was a small child? — A. No, sir. Q. You "did not state, then, that you knew she could not talk when she was a small child? — A. I don't remember. 94 INDIAN APPEOPKIATION BILL, 1917. Q. Did you state that you had ever had a talk with Henry Bynum and Willis Tobler? — A. No, sir; that is what she said. Q. Were you ever acquainted with Becky Turnbull? — A. I might have been, 1 know several Turnbull families, but 1 don't remember that now. Q. Do not lemember whether you were acquainted with Becky Turnbull? — A. No, sir; I don't remember. Q. Did you know Bob and Bill Turnbull?— A. Yes, sir. Q. Know them both? — A. Yes, sir; they were some of the first Indians that first came from Wis.sissippi. Q. Do you know whether they had a sister named Becky? — A. No, sir; heard them say they did but I don't know. Q. Do you know whether Becky Turnbull was the grandmother of Jane Driver, this colored woman? — A. I don't believe she was. Q. Do you remember Harriett Turnbull? — A. I think so — no, but in the state- ment she mentioned that name or they got it from the roll book. Q. You do not remember her? — A. No, sir; I don't know much about the family. Q. Do you know William Brown, a Choctaw? — A. I know a colored man down there. Q. You do not know whether William Brown married Harriett Turnbull? — A. No, sir; I don't know. Q. You never knew this woman in Towson County, this applicant, Jane Driver? — A. No, sir; I haven't been there since I was a little boy. Q. Did you ever know this woman in Kiamichi County? — A. I knew a woman who claimed to be her mother in Kiamichi County. Q. Who did this woman claim was her mother? — A. WTiat family of Indians? I know the family of Indians she claims to be kin to. Q. Did this woman ever live around Caddo to your knowledge? — A. Not to my knowledge. Q. Do you recall a woman who claimed to be a descendant of the Wright family of Choctaws? — A. I recall a woman that claimed to be a daughter of old Leonard Wright. Q. Had you ever seen this woman before you met her in Mr. Ballinger's office? — A. Never did. Q. Who was Leonard Wright? — ^A. Well, he was a Choctaw; I was not acquainted with him like I was with Alford and the old governor. Q. How do you know he was a brother of the old governor? — A. He was said to be. Q. Was he a brother of old Gov. Wright? — A. Yes, sir; Allen Wright's father, at McAlester. Q. Were they full bloods? — A. Yes, sir; old Gov. Wright was a full blood. Q. What would you say if you were told that Allen Wright did not have a brother? — ■ A. Well, I would just have to take it, because I don't know; he was said to be Alfred Wright's brother, but I am not certain about it. Q. I am talking about Allen Wright, who was at one time governor of the Choctaw Nation? — A. Yes, sir; I understand. Q. Were you personally acquainted with this Leonard Wright? — A. No, sir; I don't know him. Q. Would you know him if you would see him? — A. No, sir; Allen Wright and the old governor 1 know. Q. How many brothers did Allen Wright have? — ^A. I don't know that. Q. Did you know any of them? — A. Alford was his brother; they say he is. Q. Do you know Alford? — A. Yes, sir. Q. He was a brother of Gov. Wright? — A. Yes, sir. Q. Where did Alford live? — A. About 12 miles below Caddo. Q. Was he a full brother? — A. I don't know about that. Q. You did not know him or any of them? — A. No, sir; if an Indian is a cousin, they claim them to be brothers. Q. Was this woman who claimed to be a daughter of Leonard Wright a negro? — A. Yes, sir; she was yellow. Q. She was yellow? — A. Yes, sir; I told them to send that [indicating papers in this case filed by Ballinger] to McAlester, but they wouldn't do it. Three Texas witnesses were there to that. Q. You say they had three Texas negroes to witness there? — A. They had two; I ■will say that. Bill McCombs brought them up here. Q. Bill McCombs brought them here? — A. Yes, sir. Q. Did you make an affidavit for this woman? — A. Only for the Wright family. I never saw the woman until that day. Q. Did vou know Jack Wright? — A. Yes, sir; I don't think he was kin to the other Wrights. INDIAN APPROPRIATION BILL, 1917. 95 Q. What direction did Jack Wright live from Atoka? — A. Southwest, I think. Q. How far? — A. I think about 7 or 8 miles. Q. Was he an Indian, a white man, or a darkey? — A. He was a full blood. Q. Did he have any sisters? — A. I don't know. Q. Did he have a sister who married a Wimley?— A. I never heard that name before that I know of. Q. Could you be mistaken about Jack Wright and Alford Wright being brothers? — A. Sure, I don't remember ever saying that. Q. You could be mistaken about them being brothers of former Gov. Allen Wright? — A. Yes, sir; I don't know. Q. Do you remember a woman by the name of Elmyra Wimley? — A. I don't be- lieve I do. The affida\'it purporting to have been signed by you before Julius Golden, a notary public, on June 24, 1915, filed by Mr. Webster Ballinger with the petition of Bertha Tobler for the enrollemnt of herself and family as citizens by blood of the Choctaw Nation, is as follows: "Alec Nail, being first duly sworn, on oath states that he is 72 years of age, and that he lives at 1006 South Third Street, Muskogee, Okla. "That he knows the applicant, and that he was well and personally acquainted with the Wrights, who were always said to be and recognized as full-blood Choctaw Indians, and who she claims as her ancestors. "That the names of the older ones of the boys were Leonard, Alfred, and Jack Wright. I don't know how many sisters there were, but one of them married a Wim- ley, whom the applicant claims as her mother. "The above-named Wrights were all brothers and were related in some way with Allen Wright, who was at one time the governor of the Choctaw Nation. "All of the Wrights above named and many others all lived south from Atoka and down on the mouth of Blue River, and they were all recognized Choctaw Indians. "Affiant further states that the said mother of the applicant, Elmyra Wimley, lived prior to her death at what is now Tushka, Okla. That the same place used to be called PecK. I don't know just how many children the said Elmyra Wimley had, but I do know that there was a bunch of them — seven or eight anyway. Some of them died, and they have scattered, and some of them now live in Muskogee. "This family were all considered and recognized as Choctaws, and lived and worked around the neighborhood. "(Signed by thumb mark) Alec Nail." Q. Did you make an affidavit for Jackson Barrett for use in his application for enrollment? — A. Yes, sir. Q. Did you know Jackson Barrett l)efore you met him in Ballinger's office a short time ago? — A. Never seen him before. Q. You told me that you made an affidavit for Jackson Barrett in Mr. Ballinger's office? — A. Yes, sir; I swore that I knew the Hunter family. Q. That you knew the Hunter family? — A. Yes, sir; old Ben Hunter. Tliis man claimed that Ben Hunter's daughter was his mother. I didn't know but I knew Tommy and Charlie. Q. Who did you say Jackson Barrett is? — A. He looked like a white man. Q. Did he have any indications of negro blood? — A. No, sir; he just a dark, red- headed white man. Q. Does he claim to be a negro? — A. No, sir; Choctaw, he claims to be old Benny Hunter's grandson. Q. Docs he ass jciate with negroes? — A. I don't know; he does not stay around here. Q. You say you never knew him until you met him in Muskogee a short time ago? — A. No, sir. Q. Do you know who his mother was? — A. No, sir; I don't know. This Choctaw woman might have liecn his mother, as far as I know. Q. You know nothing about it only what he claims? — A. No, sir. Q. Who did he claim was his mother? — A. Benny Hunter's (laughter. Q. Do you know her name? — A. No, sir; I think it was Becky. I think he said— Q. Who did he claim was his father? — A. Well, his father musy have been a white man, as there was nothing said al)out him. Q. Did you know a person namde Billy Hunter? — A. That is the old man. Q. Is he the person you called Benny Hunter? — ^A. Yes, sir; Billy Hunter was his name, but the Choctaws called him Benny Hunter. Q. He is the person you thought was meant when Benny Hunter was mentioned. You mean Billy Hunter? — A. Yes, sir; and there was Silas and Tom Hunter. Q. Who was Tom Hunter; whijre does ha live? — A. Is he the person who was a candi- date for governor? — A. Yes, sir. 96 INDIAN APPROPRIATION BILL, 1917. Q. Does he live at Hugo? — A. About Hugo, I guess. Q. Are you acquainted with Tolliver Barrett? — A. No, sir. Q. You do not know whether Tolliver was the father of Jackson Barrett? — A. No^ sir; I don't; I don't know that at all. Q. Did you know a Clayton Hunter? — A. I knew a Charlie Hunter; there might have been a Clayton. I read you an affidavit purporting to have been made by you before Julius Golden, a notary public, on February 20, 1915, filed by Mr. Webster Ballinger with' the peti- tion of Jackson Barrett for the enrollment of himself, and others, as citizens by blood of the Choctaw Nation : "Alec Nail, being first duly sworn, on oath states that he is 72 years of age and that he lives 1006 South Third Street, Muskogee, Okla. "That he knows the applicant and that he was well and personally acquainted with his mother, Francis Barrett; her father, old Billy Hunter; they were all full-blood Choc taws. "I also knew her brothers; one was named Silas Hunter and the other one was Thomas Hunter, who run for governor at the last election for chief of the Choctaw Nation; I think the oldest one was Nelson. "When I am at home I live in Atoka County, but am staying at Muskogee for the present. "I have met all the older children of the applicant, but I could not positively iden- tify them if they were away from home; I do not know that he has a large family and that they grew up in the southern part of the Choctaw Nation. (Signed, by thumb mark.) "Alec Nail." Q. Do you recall a person by the name of Francis Barrett? — A. Probably that is the woman. That is wlio he said was his mother. Q. You took his word for that? — A. Yes, sir. The old man has three children. Q. You do not even know whether Billy or Benny Hunter had a daughter named Frances? — A. No, sir; he had one, but I would not be positive. Q. Do you know whether Benny Hunter had a son named Silas Hunter? — A. Yes, sir. Q. You do not know whether he had a daughter named Frances? — A. No, sir; I don't know. Q. Did he have a son named Nelson? — A. He might of had; I don't know. Q. What is the street number of your residence in Muskogee? — A. 1006 South Third Street. Q. Do you know a person named Malissa Marcy, nee Carroll, n^e Birdsong? — A. I don't know. Q. There is an affida^'it purported to have been made by you in which you are made to say that you were acquainted with this person. You say you do not remem- ber such a person? — A. No, sir. Q. You were made to state that you were personally acquainted with her mother and father; that her father's name was Willie Birdson; do you recall a Willie Bird- song? — A. Yes, sir; I don't know him, but there has been a man up there that claims to be a Birdson. Q. You do not know that that person is the father of this applicant? — A. No, sir. Q. You were made to state that her mother was Adaline Sanders; do you remember her? — A. It seems that some one was in that office by the name of Sanders. Q. You mean to say that Adaline Sanders, who married Willie Birdson, was the mother of the applicant in this case? — A. No, sir; I don't know who they was talking about. Q. You do not remember this applicant? — A. No, sir; I don't remember her; I don't know notliing about the Birdsons. Q. Do you remember William Sanders? — A. No, sir. The affi'davit of Alec Nail, made before Julius Golden on March 16, 1915, filed by Mr. Webster Ballinger, vnth the petition for the enrollment of Malissa Marcy for enrollment of herself and family as citizens by blood of the Choctaw Nation, is as follows : "Alec Nail, being first duly sworn, on oath states that he is 72 years of age and that his post office is Boggy Depot, Okla. "That he knows the applicant, but that he has not known her very long; that he was well and personally acquainted with her father and mother. "Her father was Willie Birdson, a half-blood Choctaw Indian that was placed on the freedman roll over his protest; that her mother was Adaline Sanders before she married Willie Birdsong, and that she was a three-quarter Choctaw Indian by blood. "That they both lived in what was old Scully ville County, now Le Flore, near the line of Arkansas. INDIAN APPKOPEIATION BILL, 1917. 97 "That all of the Sanders were all recognized Choctaw Indians; that William Sanders was the brother of her said mother, Adaline Birdsong, n^e Sanders. "That he does not know any of the applicant's family. "(Signed by thumb mark) Alec Nail." "Q. Do you remember a person named Jordeana Smyers, nee Givens? — A. No, sir; I don't remember her. "Q. In the afhdavit filed in the application for the enrollment of this person, made by you on April 13, 1915, you state that you were acquainted with the api>licant and that you knew the persons whom she stated were her ancestors and with her grand- mother, Ellen Pusley, a full-blood Choctaw? Do you remember Ellen Pusley? — A. I remember the Pusleys; they were Choctaw Indians. I don't remember, though, the woman who made that application. "Q. Do you remember the brothers of Ellen Pusley?^ — A. Three of them, I do. "Q. What were their names?- — A. George, Billy, and Josh. "Q. Who was Jack Pusley? — A. 1 don't know. "Q. You do not remember?- — A. No, sir. "Q. Who was McAlester Pusley? — A. I don't remember. "Q. Do you remember Adaline Pusley? — A, No. sir; I just know Ellen and Elmyra, The affidavit made in supi^ort of the petition of this case by Alec Nail, on April 13, 1915, before Julius Golden, a notary public, filed by Webster Ballinger for the enroll- ment of Jordeana Smyers and family as citizens by blood of the Choctaw Nation, is as follows : "Alec Nail, being first duly sworn, on oath states that he is 72 years of age and that he now lives at 1206 South TMrd Street, Muskogee. "That he has recently become accjuainted with the applicant, but that he knows the persons that she states is her ancestors. "That he was well and personally acquainted with her said grandmother, Ellen Pusley, who was a full-blood Choctaw Indian. That she had two brothers, McAlester Pusley and old Jack Pusley, that were allotted as he has been informed. "That h3 was well and personally acquainted with the daughter of Ellen Pusley named Adaline, but that he does not know who she married, and never had heard until he met the applicant. "That he did not know the father of the applicant, nor does he know her family. (Signed, by thumb mark) "Alec Nail." Mr. Webster Ballinger has filed an application for the enrollment of one John Harrison and his family. Attached to this application is an affidavit purporting to have been made by you before Julius Golden, a notary public, on March 4, 1915, in which you are made to state that you are well and personally acquainted with the applicants and have known them all their lives- — A. I haven't known them that long. Q. A\ hat have you to say about this; do you know these persons? — A. I am better acquainted with them since I have been in Muskogee. The old man was half Indian and half negro Q. Old man Harrison claimed to be -A. Half brother of Robert, William, and John Harrison, and I know them to be Indians, and they claimed to be related to them. Q. Did you know this j^erson who represented himself to be John Harrison, named in the application for enrollment? — A. I expect I knew him. Q. But you can not place him right now? — A. I guess I would know him. Q. Did you know him before you met him at the time he made this application? — A. Not to have ideutided him; I met the old man when 1 lived at Durant. Q. You mean these boys' father? — A. Yes, sir. Q. W hat was the name of their father? — A. John Harrison or Sloan. Q. You mean his surname was Sloan? — A. No, Harrison. Q. Did they call him Sloan Harrison? — A. Yes, sir; and sometimes old man Harri- son. Q. Did you know enough about this man Harrison to testify as to who his parents were? — A. No, sir; my brother knew him; he was over here. Q. Your brother is Peter Nail? — A. Yes, sir. Q. \\ ere you ever at the home of the father? — A. Yes, sir; 1 hav? ))assed there a time or two. Q. \\ere you ever at the home of the apiilicant in this case, John Harrison? — A. No, sir; I don't know whether these young children had any home or not. The Choc- taws just rer'ogni/.ed them. Q. You never had, then, a close personal accjuaintance with the father of thi.« applicant? — A. No, sir. 25134— PT 4—16 7 98 INDIAN APPEOPRIATION BILL, 1917. Q. W as thid ;i])i)li(ant, John Harrison, a negro?- — A. Yes, sir; sure. Q. "What is his color? — A. About mine; dark bay. Q. AMiat con^•ention was it that met in 1809 at Boggy Depot? — A. That was when the Government sent Maj. Armstrong out there. Q. Could you say that you met the father of this applicant at that convention? — A. 1 don't remember. Q. You do not remember whether you made such a statement? — A. Xo, sir; I don't. Q. You do not remember whether the name of the father of these applicants was \V. J. Sloan Harrison? — A. No, sir; I don't know; they claimed to be his children. Q. Y'ou do not really know whether the full and correct name of the Harrison you know was W. J. Sloan Harrison; you do not know whether this is his correct name or not? — A. No, sir; I don't; they are Texas folks. Q. Texas folks? — A. Yes, sir. Q. Was the man that you have in mind as the father of John Harrison a negro? — A. No, sir; kind of an Indian-looking negro about like my color. The affidavit of Alec Nail, made before Julius Golden, a notary public, on March 4, 1915, filed by Mr. Webster Ballinger with the petition for the enrollment of John Harrison and his family as citizens by blood of the Choctaw Nation, is as follows: ''Comes now Alec Nail, who, being first duly sworn, on oath states that he is 72 years of age, that his home is 3 miles west from Boggy Depot, Okla. "That he is well and personally acquainted with the applicants; that he has known them in a way all their lives; that he has not personally known them all the time, but that he did know their father since the convention atOld Boggy depot, in 1869; that they both attended the said convention together and that they have since lived a long distance apart, but have met often enough to keep up a personal accpiaintance with the father of the said applicants. He was W. J. Sloan Harrison. The reason that I kept u]) so close a personal acquaintance with him was that his trading point was Durant, Okla., and I lived in Durant. "That it is for this reason that I knew him so much better than I did his family. Sometimes he had some of them with him and more often he came alone or with just his wife, Mahaley. "I have been to his house and know that he had his own home on the public domain the same as the other Choctaw Indians and that he lived there until he died. "No one was ever heard to dispute his right as a Choctaw Indian and he held land just the same as the other Choctaw.-i and was so recognized. "This continued until after allotment and then he lost his farm because he was not enrolled. All I know about his making an application is what he told me and that he said he made his a])plication by blood and for the reason that he had some negro blood in him, the commission wanted to put him on the Freedman roll, and he would not stand for it, and tlie commission denied him." (Signed, by thumb mark.) "Alec Nail.'" Q. Do you know James Goings?— A. Yes, sir; I know a Jim Goings, since I been htro. Q. Did you first meet him in Ballinger's office?— A. Yes, sir; the first time in my life. Q. Do j'^ou know the father and mother of this applicant, Jim Goings? — A. No, sir. Q. You do not know whether the father's name was Henry and the mother's name was Francis? — A. No, sir. Q. Did you ever know a Henry and Francis Goings? — A. Y^es, sir; I have heard of that family, but that thing [indicating affidavit] was made a long time before I saw it. Q. What do you mean?— A. They took this application in a long time before they know I was heVe. I was sick but they referred him to me and when I got iip his application was made out already and I was just asked about the Goings family and I said I knew them. Q. Did you know an Isaac Goings? — A. I heard them talking about him; I don't know him. Q. Y^ou were not personally acquainted with him? — A. No, sir. Q. You never met this applicant, James (lojng, for the first time at Doaksville, 30 years ago? — A. No, sir; I have not been there since I was 11 years of age. Q. Do you say that you did not moot this man at Doaksville? — A. No, sir; I couldn't of; I left there when I was a little boy. Q. There is an affidavit attached to this application, filed by Mr. Webster Ballinger, acknowledged by you before Julius Golden, a notary public, on March 23, 1915, in which you are made to state that you first met this applicant more than 30 years ago at Doaksville. — A. No, sir. INDIAN APPROPRIATION BILL, 1917. 99 Q. And that you were well and personally acquainted with the father and mothar of this applicant, Henry and Francis Goings, and that you knew the brothers of Henry Goings, and that their names were George, James, and Alfred. — A. I don't know that at all; they are on the roll though, I guess. Q. And that the oldsst one died before the war. Did you make these statements to any persons in ]Mr. Ballinger's office? — A. Not like you are reading it. Q. Did you knowingly make your thumb mark to any affidavit in which you were made to testify to these facts? — A. I did not. I thought they were putting down just what they asked me. There is a lot of this that was not asked me. Q. You say you thought they were putting down what they asked you? — A. Yes, sir. Golden read them over and sometimes 1 couldn't understand him nohow. Q. You are acquainted with William M. James? — A. Yes, sir; since I have been here. Q. Did you approach James and request him to act as a witness for Mr. Ballinger in the preparation of these applications? — A. No, sir. Q. \\'illiam James states that you approached him and told him that you wanted him to act as a witness in a number of these cases? — A. He was a witness before I came up. Q. Did you or did you not approach him relative to this? — A. I did not; I found him acting as a witness the first time I went up to Mr. Ballinger's office. He is a State man, but married a Creek freedwoman, and has been a resident of the Creek Nation and I am satisfied that he knows nothing about the Choctaw people. He apparently made affidavits for everybody. Made one for Ben Grayson for a pint of whisky; he would swear to anything. They were nearly drunk all the time, and old man McCombs was drunk also; he is a white man. Q. Is Ben Grayson a white man? — A. A full-blood Creek. Q. An old man named Berryhill acted as a witness, did he drink? — A. Yes, sir; they all were drunk nearly all the time. Q. Did Mr. Tindly drink? — A. I have smelled it on his breath and he acted like it. Q. Did you ever see him drunk? — -A. No, sir. Q. Never saw him when he apparently did not have control of his mental facul- ties? — A. No, sir; I think when he was getting too much he would quit. Q. Did they have whisky aroiuul the office? — A. I never saw it Q. Do you drink, yourself? — A. No, sir; there is not a man that lives that can say 80. Q. Did Burton drink? — A. Yes, sir. Q. Did you ever see him full? — A. Yes, sir; pretty full. On August 5, 1915, the witness. Alec Nail, was recalled and testified as follows: Q. State your name? — A. Alec Nail. Q. What is your age?— A. Going on 73; 72. Q. Where do you live? — A. I ara living in Muskogee now. Q. You live at 1006 South Third Street?— A. Yes, sir. Q. Are you acquainted with Josie L. Arnold, do you know a woman by that name? — A. I don't remember that I know her, I have forgotten her, what is she? Q. She is supposed to live in Reeves addition?— A. 1 don't know her. Q. Did you make an affidavit in Mr. Ballinger's office identifying a woman named Josie L. Arnold? — A. No, sir; there ain't a soul that I identified. Q. Do you remember a woman coming to that office by the name of Josie L. Ar- nold? — A. It may be true; I don't remember it. I read you an affidavit purporting to have been made by you before Julius Golden, a notary public, on June 22, 1915, filed by I\Ir. Webster Ballinger with the petition for the enrollment of Josie L. Arnold, nee Lewis, as a citizen by blood of the Chickasaw Nation: "Alec Nail, being first duly sworn, on oath states that he is 72 years of age and that he lives at lOOG South Third" Street, Muskogee. "That he knows the applicant, Josie L. Arnold; that he also knew her mother, Sofia r.ewis, nee Kemp, and all the Kemp family; that the father of her said mother Sofia Lewis, nee Kemp, was Jackson Kemp; V "That the said Sofia. Kemp had a numl)er of brothers and sisters: they were Ben- jamin, Joel, Walton, 15ud (who was county sheriff for a long time) Kemp; the sisters were Amelia, Virginia, ancl Lou Kemp, nearly all of these above-named Indians died before final enrollment, although Joel and Benjamin both got allotments. "They were all full-blood Indians (Chickasaws), but some of them had Choctaw families and were enrolled Choctaws; that is. some of the younger ones. "The applicant was raised by old Aunt Calidonia Green, a colored woman who was formorlv the slave of her grandfather, Jackson Kemp. 100 INDIAN APPROPRIATION BILL, 1917. "I don't know the age of the applicant, but she is just a young woman and looks about as old as she says she is — 26 years of age. "The reason that I know the Kemp family so well is that I lived for many years within less than half a mile from them, in fact some of them lived within hearing distance. "The old men of the Kemp family was Jackson Kemp, the grandfather of applicant; Reuben Kemp, Billy Kemp, and Joel Kemp, who were all emigrants from Mississippi, and all full bloods. (Signed, by thumb mark) Alec Nail." Q. Did you make this aflidavit? — A. I know the name of some of those Kemps. They would ask me about peoyjle named Kemp that I knew, and I would state what I knew. Tliis woman was looked up by the roll and they would ask me if 1 knew the Kemps, and say go to work and name how many you know, and I would go and name as many as I knew. Q. Does the reading of this affidavit refresh your memory in respect to this appli- cant? — A. No, sir; I don't remember about that; see about what has been Q. You can not say that you know this applicant? — A. No. sir; I know I don't know her. Q. You did not know any (jf the people that you met in that office? — A. No. sir. Q. In what office do you mean when you refer to that office? — A. Well, it says liallinger, Rodkey & Lindly. They say it is their names on that door. Q. What are Lindly's initials? — A. I don't know. Q. Are you sure it is Webster Ballinger that is connected witli thai office? — A. Yes. sir; that is what they say. Q. Do you know whether" Webster Piallinger is connected with the Government service? — A. I don't know that. Q. Do you know whether Mr. Lindly is connecte:! with the Government service? — A. I don't know that. Q. Dc you know how much you got for making this affidavit? — A. No, sir; some- times I got a dollar, sometimes a dollar and a half, and sometimes i^2. Q. Who gave you this money? — A. The applicants. The ones making applica- tion; they paid me the money I got. Q. Did" you ask for the money?— A. They said if you don't pay the witnesses and notary fees the papers don't go out of the office. They said tliat they was to get two old members of the tribe; and I was in the Dawes Commission one day and they employed me to act and see about it. I didn't have any confidence in it. Q. You told me, did yoii not, that most of the persons who applied for enrollment down in tlieir oflice as Indians by blood were negroes?— A. Every one ui them. Q. And they tried to get on the blood roll? — A. Yes, sir; and I would say "Why don't you get "on tht roll \nth me?" but they said they would get on the blood roll. Q. Did you know a Sofia Lewis who was a Kemp before she married? — A. I don't know; I can't remember. Q. Did yer Sofia Lewis? — A. No, sir; I don't know. Q. Do you remember old Aunt ('alidonia Green? — A. Yes, sir. Q. Who was she? — A. One of Jackson Kemp's slaves. Q. You said you did not know whether Jackson Kemp was the grandfather of this applicant? — A. I don't think she was. Q. Why?— A. I don't know; I believe Virginia was John Lewis's wife. Q. What blood was Jackson Kemp? — A. Well, I would say he was a full-blood; he looked to 1)0. Q. Full-blood what?- A. Ghickasaw. Q. Do you know whether his wife was a full-blood or not? — A. No, sir; T don't know. Q. Did his wife have any negro blood in her? — A. No, sir; I have seen her. and she ld nie in testifying in other cases that Mr. Lindly wrote these affidavits out on the typewriter himself which you swore to? — A. That colored lawyer and all ihcin that is trjdng to get on the roll would get together in the little room and he would write a long list. v^. WIk is that? — A. Nelson Durant. he would hand it to Mr. Lindly and somtimes he stood and read it off and Mr. lindly wrote it. Q. So Mr. Lindly wrote on the typewriter the affidavits that you made? — A. Yes, sir. Q. And you say you told Mr. Lindly that you did not know any of the ap])licants and did not intend to identify them? — A. Yes, sir. Q. Well, what were you doing down there? — A . I would prove that I knew the ('hoc- taws. Advise them. Q. You advised about what? — A. They would come tliere and say they were mem- bers of some Choctaw family. What family was it and they would name them and if I knew them I would say so. Q. It was your understanding that you were merely to testify that such a Choctaw family li\ed at one time and you would testify as to remembering that family; you did not testify that the (daimants were related to any of the members of the families you have mentioned? A. No, sir; I coiddu't. Q. You did not know the applicants before you nint tlicm down .stairs? — A. No. sir. Q. And you did not understand that you were advising about that? — A. No, sir; and woidd say so. 1 knowed the peoi)le Ihey claimed relation to. Q. Did you understand that you were down there to identify the claimants as bein^ the children of the persons you named in the aflidavits? — A. No, sir; Mr. Lindly told them that the applications woidd be identified with some old peoi)le and when they couldn't get me to identify them he said they would have t( have some one to identify them . Q. He said they would V)e conipleted later? — A. Yes, sir. Q. Do you know Webster Burton? — A. Yes, sir; I know him. Q. How kng have you known him? — A. About 14 years, maybe longer Q. Did ^^'ebster Burton ever live clo.se to Callie Green ?^A. He lived up in that part of the country. Q. Do you know how close he li\ed to .\unt Callie Green? — A. Mayl>e 4 or 5 miles. Q. What did Web.ster Burton get for making these affidavits? -A . Well, he got ju.st what he could, just like me. 102 INDIAN APPROPRIATION BILL, 1917. Q. How long have you been around this office downslairs here making these affi- davits? — A. I don't remember when I first went there. Q. AVell, about when? — A. It m'ight have been in February. Q. Have you been up there every day since? — A. Xo, sir; sometimes I am sick and can't get there. Q. How many affidaA'its ch) you suppose you have made? — A. I have no knowledge. Q. Have you no idea at all? — A. No, sir; I don't know. Q. As many as 50? — A. I don't know, I say. Q. As many as 50? — A. I don't know; I couldn't say, A heap of them were already made before they knew I was in Muskogee. Q. How many thumb marks do you suppose you made in that office? — A. (lod knows; I put mv thumb on three times. Q. To each affidavit?— A. Yes, sir; I think so. Q. You made your thumb mark three times? — A. Yes, sir. Q. How many times do you suppose you made your thumb print like that each day? — A. I have no idea; the papers will show. Q. A number of times each day? — A. The number that have my thumb on will show. Q. How much did you make a day; how much money? — A. Sometimes I made nothing. Q. A\'hy? — A. They would promise to pay me, but never did. Q. ATTien was that to be paid to you? — A. Some have already paid. Q. They have paid you something? — A. Yes, sir. Q. Did they promise anything nvtre if they got on the roll? — A. Yes, sir; some of them said if they got on the draws they would give me |100, but I wouldn't give 50 cents for that promise, for I don't think they will get on. Q. Are you on the rolls of the Dawes Commission ? — A. Choctaw freedman; yes, sir. Q. Do you know your roll number? — A. No, sir; I don't know; I have my deed, but I don't know it now. Witness excused. Lee G. Grubbs, being first duly sworn, on oath states that as stenographer to the national attorney for the Choctaw Nation he reported the proceedings in the above- entitled case on the 31st day of July and the 5th day of August, 1915, and that the foregoing is a true and correct transcript of his stenographic notes thereof. (Signed) Lee G. Grubbs. Subscribed and sworn to before me on this the 1 0th day of August, 1915. [seal.] R. p. Harrison, Cleric. (Signed) Bv .\. C. McMillax, Depu^i. (Exhibit L.) Department of the Interior, Office op the Superintendent for the Five Civilized Tribes, Muskogee, Olln., August 6, 1915. In the matter of the application of various persons for enrollment as citizens by blood of the Choctaw Nation. Webster Burton, being first duly sworn by William L. Bowie, deputy clerk for the United Stales ('ourt for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, on oath testifies as follows: Examination by William L. Bowie on behalf of the superintendent for the Five Civilized Tribes: Q. Please state your name? — A. Webster Burton. Q. Age? — A. Well, you will find my age on those papors there 65, but since that time I have looked over the roll book and I am not that old. Q. How old are you? — A. I am 59: maybe 60. Q. Where do you live? — A. I live in Reeves Addition, Muskogee. Q. What is your occupation? — A. Minor work wherever I can find it. Q. How are you employed at the present time? — A. I have no regular occupation. Q. Are you acting as a witness in enrollment cases being prcpxred by some persons working in an office in the Metropolitan Building? — A. I am acting in that capacity, but am not employed; am not employed by no one working in the office. Q. How long have you been acting as a witness in these cases? — A. Well, I guess about throe months, maybe. Q. Have you been present every day at the office of these persons — have you been in the office every day? — A. Every day? Q. Every day? — A. Every day. Q. You say you are not working at any regular occupation? — A. No, sir. INDIAN APPROPRIATION BILL, 1017. IDS Q. How are you paid for your services? — A. These parties that como and testify pay me for these facts for them. ^ Q. How much did they pay you? — A. Just whatever they can, sometimes fifty cents, one dollar, and one dollar and a half. Q. Who first interviewed vou relative to actina: as a witness? — A. Nail. Q. Alec. Nail?— A. Yes, "sir. Q. Wliat did Alec t^ll you he wanted you to do? — A. Wanted me to help him with the Choctaw people. Q. AMiat are the names of the persons gathering this testimony? — A. You want to know the names of those claimants? Q. ^^'hat are the names of those persons occupying these offices? — A. Lindly. Q. Do you know his full name? — A. No, sir. Q. Any other person occupying these offices? — A. None but him that I know of. Q. Are you acquainted with Mr. Rodky? — ^A. No, sir; never saw him in my life. Q. Are you acquainted with Mr. Webster Ballinger? — A. Never saw him in my life. Q. Do you know whether Mr. Lindly is employed by Mr. Ballinger? — A. He said he was. Q. Do you know in what capacity he is serving Mr. Ba,l'linger? — A. No, sir. Q. Are any of the persons named connected with the Government service? — A. I have not heard say whether any of these gentlemen is attached with the Government business or not. Q. As a matter of fact, from what these applicants who go up there have said to you, don't they seem to think that these men are employed by the Government? — A. Well, I haven't heard or even had a person to implicate that to me until yesterday, and that was when two parties asked me if old man Lindly was employed by the Government and 1 told them I didn't know whether he was or not. Q. Is that what you told all of the applicants? — A. There hasn't even one asked me that but these two fel,lows, this was the first persons that have asked me such a question, that was the first 1 heard of it. Q. In what capacity was Nelson Durant serving these persons? — A. Now, I can't tell you. Judge, I just only learned that he was an attorney at the bar, but what part of the attorney he was playing, I don't know. Q. Did he hold a power of attorney? — A. I heard that but I don't know it to be true. Q. Power of attorney from whom? — A. I don't know, I can't tell you that. Q. Do you know what these applicants paid Nelson Durant? — A. No, sir; I don't know if they paid him anything; I don't know it. Q. Did you ever hear Mm demand any money from any of these persons? — A. No, sir; not a nickel: only what I heard. Q. What was it that you heard? — A. One of these two parties was telling me that he paid Nelson Durant to take up his applicaticm. Q. How much? — A. He didn't say how much. Q. I have just had an interview with one of these men that you were seen talking to a short time ago, and one of them, Mr. Short, tells me that when he first came down here that you are one of the parties that represented to him that you were in the Government service. Did you represent that to Mr. Short? — A. No, sir; never rep- resented that to him in my life. Q. You made (piite a number of affidavits down here? — A. Well, I signed some. Q. In Mr. Ballinger's office? — A. Yes, sir. Q. How many aflidavits do you suppose you made? — A. I have no idea. Q. Were you personally acquainted with all of the persons for whom >'ou made affidavits? — A. Was I acquainted with them? Q. Were you personally acquainted with them? — A. No, sir; I was not. Q. Were you acquainted with any of them? — A. No one; I told them that. Q. You had never sc^en one of the persons?— A. No, sir; never seen them. Q. Who prepared the affidavits that you signed; who wrote them? — A. Lindly typewrote them out. Q. Did you tell him what to write in these affidavits? — A. No, sir: I lold him of the Indian people I knew. Q. Did Mr. Durant have anything to do with the preparation of these aliidavits?— A. Well, I am going to speak that the best I know how. Durant wotild fill them out. Q. He would write them out with a pencil? — A. Yes, sir; whatever tribe these people were he would write it out, and if I knew that tribe he would write it out. I gave them all to understand that I didn't know them. Q. Did Durant question you himself as to your knowledge? — A. No, sir. Q. Did Mr. Lindly f|uestion you as to the extent of your knowledge? — A. No. sir; he did not. 104 INDIAN APPROPRIATION BILL, 1917. Q. Did he simply write out these affidavits without asking you? — A. He wrote ihese afli(hTvits fromjhe questions Durant wrote out from the roll book for the Indians on the roll. Q. Who wiiuld find them on the roll? — A. Durant or those Indians would take the roll book and hnd them., Q. After these affidavits were written up on the typewriter by Mr. Lindly, were the aflidavits read over to you? — A. Yes, .sir. Q. Bv whom? — A. Golden. Q. By Golden?— A. Yes, sir. Q. He was a notary public? — A. Yes, sir. Q. ("an you write your name? — A. Can't write at all, or read. Q. You signed these afhdavits by thumb mark? — A. Yes, sir. Q. Will you place your thumb on this blank sheet of paper for the pro])er identi- fication of your thumb i^rint? — A. Yes, sir; I can do it. Q. Are you acquainted with a person named Jane Driver? — A. No. sir; 1 don't know that I am — I don't know. Q. Are you acquainted with a person named Harriett Brown, who was Harriett Tnrnbull before her marriage? — A. Well, I got acquainted with her when she came 11]) here to take up her application; was not acquainted with her before. Would not know her this morning. Q. Were you ever acquainted with a person named Harriett Brown, who was Harriett Turnbull before marriage, before she came up to this office? — A. No, sir. Q. Were you ever acquainted with one William Brown, who was said to be a one- half blood Choctaw? — A. No, sir; I didn't get acquainted with him. I read you an affidavit ])urporting to have been made by you before Julius Golden, a notary i)ublic, on ^Iay 11, 11)15, filed by Mr. Webster Ballinger, which is attached to a petition for the enrollment of Jane Driver as a citizen by 1>lood of the Choctaw Nation. (See application of Jane Driver as to contents of affidavit.) Q. Did you make this affidavit? — A. I didn't make it in that way. I made that affidavit, IJut not to know tliat woman. I knew the man that the woman said was lier father. You will find it that way all the way through, l)ut the people themselves, I don't know them. Q. This affidavit states that you have known the applicant for the last 18 years; what ex])lanation have you to make to this? — A. It is wrong. I didn't make that, I didn't make that affidavit as to knowing that woman 18 years. I don't know any of those people. Q. This aliida\it slates further that you knew this applicant's mother, Harriett lirown. who was Harriett Turnbull before marriage. — A. I didn't make that. I know the Turnhulls, but not the girl. Q. Did you rei)resent to any person at the time this affidavit was prepared that you had known this ai)plicant for 18 vears and that you knew her motlier, Harriett Brown or Harriett Turnljull'.^ — A. I did know a Mrs. Turnbull, but not the woman. Q. You just stated to me that you had never seen Harriett Brown or Harriett Turn- bull iiefore you met such pcu-son in the office of ^Ir. Ballinger a short time since. — A. I sa\s tliat tlie woman wlio this woman says was her mother, that Mrs. Turnbull, well, I knew her, but tliat woman 1 didn't know her. Q. Why did you stat(; to me just now that you had never known a Hari'iett Brown or Harriett Tur"n])uH?- A. As fai as Mrs. Turnbull is concerned, I knew Mrs. Turnbidl. Q. Who was this Mrs. Turnbull that you speak of? — A. Mrs. Turnbull; she's a Choctaw Avoman. Q. Of what blood is this Jane Driver, the applicant in this case for enrollment?— A. Well, she snid she was a Choctaw. Q. What does she look like? — A. Well, she looks like she had some Indian blood in her. Q. Did she also have negro blood?- — A. Yes, sir; some negro blood. Q. What is her color?-— A. Aboat my color. Q. What color are you?— A. I call myself a yellow man. Q. Are you usually termed a ginger cake?— A. No, sir. Q. You spoke of knowing a Mrs. Turnbull; do you know her given name?— A. No, sir; I don't know her given name. Q. Do you know more than one Mrs. Turnbull?— A. Joe Turnbull. Q. A man? — A. He is a man. I know Ben Turnbull. Q. Any others?— A. I think that is about all. Q. And this woman you speak of, is she related to Joe and Ben? — A. I think she was; I don't know for certain. Q. Where do Ben and Joe live; are they living now? — A. They are dead. INDIAN APPEOPKIATION BILL, 1917. 105 Q. Where did they live?— A. They lived up in Kiamichi at that time. Q. In what county?— A. Towson Oounty; 1 don't know if that's what they call it now; that is the Indian name. I just know the people; I don't know their residence, and all that. Q. Were Joe and Ben related? — A. Yes, sir; I think they were brothers. Q. Well, were they white or colored?— A. They were half-blood Indians. Q.What nation?— A. Ohocta-rt . Q. What was the other half?- A. White. Q. White?^-A. Yes, sir. There are some Turubull negroes. Q. You said you knew a woman by the name of TurnbuU, but did not know her given name?- — A. No, sir. Q. Do you know that she was related to Joe and Ben? — A. I am not positive; I think she was, though. Q. Did this negro woman claim to be related to the Turnbulls?— A. Yes, sir. Q. What Turnbulls?— A. She said Joe and Ben were her uncles. Q. How did she make that out?- — A. She named same other woman to be the brother of those boys, etc., etc.; we didn't go to work to question these people. They asked us if we knew such names of Choctaws and Chickasaws. Q. You are made to testify in this affidavit that I have read to you that you knew these applicants, that is, her mother, Harriett Brown who was Harriett Turnbull before marriage; as a matter of fact were you ever acquainted with one Harriett Brown who was known as Harriett Turnbull? — A. I was acquainted with a Mrs. Turnbull; I don't know her by Harriett Brown; I know her as a Turnbull. Q. You jiist stated to me that you knew a woman by the name of Turnbull, but that vou did not know whether her given name was Harriett, — A. Yes, sir; I know a Turnbull. Q. But you do not know whether she was ever a Brown? — A. No, sir. Q. Did you knowingly testify that you knew this applicant's mother, that her name was Harriett Brown who was a Harriett Turnbull, before marriage, and that she was a full-blood Indian? — A. I didn't testify that. Q. You say this affidavit was read over to you? — A. Well, we couldn't understand half that Jew said. I never said those things that way. Q. You never saw this applicant before you met her in Mr. Ballinger's office? — A. No, sir. Q. What did tliis applicant give you for making this affidavit? — A. She gave me $1.50. Q. Where were you born? — A. In Red River County, Choctaw Nation. Q. ^^■hat towns were in that county? — A. Why we didn't have no principal town only old Shawneetown. Q. Shawneetown is low Idabel? — A. Shawneetown is about 3 or 4 miles from Idabel. Idabel is the post ottice and Shawneetown is a little place. Q. How long did you live in that County? — A. Red River County? Q. Yes. — A. I lived there from birlh up until I was about 23 or 24 years old. Q. Where did you go then? — A. I ramified around in Texas some. Q. How long were you in Texas? — A. About 5 or 6 years and then I came back to Shawneetown. Q. How long did you stay there? — A. I disremember how long, I moved to South McAlester and stayed there 5 or (i years. Q. Then wliero "did you go fromthere? — A. 1 moved from McAlester to tlie Chick- asaw Nation. Q. What part of the Chicka.saw Nation?— A. This side of Milburn one miU' and a quarter. Q. What year did you go down there? Do you know?^A. No, sir. Q. How long did you live at Milburn? — A. I stayed down there I guess about 12 years as near as I can remember. Q. Where did you go then? — A. I came up here in the Creek Nation. Q. Where in the Creek Nation? — A. My first stop in the Creek Nation was at Tulsa. Q. How long did you stay in Tulsa? — A. Twelvemonths. Q. Wlien did you leave Tulsa? — A. Can't tell you the date, sir. Q. About when?— A. Well, I can't say just exactly. I came to Coweta. Q. How long did you stay at Coweta?— A. I think about two years. Q. Wiiero did you go from Coweta? — A. To Wybark. Q. How long were you in Wybark?— A. Three years. Q. Wybark is just a few miles nort of liere? — A. Yes, sir. Q. Wiiere did you go next? — A. Red Bird. Q. How long did you live at Red Bird? — A. Two years. Q. Wliere did you go next?— A. Muskogee. 106 INDIAN APPEOPEIATION BILL, 1917. Q. Have you been here ever since? — A. Yes, sir. Q. When did you come to Muskogee? — A. I came here in December. Q. December hist?- — A. Yes. sir. Q. Have you ever been in the penitentiary? -A. No, sir. Q. Have you ever been in jail? — A. Yes, sir. Q. How many times have you been in jail?- — A. I can't tell you. Q. A number of times?^ — A. Several times. Q. What wore you charged with?- — A. Whisky and fighting. Q. Whisky .'telling? — A. No. sir. Q. Introducing?^ — A. Yes. sir. Q. What were you charged with?— ^A. Just charged with a little whisky. Q. Charged with introducing and selling? — A. No, sir. I never sold any whisky in my life. They found wliisky on me when I was about 18 years old. Q. Have you ever been in jail in Muskogee County?- — A. No, sir. Q. Tulsa "County?— A. No, sir. Q. What counties were you in jail? — A. I have been in jail at Fort Smith and Tishomingo. Q. You have never been in the penitentiary?— A. No, sir. Q. Have you ever been charged with felony? — A. What is that; I don't know what you mean; what are you talking about? Q. That is a penitentiary offense. — A. No, sir. Q. Are you acquainted with Mary Reeves?- — A. Yes, sir. Q. Where does she live?- — A. She lives 5 miles east of Vian. Q. About how old a woman is she?— A. She says she is about 50 years old. Q. Did you make an affidavit for her in Ballinger's office? — A. Yes, sir. Q. How long had you been acquainted with her when you made this affidavit? — A. How long? Q. Yes.— A. Well, now you done hit a pretty hard proposition in this case. Mary Reeves is a half sister of mine and T never saw Mary Reeves until she carne up here, but I had heard of this girl from a little thing on, but T never saw her until she came right down there. She introduced herself to me and told me about all her people. Q. I understand you now that the first time you ever saw her was when you made this affidavit? — A. Yes, sir; but I had heard of her. Q. What did you know about her parentage? — A. About which? Q. Her parentage. — A. Her parents? Q. Yes; who was her father? — A. Sam Murray; she claimed he was her father. After eman(ij)ati(m he taken the name of Sam Burton and if that be true that was her father and my father. Q. Who was her mother?— A. Cordelia Hampton, and that being true I know her mother. Q. Of what blood was Sam Murrav or Burton? — My father, he was a freedman and part Mexican. Her mother was a Choctaw woman. Q. You mean Cordelia Hampton? — A. Yes, sir. Q. W'hat degree of blood? — A. Well, she was, I guess, a full blood, I guess. Q. Were you acquainted with her? — A. I have seen her more times than I got fingers and toes. Q. '\Aniere did she live?— A. About 17 or 18 miles southeast or west from Sha^^•nee- town. Near Red Hill. She is dead. Q. Was this woman and your father ever married? — A. No, sir. Q. You are positive of that? -A. Sure, .she was an Indian and he was a darkey, and that was slave time. Q. Did this Cordelia Hampton ever marry? -A. I don't know whether she did or not. I was small and she was a growTi, so I don't know. Q. \\lio was her father? -A. I can't tell you, sir. Q. What do vou know about this api)licant being a daughter of Cordelia Hampton?— A. I don't know only what she tells me aliout me; I dcm't know anytlaing about that case any more than what she said, Init if the man she represents being her father, it is my father. She shows to be an Indian by her hair and eyes. Q."^ If your father was of colored blood and this woman, Cordelia Hampton, was of Indian blood, how do you account for the fact that this applicant is her child? — A. I don't accoiint for it at all. I am just gi^■ing what she told me, that is all 1 am account- ing for. X}. You do not know anything about it? — A. No, s'lr. Q. Have you any reason to believe or disbelieve her statements? — A. No, sir; because she presented this about herself, nobody asked her about it. I read you an affidavit ])ur])orting to have been made by you before Julius Golden, a notarv public, on May W, 1!)15, filed by Mr. Webster Ballinger with the petition IKDIAN APPEOPEIATION BILL, 1917. 107 for the enrollment of Mary Reeves, n^e Hampton, as a citizen by blood of the Choctaw Nation. (See athdavit attached to petition of May Reeves.) Q. Did vou make this affidavit?— A. No. sir; I didn't make it that way. I didn'l do it. Lon. Mike, and Julius is the sons of old man Isaac Ham])ton. and not the children of Cordelia, and this is the way I save it in. too, and if that man wrote it that way you just as well as burn it up. Q."That is the trouble; there will be no burning up, Webster.— A. I am going to give him the devil. I done heard about this before. If that lady was not in here Q. ^^^lat did you hear?— A. I heard that he spoke this way on the application, that we knew these claimants. Q. \Mio do you mean? — A. I mean Lindly; we gave him to understand that we didn't know these applicants and had never seen them before. Q. So in the particular application here you do not know whether this applicant is a child of Cordelia Hampton or not? — A. I'don't know. Q. You do not know who her father or mother was? — A. Onlv by what she said. Q. How much did this applicant give you for making this affidavit?— A. She hasn't given me nothing \et. Q. Well, she promised you something if she got through?— A. Yes, sir. I says well if you get through as you are my sister. I don't charge you nothing, and I would be glad if she did get throush. Q. Did the other applicants promise vou any money if their application went through all right— if they were enrolled?— A. None but that one who was supposed to be mv sister and another one. Q. 'What did the other one promise you?— A. She said she would give me double if she got through. Q. You told me not long ago in our conA'ersation that some of them had promised \ou §100 if their applications for enrollment went through?— A. Yes. sir; some of them did that. Q. Some did promise you SlOO?— A. Yes, sir; SlOO if they went through. Q. Was this promise rnade in the presence of any other person?— A. None except me and Nail. Q. What did Durant get out of this?— A. I don't know if he got a nickle; I can't tell you. He might have 2;ot 81,000; I can't sav. Q. Are you acciuainted with Annie Abernathy? — A. Yes. sir: I am a little bit acquainted with her. Q. Where does she live? — A. On the other side of the M. O. t^- G. Q. In Reeves addition? — A. Yes, sir. Q. Where did you first meet this Annie Abernathy''— A. \\c\\ I met around about, I never met her wntU. I came here. Q. Before you came to Muskogee to live? — A. Yes, sir. Q. And you came here about 5 months ago? — ^A. I came here in December. Q. \\hat was this woman's name before she married? — A. I tell you I don't know nothing about that woman's name, I know her as Abernathy. Q. You do not know what her name was before she married? — A. No. sir. Q. Do you know who her ]uirents were? — A. No, sir. Q. Do you know who claimed to be her mother? — A. No, sir. Q. Do you know any Tysons? — A. ( hoctaws: yes, sir. Q. Where do thev live? — A. Near Boggy, near Double Springs. Q. Know any one named Tom Tyson?— A. A\hy, I didn't know an Indian by the name of Tom, but I know a nigger. Q. Know a Sam Tyson? — A. Yea. sir: I have met him. Q. You do not know whether either one of those persons was the father of this woman? — A. No, sir: I don't know. Q. Do you know a Caroline Tyson? — A. No, sir. Q. Do you know a Caroline Frazier? — A. Well, yes; I know Caroline i'razier. Q. Do you know whether she married a Tyson? — A. No, sir. Q. Do you know whether Caroline I'^razier was the mother of this a])i>licant? — A. No, sir; 1 don't know^ whether she is the mother or not. but she said so. I read you an affidavit puri)orting to have been made by you before Julius Golden, a notary 'i>ublic, on May (i, 1915, filed by Webster Ballinger with the api)lication for the enrollment of Annie Abernathy, nee"Frazier, as a citizen by l)lood of the Choctaw Nation. fSee affidavit attached to petition of Annie Abernathy.) Q. You state that you do not know whether Caroline Frazier, now Tyson, was the mother of this woman? — A. I sure do, sir; I don't. Q. Does Annie Abernathy appear to be of negro blood?— A. Xot a bit; there aint a drop of negro blood in her. 108 INDIAN APPROPRIATION BILL, 1917. Q. Does she live with the negroes?- — A. Yes, sir: chily and huvfully married to one, so she says. Q. Is she a mulatto? — A. She is about my color, mayl)e a little blacker. Q. And what do you say your color is? — A. I call myself a yellow man. I ain't no ginger cake. Q. What makes you say that she does not appear to have negro blood? — A. She ain't got no features whatever of a colored person; it is white and Indian. Q. But as far as you know she might have negro blood in her? — A. She might, as far as I know. I read you an affidavit purporting to have been made by you before Julius Golden on May 28, 1915, filed by Mr. Webster Ballinger with the application for the enroll- ment of Willis S. Taylor as a citizen by blood of the Choctaw Nation. (See affidavit attached to petition of Willis S. Taylor.) Q. Did you make this affidavit? — A. I made it in part, sir. Q. When did you first meet this applicant? — A. Right here at this building. Q. When? — A. I can't tell you what month. Q. The day you made this affidavit? — A. Yes, sir. Q. Do you know anything about this applicant's ancestors? — A. I don't know any- thing about his ancestors, but the Taylofs, I know them. Q. Who did he say his father was? — A. Sam Taylor. Q. Who was Sam Taylor? — A. An Indian man. Q. Where did Sam Taylor live? — A. Sam Taylor, I can't do that Q. Do you know Sam Taylor yourself? — A. I knew Sam Taylor, from time to time, at Wheelock. Q. Was he a full blood? — A. No, sir; he didn't look like a full blood. Q. Did he have negro blood in him? — A. No, sir; not a bit. Q. Did this applicant have the appearance of having negro blood? — A. Not a bit. He didn't have any negro in him. Q. Did he appear to be a white man? — A. White and blood Indian. Q. Do you know whether he lived with the negroes? — A. No, sir; I don't know. Q. You never met him when you were working as a deputy marshal? — A. No, sir. Q. That statement, then, in this affidavit, is false? — A. Yes, sir. He spoke about that and tried to make me know him as a United States marshal, biit I didn't. Q. Were you ever a United States marshal? — A. Posseman. Q. You do not know whether this applicant belonged to the C'hitto Harjo Band? — A. He said he did; I don't know. I know I did. Q. The statement contained in this affidavit that you have known the applicant for 35 years is false? — ^A. Yes, sir. Q. Also the statement that the applicant had his home where his father did and was considered and recognized as a Choctaw Indian is also false? — A. Yes, sir. Q. As far as yoiir knowledge goes? — A. Yes, sir. Q. What did you get for making this affidavit? — A. $2.50. Q. Were you promised any more? — A. Not a bit. Q. Are you acquainted with Thomas Goings? — A. Tom Goings? I am acquainted witli the Indian Goings. Yes; I am acquainted with Thomas. Q. Do you know where he lives? — A. No, sir; I don't. Q. Did' you make an affidavit in Mr. Ballinger's office identifying Mr. Thomas Goings? — A. I have made no affidavit identifying a soul in Mr. Ballinger's office. I haven't did it and never will. Q. Did yoii make any kind of an affidavit identifying the Goings ?^A. I have. I did. I made an affidavit knoA\'ing some of the Goings. Q. What Goings?— A. The Goings I knew are dead, and I told them at the time they were dead. Lelius Goings and Old Tom Goings— I know some of the Goings. Q. What Lelius and Tom Goings were they?— A. Well, I don't know. Q. Where did they live?— A. "^ They lived now— Tom lived near Doakville, in Kiamichi County. Q. Where didLelius Goings live? — A. I just knew Lelius as I find him. I didn't know where be lived; he was a drinking man; I have met him at various places lots of times, but not having anything to say to him. Q. Where is Doaksville?—7V. Way down here. Q. Near Shawneetown?— A. Fifty miles tliis side of Shawneetown. Q. Did you ever know William Goings ?^ — A. Yes, sir. Q. Thomas Goings?— A. Yes, sir; 1 know of these boys, but it has been years ago; those men were men when I was a boy. 1 didn't have no dealings with them. Q. Did you know a woman named Delltha Goings? — A. No, sir. I read you an aflidavit puiported to have been made by you before Julius Golden, a notary public, on June 15, 1915, filed by Mr. Webster Ballinger with his application for th(> enrollment of Thomas Goinijs as a citizen bv blood of the Choctaw Nation. INDIAN APPROPRIATION BILL, 1017, 109 (See affidavit attached to petition of Thomas Goings.) Q. Did you make this affidavit? — A. Part I did, and part I didn't. Q. You recollect this applicant, Thomas Goings, do you? — A. Yes, sir. Q. Didhehave the appaarance of having colored blood? — A. No, sir; he was a white man . Q. A white man? — A. Yes, sir. Q. Did he have the appearance of liaving any Indian blood? — A. Yes, sir. Q. What degree of blood did he look to be? — A. About one-quarter. Q. You say you never met him until you made this affidavit in Mr. Ballinger's office? — A. Yes, sir. Q. You did not know his father amd mother? — A. No, sir; only what he said. Q. You do not know whether he is related to William and Delitha Goings then or not? — A. No, sir; only what he said. Q. You do not know whether he was a member of the Snake band? — A. No more than what he said. Q. You do not know why he was left off of the roll or whether he made application ? — A. No, sir; he said he didn't. Q. Was this affidav^it read over to you? — A. Yes, sir. Q. Why did you make your thumb mark on an affidavit containing facts not within your personal knowledge? — A. Well, the fact of the business, we didn't half under- stand that Jew in his reading, and further, we were not studying about this at all. Q. Do you understand the nature of an oath? — A. No, sir; I don't. What is it? Q. You know what it means to swear to tell the truth? — A. Yes, sir. Q. You were sworn to these papers? — A. Yes, sir. Q. You know there is a severe penalty attached to false swearing? — A. Yes, sir. I have heard that and I am here to tell you that that there was things put in there we never put there. Witness excused. Webster Burton, recalled on August 6, 1915: Q. Are you acquainted with Angie Flanagan? — A. Jvist right down here to the office. Q. You met her first in Mr. Ballinger's office? — A. Yes, sir. Q. Did you make an affidavit for her? — A. Yes, sir; I think I did. Q. Was that the day you met her? — A. Yes, sir; the first time I ever saw her. Q. What did you testify to for her? — A. Well, we taken up the kind of Indian she said she was and the names of those Indians; why. If I knew them Indians from the roll I would testify that I knew that. Q. Well, who was her father? — A. I couldn't tell now. Q. Who was her mother? — A. I don't know that now. They would call the names and I would testify to those people's names. Q. You do not know of your own personal knowledge that the persons she claimed were her father and mother were her father and mother? — A. No, sir. Q. You say Mr. Lindly wrote out on the typewriter all the affidavits you signed? — A. Yes, sir; he wrote every one I signed. Q. Did you tell Mr. Lindly that you were well and personally acquainted with the father of this woman? — A. Who was it that she claimed was her father and mother, I told him I was acquainted with them. Q. Do you know a Ruth family? — -A. No, sir; I don't know no Choctaw Ruths. Q. Does this family claim to be Chickasaw? — A. Chickasaw, I think; Choctaw or Chickasaw. Q. You do not know which nation this Ruth woman claimed to be a member of? — A. No, sir; I don't. Q. Did you ever know a Thomas Ruth? — A. No, sir; I don't know a Ruth. Q. Did you tell Mr. lindly that you were well acquainted with this woman's father and that his name was Thomas Ruth? — A. No, sir. Q. Ever know a deputy marshal by the name of Ruth? — A. Nope; I don't think I did . Q. Did you tell Mr. Lindly that this woman's father was a deputy marshal? — A. No, sir; I ain't told Mr. Lindly that anybody'.s father was a deputy marshal. Q. Do you know a llarri.fon woman? — A. I know some Indian Harrisons. Q. What nation do they belong to? — A. They were Choctaws. Q. Do you know whether this worn in claimed that her mother was a Harrison?— A. Yes, sir; she claimed that her mother was a Choctaw, that is what she claimed. Q. You do not know that her mother was a Harrison? — A. Yes, sir; she claimed she was a Harrison. Q. Do you know a Harrison woman? — A. Yes. sir; I know one or two. scarcely, just met them. Q. Did Mr. Lindly question you about them? — A. He asked me if I knew them. 110 INDIAN APPKOPKIATION BILL, 1917. Q. And he wrote this af^ida^^t after he questioned yon? — A. Yes, sir; and I told liini I didn't i)ersonally know these Uirrisons. Q. Wlaat was the given name of one of the Harrisons you knew? — A. Joe. Q. Any others? — A. Ben. Q. You just know two Harrisons, Joe and Ben? — A. Yes, sir. Q. Were Joe and Ben rehited? — A. I couldn't tell; I guess they were though. Q. You do not know? — -A. No, sir; I couldn't tell you. Q. You do not know whether either one of these persons named were related to this applicant? — A. No, sir; I don't know whether they is or not. Q. Did you ever know a Sloan Harrison? — A. I have heard of him; never met him in my life. Q. Simply know of him? — A. Yes, sir; heard of him. Q. What did you hear? — A. Why I heard he was a Choctaw, full-blood, and that he was a pretty bad man. Q. Where did he live, do you know? — A. Couldn't answer that question as to just where he lived; I couldn't answer that properly. Q. Did you tell Mr. Lindly that the mother of this applicant was one of the Harri- sons? That her name w^as Anna, and that she had her own home on the public domain the same as did her father who was known as Sloan Harrison together with his wife, the gi'andmother of this applicant who claimed to come from Mississippi? — A. No, sir; I don't know where they come from; I didn't tell that. Q. Did you go on then and tell Mr. Lindley that they lived unmolested as Choctawa until the time of their allotment and that their names had not been placed on the roll and they lost out and other Indians filed on the homes that they had made? — A. No, sir; they told that themselves. Q. Did you tell Mr. Lindley that the father, James Ruth, was a statesman? — A. No, sir; because I don't know nothing about it. Q. That the mother was a resident of the Choctaw and Chickasaw Nations and claimed to be a Choctaw by blood? — A. No, sir; they told that, old man Nail told that. Q. You did not tell Mr. Lindly that?— A. No, sir. Q. Did you make this affidavit? Did you place your thumb mark on it? — A. (Witness examines affidavit as to thumb mark.) I guess I must have made it. Q. Was the affidavit read ovei to you? — A. Yes, sir. Q. Who read it to you? — A. Golden. Q. Did you understand it? — A. No, sir. Q. Did you not understand that you were swearing to those facts? — A. I told Golden I didn't understand them. Q. Did Golden swear you to that? — A. Yes, sir. Q. Did he read it over to you? — A. Yes, sir; he read it. Q. As a matter of fact did you care what they had in the affidavits? — A. (Witness does not answer.) Q. How much did you get out of this, for making this affidavit? — A. I haven't got a fighting cent. Q. How much was ])romised you? — A. One dollar, but they never paid it. Q. Did you care what facts were contained in the aflida^its just so you got your money? — A. No, sir: I don't want to say that berause I do. 1 find those affidavits were not made exactly like I swore to. There is an a^lida^it that 1 told those men I didn't know anything about those people [indicating ailidavit of his in case of Angie Flanagan]. Q. i)id you ever ha^■e any conversation with Mr. Lindly about these affidavits? Did he give you to understand that he wanted you to testify to these facts whether they were or were not within your personal knowledge? — A. 1 tells Mr. Lindly this: If there is a fraud in this, 1 don't want to fool wath it, but if it is square and true it is all right. The Indians I knew I testified to, but the Indians I didn't know I wouldn't swear to. Q. What do you think of this, do you think it is a fraud? — A. I don't know, I couldn't tell you. I seen into this business a long time ago and saw it was a fraud. Q. A\"hat was that? — A . This blood-right business, several years ago, and I saw it was a fraud. Q. What were you trying to do, get on the roll as a citizen by blood? — A. Y''es, sir; Choctaw by blood. Q. Is this Angie Flanagan of colored blood? — A. Yes, sir: full of it. Q. You can tell that by her appearance? — A. Y'es, sir; tell it from every thing. Q. What color is she? — A. Some of you say bay, and if you use that word she is that color, she is a dark brown skin woman. Q. Do you know Emma Jones, n^e Ervin? — A. Where does she live? INDIAN APPROPRIATION BILL, 1917. Ill Q. She ia given in the application as living at Vian. — A. Yes, sir; I have met Emma Jones. Q. Where did you get acquainted with her? — A. In Mr. Balliuger's oflice. Q. Did you make an aflidavit for this woman?— A. Yes, sir; for the tribe of Indians she claimed she was. Q. Did you get accjuainted with her the day you made the affidavit? — A. Yes, sir; the first time I ever saw her. I read you an alfidaAit purporting to have been made by you before Julius Golden, a notary public, on May 23, 1915. filed by Mr. Webster Ballinger with petition for the enrollment of Emma Jones, n^e Er\TJi, as a citizen by blood of the Choctaw Nation. (See atFidavit attached to petition of Emma Jones, n6e Ervin.) Q. Did you make this affidavit? — A. Yes, sir; I didn't make it knowing the Ervin family, thovigh. Q. Y'ou did not make it knowing the Ervin family?- A. Not until she came up to the office. Q. You took her statement for the facts to which you testified in the affidavit? — A. Yes. sir. Q. Yor. did not know of your own i)ersonal knowledge? — A. No, sir; I swear to God I didn't, the Indians she said she claimed to belong to I said I knew them and I do know them. Q. You do say that you know the Ervin family?— A. Y'es, sir. Q. Do you know Joe Ervin?— A. Y"es, sir. Q. Where did Joe live? — A. At that time he lived in Towsoii County. Q. Near what place? — A. Well, I guess, as near as I can. recollect now Q. Did he have a brother? — A. I don't know whether Columbus is brother or not. Q. What relation was Columbus to him? — A. I don't know. Q. Did you testify in this affidavit that Columbus was a brother of Joe? — A. No, sir; I didn't testify that; I testified that I didn't know they were l)rothers but knew who they were. Q. Did they claim this applicant had a daughter? — A. Yes, sir. Q. What is her name? — A. I don't know now, I don't know. Q. You met the daughter down here in Balliuger's office? — A. Yes. sir. Q. Was she %vith the'applicant? — A. Yes, sir. Q. Was her name Evergreen Reeves? — A. Y'es sir; that is it, Evergreen Reeves. Q. Was this applicant, Emma Jones, nee Ervin, a woman of negro blood? — A. If she has a drop of negro blood in her. Judge, 1 couldn't see it; I don't think you could Q. What did she claim to be?— A. Full-blond Choctaw. Q. Didn't look like .she had any negro blood in her? — A. No, sir; she didn't. Q. I exhibit to you a photograiih attached to this affidavit and ask you to state who slie is? — A. That is the old lady's daughter, Evergreen Reeves. Q. How about the daughter, did she look to have negro blood in her? — A . She might have had a little, but it don't show much. Q. Shows it some, though? — A. Shows a little negro blood. Q. Are you acquainted with Lizzie Campbell, n6e Lenox, nee Brown? — A. I don't know whether I am or not. Who is she? Q. She states she is 53 years of age and lives in Muskogee. — A. I am not sure. If I heard who she said her Indians are — I can't think of all those people's names that came u\> tliere. Q. You can not place this woman now? — A. No, sir. Q. You do not know whether you made an affidavit in Ballinger 's office or not?— A. I don't know whether I did or not. I read you an affidavit purporting to have been made by you before Julius Ciolden, a notary public, on April 24, 1915, tiled by Mr. Webster Ballinger with the petition for the enrollment of Lizzie Campbell, n<;e Lenox, nee Brown. (See affidavit attached to petition of Lizzie Campbell, nee Lenox, n^e Brown.) y. Did you make this affidavit? — A. Yes, sir; I made it. Q. Were the facts contained therein witldn your j^ersonal knowledge? — A. Y^es, sir. Q. You told me awhile ago that you did not know these applicants? — A. Not until I could hear what Indians they claimed. Q. Who is Lizzie Campbell".^— A. I knew her from the young woman up until her age now. Q. Why didn't you know her? — A. I knew her by the name of Lenox. Q. How long have you known her? — A. About 30 years; I tlunk that's about right. Q. How old a woman is she? — A. Lizzie — I guess Lizzie is 50 or 60 years old, I guess. Q. Where did you first get acquaintefl with her? — A. In the Choctaw Nation. 112 INDIAN APPEOPRIATION BILL, 1917. Q. What part of the Choctaw Nation?- — A. Up there on Wheelock, V)ut they moved from there up to Old Doaksville and Sandy Creek, we called it. Q. How old was she when you first got accjuainted with her?— A. Lizzie was a young woman. Q. Was she a young woman when you got acquainted with her? — A. Yes, sir; about groAvn, I suppose; might have been about 13 or 14 or more when I got acquainted with her. Q. Who was she living with? — A. Some old colored folks. Q. Colored folks?— A. Yes, sir; she was with them. Q. She is of colored blood herself?- — A. Oh, yes; she has some colored blood. Q. Who was her father?^A. I don't know. Q. Who was her mother? — A. Mrs. TurnbuU was her mother; I believe it was Mandy or J5etsy; one of these women, I think, was her mother. Q. Do you know a Betsy Turnbull? — A. Yes, sir. Q. They were two different persons? — A. Yes, sir; I don't know what relation they were. Q. You do not know whether they were related or not? — A. No, sir; but I certainly know them. Q. Did this applicant have any other brothers? — A. Well, she said .she did ; I don't know whether she did or not. Q. You do not know yourself? — A. No, sir. Q. Did she have any "sisters? — A. No; I don't think she did, at least, I have never heard of them. Q. How long have you known her? — A. Just like I told you; I have been knowing Lizzie every bit of that time. Q. How long did you say you have known her; how long has it been since you got acquainted with her? — A. About 30 years. Q. And have known her ever since?- — A. Yes, sir. Q. Where do you say she was liAdng? — A. Down in Choctaw Nation, near "\Mieelock. Q. How long has she lived there? — A. I don't know. Q. You lost sight of her? — A. Yes. sir; heard she was li\dng on Sand Hill Creek. Q. How long did she live on Sand Hill Creek after you first got acquainted with her?^ — A. Well, I don't want you to ball me up. Q. AVhere did you first find her?— A. Near Wheelock, in the Choctaw Nation. Q. How long did she continue to live there after you first got acquainted with her? — A. I don't know that. They moved to Sand Hill Creek from "\^Tieelock. Q. How far was that from" Wheelock? — A. Let's see now, it might have been 15 or 17 ndles from Wheelock. Q. Do you know how long you knew her at Wheelock? — A. No, sir; I don't know Q. Long or short time? — A. I don't know exactly how long. Q. Several years?— A. Several years; yes, sir. Q. Then you knew she moved to Sand Hill? — A. Yes, sir. Q. How long did you know her at Sand Hill? — A. I can't tell how long. Q. Several years? — A. I guess it might be; she left there. Q. See anything more of her then? — A. Never saw her until she came to Muskogee. Q. WTiere did you live?^ — A. Shawneetown. Q. How far is Shawneetown from Wheelock? — A. Ten nules. Q. Now, you say she left Sand Hill?— A. She left Sand Hill, because I found her here. Q. When did you lose sight of her? — A. I left her in that country when I left. Q. You left her where? — A. Down in the Choctaw Nation near Doaksville. Q. Was she at Sand Hill when she left Shawneetown?— A. I guess so. Q. You do not know? — A. No, sir; I don't know. Q. When did you leave Shawneetown? — A. I can't tell you the date. Q. How long ago?— A. It has been a great while; just can't say. I left Shawnee- town when I was quite small, young man, and I am about 60 years old now. Q. You lost sight of her and never saAV her until you were in Muskogee? — A. Yes, sir. Q. How long before that was it that you met her in ]3allinger's ofTice. — A. That was a month. Q. Did you see much of her or just meet her once? — A. Just once. I went to her house; she" was looking for me to come up. I stayed all night with her. Q. With her?— A. With them; you heard wha"t I said. She wanted to talk over this business and we stayed up and talked this business over. Q. Is she married? — A. Yes, sir. Q. What is his name? — A. I don't know. Q. How long has she been married to her husband? — A. I don't know. INDIAN APPROPRIATION BILL, 1917. 113 Q. Was she married at Sandy Hill? — A. Yes, sir. Q. What was his name? — A. Lenox something. Q. AA'as Lenox his given or surname? — A. I don't know. Q. Was Lenox her first husband? — A. The first I knew anything about. Q. Wliat became of Lenox? — A. He died. Q. How long has he been dead? — A. I couldn't tell. Q. Did she marry after tliat, before she married this man she is living with now? — A. Not that I know of; I lost sight of her. Q. You know that she is the same woman you knew at Sandy Hill? — A. Yes, sir; I would swear tliat. Q. What do you know of her being of Choctaw blood? — A. Now you have got me; I know what she says. Q. I am asking you of your own personal knowledge. — A. I don't know of my own personal knowledge. Q. You do not know anything about her Choctaw blood? — ^A. No, sir; I donjt know, but it looks to me Q. Does she look to be over one-half negro? — A. She looks to be over one-half Indian. Q. What is her color? — A. She aint quite as fair as you are. Q. Is she a mulatto? — A. I guess you might call it that, between mulatto and Indian. Q. Then she looks to have negro blood in her? — A. She don't look like she has a drap of niggar in her. Q. What color is her husband? — A. He is as black a negro as you ever saw almost. Q. You testified in this affidavit here that you knew the ancestors of Lizzie Camp- bell. Do you know what the word ancestors means? — A. Ancestors means her relatives, don't it. Q. The persons from whom she descended. — A. Is that what it means? Q. 'NMio did you say her mother was? — A. I didn't say who her mother was. You wouldn't let me tell you what she said. I was just telling you the Indians what I knew. Q. You really don't know anything about her parentage, then? — A. No, sir. Q. You do not know that her motlier was a Brown, nee Turnbull? — A. No, sir. Q. You do not know who lier father was? — A. No, sir. Q. Wlio was old William Turnbull; did he have any daughters? — A. I don't know whether he had or not. Q. Do you know whether he had a daugliter by the name of Lizzie, or Elizabeth? — A. I don't know; she says she was liis daughter. Q. Do you know that he had a son named Joe? — A. Yes, sir; he had a son named Joe. Q. Wlio was the father of Joe? — A. Old man — oh, let's see — if I don't forget his name now; I know him as good as I do myself. Yes; he had a son. Q. Was there a Turner Turnbull? — A. I don't know whether there was or not; there miglit have been. Q. Was there a Levi Turnbull? — A. Yes, sir. Q. Wlio was he? — A. I don't kncnv. Q. Was there a Dan or Daniel Turnbull? — A. Yes, sir; there was a Daniel. Q. Do you know who Daniel's father was? — A. No, sir; 1 don't know, really. Q. Do you know whether Daniel and Levi are related? — A. No, sir; I don't. Q. Do you know Simeon Turnbull? — A. Yes, sir. Q. Do you know whether Simeon and Daniel are related? — A. I don't know. Q. Who was Simeon's father? — A. I don't know. Q. Know who Daniel's father wa.s? — A. No, sir; I don't really know; it has been a long time since I have been among those people. Q. Do you know Turner Turnbull? — A. Yes, sir. Q. Is he living or dead? — A. I couldn't .say. I think he is dead. Q. How about Simeon? — A. They all of those fellows are dead. Q. Did you testify in this affidavit that Simeon and Turner Turnbull are living?— A. No, sir; I don't tliink I did; there is an old Simeon and a young Simeon. I testi- fied I knew the old Simeon. Q. Where i^ Gates Creek? — A. That is the name where this family lived. Q. Did you know this woman when she lived on Gates Creek? — A. Yes; place known as Sand Hill Creek, long ago. Q. Did this woman have any children? — A. One dead. Q. How old? — A. I don't know how Will is. Q. Will is his name? — A. Yes, sir. Q. WTaen did you first get aquainted with Will?~A. Over there on Gates Creek. 25134— PT 4—16 8 114 INDIAN APPEOPRIATION BILL, 1917. Q. He was a baby then? — A. Yes, sir. Q. Was he the child by the last husband? — A. No, sir; the tirst husband. Q. What did you get for luakino; this allidavit? — A. Not a nickel. Q. Are you acjuainted with Josie L. Arnold? — A. Yes, sir. Q. Where does she live? — A. Out in Reeves Addition. Q. How old a woman is she? — A. I can't tell how old Josie is; looks like she was about 27 or 28 years old. Q. Rather a young woman? — A. Seems to be. Q. Married? — A. Yes, sir. Q. WTiat is her husband's name? — A. Arnold. Q. What was her name before she married? — A. That is something I don't know anything about; why I just met her here. Q. You first got acquainted with her in Ballinger's office? — -A. Out there in Reeves Addition. Q. How long ago? — A. Been about three months ago, I reckon. Q. This is the first time you met her to know her? — A. Yes, sir; first time. Q. She made application for enrollment in Ballinger's office downstairs? — A. Yes, sir. Q. Did you make an affidavit for her? — A. I guess so. She asked me to help her. Q. This woman asked you to make an a'fidavit, did she? — A. Asked me to help her Q. You made an affidavit for her? — A. Yes, sir. Q. WTiat did you testify to? — A. I don't know but only to what Indians she claimed through. Q. You so not remember who she claimed was her father and mother? — A. No, sir. Q. Or who she claimed raised her? — A. No, sir. Q. Is she of colored blood? — A. There is mighty little, if any. Q. Does she live with colored people? — A. With her husband. Q. Is he black?^A. Not quito as black as you ever saw, but black enough. Q. Has she any children?. — A. I don't know whether she has or not. Q. Did you ever hear her say where she Lived before she came to Muskogee? — A. No, sir; I don't think I heard her say. Q. How long has she lived in Muskogee? — A. No, sir; I don't know. Q. Do you know how long she has lived in the Choctaw Nation? — A. No, sir. Q. You do not know who her father was? — A. No, sir. Q. Do you know who her mother was? — A. No, sir; only what she said. Q. You do not loiow yourself, then?— A. No, sir; I might know if I heard their names. Q. You (mly know what she said about it; you do not know of your own personal knowledge? — A. No, sir; I don't know. Q. Did you tes'ify that you first knew this woman when she lived with an old colored woman named Aunt ( allie Gr^en? — A. No, sir; I didn't do that. Q. Did you ever know a woman named Callie Green?— A. Yes, sir. Q. But you do not know that this woman lived with her? — A. No, sir, I don't; I stated in that affidavit that (allie Green has a little yellow girl, but I don't know whether this is the woman or not. Q. Where were vou lidng at that time?— A. In the Chickasaw Nation. Q. How far from Aunt Callie Green?— A. About 2^ miles from old lady Callie Green. Q. How long did you live there? — A. I lived around Wiley, around about there, for 12 years. . , , , Q. When was this; how long ago?— A. I couldn't tell you just exactly how long ago, Q. Well, about how long?— A. Been about 18 or 10, maybe 20 years. Q. How old was this little girl that you spoke of?— A. This girl was a little small girl; I don't know whether this is the girl or not; she says she is. Q. You do not know whether this little yellow girl that you spoke of would be about the age of this a!)])licant?— A. Well, not probably, the girl might of been; I don't know foe truth; I don't know. Q. Was this little y(dlow girl the daughter of Aunt Callie Green?— A. No, sir. Q. Whose daughtc^ was it? — A. I don't know. Q. How old was she when you went there?— A. I don't know; might of been 5 or 6 years old . Q. Do vou know who her father was? — A. No, sir. Q. You do not know anything about her relatives?— A. No more than what she says. Q. Who says? — A. TMs applicant. Q. You do not know whether this girl that was living with Aunt Callie Green was the child of Sofia Kemp?— A. I don't know no Sofia Kemp; I don't know no Sofia Kemp. INDIAN APPROPRIATION BILL, 1911. 115 Q. You do not remember a woman named Sofia Kemp, a full-blood Chickasaw ■ woman? — A. No, sir; I don't. Q. Do you know a Jackson Kemp? — A. Yes, sir; I know him. Q. But you do not know whether Jackson had a daughter named Sofia Kemp? — A. He might of had, but I don't know. Q. Who was Benjamin Kemp? — A. I know him, but I don't know what family he belonged to. Q. What relation was Joel Kemp to Benjamin Kemp? — A. I think — I don't know it to be true, but I think tliev were brothers or first cousins. Q. Some difference in that? — A. I know that. Q. You do not know whether Benjamin or Joel Kemp had a sister named Sofia Kemp? — A. No, sir; I heard Nail say so. Q. You heard Nail say so? — A. Yes sir. Q. You do not know that yourself? — A. No sir; know nothing about that sister. I never gave it, for I don't know it is so; you can just scratch it out. Q. Now you did not testify to this before Julius Golden as knowing it did you? — A. This woman you talk about being the sister of those boys, knowing that I say I didn't. I read you an affidavit purporting to have been made by you before Julius Golden a notary public, on June 22, 1915, filed by Mr. Webster Ballinger with the petition for the enrollment of Josie L. Arnold as a citizen by blood of the Choctaw Nation. Q. How much did vou receive for making this affidavit? — A. $2.50. Q. Who paid you the $2.50?— A. That girl. Q. Did you make an agreement with her before you made the affidavit that she was to pay you $2.50 to make the affidavit? — A. No sir; I didn't make no agreement; she asked me what I charged, and I told her I would leave it to her, and she said she would pay $5. Q. W^iat went with the other $2.50? — A. She gave it to Nail. We sure needed it, and we need it until yet. Q. What did Durant get out of this? — -A. I have not seen Durant get a nickel. Q. How much did Golden get?— A. $2. Q. Did you see her pay it to him? — A. I guess so; I handed it to him. Q. She gave it to you, and you handed it to him? — A. Yes sir. Q. She must have had more than $5? — -A. She gave me $5 for myself and brother Nail, anfi I gave him half, and she gave me $2 to give to Golden. Q. Did you tell her what Golden charged? — A. Yes, sir. Q. How din you know what he charged? — A. My God, I am right there all the time. Q. Did Golden have any regular charge? — A. Regular charge was $2. Q. No matter what he did? — A. No matter what he did, it was $2; that was his price, and I argued it, and he said it was low. Q. Why did you argue it? — A. Thought it was too much. Q. Did Golden do any work on these affidavits except his seal on them and sign them?— A. That is all. Q. Mr. Lindly wrote them all out? — A. He did. Q. Did Mr. Lindly get any mone>? — A. Not a nickel. Q. Not so far as you know? — A. No, sir; and I have heard him tell people they couldn't pay him a nickel. Q. Why?— A. They couldn't do it. Q. Did he claim he was in the Government ser\'ice? — A. No, sir; he said he was working for Webster Ballinger. Q. Did he say Webster Ballinger was in the Government service? — -A. No, sir. Q. Did Durant claim to be in the Government service? — A. I never heard him say. (Witness excused.) Lee G. Grubbs, being first duly sworn, states that, as stenographer to the national attorney for the Choctaw Nation, he reported the proceedings in the above-entitled case on the 3d and Gth days of August, 1915, and that the foregoing is a true and correct transcript of his stenographic notes thereof. (Signed) Lee G. Grubbs. Subscribed and sworn to before me this 21st day of August, 1915. R. P. Harrison, Clerk. (Signed) By A. G. McMillan, Deputy. (Exhibit M.) 116 INDIAN APPROPRIATION BILL, 1917. Department op the Interior, Office of the Superintendent for the Five Civilized Tribes, Muskogee, Okla., July SO, 1915. In the matter of ihe enrollment of various persons as citizens of the Choctaw Nation. '\^^ M. James, being first duly sworn \>y "Willian L. Bowie, deputy clerk of the United States court for the eastern district of Oklahoma, on oath testifies as follows: Examination by AVilliam L. Bowie on behalf of the superintendent for the Five Civilized Tribes: Q. AMiat is your name? — A. "V\'illiam James. Q. Have you any middle initial? — A. "William M. James. Q. You sign your name W. M. James? — A. AV. M. James. Q. What is your age? — A. I was born in 1846. Q. Are you a citizen of any of the nations? — A. No, sir; I was born and raised in Kentucky. Q. You are not enrolled as a freedman then? — A. No, sir. Q. V, here did you say you were bona? — A. In Kentucky. Q. In what county? — A. Washington County; Springfield is the county seat. Q. How far did you live from Springfield? — A. Three miles north. Q. How long did you live there? — iV. Until I was 20 years old. Q. Then where did you go, William? — A. I went from there to Louisville and worked on a boat from Louisville to New Orleans. Q. How long did you run on the boat? — A. I run on the boat during 67, 68 and part of 69. Q. Then where did you go from there? — A. Came out here. Q. From there to Muskogee? — A. To Indian Territory. Q. "\A'here did you live in the Indian Territory? — A. I stopped around Fort Gibson. Q. How long did you stay there? — A. I got work in the survey gang for the Katy in 70 and worked on the road to Denison, Tex. Q. IIow long did you work with the survey party? — A. I worked with it until they got through and then helped them to grade into Parsons. Q. How long were you in Parsons? — A. I didn't stay there over 3 or 4 days. Q. A\'here did you go then?^ — A. I worked on the railroad until it was completed. I drove a supply wagon. Q. From Parsons down to Denison? — A. Yes, sir. Q. Where did you next settle down? — A. I stopped in Denison in 1872; they com- pleted the road in 1872, and I stopped in Denison until July, 1873. Q. Then where did you go next? — A. Came back to Muscogee. It had just started to build. Q. and have you resided here continuously ever since? — A. Ever since; I have not been out of town for years. Q. Have not been out of town? — A. No, sir, not 20 miles away. Q. You have not been 20 miles away from Muskogee?- — A. No, sir; to stay any length of time, since 1873. Q. Areyouacquainted with one Jackson Barrett? — A. No, sir; I am not acquainted with Jackson Barrett. Q. You say that you are not acquainted with Jackson Barrett? — A. No, sir. Q. Did you ever live at Boswtll?^A. No, sir. Q. Never resided there? — A. No, sir. Q. Have you ever been in Boswell? — A. I have. Q. Ever stay there any length of time? — A. No, sir; I used to go to Boswell while running over the country in the early day buying cattle for cattlemen. Q. Are vou acquainted with Thomas Hunter? — A. No, sir. Q. Witli Silas Hunter?— A. No, sir. Q. With Nelson Hunter?— A. No, sir. Q. Were you ever acquainted with Toliver Barrett? — A. No, sir. Q. With Francis Barrett?— A. No, sir. Q. Did you ever know Billy Hunter? — A. No, sir. Q. You never knew any of the Choctaws? — A. No, sir; was not very well acquainted with them. Q. Did you know any of the Choctaw freedmon?— A. No, sir. None of the Choc- taws and Chickasaws, but I knew the Creeks and Cherokees. I drove a mail hack all through here. Q. 1 will read you an affidavit purporting to have been made by you and bearing your thumb print acknowledged to before Julius Golden, notary public of Muskogee County, Okla., under date of March 13, 1915, filed by Mr. Webster Ballinger with the INDIAN APPROPEIATION BILL, 1917. 117 application for the enrollment of Jackson Barrett et al. as citizens by blood of the Choc- taw Nation, which is as follows: "That he is well and personally acquainted with the applicant; that he first knew him at Boswell, Okla., about 20 years ago. ' ' That he has always known that h is mother was one of the Huntt r family and that he was well and personally acquainted with her brothers, Thomas Hunter, Silas Hunter and th(^ oldest one that died long time ago, Nelson Hunter; that were ail Choctaw In diaus and that the said Thomas Hunter run for governor at the last election that the Choctaws had. ■'That the applicant is now living at Haskell, Okla., where he moved a short time ago; that prior to that time I knew him in the Chickasaw Nation and first and most in the Choctaw Nation. ■'Affiant further stated that the applicant went to Texas and stayed for a while, but this was after 1900; that wherever I have known him he has always been recog- nized as a descendant of the Hunter family, his mother having been tlie sister of the above-named Hunters, and as a Choctaw citizen. "(Signed, by thumb mark.) W. M. James." Q. Did you make this affida\dt? — A. I don't think I did that — for a Choctaw. Q. You deny that you ever made such an affidavit? — A. Yes, sir; for a Choctaw. Q. You do not know the Jackson Barrett named in this application? — A. No, sir, I don't know nothing at all about that, for I was not acquainted with that Choctaw family at all. Q. You are not acquainted ^\ith that Choctaw family at all? — A. None of the Choctaw families at all. Q. You do not know any of the members of the Hunter family named in this pe- tition'? — A. No, sir. Q. You do not know the applicant or any of his ancestors? — A. No, sir. Q. His father, mother, sisters, or brothers? — A. No, sir. Q. Are you acquainted with Julius Golden, who executed this affidavit? — A. Yes, sir. Q. Is he a notary public? — A. Yes, sir. Q. Will you make your thumb mark on this blank sheet of paper, so we can com- pare it with the thumb mark in the affidavit which I have just read to you'? — A. Yes, sir. (Thumb mark of witness attached hereto.) Q. Did you ever appear before Julius Golden and make an affidavit in any matter at any time? — A. For the Creeks, I have. Q. You mean that you made some affidavits as to the identity of some Creeks? — A. Yes, sir. Q. \Miere did you make these affidavits? — A. Down here in Lindly's office. Q. In Mr. Lindly's office? — A. Yes, sir. Q. Where is that located'i" — A. In the Metropolitan Building, on the second floor. Q. In the same building with the Indian Agency? — A. Yes, sir. Q. You speak of Mr. Lindly, do you know his initials?— A. Matt, I think they call him. Q. Matt Lindly?— A. Yes, sir. Q. What is Mr. Lindly's business? — A. Well, I don't know; he said he was sent here by the Government to enroll the Creeks who were left off. Q. You say that he was sent here by the Government; that is what he said? — A. Yes sir; that is what he said. Q. Did Mr. Lindly tell you this himself? — A. No, sir; he was not talking to me direct, but I heard him talking to others. Q. In his office? — A. Yes, sir. Q. What did he say as to these other persons in his exact words, as you remember? — A. Well, I can't tell — I was not paying very much attention to the matter. He said that all the cases he got up that went through he got pay for, and if they didn't he got nothing. Q. What is that, now? — A. He said all the cases he got up that went through is the way he got his pay, but if they didn't go through he didn't get nothing. Q. In what official position was he? — A. I don't know that; I couldn't tell that. It seems that Ballinger, at Washington — he was up there and Mr. Lindly was at this end taking care of it. Mr. Ballinger paid the office rent. Q. Mr. Lindly said that Ballinger was paying the office rent? — A. Yes, sir; I saw a check from him. Q. Who was the check signed by? — A. Ballinger. Q. Can you sign your name? — A. No sir. 118 INDIAN APPROPEIATION- BILL, 1917. Q. Can you read? — A. No sir. Q. Do you remember the names of the persons for whom vou made affidavit in Mr. Lindly's office? — A. I do. Q. Name as many as you can. — A. I remember Lucy Smith, a daughter of John Jefferson. Q. Is she a Creek? — ^A. Yes, sir. Q. Freedman? — A. Yes, sir. Q. Any others, Bill? — A. Well, yes, sir; but they don't come to my mind now. There were several. Q. 'Well just name those that you remember. — ^A. Mrs. Anderson, who lives at Tulsa, the daughter of Joan Hodges. Q. All right, go ahead. — A. Well, I don't think I can remember any more. Q. ^\'ho prepared the affida\'its for yotir signature in the cases you just mentioned? — A. Mr. Lindly; you mean who typewrote them off? Q. I mean who prepared them? — A. Durant; he did all the writing. Q. How did he write them — with a pencil? — A. Yes, sir. Q. \\hat did he then do with them? — A. He carried them to Mr. Lindly. Q. What did Mr. Lindly do with them?— A. Mr. Lindly taken them and typewrote them. Q. Mr. Lindly used the typewriter? — A. Yes, sir. Q. Who wi^ote tlie affidaA-it you signed? Mr. Lindly? — A. Yes, sir. Q. After Lindly wrote the affidavit what was done with it? — ^A. It was sworn to before Mr. Golden. Q. Was Golden in the same office? — A. No, sir; he was across the street, but he would come up there. _ Q. Were the affida\dts you signed read to you? — A. Sometimes they were and some- times not. Q. Did you make your thumb mark on any affidavits without having them read over to you?^ — A. I don't know as I did; I might have, but I wouldn't be positive about it. Q. You can not be positive about it? — A. No, sir; but I don't think tliey were all read to me. Q. Who read those to you that were read over? — A. Mr. Golden and sometimes Durant. Q. Sometimes Durant? — A. Yes, sir. Q. Were you paid anything for making those affidavits? — A. No, sir; I was not paid anything; not until they got it through, outside of a little expense money. Q. You were not paid anything? — A. No, sir; not until they got it through, except my little expenses. Q. If the men got these cases through what were you to receive? — A. I was to get $25 a head. Q. You were to get $25 a head? — A. Yes, sir. Q. Who promised you that? — A. The ones that were making the applications. Q. Did Mr. Lindly or Durant, or anyone else, sanction that? — A. No, sir; they did not sanction that at all; the applicants that were making applications if they got through were to pay the witness fee. Q. How did the applicants come to promise you $25?— A. For making a witness for them. Q. Did you ask the witnesses to agree to pay you $25 for acting as a witness for them? — A. I asked them what they would allow me for making it— for helping them through. Q. You exacted that? — A. Yes, sir. Q. Did you tell these persons that you would act as a witness for them if they would give you $25? — A. No, sir; I asked them what they would give me. Q. And they said in each case they would give you $25?— A. Yes, sir. Q. You said just now, James, that you were to have your expenses paid; who agreed to pay yoiu" expenses? — A. The ones who were making applications gave me 50 cents. Q. Were you told to get all you could out of the witnesses? — A. No, sir; I was never told that. Q. You were never told that? — A. No, sir. Q. Do you know Perry Rodkey?— ^A. Yes, sir. Q. Was he connected with this office down stairs? — A. No, sir. He was not here; he was at Okemah. I met him once or twice around town here. Q. Have you ever seen Mr. Ballinger? — A. No, sir; I did see him once at Hickory Ground. Q. When was that ?— A. I think it was in 1909. Q. What is Mr. BalUnger's official po.sition? — A. I don't know. INDIAN APPEOPEIATION BILL^ 1917. 119 Q. Were you ever given to understand what his official position was? — A. No, sir. Q. Was It represented to you bj' any person that he was in the Government service? — A. No, sir; not more than that he was in this enrolling business like lindly is now. I don't know that he was connected with it any more than that he was taking care of it in Washington; that is what they say; I don't know. Q. You understand, then, that these persons down stairs are working under Mr. Ballinger? — A. Yes, sir; they are in his employ. Q. Did you understand what these persons were receiving; whether they were getting a '^alary? — A. No, sir; I don't. They said if the cases were not good they didn't get anything out of it, but if the cases were good, they got their salary. I only heard Mr. Lindly say this. Q. ^\hat work did Nelson Durantdo? — A. Well, he done like this gentleman here ia doing all right [indicating stenographer]. Q. Did he question persons as they came in? — A. He taken them off to himself and they would have a talk. Q. Did you ever hear him talking to any of the persons? — A. I never did hear them; he would shut himself in the other room. Q. AMiat did Durant tell you about what he was doing, or the position that he held? — A. Well, he claimed to be the attorney, and they were paying him; he got money all the time. Q. Got money from whom? — A. From the applicants. Q. Did you see any of the applicants give him any money? — A. Yes, sir; yes, sir. Q. How much did he charge the applicants? — A. Well, all kinds of prices, $25, $30, $40, and $60. Q. You say he charged from $25 to $60?^A. Yes, sir. I didn't see this, but I heard another party say he got $60. Q. You say he got all he could out of the applicants? — A. Yes, sir. I heard one person say that when he signed up he gave him $50. Q. Do you know who that person was? — A. No, sir; but I think it was William Thompson that told me about it. Q. Do you know where he lives? — A. No, sir; I don't. William Thompson was a witness in that case but he said he did not get anything out of it. Q. Did Nelson Durant ever represent himself to be a Government official? — A. No, sir. Q. Not that you know of? — A. No, sir; not that I know of; he claimed to be working under Mr. Lindly. Q. Were you ev-er paid any money, or given anything of value, by any person con- nected with this office down stairs? — A. No, sir; never was. Q. All you received then was what you procured from the applicants? — ^A. Yes, sir; from the applicants. Q. Did you demand from the applicants any certain amoiSnt? — A. No, sir. Q. You did not tell each one of the applicants what to pay you? — A. No, sir; only what they agreed to give me if they got through. Q. Are you acquainted with Jurdean Smyers? — A. Yes, sir. Q. Who is this person? — A. Supposed to be a Creek Freedman. Q. Man or woman? — A. A man; the one I know. Q. Where does he live? — A. Used to li\'e southwest of Okmulgee. Q. How far? — A. Used to live out between Wewoka and Springfield. Q. You say this person was a Creek Freedman? — A. Yes, sir. Q. Enrolled? — A. No; he was enrolled. Q. Do you know whether this person was enrolled? — A. No, sir; if he was he would not be making application. Q. ^^■hcn did you first get acquainted with this person? — A. 1 got acfiuainted with his people in 1883. Q. \\'ho was his father? — A. John Smyers. Q. Who was his mother? — A. I don't know now; I can't remember now. Q. Did you ever know a woman by the name of Jurdean Smyers? — A. I can't get that name. Q. Well, did you know any other person ?— A. I knew a woman by the name of Julius Myers. Q. Where does she live? — A. She used to live on Little Deep Fork. Q. Where is little Deep Fork; what coimty?— A. In Okmulgee County. Q. Is she an Indian?— A. Well she is f»ne-half blood; used to live at Coweta. Q. ^^^lat nation now? — A. Creek. Q. What is the other half? — A. Colored. Q. Negro? — A. Yes, sir. 120 INDIAN APPROPRIATION BIL].^ 1917. Q. Did you know the parents of this person? — A. Yes, sir. George Myers is her uncle. Q. Do you know a Choctaw Indian by the name of Jurdean Smyers? — A. Yes, sir; used to 1)0 woman that lived at Wewoka. Q. This Smyers? — A. That is the same woman. Q. Did she have a Creek man? — A. Yes, sir. Q. Ever live at Durant?- — A. She said she did; yes, sir. Q. Did you ever live at Durant? — A. I worked there some years ago, but she used to live at Wewoka. Q. She lived at Wewoka? — A. Yes, sir. Q. Whore does she live now?^ — A. I don't know, sir. Q. When did she live at Durant? — A. I don't know when she lived there. Q. What direction did she live from Durant? — A. I don't know. Q. When was the last time you saw her? — A. I haven't seen her for four or five years, until she came here. Q. Came where? — A. Here in town. Q. When did you see her here? — A. On the streets. Q. Did you identify her in this office down stairs?^A. Yes, sir; I identified her. Alec Nail showed her to me. Q. Alec Nail showed her to you? — A. Yes, sir. Q. Is that the first time you had ever seen her? — A. For a good while. Q. Where had you seen her before that? — A. Wewoka. Q. You saw her in Wewoka? — A. Yes, sir. Q. Wewoka is in the Seminole Nation? — A. Yes, sir. Q. What were you doing in Wewoka? — A. I used to drive the mail hack. Q. What was she doing there? — A. She used to live there, or close to Wewoka. Q. She lived close to Wewoka? — A. Yes, sir; right on the line of the Creek Nation. Q. How far from Wewoka? — A. Lived about 7 miles, north and west. Q. Seven miles, north and west? — A. Yes, sir. Q. Was she married? — A. She was living with a fellow; I don't know whether she was married or not. Q. Who was the fellow? — A. Caesar Bowlegs. Q. Was she white, Indian, or colored? — ^A^ I don't know; I suppose part Indian. Q. What part?— A. One-half. Q. And of what Indian blood? — A. Choctaw. Q. How do you that she is one-half blood Choctaw Indian? — A. She said she was. Q. She told you? — A. Yes, sir. Q. That is all you know about it?^ — A. Yes, sir. Q. You don't know her father or mother? — A. No, sir. Q. You never knew her brothers or sisters? — ^A. No, sir. Q. The first time you ever saw her was at Wewoka? — A. Yes, sir; that was the first lime. Q. Never saw her anywhere else outside of Wewoka? — A. No, sir. Q. Not until she came here? — A. No, sir; I never knew what became of her until bLo came here. Q. Do you know where Blue River is? — A. Yes, sir. Q. Where is it? — A. In the Choctaw Nation. Q. Where? — A. About 7 or 8 miles below Caddo — no, sir; Blue Kiver is between Caddo and Atoka. Q. Did that woman ever live on Blue River? — A. Not that I know of. Q. Uiixo you ever been on Blue River? — A. Yes, sir. Q. l"'or some time?--A. Yes. sir; several times. Q. Did that woman have a husband that you know of on Blue River? — A. No, sir. Q. Do you know anything about her children? — A. No, sir. Q. Did you ever know a man by the name of Aaron Smyers? — A. No, sir. Q. You do not know whether Aaron Smyers is her husband? — A. No, sir. Q. Do you know whether this woman's mother's name was Pusley? — A. I don't know that. Q. Do you know whether her father's name was Ed Givens? — A. No, sir. Q. Did you ever know an Ed GiA'ens, a Choctaw? — A. No, sir. Q. Where is Gatesville? — A. I don't know exactly. Q. You do not know where this place is? — A. I don't know. Q. You don't know whether this woman is living there now or not? — A. No, sir. Q. Where is Beeland? — A. Eleven and one-half miles southwest of Muskogee. Q. Did you cAer live there? — A. Yes, sir. Q. When did you live there? — A. I have lived there ever since 1899. Q. \N'here is your home now?— A. That is my home. INDIAN APPROPRIATrON BILL, 1917. 121 Q. You are an inmate of the county jail now, are you? — A. Yes, sir, Q. What crime are you charged with? — A. Check. Q. What is the charge against you? — A. Identifying a check; identification. Q. Is the charge for false pretense? — A. Yes, sir. I read you an affidavit purporting to have been made by you on April 15, 1915, before Julius Golden, notary public, filed by Mr. Webster Ballinger writh the petition of Jurdean Smyers for the enrollment of herself and family as Choctaw Indians: "W. M. James, being first duly sworn, on oath states that he is 70 years of age and that he lives at Beeland, Okla. "That he first became acquainted with the applicant about 15 years ago; at this time she was living with her husband on Blue River about 8 miles from Durant; that they only had two children when he first knew her; her husband was named Aaron Smyers. "That he was not personally acquainted with the mother of the applicant, but that he knew about her; her name was Pusley and she was said to be a full-blood Choctaw. "That he did know her father; his name was Ed Givens; I don't know how much Choctaw blood he was; he was just considered a Choctaw Indian the same as the other (^hoctaw Indians that lived there in that part of the country, "That he knows that she now lives at Gatesville and that she has lived thtre for several years; that he has seen her children but does not know them personally. "(Signed, by thumb mark) W\ M. James," Q. What do you know about this affidavit? — A. I don't remember making that; I don't know about it. Q. Does this affidavit refresh your memory any? — A. No, sir; not a bit, it is a fraiid. Q. As a matter of fact, James, did you ever see this woman before Alec Nail intro- duced her to you? — A, I took her to bo the same woman. Q. You took her to be the same woman? — A. Yes, sir. Q. Did you know that she was the same woman? — A. She told me she was the same woman. Q. ^^^lat did you say her name was? — A. Bowlegs, at that time. Q. You knew her by the name of Bowlegs? — A. Yes, sir. Q. You didn't know her by the name of Smyers? — A. No, sir. Q. Did you know her by the name of Smyers until Alec Nail introduced you? — A. No, sir. Q. What was her maiden name? — A. No, sir; I don't know. Q. You say you are charged with identif^'ing a man on a check? — A. Yes, sir. Q. What check was this? — A. Mike Mcintosh's boy's check. Q. I have talked with you about this check transaction before and it apjiears that you entered into a conspiracy to falsely identify a certain person, that you brought such person to this office and identified him as being the owner of a check which had been issued in payment of Creek equalization money due him, when you knew that this party was not the owner of the chock; is not thai the case? — A. Yes, sir. Q. You took this man down to the l:)ank and identified him there as being the owner of the check when you knew such was not the case? — A. No, sir; I didn't know that; I knew Mike Mcintosh had a son. Q. Well, you told me the other day that he was not the owner of the check? — A. Yes, sir. Q. Are you acquainted with Malissa Marcy? — A. No, sir. I read you an affidavit purporting to have been made by you before Julius (lolden, a notary ])ublic, on March Hi, 191.5, filed by Mr. Webster Ballinger with the ]ietition for the enrollment of Malissa Marcy and her family as citizens by blood of the Choctaw Nation: "W. M. James, being first duly sworn, on oath states that he is 70 years of age, and that he lives at Beeland, Okla. "That he first knew the applicant near Bowell in the Choctaw Nation; that she is the daughter of Malissa Birdsong, who was Malissa Sanders before she married Bird- song. "That the said Malissa Sanders was a Choctaw Indian by blood and was always considered threo-qiiarters; that I also know her brother, William Sanders, and the whole Sanders family, and they were all Choctaw Indian. When I first knew them they were living on Sans Bois River, but when I last knew them they were living down on P.lue Piiver. "The mother died down there on Blue River; I knew the father, Willie Birdsong, l)ut don't know where he died; he was a half-breed Choctaw who was placed on the Freedman roll over his protest. 122 INDIAN APPEOPRIATION BILL, 1917. "That he was well acquainted with the first husband of the applicant, his name was Tony Carroll, and they separated; I knew about the family, but not well enough to identify them; I know the man she lives with now at Boley, Okla., his name William Marcy. They have a boy that lives with them now, about ]4 years old "(Signed, by thumb mark) W. M. James." Q. Did you make this affidavit? — A. I may have made this affidavit, but I didn't see those people at all. Nail came to me and told me there was a woman who had been here and said I knew her. She had been here and gone. Nail told me who she was and I remembered seeing her at Porum once. Q. You took his word for it? — A. Yes, sir; I remember making the affidavit. Q. You did not know anything about it yourself? — A. No, sir. Q. YoTi took his word that she was a Choctaw by blood? — A. Yes, sir. Q. Are you acquainted with Mary Ross? — A. Yes, sir; she lived at Haskell. Q. Do you know who her father was? — A. No, sir; this another one's of Nails, I don't know anything about her. Q. Did you see her down here? — A. Yes, sir; seen her after she had made affidavit. I read you an affidavit purporting to have been made by you before Julius Golden, a notary public, on ]\Iarch 9, 1915, filed by Mr. Webster Ballinger with the petition of jMary Ross for enrollment of herself and child as Indians by blood of the Choctaw Nation: " W. M. James, being first duly sworn, on oath states that he is 70 years of age and that he lives at Beeland, Okla. "That he knows the applicant and knows where she was born, and that he has been to the house and eat there with them ; this was near where Atoka is now; affiant further states that he knew her until her mother took her away to Oklahoma City ; that was after her father died and when she was a girl ; "I also knew her father, William Fulsom, and was well acquainted also with his brother. Dr. Fulsom. I knew of other })rothers that he had and know that all of them were Choctaw Indians and were so considered, and considered as full bloods by most of the people. "Her mother, Fannie Fulsom, lived with her said father, William Fulsom, until he died. "I bought cattle from both William Fulsom and Dr. Fulsom. "Affiant further states that he also knew the applicant when she lived in Oklahoma City mth her said mother; that her mother run a boarding house there. "I have not known her since until she moved to Haskell, Okla. "(Signed by thumb mark) W. M. J.\mes." Q. What d^ you know about this affidavit? — A. I bought cattle from those people. Q. Did you make this affida\'it? — A. I made this affidavit just like Nail — I know the people who are called there. Q. Did Golden read the affidavit to you? — A. Yes, sir. Q. You took Alec Nail's statement for all of this? — A. Yes, sir. Q. You do not know her father or mother? — A. No, sir; only these men for whom I bought cattle for in the Choctaw Nation. Q. Do you know whether she is a Choctaw or not? — A. No, sir. Q. Alec Nail got you to do this? — A. Yes, sir. Q. Were you paid anything? — A. No, sir. Q. What "did Alec promise you? — A. He said they would pay. She said if they got through, each would get $25. Nail said this; I never spoke to her about it at all. Q. Do you know what the notary, Julius Golden, was paid? — A. Everyone I seen gave pay for it — 75 cents for the one who made the application and 50 cents for each witness. I read you an affidaAdt purporting to have been made by you before Julian Golden, a notary "public, on March 25, 1915, filed by Mr. Webster Ballinger with petition for enrollment of Henry Logan King for the enrollment of himself and family as citizens of the Choctaw Nation. "M. W. James, being first duly sworn, states that I am 70 years of age and live at r)eeland, Okla. "That he is personally acquainted with the applicant and that he has known him since 1886; he has been living at McDermot, Indian Territory, at that time and was a barber; I have met him off and on ever since that time; I got acquainted with him when I was carrying the mail from Okmulgee to Wewoka and we changed horses at ]\IcDermot and I got well acquainted with him. "He has been in Okmulgee for the last past 4 years that I know of, and when he move there he told me at t^he time that he came i'rom Ardmore. INDIAN APPROPEIATION BILL, 1917. 123 "I know from him that he lived in the Choctaw Nation where his people all lived, near Heavener. "Affiant further stated that he was well and personally acquainted with his father, who is the son of Old Man King, but whose Indian name was Li-sha-tubbe. I knew the boys and they took the name of King; the two youngest ones, Will and John, went to the war and joined a Kansas regiment. I have seen both of them since the war. Will came back to the Choctaw and stayed and John stays in Kansas part of the time and in the Choctaw Nation part of the time. "All the Kings were full blood Choctaw Indians and lived near the Arkansas line in what was then Scully ville County. "(Signed by thumb mark) M. W. James." Q. Did you make that affidavit? — A. I made that affidavit. Q. What do you know about the parents of Henry Logan King?— A. I knew him well and he said he was the son- Q. You did not know anything about his parents?— A. No, sir. Q. Is he a negro?— A. No, sir, white and Indian, you can't hardly tell him from a white man. Q. You don't know whether he has Choctaw blood or not? — A. No, sir; he is nearly white, he has black hair and eyes. Q. Who is Webster Burton? — A. He is a colored fellow staying around here. He is a Choctaw. Q. Is he on the rolls? — A. Yes, sir; he a Choctaw freedman. Witness excused. Lee G. Grubbs, being first duly sworn, states that as stenographer to the national attorney for the Choctaw Nation; he reported the proceedings in the above entitled case on the 30th day of July, 1915, and that the foregoing is a true and correct trans- script of his stenographic notes thereof. [seal.] (Signed) Lee G. Grubbs. Subscribed and sworn to before me this the 3d day of August, 1915. R. P. Harrison, Clerk. (Signed) By A. G. McMillan, Deputy. (Exhibit N.) power of attorney. State of Oklahoma, County of Okmulgee, ss: No. 398; number of claimants, 7. I, Ellen Thomas, n^e Walker, one-eighth Creek by blood, hereby constitute and appoint Webster Ballinger, attorney at law, of Washington, D. C, my true and law- fid attorney for me and in my name, place, and stead, to take all lawfid steps by him deemed necessary to secure for me and my minor cMld, Charley Thomas, born Octo- ber 15, 1893, Essie Thomas, born June 19, 1895, Inez Thomas, born December 8, 1896, Millie Thomas, born March 30, 1900,Verra Thomas, born April 20, 1902, Louisa Thomas, born April 16, 1904, all living. I am a daughter of Amy Walker, who is a granddaughter of Holata and Mary Fixico, full-blood Creek Indians, and both died before enrollment. Their son, Watley Dowing, deceased, was enrolled as a full- blood. Creek roll No. 2272, * * * our separate indi^-idual property riglits as Creek Indians in the common property of the Creek Nation, situated in the State of Oklahoma, and to secure our separate enrollment on the final citizenship rolls of said nation; hereby conferring upon my (our) said attorney full power and aulhority to verify and petition in my (our) names * * *^ to receive and receipt for in my (our) name * * *^ or in the name * *- * of my (our) child * * *, any drafts, warrants, or other papers issued in payment of said claims, and to do and perform all and every act and thing whatsoever requisite and necessary to be done in the premises as ftdly and to all intents and purposes as I, or we, might or could do if personally present at the doing thereof, with full power of substitulion and revocation. I (we) hereby confirm all that my (our) said attorney, or his substitute, may or shall lawfully do or cause to be done by A-irtue hereof, hereby annulling and revoking all former powers of attorney or authorization?. (Signed.) Ellen Thomas, nee Walker, Okmulgee, Okla. {post-ojjice address). 124 INDIAN APPROPRIATION BILL, 191*7. State of Oklahoma, County of Okmulgee , ss: Before me, a notary public in and for said county and State, on the 9th day of May, 1914, personally appeared Ellen Thomas, nee Walker, to me known to be the identical person who executed the Avithin and foregoing instrument by * * * mark, in my presence and in the presence of C. House and C'hester Harris, as wit- nesses, and acknowledged to me that * * * executed the same as * * * free and voluntary act and deed for the uses and purjDoses therein set forth. Witness my hand and official seal the day and date above written. Arthur G. Wallace, Notary Public. (Exhibit "O.") Laredo, Tex., September .3, 1915. Honorable Department of the Interior: Here is a letter of a friend of mine stating something about my father. Will Grayson, a soldier of the United States Army, but has deceased this life and has a bounty due him ; and if this is true please let me hear from you, and here is the letter. I hav>- a sis- ter at Beggs, Okla. I remain, W. W. Gray-son. Muskogee, Okla., August 31, 1915. Mr. W. W. Grayson. Dear Friend and Brother in Christ: This leaves me and my family well; hope when these few lines reaches you it may find you well — you and the rest of your dear family. I am in the city of Muskogee writing this morning at W. A. Rentie's liouse. They are all well and send their best regards to your family. Pay, W. W. , I was called into th(> Government office yesterday in question of your whereabouts. I told the de- partment man I did not know right then, but would try to find you. Then he showed xne the papers whijch made him inquire about you to me. It is this: Your father's pen- sion is here for you, and his bounty money amounts to several thousand dollars, and he asked me to have you come to Muskogee, whqre you can be identified, and then they would pay you over the money at once, but they will not pay it to anyone else. Now, that is the whole truth about this matter. I am working with the United States department in the enrolling of those citizens' children that did not get any lands; so you see I am n(>xt to all kind of business. Now, if you don't want this money you must say so in your letter to me; then 1 will report the facts to the department ; then they can do the next thing. Now, Brother Grayson, there isn't any trouble at all for you in the least way, so write me when you can come and I will go and help you out in getting your money. I will meet you at your sister's or your mother-in-law's on Salt Creek. I am living in Sapulpa for a while with my wife. I will also put ( harlie on tlie roll and he will draw $2,000.80 in money, as he did not get any land. Write me to 507 East Hobson, Sapulpa. Okla. Yours, W. M. Vann. (Exhibit"?.") Webster Balling er. Attorney at Law, Muskogee, Okla., November 14, 1914. Dear Sir: Agreeable to the promise I made your committee, I wrote Mr. Ballinger a long letter, setting out what you had said, and asked him for instructions, and the following is a copy of his letter in reply thereto: " I suggest that you have the represtnitatives of the Cherokee freedmen prepare a list of the claims they represent, showing upon what roll and roll number the names of the claimants appear, and furnish this list to you with an affidavit of the party that he or she is the identical person whose name appears on the Dinin or Kern- Clifton roll or whatever roll or rolls the names appear upon. If the name appears on more than one roll, have each roll set out. Let them get every case in this shape and then turn them over to you to be rechecked. "Upon that showing I will try and secure legislation authorizing an investigation of these claims." ' ^ If your committee concludes to accept this proposition, I would suggest that you get together and prepare a blank that will cover the different rolls, with the neces- INDIAN APPROPRIATION BILL, 1917. 125 sary affidavit included and have same printed, as there should be at least three copicg^ of each one. Will be glad to give you any assistance along this line that I can if you will call at the office. Yours, very truly, (Exhibit Q.) (Exhibit R.a) Mr. Ferris. Oklahoma has no corneT on crooks and thugs that are trying to tear open those rolls. Mr. Norton. What is the. Indian Bureau doing about it? Why don't they investigate? Mr. Ferris. They have some men there on the job, and some of their men took these photographs. I wish you would take time to read what these negroes say when they were asked why they signed these affidavits. Some deny it, some got $7.50, some got $2.50, and some got $1.50. Some replied, ''No, sir; we don't swear for the Choctaws; we swears for the Cherokees." Now, let me go into the McLaughlm report, which deals with — I merely mention that because it happened this summer, to show it is not ancient history. Mr. Norton. Was this gotten up by the Indian Bureau ? Mr. Ferris. It was, and sent to me this morning. Mr. Norton. Those witnesses claim they don't know anything about what they swore to ? Mr. Ferris. Their answers are that some of them got $7.50, and some of them $2.50, and some of them got $1.50, and when ques- tioned about it, they replied, "We never know nothing about those people. We just signed because Alec Nail told us to." Alec Nail is 72 years old, a negro as black as your hat, a professional witness. Some of them have gone to the penitentiary. The others all have numbers and have been to the penitentiary. Now I hold in my hand the McLoughlin report, three years old. Every Congress was harassed with this thing under one guise this year and under another guise next year, but all the time there was a subterranean influence underneath it all, somebody trying to enrich their pockets, some shyster and unprofessional attorneys trying to get something out of the Indians. It ourfit to be stopped. Let me show you what Ballinger and Lee claim they will get if this enroUment legislation goes through. They claim they have con- tracts covering unconscionable attorney fees. They are so large as to astound anyone's sense of justice. These are the figures of Attorney Lee himself over his own signature. o Omitted in printing. 126 INDIAN APPEOPEIATION BILL, 1917. Lee''s proposed sale of 40 per cent of Ms individual shares, or fee, is figured as follows: 2, 051 persons. $3, 000 Value of individual share. $6, 153, 000 Total value of shares of 2,051 persons. 40 per cent basis of fee. 2, 461, 200 Estimated fee. 487 persons. $3, 000 \'alue of share. $1, 461, 000 Total value of shares of 487 persons. 12i per cent basis of fee of Ballinger & Lee. $183, 023 Total estimated fee of Ballinger & Lee for 487 persons. 1, 200 persons. $500 Ballinger & Lee's fee per person. , 000 Total estimated fee for 1,200 persons. >, 461. 200 183, 023 GOO, 000 13, 244, 223 Total of Ballinger & Lee's fee. Less 150, 000 Estimated expense of collection. 13,094,223 45 per cent with which assistance was contracted. $1, 392, 400 Estimated cost of assistance. |3, 094, 223 Net fee. Less 1, 392, 400 Cost of assistance. 2) $1, 701, 823 Net fee to Ballinger & Lee. 850, 911 Net fee to Lee. 40 per cent proposed assignment. $340, 364 Fee which will go to owners of the 40 per cent to be sold. This is over his signature. He is trying to sell these contracts all over the country down there. He is trying to sell them in the chairman's district; he is trying to sell them in Mr. Hayden's dis- trict; he is trying to sell them in your district, so he can get somebody to back-fire you and got your support in this thing because some con- stituents of yours have some stock in this Oldahoma Development Co. I will also insert the McLaughlin report, showing the various activities in Mississippi on this enrollment matter. Maj. McLaughlin is one of the oldest and most trusted inspectors in the service. The committee and the Congress are entitled to Ivnow the facts. They are entitled to laiow why this persistent and never-ending noise and agitation about the opening of the Indian rolls. There is always a reason for everything, but we are not always as fortunate to get the cause as in this case. (The full report follows:) J INDIAN APPKOPKIATION BILL, 1917. 127 REPORT OF INSPECTOR JAMES m'lAUGHLIN. Washingtox, D, C, June 29, 1914. The Secretary of the Interior. Sir: Under departmental instructions of the 13th ultimo, I have the honor to report my investigation concerning the representations made and methods adopted by certain solicitors in securing contracts from individual Indians who claim the right to enrollment as mem- bers of the Choctaw-Chickasaw Tribe of Indians, and respectfully submit the following conclusions relative to same : In my tour of investigation I visited Columbus, Ohio; St. Louis, Mo.; Muskogee, Poteau, Wilburton, and McAlester, Okla.; San An- tonio and Houston, Tex. ; Lake Charles, Baton Eouge, and New Or- ]eans. La.; and Gulfport, Miss., inquiring into the matter and inter- rogated numerous persons who had knowledge of the representations made and methods adopted by the soliciting agents in obtaining contracts from the class of claimants referred to. From my investigation I ascertained that during the past four years several persons have been engaged in soliciting contracts from ChoctaW' and Chickasaw Indians and freedmen of those tribes, and that one Alexander P. Powell, who claims to be a Choctaw Indian and a lineal descendant of one of the parties to the Dancing Rabbit Creek treaty of September 27, 1830, has been actively engaged in canvassing a large extent of country, chiefly in the States of Ala- bama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas, in procuring the names of unenrolled persons who claim to possess Choctaw or Chickasaw In- dian blood, and obtaining contracts from them to prosecute, on a con- tingent fee, their right to share in the distribution of the funds and property of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma; and wdiile, as above stated, there were several persons engaged in procuring contracts of similar character from unenrolled Indians of these tribes, it appears from the record that said A. P. Powell obtained more contracts from the class of claimants referred to than all of the other solicitors combined, notwithstanding the fact that he did not solicit contracts from any of the freedmen. I failed to meet this man Powell during my tour of the localities in which he has been operating very extensively the past four years, and therefore can not speak of him from personal knowledge, but have been told by many who know him that he shows a decided strain of Negro blood, is large of stature, prepossessing in appearance, shrewd and plausible, which, with his posing in the communities he visits in soliciting contracts as a very important person, has succeeded in arousing great enthusiasm among the people of the localities can- vassed by him, and has thus procured contracts Avith little or no difficulty from all persons who believed they possessed, or were led by Powell to believe they possessed, any Choctaw or Chickasaw Indian blood. Fiom what I was told by reputable persons at Lake Charles and Baton Rouge, La., and Gulfport, Miss., it would appear that said Powell w^as interested chiefly in procuring a large number of con- tracts, regardless of the ancestry of the applicants, as Mr. Luke W. Conerly, of Gulfport, Miss., told me that to his personal knowledge Powell obtained contracts from several families the ancestry of 128 INDIAN^ APPKOPRIATION" BILL, 1917. whom as supplied by Powell was absurdly erroneous. It is also alleged that Powell took contracts from any persons claiming to have Indian blood, and from many who had never claimed to pos- sess Indian blood until told by Powell that they were descendants of Indians who were parties to' the Dancing Rabbit Creek treaty of 1830 and therefore entitled to certain benefits under that treaty. Mr. C. R. Cline, an attorney of Lake Charles, La., and Hon. Isaac C. Boyd, of Leesville, La., also an attorney, a member of the present Louisiana Assembl}^, and who claims to possess Choctaw Indian blood, both informed me that there are about 300 persons living in the neighborhood of Kinder, Allen Parish, La., who are of mixed descent, being of French, Spanish, Portuguese, and Negro blood, with a very few of them possibly possessing some Indian blood, and the name " Red Bone " was given those of them who were supposed to have any Indian blood ; that prior to Powell's visit to Kinder solicit- ing contracts with Indians it was regarded a great insult to be called a " Red Bone," thus classing them as of Indian blood, but a number of them were advised by Powell that they were of Choctaw descent, as shown by a book which he possessed and by which he traced their ancestry, as eligible to enrollment, and it is alleged that he thus obtained contracts from all of them, and since Powell thus recognized those people, the name " Red Bone " is no longer objec- tionable, but, on the contrary, all are desirous of being thus classed, and to be now called a " Red Bone " is exceedingly pleasing to each and all of them, as they believe that the cognomen fixes their status as of Indian blood, and entitles them to share in the property of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma. Hon. Isaac C. Boyd, of Leesville, Vernon Parish, La., above re- ferred to, stated to me that in 1911 he was induced by one Mrs. Ella TaA'lor, of Leesville, La., to enter into contract for Mississippi-Choc- taw rights, said Mrs. Taylor representing herself an authorized agent of A. P. Powell and Luke W. Conerly, whose headquarters were then at Gulfport, Miss., engaged in obtaining contracts from Choctaw claimants, for the prosecution of their right to participate in the funds and property of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma; said Mrs. Taylor stating to him that each beneficiary would be entitled to receive 320 acres of land or double the value of it in money, also anywhere from $5,000 to $10,000 in cash from the Choc- taw funds, but that in order to participate in this distribution, claim- ants must enter into contracts without delay, as the time limit would soon expire, therefore promptness in executing contracts for same was absolutely necessary. Mr, Boyd, who is of Choctaw blood, a lawyer by profession with quite a lucrative practice, and who is also a member of the State Assembly of Louisiana, feels chagrined in having fallen to the flattering presentation of the matter by Mrs. Taylor, resulting in his entering into a contract for himself and his sister and for which he paid Mrs. Taylor $7.50 for executing each of said contracts. Mr. Boyd stated that Mrs. Taylor procured a great many similar contracts at Leesville, La., and surrounding country, and that he has little doubt but that she thus realized in the neighborhood of $3,000 from her charge of $7.50 to applicants for each contract obtained. Mr. Boyd further stated that after realizing he had been victimized in the sum of $15, through the enthusif>sm aroused by a plausible INDIAN APPROPRIATION BILL, 1917. 129 talk, he, in order to have the solicitors prosecuted, if possible, made diligent inquiry of persons who had entered into similar contracts to ascertain if anj^ of them had represented themselves as Government officials, and was unable to find any person to whom they represented themselves as being in any way connected with the Government or an official of the Choctaw Nation, but that the impression prevailed among the claimants that A. P. Powell and his assistants were fully empowered to procure the contracts they were engaged in soliciting from Choctaw claimants. Mr. Boyd still further stated that having talked a great deal against these solicitors, denouncing them as frauds and fakirs, that Powell never visited Leesville, La., to solicit contracts, but established him- self for a short time at De Kidder, 21 miles distant, and sent notices to Leesville applicants to proceed to De Kidder for that purpose. I made particular inquiry as to whether or not Powell or any of the other solicitors had been ever heard to represent themselves as Government officials or officials of the Choctaw Nation, but did not meet any person Avho stated that they had ever heard any of those solicitors make such a statement. On the contrary, many of the persons whom I interrogated with reference thereto stated that they had frequenth' heard Powell say that he was fighting the Govern- ment to have the rightful claims of the Choctaw and Chickasaw Indians allowed; but notwithstanding the fact that Powell when questioned regarding the matter invariably denied that he had any connection with the Government in the work he was engaged in, the impression prevailed, as expressed by Attorneys Cline and Boyd and Mr. Luke W. Conerly, especially among the more ig-norant persons, that Powell represented some high authority in the premises, he being engaged in executing contracts wdth claimants, using printed blank forms therefor, and this impression prevailed as to the several other solicitors engaged in obtaining similar contracts. When assigned to this investigation, the Indian Office furnished nie. for my information, a voluminous file of correspondence with reference to this matter, which file embraced report of Special United States Indian Agent W. W. McConihe. dated May 2, 1911, with ac- companying exhibits, from Avhich record, together with what I ascer- tained in my investigation, the facts appear to be as follows: 1. The citizenship rolls of the Choctaw Nation, embracing those Indians entitled to share in the property of the tribe, was closed March 4. 1907 (act of Apr. 26, 1906; 31 Stat. L., 137, sec. 2). 2. That there were possibly some persons omitted from the citi- zenship rolls who, because of the limitations imposed by the law as to time, were unable to produce the proof of their right to participate in the funds of the Choctaw Nation under article 14 of the treaty of September 27, 1830. 3. The possibility that there were some jSIississippi Choctaw In- dians whose right to enrollment had not been recognized induced a firm of attorneys — Messrs. Crews & Cantwell, of St. Louis, \Io. — to undertake the securing of legislation that would permit the re- opening of the rolls for the purpose of establishing the rights of those who had previously failed to establish their right or had failed to take advantage of the opportunity to do so. 2.5134— PT 4—10 9 130 INDIAN APPEOPKIATION BILL, 1917. 4. Messrs. Crews & Cantwell employed Alexander P. Powell, who asserts that he is a Choctaw Indian, to procure the names of imen- rolled Mississippi Choctaw Indians and produce evidence by tracing the ancestry to establish their right to enrollment, and to obtain con- tracts from them for the prosecution of their claims. 5. Associated with Messrs. Crews & Cantwell was one S. L. Hurl- but, a banker residing at El Campo, Tex., who financed the project in the beginning by paying Powell $150 per month salary and his expenses. 6. Powell, while employed by Crews & Cantwell, procured the names of about 4,200 persons who claimed, or were led to believe by Powell, that they were entitled to participate in the funds of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, and from each of whom he obtained a contract authorizing Crews & Cantwell to act as their attorneys in all legal proceedings in presenting to the Interior Department or any court such evidence as he or she might be able to produce in estab- lishing a right to participate in the distribution of the fund and property of the Choctaw-Chickasaw Indians of Oklahoma, which contracts provided that Crews & Cantwell were to receive 30 per cent of all sums of money, lands, and property that might be re- ceived by reason of the right claimed. Powell did not make any charge to the claimants while operating under the above stated salary, until a short time previous to severing his connections with Crews & Cantwell, Avhen he commenced charging the claimants $1.25 for each contract executed, and while engaged in this work in the employ of Crews & Cantwell it appears from the record that Powell received $2,971.02 from them, $900 of Avhich was for salary and remainder for expenses incurred by him as shown by letter from Mr. S. L. Hurlbut's office, dated March 8, 1911, copy herewith. P^xhibit A. 7. Powell's connection with Crews & Cantwell appears to have terminated in March, 1911, and he then commenced soliciting con- tracts for William B. Matthews, an attorney of Washington, D. C, with office in the Evans Building, and the contracts procured by Powell in the name of Mr. Matthews are similar in every respect to those he obtained for Crews & Cantwell, except as to name of the attorney. The Crews & Cantwell contracts contain the stipulation that their appointment as attorneys is joint, and that in the event of the death of either, the survivor shall succeed to all rights and benefits, and perform all the duties imposed by the contract upon the attorneys. Tliis same stipulation is contained in the printed form of contract taken in the name of William B. Matthews [copy herewith], and the fact that it does so appear would indicate that jNIr. Matthews had nothing to do with the drafting of the form, but that the wording of the Crews & Cantwell contract was ]:)robably adapted by A. P. Powell, simply substituting the name of AVilliam B. Matthews, as attorney, for that of Crews & Cantwell, and Powell thus continued procuring contracts from any and all persons whom he met, who believed, or were led to believe, that they possessed Choctaw or Chickasaw Indian blood, and from each of whom he collected $2.50 for his services in executing the papers. 8. After Powell discontinued securing contracts for Crews & Cant- well and started soliciting for Attorney William E. Matthews and charging applicants $2.50 for each set of papers executed, it is al- INDIAN APPKOPKIATIOX BILL^ 1917. 131 leged he procured contracts from a number of persons residing in and around Kinder, Allen Parish, La., who did not claim to be of ChoctaAv descent, but were advised by Powell that he possessed a book which enabled him to trace the ancestry of eA^ery living person Avho possessed any ChoctaAv blood, and that he had traced those people entitled to enrollment as descendants of certain persons ap- pearing as beneficiaries under the Choctaw treaty of 1830. As to the book referred to as possessed by Powell, which is said to have been produced in evidence by him very frequently, I was informed by Mr. Luke W. Conerly, of Gulf port, Miss., who was for some months associated Avith Powell, that he carried with him for reference in tracing the ancestry of applicants for enrollment a copy of volume 7, " American State Papers," which contains the names of 19,554 Choctaw Indians who were parties to the D'ancing Rabbit Creek treaty of 1830, as per roll made by F. W. Armstrong, special agent, under date of September, 1831, which volume was published in 1860. 10. Crews & Cantwell, as attorneys for a number of these claim- ants, with evidence as to some of the unenrolled Mississippi Choc- taws to an equitable right to share in the funds of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, have sought legislation to reopen the rolls to permit them to prosecute the claims of these persons with whom they have contract. 11. The financing of the project to secure reimbursements of Crews & Cantwell and S. L. Hurlbut for previous expenditures was effected by incorporating the " Texas-Oklahoma Investment Co.," chartered under the laws of the Territory of Arizona, November 14, 1911. The articles of incorporation provide for a capital stock of $100,000, or 1,000 shares of the par value of $100 each, the directors of the company as incorporated being S. L. Hurlbut, of El Campo, Tex.; H. Masterson and W. A. Smith, of Houston, Tex.; and T. B. Crews and H. J. Cantwell, of St. Louis, Mo.; and the principal stockholders are T. B. Crews and H. J. Cantwell, of St. Louis, Mo. ; Clifford Greve and S. L. Hurlbut, of El Campo, Tex.; H. Masterson, L. Bryan & Co., J. J. Sweeney, and W. H. Gill, of Iloiiston, Tex.; and J. H. Kempner, of (lalveston, Tex. Two hundred and fift}^ shares of the 1,000 shares of the stock of this company were sold at par value of $100 per share, thus realiz- ing $25,000 in cash, with which Crews & Cantwell and S. L. Hurlbut were reim!)ursed for previous expenditures and a contingent fund created to meet futui-e expenses as incurred. 12. Crews & Cantwell turned over to the Texas-Oklahoma Invest- ment Co. the contracts procured for them by Alexander P. Powell, numbering about 4,200, and received in cash from the fund realized from the 250 shares of the stock sold, reimbursement for their previous expenditures in connection Avith their Mississippi Choctaw contracts, and leaving the 750 unsold shares in the treasury as common propei'ty of the company. In promoting the organization of the Texas-Oklahoma Invest- ment ('o. flattering figures of prospective returns to investors therein appear to have been sent out to jirominent persons throughout the country, as evidenced by lettei- of Mr. C. B. Moling, of Houston, Tex., under "date of June 12,"U)11, to Hon. W. L. Dechant, of Middh>lo\vn, Ohio, which reads as follows: 132 INDIAN APPEOPEIATION BILL, 1917. IIoiJSTON, Tkx., Jinie 12, 1911. Hon. W. T,. Dkciiant, Middletoicn. Ohio. \)\:.\\i Sir: In 1S20 the United States Oovennnent made a treaty with the ('iioctaw Indians, tlien livin.^- in I\Iississii»i)i, \\lierel)y the (Government boui;;ht ."i.OOU.UUO acres of the Indians, and in return jjave to the Indians all the lands lyinir in the Indian Territory n(irth of Red Kiver up to the Canadian and east of the ninety-eiiihth meridian, and paid for moving as many of the Indians out to this land as desired to jro. The Cliootaws still had 10,000,000 acres left hack in :\Iississippi, and in 1S30 the Government made another ti'eaty with them wherehy the Government pur- (hased the remaining lands for $8,000,000. Tn tins treaty it teas agreed that tJie reiiiaiiiiiiff f)idia)is were to be protected in the eointnvnity property or the oriiiinal tandK in JiKtiaii Territory (iranted tlieiii }>y tlie treat]/ of Jf^20. Th.e Government still holds apprciximately 3 450.000 acres of these liim your letter and asked him lo give me the iiifoi-n"iatiou desired, and I hennvilli hand you bis dictated letter, as also the brief he refers to with the clippings attached. In regard to the brief and the clippings, he requests that you take care of them, as they are all he has here in Houston. It might be a good idea for you to write to Mr. Cantwell in Washinglon. as he is thoroughly familiar with all the details, and then the informalion would come to you first-handed. I am not per.sonally acquainted with JNIr. Cantwell or his partner, :\Ir. (Jrews, in St. Louis, but from what I learned they are very capable men in their line of business and have worked other similar contracts through Congress, but I know Mr. Hurlbut for several years; be is all right, and I consider him straight and reliable; my dealings with him has all been in the r(>al estate line anr \\\o rea.son I believe the Government will carry out the terms of its treaty made wiili iliem in 1820 and 18.30; if they do, then these contracts will be good. Awaiting your further advices, I am, Very truly, yours, C. r.. Moi.iNc;. The presentation of the matter as abo\e set forth by ^Ir. Moling to Judge Dechant for financing the i)roject was so flattering as to justify the avei'age speculator in taking a chance, and it would 134 INDIAN APPROPRIATION BILL, 1911. appear, from the sale of one-fourth of the stock of the Texas-Okhi- lioma Investment Co. at its par value, that no great difficulty Avas experienced in promoting and consummating this financing of the project. About a year subsequent to the organization of the Texas-Oklahoma Investment Co. for financing the project of handling Mississippi- Choctaw Indian contracts taken in the name of Crews & Cantwell, Mr. Albert J. Lee, of Ardmore, Okla., a member of the law firm of Ballinger & Lee, claiming to represent a large number of persons who claim a right in the tribal property of the Choctaw and Chicka- saw Indians in Oklahoma, on a contingent fee of from 12 i to 40 per cent, and which do not conflict with the claims handled and rep- resented by the Texas-Oklahoma Investment Co., but are in a line with them, desired, as shown by certain correspondence relative thereto, to raise a fund of $16,000 to meet indebtedness incurred in the prosecution of their Indian claims and with which to continue the fight for their clients, and to show that persons engaged in handling the claims of nonenrolled Choctaw and Chickasaw Indians have succeeded in interesting many prominent persons in such claims, I submit copy of tabulated statement of said Albert J. Lee, dated October 17, 1912, setting forth the prospective profits that he cal- culates upon deriving from his handling of said claims, together with an indorsement of same by Mr. Harris Masterson, an attorney of Houston^ Tex., who is a prominent financier and promoter of projects of this character, which statement of Attorney Lee and indorsement of Mr. Masterson reads as follows : OCTORER 17, 1912. Mr. Harris Masterson, HotistoH, Tex. Dear Sir : Mr. Webster Balliiiiier and I represent some 13.000 persons who claim a ri^lit in tlie tribal property of the Choctaw and Chicliasaw Indians in Oldahoma. Of tlie above mmiber of persons represented by us, tliere are some 3,738 wlio are conclusively, as sliown by the Government records, en- titled to share in the distribution of the tribal property. An individual share is estimated at $3,000 cash. We represent these people under contracts pro- viding for a contingent fee of from 12* to 40 per cent of the value of each share. I am attaching a statement showing the value of our fees. The state- ment also shows the amount of said fees we have already contracted for. You will observe that my individual share of said fee will amount to $850,911, based upon the cases I consider certain; and that if we succeed in one-third of the cases that are uncertain, or rather if we succeed in enrolling 3,000 out of the 10,000 doubtful cases, my individual share of the fee would be $2,005,911. I am in urgent need of funds with which to meet indebtedness incurred in the ijroseeution of these claims, and with which I may be enabled to continue the fight for our clients, and I want to raise $16,000, which I will agree to return with interest, and will assign the people furnishing the money 40 per cent of my Individual share of the fee. Estimated upon the cases considered certain, tliis would return about $22 for every dollar subscribed, and upon the basis of one-third of the uncertain cases going through in addition to those that I consider certain, the estimated return would be about $120 for every dollar advanced. The following pages will give you some idea of the nature and basis of the claims. CHOCTAW AND CHICKASAW LANDS, AND OTHER PROPERTY. In southeastern Oklahoma, in what was formerly the Choctaw and Chicka- saw Nations, are nearly 3.000,000 acres of land, which the Federal Government will ofTer for sale from dav to day from November 12 to December 23. this year. These lands are classed as follows: 900.000 acres agricultural, 445,000 acres IXDIAX APPEOPEIATION BILL, 1917. 135 agricultural surface, with deposits of coal and asphalt, 1.500.000 acres pine and hardwood timher. In addition to the above lands the coal and asphalt deposits are shortly to be sold. The United States mine inspector has estimated that the coal is worth in royalties to the Choctaw and Cliickasaw people at least $70,000,000. There is now on deposit to the credit of these two tribes something like $1,000,000, derived from the sale of town sites. VALUE OF PROPERTY. It is reasonable to assume that the Federal Government will be able to get for the coal deposits at least one-half of the amount that said deposits are esti- mated to be worth in royalties, which would be, in round numbers, $35,000,000. Should the 3,000,000 acres of land bring an average price of $10 per acre, which is a very reasonable estimate considering the fact that there is standing timber on 1,500,000 acres thereof, $30,000,000 will be derived from this source. There is no accurate estimate of the value of the asphalt deposits, but they are wortli several hundred thousand dollars. Eliminating the value of the asph.alt deposits, we have the following values : On deposit $10, 000, 000 Value of the coal 35, 000. 000 Value of the surface and timber 30. 000, 000 Total value of the property 75, 000, 000 OWNERS OF THE PROPERTY. The above property belongs to the citizens of the Choctaw and Chickasaw Nations of Indians under a grant made by the Federal Government under the terms of the treaty of September 27, 1830. The grant conveyed to said Indians all the lands lying between the Canadian and Red Rivers, the Arkan- sas line, and the one hundredth parallel west. All of said land, however, with the exception of the 3,000.000 acres aboves referred to, has been parceled out to the individual Indians in allotments of 320 acres of average value land. As the property belonged to the citizens of the tribes of whom the Federal Government \-\'as the guardian, it became the duty of the. Federal Government, upon the dissolution of the tribal governments, to ascertain who were the citizens entitled to share in the distribution of the' property. This the Federal Government undertook to do. The tribal governments agreed to such action upon condition that each citizen be allotted 320 acres of average value land and slionld then share in the proceeds derived from the sale of any lands remaining undisposed of after all allotments had been made. It was also agreed that certain town sites, coal deposits, asphalt deposits, and timberlands should be withheld from the allotment scheme. Congress passed seven different acts under which the citizenship of the two tribes should be determined and the distribution made. The acts were : Act of June 10. 1896; act of June 7, 1897; act of June 28. 1898; act of May 31, 1900; act of July 1, 1902; act of March 3, 1905; and the act of April 26, 1900. The latter act i)rovided that the question of citizenship should be finally closed upon !March 4, 1907, and since that date no person has been added to the rolls of those Indians entitled to share in the property. Assistant Attorney Gener^d J. W. Howell stated to the House Conuuittee on Indian Affairs that the above-mentioned acts were "inherently defective," and "administered so as to lirevent a full realization of their purpose." (Hearing on H. R. 19279, 61st Cong., 2d sess., p. 265.) WHY THE CLAIMANTS WHOJr WE REPRESENT WERE 051ITTED FROJI THE ROLLS. 1. Sufficient time was not given to do the work. Tlw Department of the Interior was forced to act pro forma upon the claims of more than 2,000 per.sons during the week preceding March 4, 1907. 2. The commission created by act of Congress was incompetent and composed of laymen who conceived the idea that it was their duty to oppose the appli- cants and restrict the number of persons entitled to share to the fewest possible. This commi.ssion suppre.ssed records and failed to ti-aiismit the full case of 136 INDIAN APPEOPKIATFON BILL, 1917. applicants to the Secretary of the Interior, who hart a supervisory authority and right of review. Upon charges filert against officers of tliis commission, two of tliom were forcert to resign. (S. Doc. No. 357, 59th Cong., 2rt sess.) 3. The tribal officials who had control of tribal funds sought at all times to restrict the number of persons enrolled in order that the share of each would be greater. 4. The attorneys, Mansfield, McMurray & Cornish, employed under Govern- ment sanction to represent the tribes, for an extra consideration of $750,000 paid out of tribal funds, and which latter employment was unknown to the Government officials, succeeded in defeating the claims of nearly 4,000 persons who had been enrolled by judgments of the United States courts, rendered in cases appealed from the action of the Commission to the Five Civilized Tribes under the provisions of the act of June 10, 1896. This action was investigated by the committee of Congress, and, with respect to the persons enrolled by judgments of the United States courts, this coumiittee said: "There was no way by which persons so enrolled — locally known as court citizens — could be eliminated lawfully from participation in the tribal estate." These tribal attorneys succeeded, however, in eliminating from the citizen- shin rolls the persons placed thereon by judgment of the United States courts by lobbying ihr.iugh a provision of law which became part of the agreement entered into by the Government and the tribes contained in the act of July 1, 1902, with reference to Ihe distribution of the property, by having created a special court to review the judgments of the United States courts, and a com- mittee of Congress has reported upon the manner in which this court was created, as follows : " After the agreement had been duly signed by the representatives of the two nations and by the representatives of the Government, and after it vras trans- mitted to Congress for ratification and approval, sections 31. 32, and 33 were inserted at the request of McMurray, which sections are ]ii'edicated on the assvnnption that the United States courts in the Indian Territory, acting under the act of June 10, 1S96, had admitted persons to citizenship in the Choctav/ and Chickasaw Nations without notice to both of said nations. It was con- tended by the nations th.at in such proceedings notice to each of said nations was indispensable, and they claimed and insisted that the proceedings in the United States courts in the Indian Territory, under the act of June 10, 1S9G, sh(»ul(l have been conMned to a roview of the action of the Commission to the Five Civilized Tribes upon the record in each case and should not have ex- tended to a trial de novo of the question of citizenship. These sections author- ized the two nations jointly, or either of said nations acting separately and making the other a party defendant, by a bill in equity filed in the citizenship court, to bring a suit for the purpose of testing the validity of all such decisions of the I'nited States courts. It further provided that 10 persons admitted to citizenship or enrollmi'ut by the United States courts, with notice to but one of said nations, should be made defendants to a suit as representatives of the entire class of per.sons similarly situated. In other words, it authorized the bringing of a test suit, anee's proposed sale of 40 per cent of his individual shares, or foe. is fij^ured as follows : 2.051 persons. $3,000 Value of individual share. $6,153,000 Total value of shares of 2.051 persons. 40 per cent basis of fee. $2,461,200 Estimated fee. 487 persons. $3,000 Value of share. $1,461,000 Total value of shares of 4S7 persons. 12i per cent basis of fee of Balliuger & Lee. $183,023 Total estimated fee of Ballinger & Lee for 487 persons. 1,200 persons. $500 Ballinger & Lee's fee per person. $600,000 Total estimated fee for 1.200 persons. $2,461,200 183.023 600.000 $3,244,223 Total of Ballinger & Lee's fee. Less 150,000 Estimated expense of collection. $3,094,223 45 per cent with which assistance was contracted. $1,392,400 Estimated cost of assistance. $3,094,223 Net fee. Less 1.392.400 Cost of assistance. 2) $1,701,823 Net fee to Ballinger & Lee. 850.911 Net fee to Lee. 40 per cent proposed assignment. $340,364 Fee which will go to owners of the 40 per cent to be sold. In addition to the above cases, we represent about 10,000 people wliose recoi-ds do not conclusivel.v show that they are entitled to share in the distribution of the property, but if Congress permits proof to be made in these cases, I esti- mate that at least 3,000 of them will be ,d. Our fee in these cases is 40 per cent, and in the event of success in the 3,000 cases indicated, my individual fee wouhl a]iproximate $2,065,911. My proposed assignment includes all of these cases. Albert J. Lee. Masterson & Masterson, Attorneys at Law, Houston, Tex., October 11, 1912. (Iloceived Apr. 20, 1914.) To ichom it may concern: I have carefully read the statement of Albert J. Lee, of the law firm of Ballinger & Lee. in his letters of the 17th instant, relating to the claims of the Choctaw and Chickasaw Indians, represented by bis tirm, and from my own knowledge of the facts, the manner in which the estate of these Indians was administertMl by ofhcers of the Federal Government, and the steps that are now being taken to protect the interests of the claimants, I know that Mr. Lee's statement is substantially correct. The claims represented by Mr. Lee are meritorious ; however, he does not by half .set forth the merits of the claims, nor does his statement fully cover the injustice that has been perpetrated upon the class of Indians whom he represents. It would be impossible for him to fully deal with the merits of these claims in a brief letter. INDIAN APPEOPKIATION BILL, 1917. 139 The records in these cases are so plain and so clearly disclose fraud and incompetent administration that I am firmly convinced that Congress will restore the claimants to tlieir rights. I therefore believe that money advanced to Mv. Lee in aid of his cases will return a big profit within the next two years, and that sucli profits will not be less than a return of $20 for every dollar advanced him. On the 7th day of this month I furnished $2,000 to Mr. Lee in order to afford liim temporary relief in connection with the Indian claims represented by him, and in addition thereto I am subscribing $2,000 to the fund of $16,000 which he is now endeavoring to raise, notwithstanding the fact that I am largely interested in similar claims of the Choctaw Indian descendants. Of "my own knowledgi^ — for I have investigated many of the claims of the clients of IMr. Lee before deciding to invest $4,000 in the enterprise, I know that the claims of the Indians so investigated, whom Messrs. Ballinger & Lee represent, are full of merit. I therefore consider the $2,000 already invested and subscription of $2,000 to be in the nature of a fine speculative investment. It is hoped, and I think reasonably certain, that the Choctaw claimants will be given relief during the coming session of Congress. These claims dc» not conflict with the claims handled and represented by the Texas-Oklahoma Investment Co., but are in line with them. Yoiirs, very truly, H. Masterson. I visited Muskogee, Okla., where I conferred with Commissioner Wright and Superintendent Kelsey with reference to persons solicit- ing contracts from the Indians of Oklahoma, and then proceeded to Poteau, Okla., where I met T. V. Sprinkel, an attorney of that town, wdiom I learned had been obtaining contracts from certain Indians, and upon interrogating him relative thereto, he stated with apparent frankness that he has been engaged at intervals the past three years in procuring contracts from Choctaw Indians who are interested in v>hat is known as the Glenn-Tucker claim, and that he has not solicited contracts in any other Indian claim: that there are about 700 Choctaw families interested in said claim; and that he has pro- cured contracts from 75 of the leading families interested, and only from those of them with whom he has been acquainted for many years past. He stated that to meet the expenses incurred by him in executing the contracts and preparing the case he charges each family $10 who employ him, this being the total charge he makes to each family regardless of the number in the family, and that his contracts pro- vide for payment to him of a 25 per cent contingent fee of what- ever he may reco^'er for them. He further stated that he has been engaged in this work since 1911, during which time he has made two trips to Washington, D. C, in the interests of his clients, and that up to the present time the total received by him from the 75 families with whom he has contracts amounts to onlv $129. He also stated that Webster P>allinger, Walter S. Field, and W. W. Wright, attorneys of Washington. D. C, have a large number of similar contracts with Choctaw Indians. While at Poteau I learned tliat a colored man named Robert L. Fortune, of Wilbuiton, Okla., had been soliciting contracts for Crews & Cantwell from (^hoctaw freedmen residing in the vicinity of Poteau, and I obtained from Mr. Felix Bird, a notary public of Poteau, one of the contracts, which said Fortune had left with the notary for acknowledgment when the frcedman represented therein appeared to execute it, and after concluding my business at Poteau I proceeded to AVilburton. where I met said Kobert L. Fortune and interrogated him with reference to the matter. 140 INDIAN APPROPRIATION BILL, 1917. Said Robert L. Fortune resides in the town of Wilbnrton, Okla., and bears a good reputation in the community. lie stated to me that he is 48 years of age, and ^Yas for IG years, terminating in 190(3, a deputy United States marshal for the eastern district of Indian Ter- ritory, now a part of Oklahoma, and that about three years ago he was employed by a negro lawyer, named J. Milton Turner, to canvass certain localities in eastern Oklahoma and procure contracts from Choctaw f reedmen for Crews & Cantwell, of St. Louis, Mo. ; that said Turner employed two other colored men as subagents in this work, whose names were J. E. Eubanks and H. A. Guess, re- spectively, and that Turner, in directing the work, maintained an office first at McAlester, Okla., and subsequently at Fort Smith, Ark,; that he (Fortune) procured about 700 contracts for Crews & Cantwell from Choctaw freedmen, including minors, but took no contracts from minors except when executed b}^ legal guardians; that he delivered all of the contracts thus procured by him to J. Milton Turner, who paid him $1.25 for each duly executed contract delivered, and that the contract provided for a 35 per cent contingent fee to Crews & Cantwell. Said Eobert L. Fortune stated that in no instance while engaged in this work did he represent himself as a Government official, but invariably as a subagent of J. Milton Turner, in procuring contracts for Crews & Cantwell, of St. Louis, Mo. ; that H. A. Guess, another of Turner's subagents, who was a negro attorney, then residinir st McAlester, Okla., was given a much larger and better territory tts ojoorate in than that assigned to him by Turner, in consequence of which, as stated by Fortune, Subagent Guess procured about douhip the number of contracts that he (Fortune) obtained, and which, with the contracts procured by J. E. Eubanks. another of Turner's sub- agents, a colored man. and said to be a lawyer, whose field of opera- tion was in the southeastern part of Oklahoma and adjoining terri- tory in Arkansas, and Fortune stated, as an estimate, that about 2.300 contracts Avere obtained for Crews & Cantwell from Choctaw freed- men by himself and the two other subagents operating under the direction of said J. Milton Turner. On the 23d ultimo I called upon Mi'. PTarris Masterson. attorney at law, at his office in the Chronicle Building. Houston. Tex., and had a very pleasant interview with him relative to his connection with certain attorneys engaged in prosecuting IMississippi-Choctaw Indian claims, and he was exceedinglv courteous throughout our conference. Mr. Masterson is a very affable gentleman and stated quite freely his interest in the claims handled by Crews & Cantwell. in which he said he became interested bv having the case presented and explained to him by Mr. S. L. Hurlbut. of El Campo, Tex., and that after investigating the matter he ccmcluded to go in on it as a s])ocu]ative investment, and that he took an active part in promoting the organ- ization of the Texas-Oklahoma Investment Co. to finance the project. The organization of said company and financing of the ]:)roject is set forth on pages 12 and 13 of this report, based upon the statements of Mr. Masterson to me with reference thereto. Mr. ISIasterson further stated that he also promoted the raising of a fund for Attorney Albert J. Lee, of Ardmoi-e, Okla.. to enable him to continue the prosecution of certain Choctaw-Chickasaw Indian INDIAN APPROPRIATION BILL, 1917. 141 claims that are being handled by Ballinger & Lee, which do not con- flict with those handled by Crews & Cantwell. Luke W. Conerly, of Gulf port, Miss., being frequently referred to in the communications contained in the file of papers furnished me by the Indian Office for use in my investigation, and his name ap- pearing in the correspondence as an active solicitor in obtaining contracts from Mississippi Choctaws, therefore I proceeded to Gulf- port. Miss., to meet him. I reached Gulfport the afternoon of the 27th ultimo, and learning that Mr. Conerly lived out in the country about 3 miles from Gulf- port, I got into telephone communication with him and he imme- diately came in to meet me at the Great Southern Hotel, where we were over 3 hours in conference, and he returned about 9 o'clock the following morning, accompanied by Henry Wilson and Carl Wilson, two prominent members of the Mississippi-Choctaws, and remained until near noon discussing Choctaw matters generally and A. P. Powell particularly. The said Luke W. Conerly is 73 years of age and a lawyer b}^ pro- fession, but has not practiced in the courts for several years past. He is quite intelligent, bears a good name in the community, and is well spoken of by those Avho know him. He claims to be a lineal descendant of one of the leading Choctaw- families who participated in the Dancing Babbit Creek treaty of 1830, and stated that he is now regarded by all the Choctaws living outside of Oklahoma as their captain and recognized leader; also that it was he who first -interested Congressman Harrison, of Mississippi, in Choctaw matters and got him to introduce the bill for reopening the Choctaw rolls; that he had interested United States Senators Williams and Varda- man, of Mississippi, in the Choctaw- claim; also Congressman Mor- gan, of Louisiana, in whose district many ChoctaAvs reside. I had a very pleasant interview with Harry Wilson, president chief council. Society of Mississippi ChoctaAvs, together with his son, Pearl L. Wilson, secretary of said council, both of whom reside in Gulfport, Miss., and they corroborated substantially the statements of Luke W. Conerly regarding Mississippi Choctaw matters. Mr. Conerly stated that he assisted A. P. Powell in writing up contracts with Mississippi Choctaws in 1910, when Powell was working on a salary for Crews & Cantwell, and that again in March, 1911, he commenced assisting Powell in writing up contracts for W. B. Matthews, an attorney of Washington, D. C, and for whom Powell procured 2,258 contracts and had charged the claimants $2.50 each for executing. He further stated that he was in Wash- ington, D. C, in February, 1912, and suggested to Mr. Cantwell, wdio was also in Washington, the advisability of Crews & Cantwell purchasing the INIatthews contracts, as Mr. Matthews had never done anything toward furthering the ChoctaAv case before the com- mittees of Congress or elsewhere, and that Mr. Cantwell was so favoi'ably impressed with the ])i'oposition that he authorized him (Conerly) to call upon Attorney iNIatthews and endeax'or to bring about a transfer of his conti'acts to Ci-ews it Cantwell, which he (Conerly) proceeded to carry out, resulting in ISIr. jNIatthews trans- ferring the 2.258 contracts that were procured in liis name to Crews & Cantwell for a cash consideration of $1,300, together with Mr. Matthews retaining a certain per cent interest in the contingent fee 142 INDIAN APPEOPRIATION BILL, 1917. ]jrovided in the contracts, and that he (Conerly) supervised the legal transfer of said contracts froln Matthews to Crews & Cantwell and carried them from INIr. Matthews's office in the Bond Building to Crews & CantwelFs office, then in the Munsey Building. Mr. Conerly further stated that A. P. Powell in his deal with W. B. Matthews was to receive a certain per cent of the contingent fee provided in the contracts, and in order to eliminate Powell, and that he would have no further interest in these 2,258 contracts, Mr. Cantwell paid Powell $300 in cash ; this payment to Powell, as stated Ijy Mv. Conerly, was that he might thus be gotten rid of in a friendly Avay and Avith the understanding that he (Powell) was not to return to Mississippi to engage in soliciting contracts with Choctaw or Chickasaw claimants. Mr. Conerly stated that he was then engaged by Crews & Cant- well to procure contracts for them, and that arrangements were sub- sequently made by which PowtII assisted him for a time, and that during 1912 and early part of 1913 he (assisted by Powell) procured about 1,300 contracts for Crews & Cantwell and turned the same in to them; that Powell then commenced taking contracts in his own name, and his present whereabouts are unknown to Conerly. Mr. Conerly still further stated that since March, 1913, he has been in the employ of Mr. T. B. Crews, of the firm of Crews & Cantwell, in ]Drocuring Choctaw contracts, and had on the 28th ultimo about 1,800 executed contracts all indexed and ready to turn in, thus ap- proximating about 9,558 of this class of contracts controlled by Crews & Cantwell, apart from any they may have obtained through parties whom he (Conerly) has no knowledge. To the above-stated total may be added the 2,300 freedmen contracts as estimated by Robert L. Fortune, of Wilburton, Okla., who was one of the solicitors ob- taining contracts from Freedmen for Crews & Cantwell. Mr. Conerly stated to me that he had obtained contracts from Mississippi Choctaws residing in 15 different States, and that there are now so many influential persons interested in this claim that he has great hope of the early enactment of legislation directing the reopening of the Choctaw and Chickasaw rolls. With reference to the representations made and methods adopted by A. P. Powell in obtaining contracts from Mississippi Choctaw p.l^plicants Mr. Conerly stated that he had been associated with Powell at intervals, from 1910 to the early part of 1913, in writing up contracts for Choctaw claimants, and that during all that period he bad never heard Powell represent himself as a Government official; on the contrary, had often heard him tell applicants that he was in no way connected with the Government, but that the impression pre- A ailed among the people in general that Powell represented some liigh authority in canvassing for and executing the contracts he was obtaining; that he never heard Powell state that he Avas a lawyer, but knows that the impression i^revailed in general that he was an attorney. Mr. Conerly stated that he has not met Powell during the past year and did not know where he is at the present time, but had heard that he is still engaged in soliciting contracts from ChoctaAv claimants, taking the contracts in his ow'n name on a 20 per cent contingent fee and charging each applicant $2.50 for executing their ])apers, and he (Conerly) expressed the belief that Powell has INDIAN APPKOPKIATIOX BILL, 1917. 143 realized several thousand dollars through the $2.50 fee invariably re- ceived by him from each of the many claimants from Avhom he obtained contracts since severing his connection with Crews & Cant- well in 1911. Mr. Conerly remarked with reference to A. P. Powell that he re- garded him as a shrewd individual who made a good impression upon persons meeting him casually, but that from having acquired a very thorough knowledge of Powell's characteristics, he (Conerly) would not wish to be associated with him in any business transaction. As pertinent in the premises. I transmit herewith as " Exhibit B " copy of statement of said Luke W. Conerl3\ made under oath to Special Indian Agent W. W. McConihe at Jackson, Miss., on April 26, 1911; the original of Avhich I submitted to Mr. Conerly at Gulf- port, Miss., on the 28th ultimo and which he verified as true antt a correct statement of matters herein referred to up to the time the said statement was made and sworn to by him. There is also transmitted herewith as '' Exhibit C " letter of Luke W. Conerly, of Gulf port, Miss., addressed to me under date of iTtli instant, to which is attached a printed circular of Crews & Cantwell, dated February 16, 1912, accompanied by printed copy of an affidavit of A. P. Powell, dated November 6, 1911, which has reference to the discontinuance of A. P. Powell by Crews & Cantwell and the emploj^ment by them of said Mr. Conerly to continue the work of procuring contracts from Choctaw claimants who desired to be rep- resented by Crews & Cantwell. I also transmit, as " Exhibit D," copy of affidavit of said A. P. Powell, acknowledged at Jackson, Miss., by W. W. McConihe, special United States Indian agent, on April 27, 1911, wherein Powell states that he took about 4,000 applications and made no charge for them, after which he charged applicants $1.25 each : that he made this charge because the money that had been advanced by Crews, Cantwell & Hurlbut was exhausted ; that he sent all these claims he was making a charge for to Crews & Cantwell ; that he took about 100 applications at Monticello, Miss., for Crews & Cantwell and charged $2.50 each there; that he took a few names at Biloxi, Miss., and charged $1.25 for each applicant there, and that these claims were for Crews & Cantwell; that he also visited Meridian, Miss., and took about 88 applications there for Crews & Cantwell, but for which no charge was made ; and that he had taken no applications for Crews & Cant- well after his association with Matthews (meaning Attorney W. B. Matthews, of Washington, D. C). From the foregoing statements of Powell in his said affidavit he doubtless took contracts for Crews & CantAvell from approximately 4,200 claimants, as stated on page 13 of this report, and also as shown on page 14 hereof, by copy of Mr, C. B. Moling's letter of June 12, 1911, to Hon. W. L. Dechant, of Middletown, Ohio, which, with the 2,258 contracts taken by Powell for W. B. INIatthews and sub- sequently transferred to Crews & Cantwell, and as stated by Luke W. Conerly (assisted by Powell), 1,300 turned into Crews & Cantwell during 1912 and early part of 1913 (see p. 37 of this report), together with about 1,800 additional contracts which Mr. Conerly has re- cently procured and ready to turn in to Mr. Crews (see also p. 37 of this report), approximates 9,558 of this class of contracts on a 30 per cent contingent fee, controlled by Crews & Cantwell and their 144 INDIAN APPROPEIATION BILL, 1917. associates of the Texas-Oklahoma Investment Co., and which, with about 2,300 contracts obtained for Crews & Cantwell from f reedmen on a 35 per cent contingent fee, as stated by Robert L. Fortune (see pp. 30-32 of this report), brings the number of claimants repre- sented by them up to 11,858, approximately. I transmit herewith five forms of blanks used in executing these contracts, " Exhibit E " being the form used by A. P. Powell in pro- curing contracts for Crews & Cantwell while working on a salary for them. " Exhibit F " was the form used by said Powell while procuring contracts for W. B. Matthews. " Exhibit G " is the form now being used by A. P. Powell in taking contracts in his own name. " Exhibit H " is the form used by Luke W. Conerly in writing up contracts for T. B. Crews. " Exhibit I " was the form used by the three subagents of J. Milton Turner in procuring contracts from Choctaw and Chickasaw- freedmen for Crews & Cantwell, and " Ex- hibit J " contains copies of five notices circulated by A. P. Powell in soliciting contracts; also specially prepared press dispatches for dis- tribution, with the evident object of thus arousing enthusiasm in the Mississippi Choctaw matter. In conclusion, I desire to state that from a careful perusal of the numerous letters of claimants, from whom A. P. Powell had obtained contracts, seeking information wdth reference thereto, as contained in the file of papers furnished me by the Indian Office for reference in this investigation, together with my having interrogated numerous persons as to the representations made to claimants by Powell and other solicitors, it appears that Powell did not represent himself as an official of the Government nor of the Choctaw Nation, and thus therefore avoided violating the statutes in that respect, not- Avithstanding which, as stated by many persons, the impression un- doubtedly prevailed, especially among the more ignorant, that he was a lawyer and represented the Government in some manner in soliciting contracts from Choctaw- claimants. Many persons whom I interrogated regarding the matter asserted that Powell had invariably denied being in any w^y connected with the Government, and was only endeavoring to get the rolls reopened that the unenrolled Choctaws might receive their rightful shares, which, as stated by him. would he 320 acres of land and about $2,500 in cash to each claimant, less 30 per cent contingent fee to the attorneys. I return herewith the file papers furnished me by the Indian Office for reference in this investigation. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, James McLaughlin, Inspector. INDIAN APPROPRIATION BILL, 1917. 145 Exhibit A. I S. L. Iliirlbut, president; L. II. Beal, secretary. Alfalfa, corn, oats, cotton, rice, cane, and truck lands.] Gulf Coast Land & Investment Co., State Bank Building, EI Campo, Tex., March 8, 1911. A. P. Powell, Bay St. Louis, Miss. Deah SiK : Your letter addres-sed to Mr. Hurlbut, under date of March 6, has just reached us, and as INIr. Hurlbut is away from the oflice at this time and as you seem to have a wrong idea of the amount that has been spent for contracts, or rather for the actual (>xpense of takinc; contracts up to the pres- ent time, we think it advisable to supply you with the figures, as shown on our books, for the money already paid out for field work, for the actual expense of taking the contracts, not to say anything of that used by Crews »;'c G;'.ntv\-ell, in getting ready for proving up. Powell has received, to cover expenses, to date $2, OOG. 02 Powell has received salary for taking contracts 900. 00 Nickols has received for helping in taking Oklahoma contracts 12.5. 00 Turner has received for helping in taking Oklahoma contracts 165. 00 Hurlbut has been to an expense in going to Oklahoma and taking contracts there 327. 00 Or there has been a total spent on taking contracts of 3, 523. 02 So you will see that, instead of as you say, when you make the statement that you have used only $1,800 yourself you have really used .$2,906.02, and this does not include the $65 given you by Cantwell while you were in Wash- ington the last time. And you will see by this that Mr. Hurlbut was exactly right when he stated that about $7,000 has already been spent. Mr. Hurlbut will no doubt answer the part of your letter wdiere you refer to his paying you $122 when he returns to the office, and I think this matter will ])e fixed up between you and him in a satisfactory manner, as he wishes to do exactly what is i-iglit by you. Yours, very tndy, L. S. Hurlbut. PerL. H. Beal. statement of MTt. ),UKE WAKI) CONEKLY. Mr. Luke Ward Conerly, of Gulfport, Miss., Station A, made the following statement to Speeial Agent McConihe at Jackson, Miss., April 26, 1911, under oath : " I know A. P. Powell. He is engaged in vrrlting up Choctaw claims in Mis- sissippi. I am working wMth Mr. Powell now. Have been with him at Tyler- towTi, Pike Coimty, Bay St. Louis, and I am now engaged at McConib City, Pike County. I was not with him all the time at Bay St. Louis. I have been present when large numbers of persons appeared before Mr. Powell, and I never heard him say he wns a Government official or agent, or make any state- ment that could lead others to think so. I met Powell about July and ;isked him whnt he was doing, and he said he was getting up claims for Mississijipi Choctaws under the treaty of 1S.30. I understood Ihiit he had been before Congress with the claims. Ua said that Crews & Cantwell were getting up the claims to present to Congress, the courts, or the department. Powell said he was getting the claims for that firuL I do not know what he gets out of it. I have never heard Powell say that he was representing the Government, nctr have I ever henrd anyone say that they heard or w.-is told by Powell tliiit he was a United States official, or w^is repre- senting the (Jovornnient. At Bay St. Louis he was making no charges nt first for his work. Powell required every applicant to show up his ancestry. At Bay St. Louis he ran out of blaTdvs jind li.-id some more printed, and after- wards charged tliem $1.2.5, incbuling notary foe. Powell sent me to Tylertown to work there getting up claims, and I mside a chargo of $2.50 for each appli- 251 .34— pt 4—1 10 146 INDIAN APPROPRIATION BILL, 1917. cation written up aud paid him .$1 for blanks. I wrote up about 150 applica- tions. Tlie charge was to cover expenses. I represented to the people that they were entitled to put in claims against tlie (Government under the provi- sions of the treaty of 1S30, subject to such legislation by Congress as might be determined, and that they would have to enter into a contract if they wanted to put in a claim on a 30 per cent contingent fee, as sliown by the contract with Crews <& Cantwell, who were the lawyers having charge of the matter, who would present the claims to Congress. I have been at McComb City woi"k- ing up claims since March 21, and malving a charge of $2.50 for each applica- tion. I pay Powell $1 for a set of blanks of two, and keep $1.25 and pay the notary 25 cents. I am taking all these applications in the name of William B. Mathews, of Washington. D. C. Last December 19 I closed at Tylertown and went to Bay St. Louis and brought him all the applications I had left. These were the last I wrote up for Crews & Cantwell. I wrote no more after that until about Mai'ch 13, when I met him at Columbia, where he was writing up claims for W. B. Mathews. He gave me to understand that he no longer repre- sented Crews & Cantwell. but gave me no reason for the change. He gave me 100 sets of blanks to take to McComb and open an office there. Our agi'eement was that I should write 25 claims and send them to him with the $25. I have sent him 50 contracts and $50. I was not at Jackson with Mr. Powell. I made $1.25 on each application at McComb. I tell the people this is for my expenses." I certify that the above statement was made to me under oath. W. W. McCONIHE, Spccnal Indian Agent. Exhibit C. GuLFPORT, Miss., June 17, Wl). Maj. James McLaughlin, Inspector, Indian Office, Washington, 7). C. Dear Sir: While you were in Gulf port I promised you I would send you a circular sent out by Crews & Cantwell from Washington in reference to A. P. Powell and also my employment by them in February, 1912. You will note that during the engagement of myself by Crews & Cantwell in which ]Mr. Masterson was concerned I was forbldtlen to charge even a notary fee against those who appeared before me. Mr. Masterson refusing, after the 1st of February, 1913, to furnish any more money to cover my expenses, T took contracts during that month for that firm at my own expen.se. After February, 1913, say 1st of March, 1913, I entered into an agreement with Thomas B. Crews to take contracts in his name, he to cover my expenses, except I reserved the right under the IMississippi laws to charge my notary fee of 50 cents each against those able to pay, and I have made it a rule not to charge a widow or a woman dependent on her own re- sources for a support, nor a cripple, nor any one else not able to pay the 50 cents notary fee. Not being allowed any traveling money in 1912 by Crews & Cantwell and Mr. Masterson, in some instances, in order to save the expense of coming to Gulfport, wliere there were groups of claimants, they volunteered to cover my expenses to their neighborhoods and return. In no instance whatever have I made a charge against persons putting in claims through me; neither have I appointed any subagent, nor allowed anyone, if I could help it, to charge for making out proof and contracts for others where I furnished the blanks, but I can not say this was not done in some instances without my knowledge. I have always been careful to explain the situation of our case before the Connnitteo on Indian Affairs, as I was present at the opening of the case before the subcommittee. February, 1912. and understood the situation, and have tried to impress upon the minds of all that the rolls could not be opened ; nor could the Secretary of Interior do anything without the enactment of a law to author- ize it; and espeiially have I urged people not to annoy the Interior Department, nor our lawyers and Congressmen, with letter.s — to be patient and wait. So anxious have our people been to get their claims in and to secure their rights that they would willingly have paid me a cash fee for the work of getting up their ancestral records and proof and preparing their papers for their attorneys and I could have reaped thcmsands of dollars in the last two years; but, instead, I have expended a thousand dollars of my own earnings going to them to do the work fur them free of charge, besides money furnished me by niy INDIAN APPROPRIATION BILL, lOlT. 147 associates and employers, Crews & Cantwell. Knowing the Iiard contest before us in Congress on account of powerful opposition, I was opposed to the charge of a petty fee against the claimants when their attorneys were doing their work for a contingent fee subject to modification and approval of the Secretary. By a special arrangement with Mr. Cantwell and also with Thomas B. Crews, T own a number of contracts in my own right, taken in the name of Crews & Cantwell, and I am trying, and have been all the time, to conform to my instruc- tions from them as outlined in the circular inclosed sent out by them in February, 1912. Yours, sincerely and truly, Luke W. Conerly. Office of Crews & Cantwell, 420 Munsey Building, Washhigton, D. C, Fehrunry 16, 1912. To the Mississippi Choctaws: We inclose herewith a copy of an affidavit made by A. P. Powell which explains itself. The occasion for sending this affidavit to you and for the statement which follows arises by reason of the fact that all relations between A. P. Powell and the firm of Crews & Cantwell are now severed. A short history of our relations with him may not be improper. In the month of May, 1910, Mr. Cantwell had some business before the Committee on Indian Affairs with relation to citizenship claims in the Choctaw-Chickasaw Tribe, and made an argument before the committee on that day. At the con- clusion of his argument Powell made to the committee a statement of his claim as a Mississippi Choctaw. (A copy of the statement of Mr. Powell made at that time is herewith inclosed for your information.) Mr. Cantwell had had no occasion to investigate the claims of the Mississippi Clioctaws prior to that time, but upon a casual examination of the matter he became impressed with tlie idea that thei'e was much more fouu'lation for the claim of rights of the Mississippi Choctaws than had been stated by Mr. Powell before the com- mittee, and upon a full investigation he became convinced that the claim of riglits of the Mississi])pi Choctaws was well founded, and thereupon our firm employed Powell upon a salary to go to Mississippi and secure contracts for us and in our name as attorneys to represent the claimants. Powell gave us to understand at that time that the number of claimants would be about 2,000, and the money was pi'ovided for all the expense of taking that number of contracts. There were many more clainumts than we were led to believe existed, and after nearly 3,000 contracts had' been taken, the money provided for that purpose became exhausted. Mr. Cantwell requested Powell, who was then in Washington, to return to Mississippi, and stop the work of taking contracts until arrangements could be provided for funds to pay the expenses of taking more contracts, and Powell was paid his expenses to return to Missis- sippi. Powell at that time suggested to Mr. (Jantwell that the claimants would pay the expenses themselves, but as no bill had been introduced for the relief of the Mississippi Choctaws and as it was micertain at that time whether any legislation would be enacted, Mr. Cantwell felt that to charge claimants for making out tlie papers, or to permit tlieni to pay the cost of doing so, might cause th(^ enemies of the Mississippi Clioctaws to designate tlie elforts to get them together as a scheme of graft for these fees, and our firm was not willing to have the cause injured by permitting any occasion for such charges. Powell then went to l\Ir. W. B. Matthews, a lawyer of Washington. D. C, and represented to Mr. Matthews that there were a large inunber of claimants in Mississippi who were willing to pay for writing up tluMr contracts, provided Ihey could get a lawyer to rei)resont fliem. Mr. Matthews conscntivl to repi-e- sent them in the event that l'ow(^ll could secure the contracts, ;ind (piite a num- ber of contracts were taken by Powell in the name of W. B. Matthews under this arrangement, the claimants paying a fee for writing the contracts. The firm of Crews & Cantwell had absolutely no connection with this whatever, iind during all this period Powell was not in our cniplfty and not in auyv»i.se connected with us. During all this time, however — tliat is. while Powell was taking contracts for Mr. Matthews— no contracts were taken for us or in our name, id(liou;;Ii we wen- doinu' mH th(> woi-k ol" pr<'p;iriim- the law govi'mini: the case of the Mississippi Choctaws. Powell had up to this time still retained a contingent interest in the fee which might be eventually recovered by us, and nsate such attorneys and counsel : Now, therefore, the premises considered, the parties of the second part jointly agree: 1 irst. 'r.( r('|)resent the party of the first part as attorneys and counsel in pre- senting to the Interior Department sm-li lawful evidence as the party of the fii'st part may collect to estalilisli the facts of liis i)edigre(> jind status, and such other facts as may he necessary to establish the right claimed. Second. To repre.sent as attorneys the party of the first part in all legal pro- ceedings before any court, conmiission. or department of the (Government of the 152 INDIAN APPROPRIATION BILL, 1917. United States or the State of Oklahoma, wherever and whenever such riglit may be properly and legally tried. Third. To present before the committees of Congress proper legal argument in sui)port of the right .so claimed or in support of any measure tending to pro- vide a remedy for the riglit so claimed. Fourth. To furnish party of the fir.st pai't necessary information for the pur- pose of enabling him to select to the best advantage any lands that he may be entitled to by reason of said right. Fifth. To collect all sums of money, lands, and property that may properly be collected, selected, and received hereafter by reason of said right, and to faithfully pay over and account to said party of the first part for all such sums of money and property after deducting the compensation hereinafter pro- vided for. In consideration of the premises and the agreement of the parties of the second part as aforesaid, and of services heretofore rendered by them, the party of the first part contracts and agrees to pay and assign, transfer, and convey to the parties of the second part 30 per cent of all sums of money, lands, and property that may be received by reason of the right claimed, and hereby irrevocably appoints the parties of the second part his true and lawful attorneys in fact, to do any and all acts in his name, place, and stead as fully and com- pletely as he might do in person in and about the subject matter of this agree- ment, and to execute such receipts, discharges, and releases as the party of the first part might lawfully do, hereby ratifying and confirming all that his said attorneys in fact and in law may do in the premises. The party of the first part hereby revokes all powers of attorney, if any, here- tofore made by him to any person or persons whomsoever, touching said rights or interests, and requests that the Interior Department of the United States recognize the parties of the second part as his exclusive agents and attorneys in the premises. And it is hereby specifically agreed that the appointment herein of Thomas P>. Crews and Harry J. Cantwell is joint, and that in the event of the death of either the survivor shall succeed to all rights and benefits of this agreement, and shall perform all of the duties hereunder. It is further agreed that by reason of the legal services rendered prior to and at the signing of this agreement, in advising the party of the first part as to his legal rights, and in consideration of the services heretofore rendered by A. P. Powell before the committees of Congress in presenting the claims of the class of persons to which the party of the first part belongs, said parties of the second part having compensated said A. P. Powell therefor, and in further consideration of the absolute agreement herein of the parties of the second part to perform the services herein, that the powers herein granted are powers coupled with an interest ; and it is agreed that the parties of the second part may jointly designate, sulistitute, and appoint, in writing, any competent attor- ney or attorneys at law to assist in the i)erformance of the duties of the parties of the second part hereunder, and to clothe said person or persons w'ith all the powers herein grant(>d to the parties of the second part, the parties of the sec- ond part hereby guaranteeing the efliciency and integrity of any and all per- sons who may be thus appointed, it being distinctly understood that the com- pensation of such persons for such assistance shall not be paid by the party of the first part. It is further understood and agreed that, in the event it becomes necessary under any law now existing or hereafter enacted, that this conti'act shall be approved by the Secretary of the Intei'ior ; then, in that event, the Secretary of the Interior may, in his discretion, modify the terms of this contract as to the compensation to be jiaid the parties of the second part, withont invalidating this contract, and said contract as modified by said Secretary of the Interior shall be binding upon the parties hereto, provided always that the compensa- tion fixed by the Secretary of the Interior shall in no event exceed the per- centage above stated. Executed in duplicate. In witness whereof the parties hereto have hereunto set their hands the day and year first above written. Signed and delivered in presence of: INDIAN APPKOPEIATION BD.L, 1011. Ic3 State of , County of , s.s : Before me, , a ■ . in and for said county and State, on this day of , 191 — , personally appeared and , to me known to be the identical person who executed the within and foregoing instrument, and acknowledged to me that executed the same as free and voluntary act and deed for the uses and purposes therein set forth. In witness whereof I have hei-eunto set my hand and official seal at said <*ountv the dav and year last above written. Exhibit J. To whoiu a mail ronccrn: This is to certify that I, Alexander P. Powell, a representative of the Choc- taw Tribe of Indians now engaged in soliciting contracts with Mississippi Clioctaws for services to be rendered in prosecuting their claim before the different branches of the Government, in order to secure for them a reopening of the rolls of those entitled to share in the tribal property belonging to the Choctaw Tril>e in tlie State of Oklahoma, am acting in my individual capacity and for the benefit of myself and those associated with me in this effort to secure the right of said Indians in said property. I further certify that I am in no numner employed or engaged l)y the United States Government to solicit any contract with said Indians or yierform any duty in connection therein. Respectfully, Alexander P. I'owell. NOTICE TO INDIANS. This is your last chance in connection with William R. J^Iathews, attorney at law. Evans Building, Washington. D. C. I am engaged in writing uii claims of all Mississippi Choctaws and their descendants who remained in Mississippi after Dancing Rabbit Creek treaty with the United States Government in 18.30. I will remain here for a few days only ; I will be glad to write up all bene- ficiaries ; we intend to sulimit all claims to the Sixty-second Congress, which convenes in Washington, D. C, April 4, 1911. I am Indian and Spaniard, and my grandfather was a signer of the great treaty concluded September 27, 1830. Alexander P. Powell. Philadelphia, Mlss. notice to indians and their descendants in connection with hon. harry peyton, room 420 dond building, washinfiton, ». c. This is your last chance to secure benefits under the bill introduced by Hon. Pat Harri.son, of the sixth district of Mississippi, now pending before the Sixty-second ('ongress, for the relief of Mississippi Choctaws and their descend- ants who remained in Mississippi after the treaty of 1830. I am an Indian and a Spaniard and my grandfather was a signer of the treaty of 1830. I will be glad to write up all bent'ficiaries, and I have in my possession a record (hat will enable you to trace your ancestors back to 1780. Those with negro blood need not apply. I will be at Miss., on the day of , 1912. Alexander P. Powell, tfo. 106 Fourth Avenue, Laurel, Mifis. Office: Room Ji20, Bond Building, Washington, D. C. (This paper was sent to Indian Odice by Mrs. Viola Strickland, of Meridian, Miss., No. 1400 Tenth Avenue, under date of Sept. 16, 1912.) THIS IS YOUR LAST CHANCE — NOTICE TO THE ONCE MIGHTY TRIHE OF RED MEN WHO ONCE OWNED THIS COUNTRY AND TO THEIR DESCENDANTS. In connection with Hon. Harry Peyton, room 408, and Hon. Oliver A. Phelps, room 619, Bond Building, Washington, D. C, I am still engaged in writing up all Mississippi Choctaws and their descendants who remained in 154 INDIAN APPEOPRIATIOX BILL, 1917. Mississippi after tlie Dancing Rabbit Creek treaty witli tlie Uuitod States Government, concluded September 27. 1830. The treaty of 1830. known as the treaty of " Perpetual friendship," pro- vides that tiie Indian Territory shall so to the red man and his descendants " as long as water runs and grass grows." The treaty, furthermore, provided that our descendants that did not see fit to go to the Territory then, at any time that they may take a notion to come on and join the tril)e in the Territory they shall share in this distribution as long "as water runs and grass grows." If your ancestors were born east of the Mississipi)i River, call on me. It is possible tliat some of them may have been at the treaty mentioned above. I am an Indian and a Spaniard, and my grandfather, Nita. was a signer of the treaty of 1830. I have in my possession a record of the old aboriginal that will permit you to trace your Indian ancestiy back as far as 1780. All Mississippi Choctaw cases are now pending before Counuittee on Indian Affairs, Sixty-third Congress, first session, waiting for report and decision. I will be glad to write up all beneficiaries. Those with negro blood need not apuly. I wiU be at W. J. Nelson's, 802 Second Street, Lake Charles, La., on Sep- tember 5. ArEXANDER p. Powell. NOTICE TO MISSISSII'PI CHOCTAWS. In connection with Harry J. Cantwell, Thomas L. Crews, and William B. Matthews, attorneys of Washington, 1). C., I am still engaged in writing up claims for the Choctaw-Chickasaw Indians and their descendants who remained in ^Mississippi after the Dancing Ixabbit Creek treaty with the United States Government. I am a member of the Choctav*- Tribe of Indians, and my grand- fa thei- was a signer of the great treaty made September 27, 1830. I will be glad to conununicate with any beneficiary at my otHce in Bay St. Louis. Miss. A. P. Powell, Scdbrook Hotel, Bdij St. Louis, Miss. " INDIANS " LIVING IN OLD MISSISSIPPI. "All Mississippi Choctaw Indians and their descendants are asked to meet at the county courthouse next Sunday afternoon at 2 o'clock. The object of the meeting is to further the rights contained in the treaty of 1830 between the United States and Choctaws. (Biloxi Herald.)" To which is answered : Such a meeting as is scheduled as per the above would be " nuts " for some moving-picture company, provided such meeting is attended by all the people who have filed claims as descendants of the tribe of red men known as Choctaws. They are of all shades and color, running from the real Indian to the coal-black, thick-lipped, flat-nosed, kinky-headed negro, with a good sprinkling of whites, in whose veins no one Itnt themselves ever susi)ected that a drop of Indian blood llowed. But anything goes in this day and generation when the thought of " easy money " presents itself. Uncle Sam's coffers will scarcely be opened for the motley crew, however just may be the claims of some of the pure-bred Choctaws. (Gulf Coast Progress.) HOUSTON investors MAY GET MILLIONS FROM INDIAN CLAIM. A Houston organization, in which more than $2,500,000 is at stake and the hereditary rights of the Choctaw Tribe of Mississippi is the merchandise, has received quite a boost 'in a telegram received by Judge Harris Masterson. Many Iloustonians are interested in the enterprise. The telegram reads as follows : " Subcommittee report of Friday last was unanimous and recommends admis- sion of all full bloods, also all others who can prove descent from one who either received or should have received patent under fourteenth article treaty of 1830. Meetings are executive and no arguments being heard." To those who are not interested in the venture the telegram needs interpre- tation. It comes from Washington and has to do with a bill introduced by Mr. Harrison, of IMississippi. in behalf of the admission to enrollment of the Mississippi Choctaw Indians and their descendants to participation in the money and lands belonging to the Choctaw Tribe. INDIAN APPROPRIATION BILL^ 1917. 155 Some time ago Judge Masterson was instrumental in forming an organization to urge the claim of the Choctaw Tribe in a participation of certain lands in the Territories and moneys in the United States Treasury. Many of these Indians were his clients. Going rather deeply into the matter he banded over 4,000 of these claimants together and became their representative and legal adviser. Money was needed to carry the enterprise through, and a company was formed. Between ,50 and GO men came into the company, and many of these are prominent Houstonians. Judge Masterson says that the venture is one whicli promises tremendous returns for the amount invested by the stockholders and that he is confident Congress will give assent to the recommendations of the subcommittee. WOULD RESTORE CHOCTAW INDIAN PENSION BILLS. [Associated Press. 1 Washington, December 13. The bill introduced in the House last session by Representative Harrison, providing reopening of rolls of the Chickasaw-Clioctaw Indian Tribes, came up for consideration in the House yesterday. A vote was not reached. In his speecli in favor of the bill Mr. Harrison said, in part : " The Mississippi Choctaws have been woefully neglected and unmercifully treated. They acquired rights under the fourteenth article of the treaty of 1830 that the United States Government has never fairly and .justly recognized. Every act of Congress passed with respect to the Mississippi Clioctaws has violated the spirit and the letter of that article of the treaty. " The Oklahoma Choctaws were permitted l\v act of Congress in 1881 to sue the United States Government, in wliich suit they recovered from the Govern- ment $8,000,000 for damages done to the Mississippi Choctaws in Mississippi. Sclieming attorneys, representing the tribe, dictate agreements, suggest, lobby for, and have passed ]n\YS that not only make it impossible for the Mississippi Choctaws to be enrolled upon tribal rolls, but through their influence they have actually created courts to prevent or exclude the Mississippi Choctaws from being enrolled. One of the blackest spots in the history of the administration of the Choctaw Nation is the escapades practiced in the citizenship court. " The Mississippi Choctaw is a part of that great Indian nation which never i-aised a tomahawk against an American citizen. Thousands of her warriors displayed their heroism under Jackson at New Orleans." [Alexander P. Powell, representative Mississippi Clioctaw Indians ; ofHce. room 408, Bond Building, Washington, D. C. ; .3.31 Pine Street, Laurel, Miss.] SiiuEVEPORT, L.\., October 28, 1913. Mr. CoLt'MBT's Overman, Dexter, Kana. Dear Sir: Yours of recent date to hand. Beg to advise that I have already written up a number of your relatives under their great-great-grandmother Delilah, who was an Indian woman, and if you wish to be written up. on receipt of .$2.50, which I require for recording fee, etc., I will send you blanks to be filled out. I do not charge you any fee, but wlien I collect for you I get 20 per cent of collections. I am also inclosing you a Pat Ilarri.son bill and other literature and you can see for yourself how the case stands. Yours, truly, . .\lexandeu 1'. Powell. Hon. Alexander P. Powell, 1913. Dear Sir: Being a Choctaw descendant and desiring to make application for compensation for the violation of my rights under the treaty of 1830, between the Choctaw Nation and the United States Government, and being unable to go to your ofiice for that purpose, I do hereby request that you come at your earliest convenience to , my place of residence, for tliat purpose, and I agree to rtMiiiburse you the necessary expense of your trip to and from said place, provided the .same shall not exceed the sum of $2.50. Witness : 156 i:n'diax appeopeiatiox bill, 191:. MKJCORAXnrM OF EVIDENCE. In the matter of , Mississipi (Jlioctaws Full name, • — . Post-oflice address, . When and where were you born? Is there any oflicial record of your birth or baptism? If so, state where. Father's name. . If living, state post-oihce address. If dead, state date and place of his deatli. Mother's maiden name, . If living, state post-office address. ■ • If dead, state date and place of lier death. When and where were your parents married? . Is there any record of the marriage? If so, state where. . What was the name of your father's father? . When did he die, and where? . What was the name of your father's mother? ■ • . When and where did slie die? . Wliat was the name of your mother's father? . AVhen and wliere did he die? . What was the name of your mother's mother? . When and where did she die? . What is the name of ancestors who received land or script under the treaty of 1830? ■ . How can you prove your de.scent from him or her? . Give name and address of all witnesses as to your descent from such ancestor, and refer to all churcli records which can give any information. . Did you ever go to Oivlahoma to mal^e application for enrollment on Choctaw rolls ? . Have you ever made settlement on any lands in Oklahoma? If so, describe same. . Where were you denied enrollment? . Have you any documents proving your pedigree? Where are they? If so, attach or submit them. . Are any of your relatives now on the rolls of the Choctaw? Give names of friends and neighbors who can testify to any matter of interest regarding your pedigree. ADDRESS. Are any of your relatives now on tlie rolls of the Choctaw-Chickasaw Tribe as a I\Iississii)pi Clioctaw? If so, give names and address and number on roll. . If you can, give a description of the land your ancestors received in Missis- sippi under the treaty of 1830. . State of Mississippi, , County of . , being duly sworn upon h — oath, deposes and says that the matters and things .set forth in the foregoing statement are true to the best of h — knowledge and belief. Subscrijiod and sworn to before me this day of , 191 — . -, Notary PuMic. INDIAN APPKOPEIATION BILL, 1917. 157 Mr. Ferris. Now, the estimated expenses of collecting he deducts, which he says will be $150,000, which leaves them the pitiful sum of $3,094,223. Mr. Snyder. He hasn't got it yet. Mr. Ferris. Not yet, and they never should get it. I know no committee will ever countenance such a performance as that for a minute, But he does do — they come before Congress and try to create doubt and confuse the minds of the Members so they will not do what they ought to do, give the Oklahoma people their money. Mr. Dill. Has he any contracts with these Indians that are pro- vided for in this bill ? Mr. Ferris. No. Mr. Dill. Then if this legislation passed he would not get anything ? Mr. Ferris. No. These are the regularly enrolled people that are to get this money direct. It is these outside people brought here by perjured convicts' testimony, witnesses who can neither read or write, without conscience, soul, or decency to tell the truth on any subject, that he has contracts with. Mr. Harrisox. Do they represent any Indians already identified by the Dawes Commission or by McKinnon '( I do not think they do. Mr. Ferris. The}^ say they do. I have it right here. Let me read what they say. They claim to represent over 2,000 indigent Indians. Mr. Carter. Let me ask the gentlemen, did Mr. Ballinger state in his testimony that he represented those people ? Mr. Ferris. Let me pause long enough to say that I do not at- tempt to throw the slightest shadow upon the distinguished and able gentleman from Mississippi or any of his people. They are warm- hearted, lovable people, ai:d would not do a wrong if they knew it. And I know the gejUleman from Mississippi does not approve of this performance; but let me urge of him, in deference to his good name, and in deference to his ability, honor, aiul standing in this House, if he does not think he is treadhig on awfully dangerous grouiul to be continually fighting in the same trench with this band of wolves and hyenas that would rob our people of the last dollar they had ? And I say to you, Mr. Chairman, that the Oklahoma Indians will never have a moment's peace as long as they have a mite to their names or a dollar in their pocket but wliat some attorney will be tryiiig to filch and rob them of it. And I think that a people who for nearly 100 years have been faithful, law-a])i(ling citizens, who have served both in the Army of the Union and in the Rebellion, that it is time they have their peace and be free from this persecution, and the only way to do it, my friends, is to give them their money that they are entitled to. Do you know, gentlemen of the connnittee, that at. the time Congressman Carter and Senator Owcui came to the Congress they could not sell tlieir own lands ^ H\c Indians of the Five Civilized Tribes have been, most of them, well educated for 50 years, and it is very humiliating to them. It is wrong. This provision ought to bo rewritten, and it ought to direct the Secretary of the Interior to do exactly what the Atoka agreement says they will do and give them every cent of their money. That is what ought to be done. The Atoka agreement, which caused the Indians to let the white 158 INDIAN APPEOPRIATION BILL, lt)l7. settlers come in there — they only agreed to the Atoka treaty when Congress agreed to distril)ute their money when it was paid in. The Cm'tis bill which vitalized this — I have it here — carried a pro- vision — section 17, as I recall — directing that within a year after the money was collected it should be distributed to them. It is their money. We do not ask, as I am informed in the language in the bill, that we are fearful that there may be some of our own people that will need something later on; but, gentlemen, we do ask that this payment be made, and if it is changed at all it ought to be increased. I know it is not your M^ish that these Indians suffer longer. I want to saj- to my friend, Air. Harrison, that the Indians of Oklahotna for nearly 100 years beckoned to his people to come over to Oklahoma and help build up that new State, but they remained behind. They would not come, and they will not come now. He does not propose to have them come. He is not in favor of having them come now. He wants to lug some of the money from our Indians who went out on the frontier and took the hardships back to Mississippi and give it to his own people, so that they in turn can give 40 per cent of it to these attorneys. Mr. Harrison. The gentleman is mistaken about my wanting to give it to the attorneys. I think you can ^\Tite a provisioii in there that will prevent that. Mr. Ferris. That is iridescent dream, hke ships that pass in the night. We have tried to choke off these attorneys before and have failed. They are getting fees all the time at the Indian Office that they v.'ould not get if we could stop it. Now just let me say three or four words more. Four Secretaries of the Interior have said that these people shall not ])e enrolled wliile the}'' live in Mississippi; that they are not entitled to be enrolled under the law or the facts. The Federal court said the same thing; the Supreme Court said it ^\ben they dismissed their case on their own motion. When the appellant dismisses his own case he assumes and accepts the judgment of the Federal court, as he did in this case, and it becomes a final judgment just as effectually as though the court had rendered a decision. ^ir. Harrison. Isn't it i)urely a question of jurisdiction ? Mr. Ferris. No; the appellants dismissed their own case. The appellants, I repeat, dismissed their own case. The attorneys for the appellants dismissed their case. Mr. Harrison. That is very true, but the court held they did not go into the merits of the ])roposition. Mr. Ferris. Of course they did not, because the attorne3's for the appellants did not give them a chance to, and as Congress also said Judge Clayton, the Federal judge, had final jurisdiction. I repeat, four Secretaries of the Interior have held that these people hud no rights, beginning with James Rudol])h Garfield, Seciretary of the Interior when I came to Congress; later Mr. BalUnger, wlio was the next Secretary, an.d later Walter Fislier, and next Sec- retary Lane, who is the present Secretary^ in the strongest khid of a letter last year and again this year. The CjtairiMan. Didn't Secretary Hitchcock also pass on this question ? INDIAN APPKOPEIATION BILL, 1017, 159 IMt'. Ferris. Perhaps he did, but that was before I came to Con- gress. And Congress itself, by the solemn act of April 27, 1906, says these rolls shall be forever closed Maich 4, 1906. Is there i\o time when these people caii have their peace? Is there no time that these people can be through trying this fourteenth article ? Now I beg your pardon for taking so much of your tune. I have all the records here and would like to go over them with you. Mr. Carter. How long were these rolls held open for the Missis- sippi Choctaws ? Mr. Ferris. From 1830 up until 1890 every Indian who came from Mississippi was enrolled. There is no question about that at all, for that period of 60 years, and then from 1890 to 1907, a period of 17 years, there was a body created by Congress to determine who should and who should not be enrolled. Now will you gentlemen, after 60 years of tiie rolls being free and easy and absolutely opeii, and after 17 years of holding them open as a judicial body to pass upon it, ^viil you yet hold these rolls open longer? And more than thut, will you continue to hold the money away from the Indians that Congress has solemnh agreed to give them ? Mr. Carter. Let me ask another question. Wliat time was nec- essary for a native Choctaw to be on the reservation in order to be enrolled ? Mr. Ferris. I have not that in mind. Mr. Carter. It was June 28, 1898. How much time after that could the Mississippi Choctaw come upon the reservation and be enrolled ? Mr. Ferris. He was given the first six months and a vear after that. Mr. Carter. Until March 4, 1907. Mr. Ferris. He was given to the 4th of March 1907 ? Mr. Carter. Yes. Mr. Dill. How long has this money it is proposed to pay to these Indians })ecn available for payment ? Mr. Thompsox. The money is available — perhaps not all of it yet. There are several million dollars here now available for payment. Mr. Dill. How long is tlie money that is proposed to be paid by this legislation been available ? Mr. Ferris. Some 9 or 10 years. Mr. Dill. Has it been drawing interest? Mr. Ferris. Yes; part of it has, and part of it has not. I also desire to incorporate the report of Secretary Lane on this saiue propo- sition last year. rkport of the secretary of the interior on' the harrison" bill (ll. r. 1258f), The Secretary of the Interior, Washwgton, Januai-y S, 1915. My Dear Mr. Stephens: I have the honor to refer herein to a commnnifation of August 12. 1014, from Hfni. C. D. Carter, then actine: chairman of the Committee on Indian Affairs of the lIon.se of Representatives, with vluch was inclo.sed a copy of H. R. 12580. entitled "A l)ill to reopen the rolls of the Clioctaw-Chickasaw Tribe and to pro\-ide for the awarding: of the ris.'ht.=! secured to certain persons by the fourteenth article of the treaty of Dancine; Rabbit Creek, of date of September 27, 1830." He also referred to 11. R. 4536 and requested that 1 consider the two bills together and make a report thereon. Upon examination of IT. R. 4536 T find that .said bill is identical with II. R. ]!i213. introduced by Mr. Harri.«on of Mississipjii in the Sixty-second Congress, second ses- sion, upon which last-mentioned bill the department submitted to your committee a 160 INDIAN APPEOPRIATION BILL, 1917. report dated July 2. 1912. H. R. 12586, introduced in the present Congress by Mr. Harrison, is a similar bill to the above-mentioned bills, except that in said H, R. 12586 an additional paratcraph is included in section 2 to pro^•ide for the enrollment of all persons who were identified as Mississippi Choctaws by the Dawes Commission in its report of March 10, 1899, commonly known as the McKennon roll, and of all persons identified as Mississippi Choctaws by the Dawes Commission from ^larch 10, 1899. to March 4, 1907, whose identification was approved by the Secretary of the Interior, but whose names did not appear on the final citizenship rolls of the Choctaw and Chickasaw Nations. The claims of Mississippi Choctaw Indians to recognition as citizens of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma and to share in the property of said nation are based upon article 14 of the treaty of September 27, 1830 (7 Stat., L. 335). Pursuant to the terms of the treaty, a large number of Choetaws were transferred from Mississippi to the country west, later known as Indian Territory. These Choctaws who so removed and their descendants now constitute the main'bod\ of what is known as the Choctaw Nation. There were, however, a considerable number of Choctaws R'ho remained behind in Mississippi, some of them under the pro\'isions of article 14 above mentioned. Said article 14 provided that the persons who claimed thereunder should not lose the priviletje of a Choctaw citizen, but if they ever removed were not to be entitled to any parf of the Choctaw annuity. The Indians who remained behind under the provisions of said article 14 received either land in Mississippi or scrip, which gave the applicants the right to enter public lands in certain Southern States. A part of saidscrip, however, was latei commuted by a money payment. Some of the fourteenth- article claimants later mado their way West and joined the main body of the tribe in the Indian Territory. The Choctaw Council by various acts recognized the right of said absentee Mississippi Choctaws to remove to the Nation, and actually invited them to do so. Under the provisions of the Atoka agreement with the Choctaw and Chickasaw Tribes contained in the act of Congress of June 28, 1898 (30 Stat. L., 495), the supple- mental agreement contained in the act of July 1, 1902 (32 Stat. L., 641), and later acts of Congress for the purpose of carrying out the proA-isions of said agreements, the claims of individual Mississippi Choctaw Indians to be identified and to be enrolled as entitled to share in the property of the Choctaw Nation were fully considered by the Commission to the Five Civilized Tribes and by the department after full hearing, at which the claimants had ample opportunity to present all the evidence which they could procure in support of their claims. Veiy few claimants were able to prove descent from an ancestor who received or applied for benefits under the provisions of article 14 of the treaty of 1830. .... The history of the Dawes Commission enrollment work relative to Mississippi Choctaw claimants is verv fuUv set out in a communication of April 14, 1914, from "William O. Beall, at one time secretary of the cornmission to the Five Civilized Tribes. A copy thereof is inclosed for your information. For your further information as to the history, of the Mississippi Choctaw claims and of the department action in the preparation of the final rolls there is inclosed a copy of department letter of July 2, 1912, to the chairman of the Committee on Indian Affairs of the House of Representatives. Judge ^^■illiam H. 11. Clayton in his decision in the case of Jack Amos v. The Choctaw Nation, a copy of which may be found in the appendix of the annual report of the C immission to the Five Ci\alized Tribes for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1901, said that no treaty or acts of the Choctaw Council or of any oflScer of the Choctaw Council since the "treaty of 1830 could l)e cited, or at least he had not found them, whereby any right or privilege had been conferred, granted, or recognized m or to a Mississippi Choctaw so long as he remained away from his people, and that no right was recognized or conferred upon such absent Indian except upon the condition that he should remove to the nation, and the right was not to be consummated or enjoyed until actual removal. Mississippi (Tio.'taw Indians who, while the opportunity was theirs under the privih-ges accorded them refused to emigrate with the tribe to the new coiintry west, and who never shared in the burdens and hardships of the pioneer life incident to the establishment of the new tribal government west of the Mississippi, hare at this late date (now that the tribal pr'per'tv oi the Choctaw Nation made valuable by the emi- grants is being divided per capita among the enrolled lecognized citizens of the nation) no equitable ri ;ht to .«hare in said i)ro])ertv. With respect to the persons who were identified by the Eawes Commission as Mis- sissippi Choctaws under the provisions of the act of Congress of June 28, 1898 (30 Stat. L.. 495), but who failed to remove and make settlement in the Choctaw-Chickasaw INDIAN APPBOPEIATIOX BILL, 1917. 161 country, as required by the act of Congress of July 1. 1902 (32 Stat. L., 641, sees. 41, 42, 43, and 44), it may be said that, irrespective of their unfortunate condition of poverty and ignorance, there is no ground, legal or equitable, for holding the ( hoctaw and Chickasaw Nations responsible for the failure of said identified persons to comply with the law as to removal and settlement. No obligation rested upon the United States to provide means for the removal of such Indians. Referring to the class of claimants whose names were contained in an identification roll submitted by the Commission to the 1 ive Civilized Tribes on March 10, 1899, but never approved by the Secretary of the Interior, your attention is invited to the fact that the commission soon recognized the inaccuracy and incompleteness of that roll and requested the department to di.sregard it and to return the same to the commission. In order that there might be no doubt as to the standing of said roll, it was disapproved by the department on Marc h 1 , 1907. The larger part of the persons whose names were contained in that disapproved roll were afterwards placed on the approved identi- fication rolls, and those who complied with the law as to removal and settlement were enrolled on the linal rolls of Mississippi (hoctaw Indians. In the investigation and examination of Mississippi Choctaw claims made in 1900 and the years following by the Commission to the j ive Ci\ilized Tribes every effort that was possible to be made was made by said commission to reach all persons who had any equitable claim to recognition as Mississippi Choctaws, and especially to find those who were full-blood Choctaw Indians. H. R. 4536 and 12586 in effect pro\ide, so far as the Mississippi Choctaw claimants are concerned, a general reopening of the rolls of the Choctaw Nation, necessitating a review of all the cases which had been adversely decided by the Unitecl States courts, the Department of the Interior, and the Chcictaw and Chickasaw Citizenship Court, as well as the consideration of claims not heretofore presented or considered, and empower the Secretary of the Interior to determine the rights of the claimants upon such evidence as may be produced by the applicants, without regard to any adverse judgment or decision heretofore rendered by any court or commission to the Five Civilized Tribes, or the Department of the Interior, and without regard to any con- dition or disability heretofore imposed by any act of Congress. The records of the department show that Mi.ssis.sippi Choctaw claimants have been to an unusual extent the \dctims of numerous extortionate contracts, and the corres- pondence in many cases indicates that contracts were obtained through misrepresenta- tions as to -the facts, and in some cases that such contracts were obtained from claim- ants who believed that the persons obtaining the contracts were Government agents. Your attention is invited to the report of Inspector McLaughlin, of this department, which report appears in print in the Congressional Record of July 10, 1914, commenc- ing on page 13022. Referring to section 9 of said bills, I am of the opinion that, in view of the large amount of tribal property yet to be disposed of and of other matters affecting the tribes, it would be inadvisable to abolish the tribal organization of the Choctaw and ( -hickasaw Nations at the present time. In view of the facts as presented to me, I am of the opinion that no legislation should be enacted for the reopening of the rolls of the Choctaw Nation for the benefit of the Mississippi Choctaw claimants. Very truly, yours, FuANKLiN K. Lane. Hon. John H. Stephens, . Chairman Committee on Indian Affair.", Iloase of Representatives. SocTotary Ballingcr on February 12, 1910, opposed the reopening of the rolls. Writing the vSenate Committee on IiuHan Affairs, he said : In conc-lusion, I am constrained to believe, and therefore recommend, that the rolls be not opened up, but that prcjpcr legal authority be given the Secretary of the Interior to place upon the rolls tho.se Indians (about 52 in number) whose applications were approved by the (Commissioner to the Five Civilized Tribes and were transmitted to Washington before the 4th of March, 1907, but did not reach the department until after the rolls were clo.sed; and, furthermore, that proper authority be given the Secretary of the Interior to examine and place upon the rolls the minor orphan chil- dren inc-ompetents, and Indians in incarceration whose claims were not presented in due time for adjuclication. I am informed that this class numbers about 2(K). No 25131— FT 4— 16 11 162 INDIAN APPEOPRIATION BILL, 1917. one seems to have taken the responsibility of presenting the claims of this class for consideration. They could not look after their own interests. (See S. Doc. No. 1139, 62d Cong., 3d sess.) Assistant Secretary Samuel Adams on July 2, 1912, reported against the enrollment of the Mississippi Choetaws. After reviewing their case at length, he stated: "In fact, it may be urged by the tribes that respon.5ibihty if any, rested upon the United States instead," and concluded as follows: "In view of the fact stated above, I am of the opinion that the bill (referring to the Harrison bill to enroll the Mississippi Choetaws) should not be enacted into law." Assistant Commissioner of Indian Affairs Meritt, in recommending this payment while before the subcommittee on December 20, 1915, made the following statement: Inasmuch as a $100 per capita payment was made to the enrolled members of the Chickasaw Nation under the act of August 1, 1914, at which time no payment was made to the enrolled members of the Choctaw Nation, it is therefore recommended that the enrolled members of the Choctaw Nation should be paid SlOO per capita more than the amount provided for the enrolled members of the CMckasaw Nation. These payments would be made from the tribal funds belonging to the Choctaw and Chicka- saw Nations and would not be a tax on the Federal Treasury. STATEMENT OF HON. W. W. HASTINGS, REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS FROM THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA. Mr. Hastings. It is perfectly apparent, Mr. Chairman and gentle- men of the committee, that I can not go into any extended argument on this question of citizenship at this time. However, Mi'. Ferris and Mr. Thompson have dealt with the question so elaborately that I think it entirely unnecessary. I might say to the committee, however, for the benefit of the record that I would like to ask in advance the privilege of inserting in the record an argument which I have prepared upon this question. The Chairman. Without objection it may be inserted. (The argument referred to is as follows:) The question under consideration is not a difficult one, nor will it be necessary to consume much time in its discussion. It is proposed by this amendment to direct the Secretary of the Interior to pay to the enrolled members of the Choctaw Tribe, entitled under existing law, |200 per capita out of their own moneys, and the Chicka- saws $100 per capita out of their funds. They should be paid more — the Choetaws |300 and the Chickasaws $200 per capita. The statement of the Commissioner of Indian Affairs, found on pages 336 and 337 of the hearings before the committee, in justification of the item under consideration, shows that there is to the credit of the Choetaws tribal funds aggregating $7,432,353.24 and that there is to the credit of the Chickasaws tribal funds amounting to $1,922,110.48, or a total of $9,354,463.72 in both funds. The justification further invites attention to the additional property owned by the Chickasaw and Choctaw people, including unsold lands and other proi)erty. It is estimated that the entire value of their prop- erty approximates $31,503,954.95. There are 20,799 enrolled members of the Choctaw Tribe entitled to share in this distribution and 6,304 Chickasaws. A per capita payment of $100 was made to the members of the Chickasaw Tribe a little more than a year ago, which is the reason for the payment to the Choetaws now of $100 more than to the Chickasaws. The members of the two tribes have an undi"\ided equal interest in and to the lands and funds of both tribes, being separated only for political purposes. A per capita payment of $200 to the Choetaws would aggregate $4,159,800, and $100 to the Chicka- saws would amount to $630,400, and to both Choetaws and Chickasaw^s $4,790,200. Hence, it will clearly be seen that $300 could be ])aid to the Choetaws and $200 to the Chickasaws, which would only require $7,600,500, leading a balance of $1,753,- 963.72 in the Treasury, in addition to more than $22,000,000 worth of property not converted into cash. 01 INDIAN APPROPRIATION BILL^ 1917. 163 ■When the Dawes Commission was created 1)y the act of March 3, 1893, the Choc- taw people had their own ijo^ernment with about as much soyereii,'nty as a State of the Union. They had their own constitution and hiws, their own governor, their own courts, and tlieir own legishiture. They made, executed, and enforced their own hxws, appro])riated their own money, and conducted their own schools. Rail- roads were built through the Indian Territory, towns sprang up, and white people from almost every State in the Union came among them. Finally, the Choctaws yielded to the pressure of the Government and signed a treaty at Atoka on April 23, 1897 (30 Stat., 495), providing in detail for the allotment of their lands amongthe enrolled members of the tribe, the making of the rolls, the disposition of town sites, and in fact an adjustment of all their relations with the Government of the United States. This agreement looked to the members of the Choctaw Nation becoming citizens of the United States and the creation of a State out of the lands held by the Five Civilized Tribes. The act of March 3, 1893 (27 Stat., G12, sec. 16), creating the Dawes Commission, stated that it was — "To enable the ultimate creation of a State or States of the Union which shall em- brace the lands within said Indian Territory." The members of the Choctaw Trilje accepted these promises and their lands were allotted. Almost 19 years have elapsed since this treaty was ratified. A very large percentage of the Choctaws have died, but with the exception of a small per capita payment of $50, none of their moneys have been disturbed. The members of the Choctaw Tribe were allotted large areas of land. They had to build houses upon their allotments, clear up their fields, place fences along section lines, and otherwise im- prove their farms. *rhey are greatly in need of a distribution of their own money, in order to accomplish these purposes. The Government can not justify itself in longer withholding a partial distribution. The supplemental agreement ratified by the act of July 1, 1902 (32 Stat., 641), section 14, promises a distribution of the moneys per capita (p. 391) among the mem- bers of the tribe, when their allotments shoukl be made and their property disposed of. They now have more than S9,000.000 to their credit, and certainly this amount should be distiibuted among their own members. There is really no argument what- ever against the distribution of this money, but every argument in its favor. One- fourth of the entire membership of the tribe is now dead and never received any part of their money. In mv judgment, it is a legislative crime against them to longer with hold it. CITIZENSHIP QUESTION. The only argument urged against the distribution of this money is that certain Mississippi Choctaw claimants to citizenship should be provided for, that the money hereinabove referred to as being Choctaw tribal funds, is a trust fund, and that the claimants to citizenshi]> have some legal right thereto. It is to this question that I desire to address myself. Many Members of Congress and good lawyers throughout the United States do not understand the citizenship question among the Five Civilized Tribes. They think it is a question of inheritance. This is a niistake. It requires three things to con- stitute citizenship in aiiy of the I^ive Civilized Tribes: 1. You must be an Indian of the tribe by blood. 2. You must be a recognized enrolled member of the tribe. 3. You must be a resident of the tribe. A great many people think that it is only a question of blood. However, many people of Choctaw and Cherokee blood reside in numerous States throughout the Union, but they are not members of the tribe. They are not residents of the tribe, and even if thev are of the full quantum of Indian blood they are not entitled to enrollment. This question has been decided by every court to which it has been presented. The promise of a patent by article 2, treaty of 1830 (7 Stat. L., 335), to the Choctaws provided that the lands granted the Choctaws should be theirs "as long as they exist as a nation and live on it." "Art. 2. The United States, under a grant specially to ])e made by the President of the United States, shall cause to be conveyed to the Choctaw Nation a tract of country west of the Misslssipjji lliver, in fee simple to them and their descendents, to inure to them while they shall exist as a nation and live on it." And article 3 of said treaty is as follows: "In consideration of the ])rovisions contained in the several ai tides of this treaty, the Choctaw Nation of Indians consent and hereby cede to the United States the entire country they own and possess east of the Mississippi River; and they agree to 164 INDIAN APPROrEIATION BILL, 1917. remove beyond the Mississippi River as early as practicable and will so arrange their removal that as many as possible of their people, not exceeding one-half of the whole number, shall depart during the falls of 1831 and 1832, the residue to follow during the succeeding fall of 1833; a better opportunity in this manner will be afforded the Government to extend to them the facilities and comforts which it is desirable should be extended in conveying them to their new homes." The patent executed by President Tyler in 1842 contained a similar provision, and is as follows : "That the United States of America, in consideration of the premises and in execu- tion of the agreement and stipulation in the aforesaid treaty, have given and granted and by these presents do give and grant imto the said Choctaw Nation the aforesaid 'tract of country west of the Mississippi' to have and to hold the same, with all the rights, privileges, immunities, and appurtenances of whatsoever nature thereunto belonging, as intended 'to be conveyed' by the aforesaid article, 'in fee simple to them and their descendants, to inure them, while they shall exist as a nation and live on it,' liable to no transfer or alienations, except to the United States or with their consent." Article 14 of the Choctaw treaty of 1830 (7 Stat. L., 335) gave the adult Choctaws who remained in Mississippi 640 acres of land, children over 10 years of age 320 acres, and children under 10 years of age 160 acres. They were made citizens of the United States and of the State of Mississippi. All could have accepted land and some did. They were recognized as citizens of the State under the laws of ]\Iississii)pi. About 15,000 moved west under the treaty of 1830 and 4,180 remained. They could easily be identified up to 1842. Between 1838 and 1855, 3,400 moved .to the Choctaw Nation and became members of the tribe. Congress later provided for a payment to those Mississippi Choctaws who remained behind, and 3,585 received scrip, entitling them to locate upon public lands in the States of Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Missis- sippi. This scrip was transferable and in lieu of the second half of the scrip. Congress appropriated and paid these Mississippi Choctaws $872,000, conditioned upon their first removing to the Choctaw Nation in the Indian Territory. When they removed, they could have remained there and have been identified as citizens of the Choctaw Nation; but with their removal from the Choctaw Nation they abandoned their citi- zenship, disconnected themselves from their tribe, and were no longer members of the tribe, and have no legal claim whatever to being enrolled as members of the tribe. The Choctaw Nation has dealt generously with these people, and up to the time when the lands were finally allotted, they voluntarily admitted all Indians of Choctaw blood as members of the tribe; but Congress insisted upon a termination of their tribal government and the allotment of their lands and a final settlement of their affairs. This could not be done without first settling the question as to who should be enrolled as members of the tribe. The act of June 28, 1898 (30 Stat.. 495), section 21, empowered the Secretary of the Interior to make a final roll of the citizens of the Five Civilized Tribes', and another provision of this same section specifically authorized the commission to make a roll of those Mississippi Choctaws entitled to citizenship under tlie fourteentli article of the treaty of 1830. A provision in the Indian appropriation bill approved May 31, 1900, provided for the enrollment of the Mississippi Choctaws if they made bona fide settlement in the Choctaw Nation prior to the final approval of the rolls. Section 41 of the supplemental agreement with the Choctaws and Chickasaws approved July 1, 1902 (32 Stat., 641), provided for the enrollment of the Mississippi Choctaws at any time within six months after their identification as Mississippi Choctaws by making bona fide settlement witliin one year in the Choctaw Nation. Section 21 of the act of June 28, 1898 (30 Stat., 495) .contained a provision making the rolls final when approved by the Secretary of the Interior, as follows: "Tlie rolls so made, when approved by the Secretary of the Interior, shall be final, and the persons whose names are found thereon, with tlieir descendants thereafter born to them, with such persons as may intermarry according to tribal laws, shall alone constitute the several tribes whidi tliey represent." The Indian a])pnipriation bill approved March 3, 1901 (31 Stat., 1077), contained a ])rovi~ion making the rolls of the Dawes Commission of the Five Civilized Tribes final when a])proved by the Secretary of the Interior, as follows: "The rolls made by the Cominis,-ion to the Five Civilized Tribes, when a])proved by the Secretary of the Interior, shall be final, and the persons whose names are found thereon shall alone constitute the several tribes which thev represent. Section 2 of the act of April 26, 1 906 (34 Stat . , 1 38 ). provided that the rolls of the tri be affected by this act .-hall be fully coiuj^lei; d on or before the 4th day of March, 1907, INDIAN APPROPEIATION BILL, 1!)17. 165 and the Secretary of the Interior shall ha\ e no jurisdiction to approve the enrollment of any person after said date, as follows: ''Provided, That the rolls of the tribes affected by this act shall be fully completed on or before the fcuirth day of March, nineteen hundred and seven, and the Secretary of the Interior shall have no jurisdiction to approve the enrollment of any person after . said date." It will be seen that the first Choctaw agreement was made in 1897, and ratified by an act of Congress approved June 28, 1898, and that the enrollment proceeded from that time in 1898, until March 4, 1907, or a period of about nine years, and that provision was made for the identification and enrollment of such Mississippi Choctaws who chose to remove and permanently locate and become citizens of the Choctaw Nation, later to be admitted as a part of the State of Oklahoma. Such Indians as availed them- .selves of these provisions were enrolled. Those remaining in Mississippi were not enrolled. Now, those opposing this provision providing for a partial distribution of this money are attempting to assert that the Mississippi Choctaws and their descendants in the State of Mississippi are entitled to enrollment as members of the Choctaw Tribe and to participate in the distribution of the money. Their contention is not tenable. Every court, commission, secretary, or committee investigating this question has decided against them. 1. The Supreme Court in the Eastern Cherokee case (117 U. S. 288) held that the North Carolina Cherokees could not live apart from their tribe and share in the benefits of the funds and common property of the tribe. The court, after reviewing the treaties relating to the same, concluded by saying: ■"If Indians in that State (North Carolina) or in any other State east of the Mississippi wish to enjoy the benefits of the common property of the Cherokee Nation in whatever form it may exist they must, as held by the Court of Claims, comply with the consti- tution and laws of the Cherokee Nation and be readmitted to citizenship as there provided. They can not Live out of its territory, evade the obligations and burdens of citizenship, and at the same time enjoy the benefits of the funds and common property of the nation. Those funds and that property were dedicated by the con- stitution of the Cherokees and were intended by the treaties with the United States for the benefit of the united nation and not in any respect for those who had separated from it and become aliens to their nation. We can see no just ground on which the claim of the petitioners can rest in either of the funds held by the United States in trust for the Cherokee Nation." 2. The Dawes Commission in the Jack Amos case held that the Choctaws residing in Mississippi were not entitled to enrollment without removal to the Choctaw Nation as follows: "This historical review of the acquisition of this territory by the Choctaw Nation and its subsequent legal relations to it makes it clear, in the ojjinion of this commission, that the Mississippi Choctaws are not under their treaties entitled to all rights of Choctaw citizenship except an interest in the Choctaw annuities and still continue their residence and citizenship in Mississippi." (H. Doc. 274, 55th Cong., 2d sess.) 3. The Federal Court, through Judge Clayton, affirmed the decision of the Dawes Commission in the Jack Amos case and held that the Mississippi Choctaws residing out of the tribe were not entitled to be enrolled: "In the third article of the treaty the (Jhoctaws agreed to move all of their people within three years, and the United States intended that they should go. But by the fourteenth article of the treaty provisions were made whereby those who should decide to remain and become citizens of the State of Mississippi in the event that, because of the intolerance and persecutions of the whites which they themselves had so bitterly experienced, or for any other clause, they might become di.^satisHed with their altered conditions and their new citizenship and desire to follow them to their new homes, and thereafter exercise with them in their own country the privileges of citizenship, they could do so except that they were not to parti( ipate with them in their annuities, the lands which they were to receive in Mississippi being deemed a compen.satifjn for that. " » hen iho fourteenth article of the treaty was framed the negotiating parties understood that the policy of the United States was that the Choctaws were to be removed. The Choctaws, in artick> 3, had ju.'^t agreed that they .'-hiMild all go. The ink wa*" not vet dry in article 2, wherel)y Ihe condition was placed in this grant to the lands that they were to live up')n or they hhould be forfeited, and that no J)li^•ilege of citizen.ship could hi' conferred or enjoyed f)ut>.i(h^ of the territorial jurisdiction of their newly located nati'in. I'luleTstanding tlu-.^e (Mi'iditi moneys which they have in the Treasury to the cre(Ht of the tribe will make this amount. The Chairman. They are deriving quite a royalty from the sale of coal, are they not? Mr. Hastings. They are deriving an annual royalty now u})on the sale of coal. Mr. Snyder. About how much? Mr. Hastings. I tliink a])out $250,000. But I may be mistaken as to the amoinit. INDIAN" APPROPRIATION BILL, 1917. 169 There are on the Choctaw tribal rolls 20,799 persons, and upon the Chickasaw tribal rolls 6,304. Now, you will notice that this amend- ment provides payments of S200 to the Choctaws and $100 to the Chickasaws. The reason of this is that a year or more ago you pro- vided for a per capita payment of $100 to the Chickasaws, and this difference is in order to even them up, as those tribes have an equal undivided interest in and to the land and funds, the two tribes being separated only for political purposes. Now, gentlemen, I can not go into this case like I would like to, but a great many people do not understand the question of citizen- ship. I might say I represented the Cherokee Tribe for 20 years in citizenship matters, and I feel therefore some familiarity with it. It takes three things to constitute citizenship in one of those tribes, and they are the same in each. I want to correct an erroneous impression on this question. Nearly every Member of Congress, nearly every lawyer outside of Oklahoma, thinks it is a question of inheritance. That is a mistake. You must have three things to constitute citizen- ship in one of the Five Tribes. First, you must be an Indian by blood ; second, you must be a member of the tribe; and, third, you must be a resident of the tribe. Now, that has been decided by every court and every commission that has ever passed upon this question. Prior to June 10, 1896, the tribes passed upon their own questions of citizenship, but Congress, by the act of June 10, 1896, took that jurisdiction away and gave it to the Dawes Commission. Now, let me remind you, gentlemen of the committee, at that time we were in no State. We were political orphans in the Five Civilized Tribes. Th« Dawes Commission was not sent there to render a decision in our favor or against us. but it was sent there to render a fair and equitable decision, and to fairly and equitably administer affairs; and, gentle- men of the committee, certain members of the Dawes Commission were great lawyers, splendid lawyers, men who had paid special at- tention to these questions and thoroughly understood the purpose of this act of June 10, 1896, and thousands upon thousands of people applied for citizensliip in the Five Civilized Tribes, and thos(^ citizen- ship questions have all been settled. I might say that in the Cherokee Tribe there were 50,000 peoj)le claiming to be entitled to enrollment as citizens in tliat tribe, and only 2S3 iinhvichnds were admitted; so you can see tlie vast amount of fraud that attends tliis matter of ap- plying for citizenship in those tri])es. The Dawes Commission was created by the act of March 3, 1893. The first citizenship jurisdiction as above stated was given them by the act of June 10. 1896; additional jurisdiction was given them under the act of June 7, 1897; a(hiitional jiu'isdiction was given them under the act of June 28, 1898, under the act of May 31, 1900, and under the supplemental agreement of July 1, 1902. As has been stated by Mr. Ferris, every unbiased tribunal tliat has passed upon this (question has (U'cifUnl adversely to the contention of the Mississippi Choctaws. In other words, the Supreme Court of the United States in the Cherokee case reported in 117 U. S., 288, decided against them, holchng that the Cherokee In(Hans who resided in North Carolina and had not removed to the Cherokee Nation should not be enrolled as members of the Cherok(>e Nation west, and were not entitled to participate in the distribution of their trust funds. Mr. 170 INDIAN APPEOPEIATION BILL^ 1917. Harrison calls attention to what is known as the eastern Cherokee case (202 U. S., 101). Gentlemen, that case does not decide what Mr. Harrison claims for it. I have not time to analyze it, but it does not go into the question of citizenship west. It does not go into the question of the right to the Cherokee lands west; it does not go into the question of the Cherokee trust funds west, but the Cherokee case reported in 117 U. S. did go into that one question. The eastern Cherokee case in 202 is a decision on what the Government of the United States owed the Cherokees under the treaty of 1835, made in Georgia with the Cherokees and not paid to them at that time, and had nothing whatever to do with the Cherokees west; it has nothing to do with their lands or the proceeds of the lands of tribal funds. It was for a balance due under the treaty of 1835. The question of residence of citizenship was not involved. The only other question that I have got time to answer was what Mr. Harrison said about Senator Owen. It is true that Senator Owen for a long time was representing the Mississippi Choctaws. He was their attorney. He made numerous arguments and filed many briefs before the courts and committees; and let me say, he frankly admits every court disagreed with him, every commission disagreed with him, every Secretary of the Interior disagreed with him, every authority before whom he went disagreed with him and held to the contrary, and Senator Owen himself, I want to say in justice to him, has stated this a number of times before the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs and on the floor of the Senate. He said: I was the attorney of the Mississippi Choctaws who were enrolled by the Choctaw- Chickasaw agreement of 1902. I represented them from 1896 to 1906 and devoted my time to their interests for 10 years. Now, here is what I wanted to call your particular attention to : No Choctaw in Mississippi or elsewhere not on the approved rolls of March 4, 1907, has any legal or equitable right to enrollment or to any further hearing. Mr. Norton. Wliere is that statement made ? What is the date in the Senate 'I Mr. Hastings. I will look it up and give it to you. I took it from a speech of Hon. W. H. Murray, Member of Congress, in the House on April 24, 1914. The Chairman. Without objection you may insert that at this point if you desire. Note. — Senator Owen, before the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, on. January 18, 1915, pages 74 to 108 of the printed hearings, and on February 5, 1915, pages 645 to 661 of the hearings, stated at great length why he thought the Mississippi Choctaws should not be enrolled. Mr. Hastings. I am sorry I have not any more time, but the question has been thoroughly covered. I have a lar^e number of authorities that I will insert in the record with the permission already granted by the committee. X Part Twelve INDIAN APPEOPEIATION BILL. 305 Mr. Meritt. That is correct. The amendment was agreed to. ASSEMBLY HALL AND GYMNASIUISr. Senator Catron. The next item is an appropriation of $25,000 for assembly hall and gymnasium. Last j^ear I made a request for that. It was given to the school at Albuquerque, but was not given ours, because it seemed they wanted to apportion this appropriation so that it would not all come at once, and I was assured we would have that the next time. The amount of that is $25,000 for the assembly hall and gymnasium. I have spoken to Mr. Meritt about that, and he has stated that he would be here to give it his indorse- ment. Is that not correct, Mr. Meritt ? Mr. Meritt. Yes, sir. Mr. Chairman, we need the assembly hall and gymnasium for that school. We did not include it in our esti- mates for the reason that we wanted to keep the total amount at the lowest point possible. If the committee will give us the appro- priation for this building it can be lised to advantage. Senator Catron. I want to say one word about that. The Santa Fe location is a better location, a good deal, than the Albuquerque location, for health. These Indians, when they are brought from their Indian homes and put ihto these schools, seem to be afflicted more or less with an inclination to become consumptives or some- thing of that kind. When they are taken from outdoor exercise and outdoor environment and j^ut into these houses they seem not to be able to stand it. A great many i of them are afflicted in that way with some disease or other. Now. av^ want this hall and gymnasium, not in order to help them in/ that rei^ard, but because it will be a benefit to the institution. You have given it to Albuquerque and there is no reason why it shouj/d not be given here, because the same reasons that caused it to be giX-en there prevail here. The Chairman. You live in this city, do you not? That is your home city? / 1 Senator Catron/ Yes, sir. \ The Chairman* And have they no assembly hall there? Senator Catrc^n. None at all. Senator GrOj^na. I move that it be allowed. Senator Paqe. Allow what? Senator Grdnna. $25,000 addititoal. Senator Page. You already have, $8,350 in addition to the $67,150. Is that right, Mr. Meritt ? \ Mr. Meritt. Yes, sir. \ The Chairman. Since you live \there and have such intimate knowledge with the situation, we wlt>uld like j'ou to assist the coifi- mittce on the floor. \ Senator Catron. I shall be very gl^d to do that. The Chairman. Is there anything blse you desire to submit, Sen- ator Catron? 1 Senator Catron. That is all I desire, and I thank the committee very much. The amendment was agreed to. 31362—16 20 306 INDIAN APPROPKIATIOX BILL. CHOCTAW AXD CTIICKASAAV PEU CAPITA DISTRIBUTIOX. STATEMENT OF P. J. HURLEY, ESQ., NATIONAL ATTORNEY, CHOCTAW NATION. Mr. Hurley. Mr. Chairman and members of the committee, I was rather astonished that Mr. Ballinger, after having requested a hear- ing on this matter before the House committee, where the matter could be considered at length, has attempted to put it before this com- mittee in a very few minutes. I am not surprised at Mr. Ballinger's attitude toward me nor do I feel inclined to answer any of his per- sonal references. The fact is that all those who are attempting to secure money or other things of value from the Choctaw Nation are inclined to criticize me. Especially is this true if their attempts are of a fraudulent nature. During last summer Mr. Ballinger served upon me. through the United States mail, 4J: petitions in citizenship cases. These petitions contained the names of 250 applicants for enrollment as citizens, by blood, of the Choctaw Nation. These applicants are not Indians. They are negroes. They do not reside in the Choctaw Nation. The great majority of them had never made application for enrollment in the Choctaw Nation until they were approached by the agents and runners of Mr. Ballinger and his associates. During my investiga- tion of these cases I developed the facts stated in the Bowie report in so far as those facts pertained to Choctaw cases. Mr. Ballinger's statement to the effect that I wrote that report is untrue. I did not see the report until a copy was given to me. As evidence I did not write the report, I call attention to the fact it does not pertain en- tirely to Choctaw cases. The report rendered by Mr. Bowie covers Mr. Ballinger's operations in Creek, Cherokee, Seminole, and Chicka- saw cases. I represent only the Choctaw Nation. Mr. Ballinger's attempt to have the committee understand that I am guilty of some kind of unethical conduct as a lawyer is merely an attempt upon his part to besmirch my reputation in order to divert attention from his own questionable conchict. In the matter that Mr. Ballinger referred to I did represent 35 applicants for enrollment as citizens of the Choctaw Nation. I represented these persons before I became attorney for the Choctaw Nation. This matter Avas referred to before this committee some three years ago when I appeared here in opposition to the payment of some $3,500,000 of Choctaw money on contracts that were held by an attorney who claimed to be repre- senting the Choctaws in matters pertaining to the sale of their tribal estate. The matter M'as entirely disposed of in my favor at that time, and I would not consider it again were it not for the fact that there are some Senators now here who were not present them. It was charged that I had represented claimants for citizenship in the Choc- taw Nation before I became the attorney for the Choctaw Nation, and it was intimated that I still represented them while attorney for the Choctaw Nation. This charge was shown to be false, ancl Mr. Ballinger was present at that time. It is true that before I became attorney for the Choctaw Nation I did represent 35 claimants to citizenship out of 60,000 persons who were claimants for citizenship. Thirty-five persons out of 60,000 persons is not a very large per- INDIAX APPEOPKIATION BILL. 307 centage. There is not another case in the 60,000 that is similar to the case of the family of 35 that I represented. I find nothing in the fact that I once represented these 35 claimants that would disqualify me in representing the nation against all other claimants. No one else except those Avhom I am preventing from defrauding the Choc- taws consider me disqualified. Mr. Ballinger stated to you that after I had been employed to represent claimants for citizenship I sought and obtained the attorneyship for the Choctaw Nation. The fact is that I did not seek the attorneyship for the Choctaw Nation. I was invited to take that position by the principal chief of the Choctaw Nation. The principal chief is present and will no doubt testif}^ upon that point if called upon to do so. The appointment of a tribal attorney is subject to the approval of the President of the United States. After having been appointed by the principal chief of the Choctaw Nation and before the presenta- tion of my contract to the President for approval, I wrote a letter to the President of the United States and one to the Secretary of the Interior stating to them that I had theretofore represened 35 claim- ants for citizenship in the Choctaw Nation, and insisted that it be understood before the approval of my contract that if my contract should be approved, that out of deference to legal ethics I should not be required to appear against my former clients in behalf of the Choctaw Nation. Since my appointment I have not appeared either for or against my former clients. With these facts before the Presi- dent and the Secretary, my contract was approved. This all oc- curred during the administration of President Taft. With all these matters in the record, I have since been reappointed by President Wilson. I feel that it is unnecessary to assure those who know me that I have in all matters and at all times adhered strictly to the ethics of my profession. I am somewhat gratified that after five years of the service of the nature required in my present position, that those who desire to attack my integrity have been able to find nothing in my entire record that could be distorted into the form of adverse criticism, with the exception of the fact that I once repre- sented 35 claimants for citizenship in the Choctaw Nation. I re- tired from those cases, with the consent of my clients, upon my ap- pointment as attorney for the Choctaw Nation, and it might be said in passing that those are clean cases, and a clean argiuuent was presented for the enrollment of the claimants. The names of the claimants and my argument are matters of record in the proceedings of this committee, and I am not ashamed of the cases or the argu- ment that I presented in them. These cases were not like Mr. Ballinger's cases; there was no fraud in them: no false affidavits made by professional witnesses, as there is in ^Ir. Ballinger's cases. AAHiat I have stated in this matter is borne out by the record of the hearings before this committee in regard to the so-called McMurray contracts, and also by the records of the Interior Department. Let us return now to the subject under consideration. Forty-four petitions, containing the names of 250 applicants for citizenship in the Choctaw Nation were served upon me by Mr. Ballinger. Of these 44 cases, 33 are corroborated by the affidavits of Alec Nail, an old negro, and 20 cases are corroborated by the affidavits of Webster Burton, a negro. In some cases the affidavits of Burton and Nail 308 INDIAN APPROPEIATION BILL. appeared in corroboration of the same petition. These negroes are illiterate and sign by mark. They are used as professional witnesses by the firm of Ballinger, Lindley & Rodkey in citizenship matters which are being conducted by their office in Muskogee. That is the statement I made Mr. Ballinger. They never were there- Mr. Hurley. Wait a moment; I allowed you to finish without interruption. Now, gentlemen, for the purpose of this record I ask that there be inserted here the title of each case, the names of the witnesses who appeared, and the number of affidavits that they made. The Chairman. If there is no objection, that will be inserted. (The list referred to is here printed in full as follows:) LIST OF APPLICATIONS OF PERSONS FOK ENROLLMENT AS CITIZENS BY HLOOD OF THE CHOCTAW NATION. Case No. 2. In re application of James Goings for liimself and otliers for en- rollment as citizens by blood of the Choctaw Nation. Number of applicants in- volved, six. Supported by affidavit of Alec Nail. Case No. 3. lu re application of Jackson Barrett for enrollment of himself and others as citizens by blood of the Choctaw Nation. Number of applicants in- volved, eight. Supported by affidavits of Alec Nail and W. M. James. Case No. 3B. In re petition of Mary Ross, nee Dunn, nee Fulsom, for enroll- ment of herself and child as citizens by blood of the Choctaw Nation. Number of applicants involved, two. Supported by affidavits of W. M. James and Alec Nail. Note. — No petition bearing the numeral 4 was served upon me by Mr. Bal- linger. Case No. 5. In re application of John Harrison et al. for enrollment as citi- zens by blood of the Choctaw Nation. Number of applicants involved, 23. Sup- ported by affidavits of Alec Nail and his brother, Peter Nail. Case No. 5A. In re application of Emily Mills, nee Allen, for enrollment of herself and minor child as citizens by blood of the Choctaw Nation. Number of applicants involved, two. Supported by affidavit of Nelson Tolbert. Case No. 5B. In re application of Roxy Planegan for enrollment of herself as a citizen by blood of the Choctaw Nation. This applicant is a member of the John Harrison family, whose application appears under the numeral 5. No affidavit. Case No. 5C. In re application of Henry Logan King for enrollment of him- self and family as citizens by blood of the Choctaw Nation. Number of appli- cants involved, two. Supported by affidavits of W. M. James, Alec Nail, and Daisy Jackson, also Ada Williams. Cases Nos. 6 and 6B. In re application of Melissa Marcy, n6e Carroll, n^e Birdsong, for enrollment of herself and family as citizens by blood of the Choc- law Nation. Number of applicants involved, seven. Supported by affidavits of Alec Nail and W. M. James. Case not numbered. In re application of Ruth D. Lister, n6e Robinson, for enrollment as a citizen by blood of the Choctaw Nation. Number of applicants involved, one. Supported by affidavit of Alexander Robinson. Note. — No petitions served under numerals 7 and 8. Case No. 9. In re application of Thomas F. Eubanks for enrollment of himself and others as citizens by blood of the Choctaw Nation. Number of applicants involved, 16. Supported by affidavits of Alec Nail and Johnson Gift. Note. — No application served under numeral 10. Case No. 11. In re application of Mattie Breedlove et al. for enrollment as citizens by blood of the Choctaw Nation. Number of applican)ts involved, five. Supported by affidavits of Alec Nail and AVebster Burton. Case No. 12. In re application of Bertha Tolber for enrollment of herself and family as citizens by blood of the Choctaw Nation. Number of applicants in- volved not stated. Supported by affidavits of Henry Willard, or Woodward, and Dan Knoblin. Case No. 12A. In re application of Arthur W. Walton for enrollment of him- self and family as citizens by blood of the Choctaw Nation. Number of ap- plicants involved, 10. Supported by affidavit of Alec Nail. INDIAN APPROPRIATION BILL. 309 Case No. 12B. In re application of Lee Love for enrollment of himself and family as citizens by blood of the Choctaw Nation. Number of applicants in- volved, eight. Supported by affidavits of Alec Nail and Webster Burton. Case No. 13. In re petition of Jurdeau Sniyers, for enrollment of herself and family as citizens by blood of tlie Choctaw Nation. Number of applicants involved, seven. Supported by affidavits of Alec Nail and W. M. James. Note.— No application served under numeral 14. Case No. 15. In re application of Lizzie Campbell, nee Lenox, nee Brown, for enrollment of herself and son as citizens by blood of the Choctaw Nation. Num- ber of applicants involved, two. Supported by affidavits of Alec Nail and Webster Burton. Case No. 16. In re application of John H. Duncan, in behalf of his children, the heirs of Pennsylvania Duncan, deceased, and for the enrollment of said Pennsylvania Duncan, as citizens by blood of the Choctaw Nation. Number of applicants involved, twelve. Supported by affidavits of Thompson Peters, Mar- tin Brown, and Ben Grayson. Case No. 16A. In re application of Alice Cole, for enrollment of herself as a citizen by blood of the Choctaw Nation. Number of applicants involved, one. Supported by affidavits of J. H. Barrett and Alec Nail. Case No. 17. In re application of Jane Driver for enrollment of herself and family as citizens by blood of the Choctaw Nation. Number of applicants in- volved, three. Supported by affidavits of Webster Burton and Alec Nail. Case No. 18. In re application of Mary Reaves, nee Hampton, et al., for en- rollment as citizens by blood of the Choctaw Nation. Number of applicants in- volved, fourteen. Supported by affidavits of Alec Nail and Webster Burton. Case No. 19. In re petition of p]mma .Tones, nee Ervin, for enrollment of her- self and child as citizens by blood of the Choctaw Nation. Number of appli- cants involved, two. Supported by affidavits of Alec Nail and Webster Burton. Case No. 20. In re petition of Annie Abernathy, nee Frazier, for enrollment of herself as a citizen by blood of the Choctaw Nation. Number of applicants involved, one. Supported by affidavits of Webster Burton and Alec Nail. Note. — No application served under numeral 21. Case No. 22. In re application of John Adkins for enrollment of himself and family as citizens by blood of the Choctaw Nation. Number of applicants in- volved, six. Supported by affidavits of Webster Burton and Alec Nail. Case No. 23. In re application of Willis S. Taylor for enrollment of himself and family as citizens by blood of the Choctaw Nation. Number of apjdicants involved, five. Supported by affidavits of Hannah IVIusgrove, Webster Burton, and Alec Nail. Note. — No application served under numeral 24. Ca.se No. 2.5. In re application of Thomas Goings for enrollment of himself as a citizen by blood of the Choctaw Nation. Number of applicants involved, one. Sui)ported by affidavits of Webster Burton and Alec Nail. Case No. 2.5A. In re application of Henrietta Iloberts, for enrollment of her- self and family, and in behalf of her sister, INIinnie Patterson, nee Bowman, and her family, as citizens I)y blood of the Choctaw Nation. Number of appli- cants involved, thirtv-one. Supported bv affidavits of Webster Burton and Alec Nail. Case No. 26. In re application of Angle Flanagan, for eiu'ollment of herself as a citizen by blood of the Choctaw Nation. Number of applicants involved, one. Sui)ported by affidavits of W^ebster Burton and Alec Nail. NoTK. — No applications served under numerals 27 and 2S. Case No. 29. In re application of Elizabeth Sexton, nee Folsom, for enrollment of herself and her deceased minor child as citizens by blood of the Choctaw Nation. Number of applicants involved, two. Supported by affidavit of Charlie Willard. Case No. 30. In re application of John H. Lewis, for enrollment of himself and three children as citizens by blood of the Choctaw Nation. Number of applicants involved, four. Supported by affidavit of Nelson Tolbert. Case No. 31. In re application of Ida Lewis, nee Brifton, for enrollment of herself and child as citizens by blood of the Choctaw Nation. Number of appli- cants involved, two. Supported by affidavits of G. W. Wilson and Nelson Tolbert. Case No. 32. In re application of Tennessee Ricketts, n6e Davis, for enroll- ment of herself, her children and grandchildren as citizens by blood of the Choc- tow Nation. Number of applicants involved, 10. Supported by affidavit of Nelson Tolbert. 310 INDIAN APPROPEIATION BILL. Case No. 33. In re application of Jennie Wilson, n§e Ramsey, n6e Holloway, n^e .Johnson, for enrollment of herself and minor children as citizens by blood of the Choctaw Nation. Num])or of applicants involved, 9. Supported by affi- davits of Graham W. Wilson and William Davis. Note. — No applications served under the numerals 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, and 51. Case No. 52. In re application of Sallie Piles, nee Stewart, nge Johnson, for enrollment of herself and family as citizens by blood of the Choctaw Nation. Number of Applicants involved, 3. Supported by affidavits of Alec Nail and Webster Burton. Case No. 53. In re application of Charles A. Edwards, for enrollment of him- self and family as citizens l)y blood of the Choctaw Nations. Number of appli- cants involved, 3. Supported l)y affidavits of Alec Nail and Webster Burton. Note. — No ajiplication served under numeral 54. Case No. 55. In re application of Mary L. Harrington, for enrollment of her- self and family as citizens by blood of the Choctaw Nation. Number of appli- cants involved, 4. Supported by affidavits of Alec Nail and Webster Burton. Note. — No applications served under numerals 56 and 57. Case No. 58. In re application of Perry Walker, for enrollment of himself as a citizen by blood of the Choctaw Nation. Number of applicants involved, 1. Supported by affidavits of Alec Nail and James Goings. Note. — No application served under numeral 59. Case No. 60. In re application of John G. Williams, for enrollment of himself and family as citizens by blood of the Choctaw Nation. Number of applicants involved, 11. Supported by affidavits of Alec Nail and Webster Burton. Note. — No applications served under numerals 61, 62, and 63. Case No. 64. In re application of May Kilby, nee Bingham, for enrollment of herself as a citizen by blood of the Choctaw Nation. Number of applicants in- volved, 1. Supported by attidavits of Alec Nail and Webster Burton. Case No. 65. In re application of Viola Bullock, nee Dillard, for enrollment of herself as a citizen by blood of the Choctaw Nation. Number of applicants involved, 1. Supported by affidavits of Webster Burton, Alec Nail, and Thomas Goings. list of applications ok persons for ENUOLL.MENT as CHOCTAW freedmen. Case No. 1. In re application of Charles Harris, for enrollment of himself and family as Choctaw freedmen. Number of applicants involved, 3. No affi- davit. Note. — No applications served under numerals 2, 3, and 4. Case No. 5. In i-e application of Alec Nail for enrollment of his minor chikl, Newton Nail, as a Choctaw freedman. Number of applicants involved. 1. No affidavit. Case No. 5A. In re application of Edwards Perkins, for enrollment as a minor Choctaw Freedman. Number of applicants involved, 1. Supported by affidavit of Jannie Lockett. Note. — No applications served under numerals 6, 7. 8, 9, 10. Case No. 11. In re application of Henry Folsom for enrollment of himself and family as Choctaw freedmen. Number of applicants involved, 10. Sup- ported by affidavits of James Goings, Alec Nail, and Webster Burton. Case No. 12. In re application of Wiley G. Williams, for enrollment of him- self and family as Choctaw freedmen. Number of applicants involved, 8, Sup- ported by affidavits of Alec Nail and Webster Burton. Note. — No application served under numeral 13. Case No. 14. In i-e application of Sylvester Fisher, for enrollment of Freddie Carr, a minor, as a Clioctaw freedman. Number of applicants involved, 1. Supported by affidavits of Rosa Nail and Alec Nail. Total number of petitions. 45; total number of applicants, 250; number of affidavits made by Alec Nail. 33; number of affidavits made by Webster Burton. 20 ; number of affidavits made by W. M. James, 5 ; number of affidavits made by Nelson Tolbert, 4. P. J. Hurley, National Attorney for the Choctatv Nation. Mr. Hurley. Mr. Ballinger made the statement during the course of his remarks that none of these negroes who served him and his associates as professional Avitnesses had been convicted of perjury. INDIAN APPROPRIATION BILL. 311 There is a good reason for that. They are not guilty of perjury. They are guilty of false swearing. The affidavits submitted by Mr. Ballinger are not affidavits required under any statute; consequently they are merely false sAvearing, not perjury. There may be other charges upon Which these gentlemen and all connected with this propagancla may be prosecuted, but in my judgment it will not be on the charge of perjury. It may be that all connected with this matter are guilty of a conspiracy to defraud, and that they have used the United States mail in furtherance of that purpose. This, however, is not a matter of my concern. It is a matter for the district attorney. I am glad Mr. Ballinger has made it unnecessary for me to show his connection with this transaction. I have his letters, together with the envelopes in which he transmitted them through the United States mail, together with other evidence connecting him indissolubly with the firm of Ballinger, Lindley & Eodkey, of Muskogee, who conducted the cases which are here under consideration. The facts developed in my investigation this summer, which are corroborated by the records which I have here, are these : Mr. Ballinger rented an office in the Metropolitan Building at Muskogee, Okla. This is the building in which the offices of the superintendent to the Five Civilized Tribes are located. In this office Mr. Lindley, Mr. Bal- linger's partner, and a negro named Nelson Durant, an ex-convict, who posed as a lawyer, commenced operations in these citizenship cases. Mr. Ballinger. There was nothing of that kind The Chairman. Mr. Ballinger, you will have two or three minutes later for a rejoinder. Do not interrupt Mr. Hurley noAv. Mr. Hurley (continuing). Mr. Ballinger's men, Webster Burton, Alec Nail, Nelson Durant. and others, brought in negroes; applica- tions of those negroes for citizenship Avere made out by Nelson Du- rant and Mr. Lindley. These applications contained false and fraud- ulent statements as to the identity of the person making the applica- tion. The false and fraudulent statements contained in those ap- plications were corroborated by the affidavits of Alec Nail and Webster Burton, and other negroes of the same caliber as disinter- ested persons. As shoAvn by the testimony Avhich I ha\e here, Web- ster Burton and Alec Nail received from 75 cents to $2.50 for each affidavit that they made in corroboration of the facts that Avere stated in the petitions prepared by Lindley and Nelson Durant. These are the affidavits and petitions that Avere sent me by jSIr. Ballinger for investigation. After a thorough and complete investi- gation of these cases I fomid that there Avas not one person Avhose name a])peared in any one of the petitions Avho Avas legally, equitably, or morally entitled to citizenshi)) in the- Choctaw Nation. These persons do not reside in the ChoctaAv Nation. They have no ChoctaAv blood. Attention is iuAited to the fact that only a vei-y few of these ap- ])licants made application or in any other manner attempted to pro- cure enrollment during the time that the rolls Avere being made. In their affidavits the attorneys have these applicants state that the reason that they did not make application Avas due to the fact that they belonged to the so-called Snake or Ketooyah faction of In- dians. This faction of Indians opposed the allotment of land in 312 INDIAN APPROPRIATION BILL. severalty. They adhered to the old tribal customs and insisted that the land should be continued to be held in common. This faction of Indians organized themselves in opposition to the enrollment and the allotment of lands in severalty. They were all full-blood Indians and lived largely in the remote and mountainous vicinities of the different tribes of the Five Civilized Tribes. When the attitude of the so-called Snake faction became known to the United States Government, the Government sent special agents into the remote districts to seek out the adherents of the Snake faction. As a result, they found every Indian Avho claimed to be a member of the Snake faction; they were arbitrarily enrolled and arbitrarily allotted, care being taken by the Government to select for them the best land avail- able. As a conseq-uence, the Snake Indians own more of the good land in Oklahoma than any other class of Indians. Mr. Ballinger and his associates seek, through the methods which I have described, to induce you gentlemen to believe that these negroes, who have been induced by Mr. Ballinger's associates to sign petitions, were Snake Indians. There is not one Indian among them. During all my in- vestigation I did not find one of them who could speak one word of the Choctaw language. The Snake Indians were full-bloods and spoke only the Indian language. These applicants can not speak a word of Choctaw, yet they claim to have belonged to the organiza- tion that opposed enrollment. A statement to the effect that these negroes are Snake Indians sounds rediculous in Oklahoma, where he attitude of the Snake Indians are known. These applicants, as shown by the addresses given in their petitions, live at Sapulpa, Tulsa, and Muskogee, the most populous towns in Oklahoma. These towns are not located in the Choctaw Nation. It would be unheard of to think of the Snake Indians coming down from their mountain homes to reside in these cities, yet Mr. Ballinger and his profes- sional witnesses would, if uninterrupted, be able to prove that this has been done. Let me refer specifically now to some of the cases. For instance, one applicant swears, and his sworn statement is corroborated by two professional witnesses, that the applicant is the daughter of Leonard Wright ; that Leonard Wright is a brother of x\llen Wright, who was principal chief of the Choctaw Nation. I have the petition here and would like to have you read it, as well as the affidivats of the two so-called disinterested parties. After reading it, you would have the impression that the statement is true and that this Indian had been deprived of her birthright. The investigation which I made further disclosed the fact that Allen Wright never had a brother; that he migrated from Mississippi in 1831 as an orphan boy 8 years of age. He had one sister. His sister gi'ew up and married in Indian Ter- ritory. She is the mother of Judge Allingiton, of Atoka. Judge Allen Wright, of the firm of Wright & Boyd, of McAlester, Okla., is a son of Chief Wright. Chief Wright never had a brother, yet according to the affidavits which I have here and the affidavits in corroboration thereof this negro is a niece of the principal chief of the Choctaw Nation and a first cousin to Judge Wright, of Mc- Alester. I submit, gentlemen, that that is a slander as well as an effort to obtain through fraud a right to participate in Choctaw property. In another case served upon me by Mr. Ballinger and his associates the applicant alleges that he is the son of Frances Hunter INDIAN APPEOPEIATION BILL. 313 and Tolliver Barnette; that Frances Hunter was a sister of Thomas W. Hunter, who is famous among the Choctaws. Thomas W. Hun- ter made a race for the office of principal chief in 1902. There was a controversy over the election, and by force of arms the adherents of Hunter took possession of the Choctaw capital and held it against the Choctaw Nation for several days. It was finally taken from them by the United States troops. Thomas W. Hunter is now a member of the State Legislature of Oklahoma. He is a character who is well known in Oklahoma. This applicant claimed that he was a son of the sister of Thomas Hunter. Among other things, the petition contains a statement in i-egard to the Hunter family — shows the names of the father and grand- father, etc. I thought probably there might be something in the statement, as these applicants were not negroes; they looked more like white people ; so I sent the petition to Mr. Thomas W. Hunter, and I immediately commenced an investigation of the case. The investigation developed the fact that Thomas W. Hunter never had a sister named Frances Hunter. Further investigation showed that Thomas W. Hunter's father was not known by the name alleged in the petition; in fact, his name was not Hunter. Thomas W. Hun- ter's father was a full-blood Choctaw Indian and was known as Benahuntubby. The nearest the white people could get to pronounce the name was Bennehunta. This finally developed into the name of Bennie Hunter. When Tom Hunter was sent away to school he became known under the name of Thomas W. Hunter. This petition and the affidavits in corroboration thereof fixed Thomas W. Hunter and his family up with a line of ancestors and collateral kindred bearing English names, but aside from this part of the case the peti- tion and the affidavits show that the petitioner is the son of a woman '^vho never existed. Mr. Ballinger has made a long argument to show that Mr. Bowie does not legally hold the office of deputy clerk of the United States court for the eastern district of Oklahoma. He attacks the legality of the appointment of the officer before whom the witnesses swore rather than the testimony of the witnesses. I am not much concerned in regard to whether or not Mr. Bowie is a legally qualified and act- ing de jure or de facto clerk of the United States court for the eastern district of Oklahoma. I am interested only in the correctness of the facts which he has ascertained from the witnesses. Mr. Ballinger seems to be not in a position to deny the correctness of the testimony of his professional Avitnesses wherein they have repudiated the affi- davits which Mr. Ballinger and his associates procured from these witnesses and attached to false petitions which Mr. Ballinger served upon me through the United States mail. Mr. Ballinger's attack on Mr. Bowie is rather in the nature of an attack upon the manner of impaneling the jury than an attack upon the correctness of the facts found by the jury. I will not consider his argument in this matter further unless he is able to show that the conclusions reached by Mr. Bowie on the facts ascertained by him in his investigation are not correct. This I know Mr. Ballinger can not do. I am familiar with the facts stated in the Bowie report in so far as they pertain to Choctaw cases, and I know them to be correct. Now, gentlemen. I have not said anything disrespectful to Mr. Ballinger, nor do I intend to do so. His statements about the sur- 314 INDIAN APPROPRIATION BILL. 1 eptitious manner in which I filed the Bowie report is incorrect. I did not fde that report. This is my first appearance in this matter, and tliis is the record of my investigation which I have here with me. I am read}' to submit it now. I do not feel that I am appearing before this committee secretly or that I am attempting to place any- thing before you in a surreptitious manner. jNIr. Ballinger stated to you that my reason for not coming boldly out with the statements contained in the Bowie report is due to the fact that I am afraid of prosecution at his hands. I do not feel that I should fear prosecution for stating the truth. It is a fact that every witness used by Mr. Ballinger has repudiated the affidavits made by him in corroboration of the affidavits filed by Mr. Ballinger. Every one of Mr. Ballinger's professional witnesses have impeached their own testimony. I have not attempted to disbar Mr. Ballinger. I have purposely refrained from making a statement of my opinion in regard to the professional ethics of his conduct. That is not a part of my duty. Neither is it my duty to prosecute Mr. Ballinger and his associates. 1 do not know what will be done when this record comes to the atten- tion of the parties whose duty it is to prosecute those who violate the law. What I have said to this committee is for the purpose of enabling the committee to determine what its attitude shall be toward a man who is so loose in his practice as to allow a condition of this kind to develop. I am not responsible for the condition. I did not begin this matter in order to investigate Mr. Ballinger. Mr. Ballin- ger asked for the investigation, and the investigation which he asked for, but which he did not think would be made, developed the facts which I have submitted to you. When I went into these cases I fov;nd them so fraudulent and the attempt to secure enrollment of these persons so unjust and unconscionable that I could not do other- wise than complete the investigation. I have arrived at the conclu- sion, gentlemen, that Mr. Ballinger and his associates could not by the most astute fraud be able to secTire the enrollment of any of these applicants as citizens of the Choctaw Nation. Then why should they continue to take these applications? I will tell you. Nelson Durant, a negro ex-convict, who is always to be found in the outer office of the firm of Ballinger. lindley & Rodkey at Muskogee, col- lects fees from these api:)lic:uits. We have evidence here to show that through means of this go-between. Nelson Durant. and in some instances other negroes of questionable character, the applicants are each relieved of a fee ranging from $5 to $00. Then the propaganda is carried on, not for the purpose of enrolling these pers his return lived in Valient and sonth of there and that he built himself a liome on the public domain and held the same unmolested until allotment; that said home was ,")i miles south from A'alient. That the reason that he has not been enrttlled is : That he had always been recognized as a Choctaw citizen : that he was permitted to build a home on the public domain and otlierwise recognized and did not know that an enrollment by the Dawes Commission was necessary until his home was taken from him ; then he went to the Dawes Commission at Muskogee and they told him the roll was closed. That on the 2d day of September, 1SS5, he was duly and lawfully married to Lucy Goings, with whom he still lives; that there was born to this union the following-named children, to wit : Mamie Dyer, age 27 years ; Henry Goings, age 2G years ; Ella Roberts, age 24 years ; Hughs Goings, age 22 ye'ars ; Birdie (Joings, age 19 years; James Goings, age 18 years; Ben Goings, age 17 years; Francis Goings, age 13 years; Roseve't Goings, age 11 vears ; Maggie Goings, I)orn April 3, 190.5. Petitioner further shows that he is uneducated ; that he can not read or write, and that he lived in the confide::ce that his people would all be cared for with their own share of the common property of the Choctaw Tribe of Indians the siinie as the other Choctaw Indians were, l)ut that on account of his uneducated <-ondition and without any notice, he has been left off the I'oll, and his children, who were all minors, are also without enrollment for no other reason than that they were minors and that he did not know enough to care for their interests. Wherefore he now prays that his name. .Tames Goings, and the names of his said children, Mamie Dyer, Henry Goings. Ella Roberts, Hughs, Birdie, .Tames, Ben, Francis, Ro.sevelt, and Maggie Goings, be enrolled on the approved roll of ('hoctaws by blood, and that to them and each of them be given their dis- tributive share of the conunon property of the Choctaw Tribe of Indians the same as is given to all other members of said tribe. .Tames (his thumi) mark) Goings. State of Oklahoma, Mu^konvc County, ss: James Goings, being first duly sworn, on oath states that he is the above- named James Goings ; that he has liad the above petition read over to him and knows the contents thereof; and that the matters and things therein contained are true. James (his thumb mark) Goings. Subscribed and sworn to l)(>fore me this 10th day of February, 191.5. I further cei-tily that I read over and fully explained the contents oi' the above l)etition to the affiant and that he knew the contents thereof and that he stated that same was true. [seal. Julius Golden, Notary Public. My commission expires June 2, 1917. The name of James Goings was written by me at his n^iuest and in his presence and mark made by him in my presence. Julius Golden, Witness to Mark. The name of James G(Mngs was written by me at his request and in his presence and mark made by him in my presence. JUL1U.S Golden, Witness to Mark. 320 INDIAN APPROPEIATION BILL. SUPPLEMENTAL PETITION OF MAMIE DYER, IN SUPPORT OF THE PETITION OF JAMES GOINGS FOR THE ENROLLMENT OF HIMSELF AND FAMILY AS CHOCTAW INDIANS. Comes now IMamie Dyer and shows that she is 27 years of age and that she lives at Sapiilpa. Okla. That she is a Clioctaw Indian by birth, by blood, by descent, by residence, and rocounition. as is shown by the petition of .Tames Goings, her father, made in her behalf, to which this petition is attached and made a part. That she has read over said petition and knows the contents thereof and that the matters and things therein contained are true. That on the 24tli day of October, 1911, she was duly and lawfully married to John O. Dyer, with whom she still lives, and that he took her out of the Choctaw Nation to Sapulpa, about one week ago. That she has been a recognized Choctaw ever since she could remember, and that she lived on the public domain with her said father, and assisted him in making the home on the public domain where they lived until same was allotted away from her father. That she herself was a minor during all the years of enrollment since she was born ; that the rolls were closed before she reached her majority, and although she was old enough to have been enrolled and allotted, neither her tribe nor her parents nor the United States, that presuming to act as her guardian, looked after her interests, and she has thus been deprived of her share of the common property of her tribe. That her name appears in the said petition of her said father at her request and that she hereby ratifies and confirms the same and joins in the prayer thereto appended. Mamie Dyer. State of Oklahoma, Muskogee County, ss: Subscribed and sworn to before me this the IGth day of February, 1915. I further certify that I read over the above petition to the affiant and that she knew the contents thereof and that she stated that she was the above-named party and that said petition is true. [seal.] Julius Golden, Notary Public. My commission expires June 2, 1917, supplemental petition of henry gains in support of the petition of JAMES gains for THE ENROLLMENT OF HIMSELF AND FAMILY AS CHOCTAW INDIANS. Comes now Henry Gains and shows that he is 26 years of age and that he lives at Depew, Okla. , That he is a Choctaw Indian by birth, by blood, by descent, and by residence as is shown by the petition of James Goings, his father, made in his behalf, to which this petition is attached and made a part. That he has read over said petition and knows the contents thereof and that the matters and things therein contained with reference to his relation- ship and residence and the relationship and residence of all of the other par- ties named therein, he knows to be true of his own knowledge ; that the matters and things tlierein contained with reference to the ancestors of his said mother and father, he has always been taught were true; that he has also been told that they were true by reliable parties that were personally acquainted with the parties and knew the facts, and that he believes them to be true and so charges the fact to be. That he has been a recognized Choctaw Indian ever since he could remem- ber ; that he helped his said father to clear up their home on the public domain and that they lived on it until allotment came and it was taken from them. That he was a minor during all the years of enrollment, but of suflicient age to have been enrolled and was not taken care of by his said father on account of the reasons stated in his petition; but that he has been deprived of his allotment solely on account of his minority. INDIAN APPROPRIATION BILL, 321 Tliiit liis name appears in tlie said petition of his fatliei" at liis request and tliat lie lierel>y ratifies and contirnis tlie same and joins in tlie prayer tliereto appended. Hkxuy Gains. State of Oklahoma, Muskofjrc County, *'». Subscribed and sworn to before nie tins l(»tli day of February, 191.") ; I fur- ther certify that I read over the above petition to the affiant and that he laiew the contents thereof and that he states that same was true. [seal.] Julius Golden, Notarii PuMic. My cojnmission expires .June 2, 1917. SUPPLEMENT.VL PETITION OF ELLA KOBEKTS IN SUPPORT OF THE PETITION OF .lAAIES GOINGS FOU THE ENROLLMENT OF HIMSELF AND FAMILY AS CHOCTAW INDIANS. Comes now Ella Roberts and shows ; that she is a Choctaw Indian by birth, by blood, by descent, and by residence, as is shown by the petition of James Goings, her father, made in her behalf, to which this petition is attached and made a part. That she is 24 years of age, and that she lives now at Boley, Okla. That she has read over said petition and knows the contents thereof, and that the matters and things therein cimtained with reference to her relationship and i-esideiice and the relationshiii of all of the other i)arties named in said petition, she knows to ])e true of her own knowled.^e ; that the matters and thiiiys therein contained with reference to the ancestors of her said father and motlun-, she has always been tau.trht were true; that she has also been told that they were true by reliable persons that were personally acquainted with the parties and knew the facts ; and that she believes them to be true and so charges the fact to be. That she has been recognized as a Choctaw Indian in the Choctaw Nation ever since she could remember; that she split rails, made fence together with the other members of her said father's family to make a home for themselves the .same as other Choctaws had; that they lived on the same until allotment and then had to vacate. That she was a minor during all the years for enrollment and that her said father did i\ot look after her interests as stated in his petition, and that she could not ; that she has been deprived by law of an opportunity to even ask for her birthiMght, and all on account of her minority ; that she was of sufficient age to have been enrolled but was not. That on the 11th day of January, 1914, she was duly and lawfully married to Newton Roberts; That her name ai)i)ears in the ]»etition of her said father at her retiuest and tliat she hereby ratifies and confirms the same and joins in the prayer thereto appended. Ella Roberts. State of Oklahoma, Mnskoffce County, ss: Subscribf'd and sworn to before me this the 10th day of Fi'lu'uary. 1915: I further certify that I i-ead over the above p<'tition to the afliant and that she knew the contents thereof and that she stated that same was true. [seal. 1 JuLiLTs Golden. My commission expires June 2, 1917. SUPPLEMENTAL PETITION OF HlT(iHS GOINGS IN SUPPORT Ol TlIK PETITION OF .IAMi;S GOINGS FOR THE ENROLI-MENT OF HIMSELF AND KAMII.V AS CHOCTAW INDIANS. Comes now Hughs Goings and shows that he is 22 years of age and that he lives at Castle, okla. That he is a Choctaw Indian by birth, by blood, by descent, and by residences as is sliown by the petition of .tames (Joings, his father. nia(!(> in his behalf, fo which this ])etitioii is attached and made a pai"t. That he has read over said petition and knows the contents tliert-of and that the matters and things therein contained with reference to his relationship and i-esideiice and the relationshii» and residence of all of the other jiarties named tliereiiL \w knows to l)e true of his own knowledge; that the matters and things therein contained with reference to the ancestors of his said father 31362—16 21 322 INDIAN APPROPRIATION BILL. and mother, he has always been taught were true; that he has also been Informed by reliable persons that were acquainted with the parties and Isnew the facts, and lie believes them to be true and so charges the fact to be. That he has been recognized as a Choctaw Indian ever since he could re- member, and that he helped his fatlier and the other members of the family to clear up the liome on the public domain south of Valient, on which they lived until allotment. That he was a minor during all the years of enrollment since he was bora and that the roll closed prior to his i-eaching his majority. That he was of sufficient age to have been enrolled and receive his allot- ment, and was deprived thereof on account of his minority and the further reasons set out in his said father's petition. That his name appears in his said father's petition at his request, and that he hereby ratifies and confirms the same and joins in the prayer thereto appended. Hughs Goings. The name of Hughs Goings was written by me at his request and in his presence, and marli made by him in my presence. Attest : Julius Golden, Witness to Hark. Statk of Oklahoma, Mtiskogee County, ss: Subscribed and sworn to before me this the 10th day of February, 1915. I further certify that I read over the above petition to the affiant and that he knew the contents thereof and that he stated that the same was true. [seal.] Jut.ius Golden, Notary Public. My commission expii-es June 2, 1917. SUPPLEJtENTAL PETITION OF BIRDIE GOINGS IN SUPPORT OF THE PETITION OF JAMES GOINGS FOR THE ENROLLMENT OF HIMSELF AND FAMILY AS CHOCTAW INDIANS. Comes now Birdie Goings and shows that she is 19 years of age and that she lives at Depew, Okla. That she is a Choctaw Indian by birth, by blood, by residence, and by descent, as is shown by the petition of James Goings, her father, made in her behalf, to which this petition is attached and made a part. That she has i-ead over said petition and knows the contents thereof, and that the matters and things thei'ein contained with reference to her relationship and residence and the relationship and residence of all of the other parties named therein she knows to be true of her own knowledge ; that the matters and things therein contained with reference to the ancestors of her said mother and father, she has always been taught were true ; that she has also been told that they were true by reliable persons that were personally acquainted with the parties and knew the facts, and that she believes them to be true and so charges the fact to be. Tliat she was born and raised at Valient, Choctaw Nation, and has been a recognized Choctaw Indian ever since she could remember; that she and the other children helped to clear up their home on the public domain ; that she Iftu'ucd bi-usli after she came home from school and a part of the night, and that they had a nice home ; that it was taken from them after allotment. That the Choctaw roll was closed before she reached her majority, and that her father, for the reasons stated in his said petition, did not look after her interests, and that she is left off the rolls solely because she was a minor and the rolls closed, although she was of age to have been enrolled. That her name appears in the said petition of her father at her request, and that she hereby ratifies and confirms the same and joins in the prayer thereto appended. Birdie Goings. State of Oklahoma, Muskogee County, ss: Subscribed and sworn to before me this the 10th day of February, 1915. I further certify that I read over and fully explained to the affiant the above petition and that she knew the contents thereof and that she stated that same was true. [seal.] Julius Golden, Notary Public. My commission expires June 2, 1917. INDIAN APPEOPRIATION BILL. 323 AFFIDAVIT OF ALEC NAIL IN SUPPORT OF THE PETITION OF JAMES GOINGS FOK THE ENROLLMENT OF HIMSELF AND FAMILY AS CHOCTAW INDIANS. Alec Nail, being first duly sworn, on oath states that he is 72 years of age and that his home is near Boggy Depot, Okla. I know the applicant, .James Goings ; that I was well and personally ac- quainted with both the father and mother of the applicant, Henry and Ffances Goings. The said Henry Goings was a full-blood Choctaw man, and I knew him from the time I could remember up until his death — that is, until I heard of his death. The said Henry Goings had three brothers; George was the oldest one, and that he died before the war ; he run for governor of the Choctaw Nation in the early days. The other two full brothers were James and Alfred Goings. The mother, Frances Goings, was a half-breed Choctaw. The father of Henry Goings— the grandfather of the applicant — was old Isaac Goings, and he was one of the emigrants from Mississippi in 1832. Affiant further states that the first time that he ever met this applicant was more than 30 years ago at Old Doaksville, Ind. T., Towson County. That applicant moved away from there, and so did I, and I did not keep track of him and have not met him again until lately. I am not acquainted with his family. Have seen them. Alec Nail. [His thumb print] The name of Alec Nail was written by me at liis request and in his presence and mark made by him in my presence, Jtjlius Golden. State of Oklahoma, Muskogee County, ss. Subscribed and sworn to before nie this the 23d day of March, 191.5. I fur- ther certify that I read over to the affiant tlie above affidavit, and that he knew the contents thereof, and that he stated that same was correct and that he was the identical person named therein as affiant. [seal.] Julius Golden, Notary Public. My commission expires June 2, 1917. affidavit of H. L. lewis in support OF THE PETITION OF JAMES GOINGS AND family. H. L. Lewis, being first duly sworn, on oath states that he is 28 years of age and that he lives at Muskogee, Okla. That he is well and personally acquainted with the applicant, and that he knows all the older members of his family. That he first knew him when he was snijill ; that, in fact, he has known him and them ever since he could remember. Affiant further stated that the applicant had his own home that he and his family made on the public domain. That he saw them making it, and knows that they lived on it until they were driven off during allotment. That he was living in the Choctaw Nation, and that he visited his family when he was growing up, and that is the way that he knows the older ones; he use to play with them. That li(> and all his family were Choctaws and so recognized, and that they have lived in the Choctaw Nation during all of that time, which is more than 20 years. I have not seen him for a long time until lately, he moved to the Creek Nation. (Signed) H. L. Lewis. State of Oklahoma, Muskogee County, ss: Subscribed and sworn to before me this thv. 19th day of February, 1915 ; I further certify that I read over the above affidavit to afiiant and that he knew the contents thereof, and flint he stated that the matters and things therein contained were true. [seal.] (Signed) Julius Golden, Notary Puhlic. My commission expires June 2, 1917. 324 INDIAN APPROPRIATION BILL. STATEMKNT OF 1'. J. HT'RLEY, ATTOKNKY VOU THP; CHOCTAW NATION. In re npplicatioii of Janies Goings for enrollment of hini.self and family as citi- zens by blood of the Choctaw Nation. The foregoing petition was served ui)on nie by Mr. Webster Ballinger, an attorney at law, of Washington, D. C. The applicant, James (Joings, claims that he is an Indian by blood — the evidence shows that he is a negro. On the face of his petition the applicant admits that he did not make ajjplication for enrollment as a citizen of the Choctaw Nation within the time re(iuired by law. The act of July 1, 1902 (32 Stat. L., p. G41), by which the supplemental agreement between the Choctaw and Chickasaw Nations and the United .States was ajiproved, jtrovides in part as follows: " * * * The application of no person whomsoever for enrollment shall be received after the expiiation of said ninety days." The 90 days herein referred to is 90 days after the ratification of the agreement by the Choctaw and Chickasaw jteojile. The agreement was ratified on September 2.5, 1902. If all the allegations contained in rhe ai-i)licaiifs petition were true ho would not now be entitled to enrollment under the law. He is not a bona fide resident of the Choctaw Nation, but resides at this time near Depew, in Creek County, (^kla., whicli is in the Creek Nation. The act of Congress ai»i>roved June 28, 1898, connnonly known as the Atoka agreement between the Choctaw-Chickasaw Nations and the United States (32 Stat. L., p. 49o), provides as foll(A\-s : "No person shall be enrolled who has not heretofore removed to and in good faith settled in the nation in which he claims citizenship." Without considering the legal bars to the enrollment of this ajiplicant, we are in a position to show that he is not eciuitably. or morally, entitle(l to citizen- shij) in the Choctaw .\ati(»n. He is not a.n Indian; he has all the appearances and characteristics of a fulUblood negro. His testimony, taken in this case at Tulsa, Oklahoma, on November 19, 1915, is attached hereto. This testi- money shows (hat he has always lived with negroes; that he is married to a negro woman ; that his mother was a negro woman who claimed to have some Indian blood, but when asked concerning his father the \vitne";s testified as follows : " Q. Of what blood was your father?— A. Full-blood Choctaw. ■■ (j. Were your latliei- and mother marriedV — A. As far as I know. " Q. Your understanding is that they were not married, isn't that the idea? — A. Claimed to be married as far as I heird (hem say. Never saw my father." It seems that this negro assumed the name of "Goings" in order to attempt to establish a relationship between himself and a Choctaw family of that name. On this point the witness testified as follows : " Q. Where were you married? — A. Clarkesville, Red River Cotintv, Tex. " Q. Did you marry under the name of Janies Goings? — A. Yes, sir. " You are sure that you were married under the name of James Goings? — A. No, sir; I went in the name of stepfather when I married her. My step- father's name. " Q. You were married under (he name of James Davis? — A. Yes, sir. " (}. You were known by James Davis up (o (hat time? — A. Yes, sir. " Q. MarriiHl by the name of James Davis? — A. Yes, sir. " Q. Known by that name .since you have been married? — A. No, sir. " Q. When did you change your name to Goings? — A. Right after I married." This Negro attempts to show that he was recognized as a citizen of the (Mioctaw Nation, but wIkmi asked the (piestion : " Your name was never on any tribal roll that you know anything about?" He answered. "No. sir." Again he was' asked, "As a matter of fact you were not placed on any tribal roll because yon are of negro blood; is that the reason?" He answered, " Yes, sir." He attempted, however, to further establish the fact that he was recognized as a Choctaw, and said that he had been permitted to vote at one election in the Choctaw Nation. He was asked the cpiestion — "Who did you vote for?"— and he answered, " I voted in favoi- of the Choctaws." " Q. Was it an election for governor, or something of that kind? — A. Yes, sir; I think so. I think it was. " Q. Don't you kn()w who you vottvl for'^ — A. I couldn't rt'ad, you know." INDIAN APPKOPKJATION iilLl.. 325 The testinioiiy of Jaiiios (Joliigs is suflicieiit to show (hat tlic allcjiiitions in the petition presented l).v Mr. liallin^er are false. The applicant is not an Indian — he is a ne^ro ; he does not reside in the Choctaw Nation; he never made an application for enrollment as a citizen of the Choctaw Nation until he was approached by the agents of Mr. P>allinfi:er and a petition was solicited from him. Tlie testimony on this point is interesting but it is not pertinent to the issues in this case. There is another matter, however, that is pertinent. To corroborate the fradulent and false allegations contained in the petition sub- mitted by Mr. Ballinger and his associates, this tirm of attorneys have pro- cured the aHldavit of Alec Nail, an old negro, who, prior to emancipation, was the slave of Jonathan Nail, a Choctaw Indian. This old negro is used by the tirm of Ballinger. Ijiidley & Kodkey as a professional witness. His atli(hivit is submitted by this tirm of attorneys in corroboi-iition of the allegations con- tained in the petition of James Goings. On November ."), 1915, Nail was called u|)on to testify in this case. His tes- timony is in full as follows: Dki'aktment of thk Interior, Ofkk'k oi- thk Si i'kkixtexdk.nt eok the Five Civilized Tribes. MHHko(i('(\ Okhi., Novcinhcr 5, IHIo. In the matter of the ap])lication for the enrollment of James Goings as a citizen by blood of the Choctaw Nation. ALEC NAIL, being first duly sworn by William L. Bowie, deputy clerk of the United States Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, on oath, testifies as follows : I^xamination by P. J. Hrin.EV : Q. What is your name? — A. Alec Nail. Q. Where do you reside? — A. Muskogee, Ckla. Q. Are you an eiu'olled citizen of the Choctaw Nation? — A. Yes, sir. Q. Freedman or citizen by blood? — A. Freedman. Q. Do you know James tJoings?- — A. No, sir; only since he has been ti'ying to get on the rolls. Q. How long has he been trying to get on the rolls? — A. I don't know, sir. He filed petition liefoiv I knew him. Q. Do you know whether James (Joings is a Choctaw Indian? — A. He is not an Indian. Q. What is he? — A. Coloivd man. He looks . W'\inl was Isaac (Joings's blood'/ — A. Plnni Indian. (J. And this man, James (Jcdngs, is a straight-out negro? — .\. Yes. sii-; he hioks like nie. CJ. You .stated that you never knew this ai)plicant until you met him in Bal- linger, Lindley & Uodkey's oflice? — A. First I ever saw of him. Q. Did you swear that you met him 30 years ago at Old Doaksville? — A. I have not been there since I was a boy 11 years old. ii. Then you didn't meet him at Doaksville *}0 years ago'/ — A. No, sir. Q. In this atlidavit pnrpoi'ted to have been signed by you and sworn to b(»fore Julius (ioldcn, a notarv public, did you make the following statement? (The following is a copy of the atlidavit purported to have been made and signed by Alec Nail :) "Alec Nail, being first duly sworn on oath states that he is 72 years of age, and that his home is near Boggy Depot, okla. 326 INDIAN APPROPRIATION BILL. " I know the applicant, James Goings ; that I was well and personally ac- quainted with both the father and mother of the applicant, Henry and Frances Goings. " The said Henry Goings was a full-blood Choctaw man, and I knew him from the time I could remember up until his death — that is, until I heard of his death ; the said Henry Goings had three brothers ; George was the oldest one, and that he died before the war ; he run for governor of the Choctaw Nation in the early days. The other two full brother were James and Alfred Goings. " The mother, Frances Goings, was a half-breed Choctaw. " The father of Henry Goings, the grandfather of the applicant, was old Isaac Goings, and he was one of the emigrants from Mississippi in 1832. "Affiant further states that the first time that he ever met this applicant was more than 30 years ago at Old Doaksville, Indian Territory, Towson County. " That applicant moved away from there and so did I, and I did not keep track of him and have not met him again until lately. " I am not acquainted with his family. Have seen them. "(Signed) Alec Nail (By thumb mark). " State of Oklahoma, Muskogee County, ss: " Subscribed and sworn to before me this the 23d day of March, 1915 ; I fur- ther certify that I read over to the affiant the above affidavit and that he knew the contents thereof and that he stated that same was correct, and that he was the identical person named therein as affiant. " [seal.] (Signed) Julius Golden, " Notary Public. " My commission expires June 2, 1917." A. Not a word of it is true. Q. You didn't swear to that? — A. Not that way. Q. It was not read to you in the form it now appears? — A. That testimony was made from the rolls. They showed me the roll book and made it out. Q. They didn't find on the roll where you met James Goings at Doaksville 30 years ago? — A. I left there before 30 years ago. I have not been there since I was 11 years old. Q. You have not been back since then?— A. No, sir; I have not been back. I never lieard that before. Q. How much did James Goings pay you?— A. He was to pay me $2.50, and I think he paid me one dollar and six bits. (Witness excused.) Frank L. Doble, being first duly sworn, on oath states that he reported the proceedings in the above-entitled case on November 5, 1915, and that the above and foregoing is a true and correct transcript of his stenographic notes taken thereof. Frank L. Doble. Subscril)ed and sworn to before me this 13th day of November, 1915. R. P. Haerison, Clerk. By William L. Bowie, Deputy. This testimony furnishes a fair example of the credence that should be placed in sworn "statements submitted by Mr. Ballinger and his associates. There is a litttle conflict between James Goings and Alec Nail as to the amount Goings i)aid Nail for making the affidavit. Goings, in testifying, swore as follows : ^^ " Q. What did Alec Nail charge for making an affidavit for you? — A. $5. Any reasonable man, after having seen the chief applicant and having heard his testimony and the testimony of his witnesses, could not be so misled as to believe that "there would be any possibility, even by the most astute fraud, to procure the enrollment of the applicant as a Choctaw Indian by blood. Mr. Ballingcn- and his associates are reasonable men, and we are led to ask the question why do they submit a petition for the enrollment of a negro as a citizen bv blood of tlie Choctaw Nation on evidence as unsubstantial and as false as that which appears in this case. I believe that we will to some extent find the answer to this question in the testimony of the chief applicant. The office of Ballinger, Lindley & Rodkey, attorneys at law, was in the same building with the office of the superintendent of the Five Civilized Tribes at Muskogee. The chief applicant testifies that he was taken to that office by an agent of Ballinger, Lindley & Rodkey and was led to believe that Mr. IISTDIAN APPROPRIATIOISr BILL. 327 Lindley was iu the service of the Interior Department. A part of his testimony is as follows : "Q. Where did you sec- Mr. Lindley?— A. Muskogee, Interior Office. "(}. What office? — A. Up in the Government office. About one story up. " Q. On the second floor? — A. North end." Then the witness testified as follows : "Q. What did Mr. Lindley tell you?— A. He told me that I would have to employ an attorney to investigate. " Q. Did he suggest some attorney to you ? — A. I asked him who was attor- ney there, and he said there was two or three around there, and about that time in walked Nelson Durant, and I employed Nelson Durant. " Q. What sort of a contract did you make with Nelson Durant? — A. I was to pay him cash in hand. I was to pay him $27. " Q. Did you pay him the money ? — A. Yes, sir ; $27. " Q. Pay him that day ? — A. No, sir. After I was down there and he told me to bring those five grown children. " Q. Did you pay him anything at all the first time? — A. $7.50. " Q. For what pui-pose did you pay him this $7.50? — A. He claimed he had to go and look up the books. " Q. You paid him $7.50 to look up the books? — A. Yes, sir. " Q. What books was he to look up? — A. I don't know, sir. He didn't tell me particularly what books. " Q. You gave him $7.50 in cash? — A. Yes, sir. " Q. First time you were down there? — A. Yes, sir. " Q. When was that? — A. Along in February. "Q. Of this year?— A. Yes, sir. " Q. Any one witness you paying him that money? — A. No, sir; there was nobody in the office but me and him at that time. " Q. Did he give you a receipt for it? — A. Yes, sir; but I haven't it here. " Q. You have the receipt at home? — A. Yes, sir. " Q. He said to come back again with your five children? — A. Grown chil- dren. " Q. You took them back ? — A. Yes, sir. " Q. When did he tell you about bringing more money down?— A. He said all those grown ones would have to pay $5 apiece for entering fees. What he said " Q. You went down there afterwards and took your five grown children with you? — A. Yes, sir. " Q. What's the names of these children? — A. Mamie Dyer " Q. Where does she live? — A. Sapulpa. " Q. What's her husband's name? — A. J. D. Dyer. " Q. Do they live in town? — A. No, sir; a mile and half out. "Q. Which direction?— A. West. " Q. Name of the next oldest? — A. Henry. " Q. Where does he live?— A. I don't know, sir, where his home may * * * I haven't seen him since I carried him to Muskogee. " Q. Name the next oldest?— A. Ella Roberts. "Q. Wife of Martin Roberts?— A. Yes, sir. " Q. Live at Boley? — A. Live out about 1 mile from Boley. Have moved near Castle. Got a letter from hor last week. " Q. Did you take Hugh along with you? Does Hugh live at Depcw? — A. No, sir. Hugh lives out from Castle. " Q. Did you take Hugh along with you? — A. Yes, sir. " Q. Take Birdie?— A. Yes, sir. " Q. Birdie live at Depew?— A. Yes, sir. Lives with me. " Q. Birdie, a boy or girl? — A. A girl. " Q. Did each of tlK^so children take money along with them? — A. No, sir. " Q. They didn't give any money? — A. I got the money myself. " Q. Had he told you that you would have to bring .some more money? — A. $10 more; $17.50 for me. " Q. Did you take him that $10? You gave him that $10?— A. Yes, sir. " Q. How much more? — A. $5 apiece for the children. "Q. How much in all? — A. $25. " Q. Gave him $25 for the children? — A. Yes, sir. " Q. They paid you the money to give to him? — A. All but one; that was Birdie. Slie was living with me, and I i)ay hers. "Q. How much did this make in all that you paid Durant? — A. $10, $17.50, and $25. Let's see, $42.50 in all ; would be .$42.50, near as I could come to it. 328 INDIAN APPROPRIATION BILL. " Q. Did vou f,'et any receipt for the money?— A. I got a receipt for myself for $17.50. lie told me he would send all the receipts of the kids, their receipts. " Q. Do vou know whether he did this? — A. No, sir; I don't. " Q. Did" you have any understanding as to whether Mr. Lindley or this man Durant were in the Government service? — A. I understood that Mr. Lind- lev was in the Government service. '" Q. Who told you that Mr. Lindley was in the Government service?— A. He told uie himself. He was working for the Government, and lie was not allowed to charge any fees. If Government knew he charged any fees he would be hoisted from the office. " Q. He told you that himself ?— A. Yes, sir. " Q. Anyone else present when he told you?— A. Yes, sir; I think, if I make no mistake, there was an old man, Nails. " Q. Alex Nails? — A. Yes, sir; if I make no mistake, think he was in there at the time. " Q. What did Durant tell you? He tell you he was in Government service? — A. He said he was attorney looking \ip the cases, like for myself. " Q. Wliat did he tell you about Lindley?— A. He said he would look up mv case, and if it was agreement with Mr. Lindley * * *. Whatever Mr. Lindley said when he looked it up * * *. When he looked it up he would turn it over to Mr. I^indley. " Q. Do you know whether Mr. Webster Ballinger, of Washington, D. C, was connected with that office? — A. I heard he was after I went in. " Q. Did you sign any contract agreeing to pay anyone any more money? — A. Not at that time I didn't. " Q. Did you sign any contract at any other time? — A. Yes. sir; a contract several years ago with Mr. Ballinger. " Q. Several years ago? — A. About 8 or 9 years ago. " Q. Not this year? — A. Not as I know of. " Q. Did you sign a power of attorney to Ballinger, Lindley, or Durant? — A. Well, Mr. Lindley told me that Mr. Ballinger was attorney. " Q. Did you sign any power of attorney? — A. Well, I don't know, sir. I tell you just like it is. I couldn't read, and I couldn't tell you what I signed. Only touched that paper there with my hand." Does this testimony not indicate that these attorneys are not taking these l)etitions with the hope of having these negroes enrolled as citizens by blood of the Choctaw Nation? On the contrary, would this testimony not indicate that the juirpose of these transactions is to .secure from these ignorant and gullible negroes whatever funds they may have on hand? It is unfair to the Choctaw and Chickasaw Nations to cause them to hire attorneys and to incur the expense of investigating petitions procured by Mr. Ballinger and his associates, as evei-y petition .submitted by them indicates that the propaganda carried on by these attorneys is not for the purpose of securing the enrollm(>nt of these applicants, but for the purpose of securing funds from them. The cases of applicants are taken I'egardless of merit if they have funds to give to these attorneys. The question of the impersonation of a United States otlicer n? — A. Choctaw. Q. You went lo IMuskogee with him? — A. Yes, sir. Q. Did he pay TJndley anything? — A. I don't know, sir. Q. Did he tell you he' paid anything? — A. No, sir. Q. Did he pay Durant anything? — A. No. sir; Durant wasn't there. Q. Who was acting in Durant's stead? — A. Billy Vann. Q. Did he pay Billy Vann anything?— A. I don't know, sir. Q. Vann is a big negro? — A. Yes, sir. Q. With a reel foot? — A. Light-colored negi'o. Q. You don't know whether Phillips paid Vann anything or not? — A. No, sir. Q. Did he tell you that he paid anything? — A. No, sir. Q. Did he tell you anything about the nature of the work they were doing down there?— A. Billy? Q. Yes.^ — A. No, sir. Q. Did he say whether he was in the Government service himself? — A. No, sir. Q. Do you know anything about the work that Vann has been doing around here? — A. No, sir. Q. You say you don't remember the names of these other persons who went to Muskogee? — No, sir. Q. They live at Depew? — A. Yes, sir. Yes; I do remember one. It was Hickman; something like that. Q. Indian, white, or negro? — A. Claimed Indian. Q. Colored blood, too? — A. Looked lilrA, county of Tulsa, ss: Mildred W. Kelsey, being first duly sworn, states that as stenographer to the national attorney for the Choctaw Nation she reported the proceedings in the above-entitled case on the 10th day of November, 1915, and that the foregoing is a true and correct transcript of her stenographic notes thereof. MiLDKEi) W. Kei.se i". Suh.scribed and sworn to before me this 7th day of December, 1915. [seal I. Fauuar Smith, Notarn Public. My eonuni.ssion expires September 9, 191S. 31362—16 22 338 INDIAN APPKOPEIATION BILL. ENROLLMENT CASE NO. 3. Petition of Jackson Barrett and Others for Enrollment as Citizens by Blood of the Choctaw Nation, Presented by Webster Ballingek, an Attorney at Law. reply and argument of p. j. hurley, attorney for the choctaw nation. petition of jackson barrett for the enrollment of himself and family ar choctaw indians by blood. Comes now Jacksou Barrett and shows that he is 51 years of age and that he lives at Haskell, Okla. That he is a Choctaw Indian hy hirth, by blood, by residence, and by recogni- tion ; that his father was Toliver Barrett, a noncitizen, and that his mother was Frances Barrett, a half-blood Choctaw Indian. That he was born and raised in the Choctaw Nation, near Boswell, and while he was still a minor was taken to the State of Texas, where he stayed about thi'ee years or a little longer ; was married and came back to the Choctaw Nation ; that at another time he went to Texas and stayed for about one year, but for the last past 22 years he has not been out of the Choctaw and Chicka- saw Nation until 3 months ago he moved to Haskell, Okla. That 11th day of February, 1SS6, he was duly and lawfully married to Martha Barrett, with whom he still lives ; that there was born to this union the following-named children, to wit : Clyde Boyd, nee Hill, age 29 years; Joella Acrey, age 26 years; Henry Bar- rett, age 25 years ; Arlington Barrett, age 23 years ; Walter Barrett, age 22 years ; Francis Grayson, age 20 years ; Donald Barrett, age 17 years ; Idee Bar- rett, age 15 years ; Bulah Barrett, age 13 years ; Justice Barrett, age 11 years ; child of Clvde Boyd, nge Hill, grandchild of applicant ; Claud Hill, born Novem- ber 4, 1903. That all of the above-named children except the three older ones were born in the Choctaw Nation and have always lived in the Choctaw Nation; that these' not born in the Chocta\\' Nation were brought to it in infancy and until three months ago have always made it their homes. That the I'cason that their names are not on the approved roll as Choctaw Indians is tl^at they employed counsel and paid him and he neglected to file any application for them, but always represented that the case woidd come up in due course of time, as is shown by the letters hereto attached ; that this continued until the roll closed and they could not make application because they were not full bloods. That his said mother died prior to final enrollment, but that her uncle, Clayton Hunter, is a duly enrolled Choctaw Indian No. 9374 (Len Paisley). Petitioner further shows that lie and his family have always been recognized as Choctaw citizens; that none of them have ever been called on to pay per- mits, and that he built himself a home on the public domain near Oberlain, Okla., and lived there on it unmolested until it was allotted from him. Wherefore, petitioner prays that his name, .Jackson Barrett, and the name of his wife, IMartha Barrett; also the names of his said children, Clyde Boyd, and her son, Claud Doyl ; also his oilier named children : .Toella Acrey, Henry, Arlington, and Walter Barrett and Francis Grayson, Donald, Idee, Bulah, and .Justice Barrett; and that to them and to each of them be given their dis- tributive share of the common property of the Choctaw Tribe of Indians, the same as is given to all other resident Choctaws so enrolled. .LvcKSON Barrett (His thunib print.) The name of .Tackson Barrett was written by me at his request and in his presence, and mark made by him in my presence. Julius Golden. State of Oklahoma, Muskogee Count i/, ss: Jackson Barrett, being first duly sworn, on oath states that he is the above named Jackson Barrett; that he has had read over to him tlie above and fore- INDIAN" APPKOPEIATIOISr BILL. 339 solnir petition; nnd tli.-U lu> knows tlio contents tliereof and that the matters and things therein contained are true. Jackson Barrett (His thumb print.) The name of Jackson Barrett was written by me at his request and in his presence, and mark made by him in my presence. JUT.IUS Golden. Subscribed and sworn to before me this the 20th day of February, 1915. I further certify that I read over tlie above petition to affiant, and tliat he knew the contents thereof and stated that same was true. [seal.] Julius Golden, Notary Public. My commission expires June 2, 1917. supplemental petition of CLYDE DOYD, IN SUPPORT OF THE PETITION OF JACKSON BARNETT FOR THE ENROLLMENT OF HIMSELF ET AL. AS CHOCTAW INDIANS. Comes now Clyde Boyd, nge Hill, and shows that she is 29 years of age and tiiat she lives at present at 3012 Cherry Street, Kansas City, Mo., where she was taken by her present husband two years ago the 12th of last January. That she is a Choctaw Indian by blood, by residence, and by recognition, as is shown by the petition of Jackson Barnett, her father, made in her behalf, to which this petition is attached and made a part. That she has read over said petition and knows the contents thereof, and that the matters and things therein contained with reference to rehitionship and residence and the relationship and residence of all the other parties named therein she knows to be true of her own knowledge ; that the matters and things therein contained with reference to the ancestors of her said father and motlier she has always been taught were true; that she has also been told that they were true by reliable persons that were personally acquainted with the parties and knew the facts, and that she believes them to be true and so charges the fact to be. That she further knows that she and all the family were all recognized Choctaw citizens ever since she could remember and lived with their said father in his home on the pulilic domain, which he and the boys put in and on wliich he lived until it was allotted from him. That on the 8th day of January, 1903, she was duly and lawfully married to Monroe Hill, deceased, who was also a Choctaw Indian, and who always said tliat he would be enrolled and liave his child enrolled, but he died ; I, however, depended on tlie application that my father Iiad made, or thouglit that he had made, through the lawyers he had employed as shown by liis said petition. That her said name appears in the said petition of her said father at her request, and that she hereby ratifies and confirms the same and joins in the prayer thereto appended. Tliat on the 18th day of October, 1912, she was dvdy and lawfully married to James Boyd, with whom she still lives. Clyde Boyd. State of Oklahoma, Mvslcogec Count)/, ss: Subscribed and sworn to before me this the 20th day of February, 191G; I furtlier certify that I read over the above petition to the affiant and that she stated that slie was the identical person named therein and that same was true. [seal.] Julius Golden, Notary Puhlic. My commission expires .Time 2, 1917. SUPPLEMENTAL PETITION OF .lOELLA ACREY, IN SUPPORT OF THE PETITION OF .lACK- SON BARNETT FOR THE ENROLLMENT OF HIMSELF ET AL. AS CHOCTAW INDIANS. Comes now .Toella Acrey and shows that she is 2G years of age and that slie lives 2 miles south from Muskogee, Okla., where she has lived for the last past niontlL That prior to that time her husl)and took her to Texas \vhere they lived for one year, and all the rest of her life she has lived in the Choctaw and Chickasaw Nation. 340 INDIAX APPEOPRTATION BILL. Tliat she is a Choctaw Indian by blood, by residence, and by recognition, as is sliown by the petition of Jaclvson Barnett, lier fatlier, made in lier beluilf, to which this petition is attached and made a part. Tliat slie has read over said petition and Ivnows the contents tliereof, and that tlie matters and things tlierein contained with reference to lier relationship and residence and the relationship and residence of all the other parties named therein she knows to be true of her own knowledge ; that the matters and things therein contained with reference to the ancestors of her said father and mother she has always been taught were true; that she has also been told that they were true by reliable persons that were personally acquainted with the parties and knew the facts, and that she believes them to be true and so charges the facts to be. • That she has been a recognized Choctaw citizen ever since she could remem- ber as she grew up in the Choctaw Nation. That on the 21st day of February, 1908, she was duly and lawfully married to Willie Acrey, with whom she still lives. That she was compelled to depend on her parents for her enrollment dur- ing her minority, which was never done; that the roll was closed before she reached her majority ; and although she was of sufllcient age to have been en- rolled and allotted, she has been omitted by her tribe and all other parties in- terested in her during her minority, and thus deprived of her share of the com- mon property of her said tribe of Indians solely on account of her minority. That her name appears in the said petition of her said father and that she hei'eby ratilies and confirms the same and joins in the prayer thereto appended. JoELLA Acrey. State of Oklahoma, Muskogee County, ss: Subscribed and sworn to before me this the 20th day of February, 1915; I further certify that I read over the above petition to the affiant and that she stated that she was the identical person named therein and that the same was true. [seal.] Julius Golden, Notary Public. My commission expires June 2, 1917. supplemental petition of henry barnett in support of the petition of jack- son BARNETT FOR THE ENROLLMENT OF HIMSELF ET AL AS CHOCTAW INDIANS BY BLOOD. Comes now Henry Barrett and shows that he is 25 years of age and that he lives at Hugo, Okla. That he is a Choctaw Indian by birth, by blood, by descent, and by recogni- tion, as is shown by the petition of Jackson Barnett, his father, made in his behalf, to which this petition is attached and made a part. That he has read over said petition and knows the contents thei'eof, and that the matters and things therein contained with reference to her relationship and residence, and the relationship and residence he knows to be true of his own knowledge; that the matters and things therein contained with reference to the ancestors of his said father and mother he has always been taught were true; that he has also been told that they were true by reliable persons that were well accpiainted with the parties and knew the facts; and that he believes them to be true and so charges the fact to be. That he has been a recognized Choctaw citizen ever since he could remember, as he grew up in the Choctaw Nation on the home on the public domain that he helped his father to put in. That during all the enrolling period of the Choctaw Nation since he was born he was a minor; that no one, not even his tribe or the United States, his sup- posed guardian, looked after his enrollment, although he was old enough to have been enrolled and allotted ; that before he reached his majority the rolls were closed by law, and he has thus been deprived of his share of the common property of his tribe, and solely on account of his minority. That his name appears in the said petition of his father at his requesit, and that he hereby ratifies and confirms the same and joins in the prayer thereto appended. Henry Barrett. INDIAN APPEOPKIATION BILL. 341 State of Oklahoma, Muskogee Co., ss: Subscribed and sworn to before me this tlie 20tli day of February, 1915. I further certify tliat I read over tlie above petition to the affiant, and that he stated that he was the identical person named therein, and that the same was true. [seal.] Julius Golden, Notary Fuhlic. My commission expires June 2, 1917. supplemental petition of ARLINGTON BARRETT IN SUPPORT OF THE PETITION OF JACKSON BARNETT FOR THE ENROLLMENT OF HIMSELF ET AL. AS CHOCTAW INDIANS BY BLOOD. Comes now Arlington Barrett and shows that he is 23 years of age, and that he lives at Haskell, Okla., where he has lived for the last past three months and to which place he moved from the Chickasaw Nation. That he is a Choctaw Indian by birth, by blood, by descent, by residence, and recognition, as is shown by the petition of Jackson liarrett, his father, made in his behalf, to which this petition is attached and made a part. That he has read over said petition and knows the contents thereof, and that the matters and things therein contained with reference to his relation- ship and residence and the relationship and residence of all of the other parties named therein, he knows to be true of his own knowledge ; that the matters and things therein contained with reference to the ancestors of liis said father and mother, he has always been taught were true; that he has also been told that they were true by reliable persons that were well acquainted with the parties and knew the facts, and that he believes them to be true, and so cliarges the fact to be. That he has been a recognized Choctaw citizen ever since he could remember, as he was born and raised in the Clioctaw and Chickasaw Nations. That he lived with his said father and helped him to clear up a home on the public domain where they all lived without molestation until after allotment. That his name should appear on the approved roll as a Choctaw l)y blood, and the only reason that he knows that it does not is that he was a minor dur- ing all the years of enrollment since he was born and that the rolls were closed by operation of law against him during his minority ; that the tribci nor llie United States, the supposed guardian of the Choctaws, looked after liim and neither did his parents, and on account of his minority he is deprived of his birthriglit. That his name appears in the said petition of his father at his request and that lie hereby ratifies and confirms the same and joins in the prayer thereto jippended. Ar.LiNGTON Barrett. State of Oklahoma, Muskogee Count g, ss: Arlington Barrett, being first duly sworn on oath, states: That he is the above-named Arlington Barrett; that lie has read over the above and foregoing petition and that he knows the contents thereof, and that the matters and things therein contained are true. Arlington Barrett. Suliscribed and sworn to before me this the 20th day ,of February, 191"). I further certify that I read over and fully explained the above petition to the affiant and that he knew the contents thereof and that he stated that same was true. [seal.] Julius Golden, Notary Public. yiy connnisslon expires .lune 2, 191'^ supplemental petition of WALTER BARRETT IN SUPPORT OF THE PP^TITION OF JACK- SON BARRETT FOR THE ENROLLMENT OF HIMSELF ET AL. AS CHOCTAW INDIANS BY BLOOD. Comes now Walter Barrett and shows that lie is 22 years of age and that he liv(>s at Haskel, where he moved from the Chickjisaw Nation two months ago. That he is a Choctaw Indian by birth, by blood, l)y descent, by residence, and by recognition, as is .shown by the petition of Jackson Barrett, his father, made in his behalf, to which this petition is attaclied and made a part. 342 INDIAN APPEOPKIATION BILL. That he has read over said petition and Icnows the contents thereof, and that the matters and tilings therein contained witli reference to his relationsliip and residence and tlie relationsliip and residence of all the other parties named tlierein lie laiows to be true of his own knowledge ; that the matters and things therein contained with reference to the ancestors of his said father and mother lie has always been taught were true; that he has also been told that they were true by reliable persons that were well acquainted with the parties and knew the facts ; and that he believes them to be true and so charges the fact to be. That lie has been a recognized Choctaw citizen ever since he could remember, as he was born and raised up in the Choctaw Nation. That he was a minor during all the years of enrollment since he was born, i'nd that the roll was closed by law before he reached his majority and left him off, although he was of sufficient age to have been enrolled and allotted ; thus he was deprived of his share of the common property of his tribe for the sole reason that he was a minor. That his name appears in the said petition of his said father at his request, and that he hereby ratifies and confirms the same, and joins in the prayer thereto appended. Walter Baruett. State of Oklahoma, Muskoyce County, us: Subscribed and sworn to before me this the 20th day of February, 1915; I further certify that I read over the above and foregoing petition to the affiant and that he stated that he was the identical party named therein and that the same was true. [seal.] Julius Golden, Notary Public. My commission expires June 2, 1917. supplemental petition of FRANCIS GRAYSON, IN SUPPORT OF THE PETITION OF JACKSON BARNETT FOR THE ENROLLMENT OF HIMSELF ET AL. AS CHOCTAW INDIANS BY BLOOD. Comes now Francis Grayson and shows that she is 20 years of age and that she lives at Hugo, Okla. That she is a Chocktaw Indian by birth, by blood, by descent, by residence, and by recognition; as is shown by the petition of Jackson Barnett, her father, made in her behalf, to which this petition is attached and made a part. That she has read over said petition and knows the contents thereof and that the matters and things therein contained with reference to her relationship and residence and the relationship and residence of all the other parties named therein, she knows to be true of her own knowledge; that the matters and thing therein contained with reference to the ancestors of her said father and mother, she has always been taught were true, and that she has also been told thiit they were true by reliable parties that were personally acquainted with the parties and knew the facts, and that she believes them to be true, and so charges the facts to be. That she has been a recognized Choctaw citizen ever since she could remem- ber, having been born and raised in the Choctaw Nation; that she lived with her said father on the public domain until same was allotted from him. That the reason that she was not enrolled and allotted is that she was a minor during all the enrolling years since she was born and that no one looked after her interests, and that long before she reached her majority, the rolls were closed against her, although she was old enough to have been enrolled and al- lotted. That her name appears in the said petition of her father with her consent and that she hereby ratifies aud confirms the same and joins in the prayer thereto appended. Francis Grayson. State of Oklahoma, Muskogee County, ss: Subscribed and sworn to before me this the 29th day of February, 1915; I further certify that I read over the above petition to the affiant and that she knew the contents thereof and that she stated that she was the identical person named therein and that the same was true. [seal.] Julius Golden, Notary Public. My commission expires June 2, 1917. INDIAN APPROPRIATION BILL. 343 AFIADAVIT OF ALEX NAIL IN SUPPORT OF THE PETITION OF JACKSON BARRETT ET AL., AS CHOCTAW INDIANS. Alex Nail, being first duly sworn, on oath states that he is 72 years of ase, and that he lives at lOOG South Third Street, Muskoireo, Okia. That he knows the applicant and that he was well and ix-rsonally acquainted with his mother, Frances Barrett; her father, old Billy Hunter; they were all full-blood Choctaws. I also knew her brothers; one was named Silas Hunter, and the other one was Thomas Hunter, who run for governor at the last election for chief of the Choctaw Nation. I think the oldest one was Nelson. When I am at home I live in Atoka County, but am staying at Muskogee for the present. I have met all the older children of the applicant, but I could not positively identify them if they were away from home. I do know that he has a large family and that they grew up in the southern part of the Choctaw Nation. Alex Nail (his thumb print). The name of Alex Nail was written by ine at his request and in his presence and mark made by him in my presence. Julius Golden, Witness to Mark. State of Oklahoma, Muskogee County, ss: Subscribed and sworn to before me this the 20th day of February, 1915. I further certify that I read over and fully explained the contents of the above affidavit to the afliant, and that he knew the contents thereof, and that he stated that same was true. [seal.] Julius Golden, Notary Public. My commission expires June 2, 1917. affidavit of W. M. JAMES IN SUPPORT OF THE PETITION OF JACKSON BARRETT FOR THE ENROLLMENT OF HIMSELF AND FAMILY AS CHOCTAW INDIANS BY BLOOD. That lie is well and personally acquainted with the applicant ; that he llrst knew him at Boswell, Okla., about 20 years ago. That he has always known that his mother was one of the Hunter family, and that he was well and personally acquainted with her brothers, Thomas Hunter, Silas Hunter, and the oldest one that died long tinu; ago. Nelson Hunter ; that were all Choctaw Indians, and that the said Thomas Hunter run for governor at the last election that the Choctaws had. That the ai)pllcant is now living at Haskell, Okla., where he moved a short time ago; that prior to that time I knew him in the Chickasaw Nation and first and most in the Choctaw Nation. Affiant further stated that the applicant went to Texas and stayed for a while, but this was after 1900; that wherever I have known him he has always been recognized as a descendant of the Hunter family, his mother having been the sister of the above-named Hunters, and as a Choctaw citizen. W. M. James (his thumb print). State of Oklahoma, Muskofice County, ss: Subscribed and sworn to before me this the l.'^th day of March, ]01.">; I further certify that I read over the above and foregoing allidavlt to the affiant, and Miat he knew the contents thereof, and that he stated that same was true, and that he was the identical person named therein as alllant. [seal.] .Fulius (Joi.den, Notari/ I'iil)lic. My conuni.ssion expires June 2. 1917. 344 INDIAN APPROPRIATION BILL. STATF-MEMT OF P. J. HUET.EY, ATTORNEY FOR THE CHOCTAW NATION. Ill re applicntion of Jackson Barrett, for enroUuient of himself, and others, as citizens by blood of the Choctaw Nation. The foregoing petition was served upon nie by Mr. Webster Ballinger, an attorney at law, of Washington, D. C, aslving for the enrollment of Jackson Barrett, and otliers, as citizens by blood of the Choctaw Nation. The petition and accompanying affidavits are attached hereto, and precedes this statement. The applicants admit that they are not residents of tlie Clioctaw Nation. No effort is made l\v them to show that they ever made application for enrollment during the time the rolls were being made. The records of the Indian Office do not show that applications were made by or for any of the applicants within the time required by law. Section 34 of the supplemental agreement between the United States and the Choctaw and Chickasaw people, approved by act of Congress July 1, 1902 (32 Stat., 641), provides as follows: "* * * The application of no person whomsoever for enrollment shall be received after the expiration of said ninety days." The 90 days referred to are 90 days after the ratification of the agreement by the Choctaw and Chickasaw people. The agreement was ratified September 25, 1902. Tliey do not show that they were bona fide residents of the Choctaw Nation on the 28th day of June, 1898. The law enacted on that date provides as follows : " No person shall be enrolled who has not heretofore removed to, and in good faith settled in the nation in which he claims citizenship." (32 Stat., 641.) It will be noted from the petition that the applicant claims that his mother died prior to final enrollment ; that her uncle, Clayton Hunter, is a duly en- rolled member of the Choctaw tribe of Indians, anil that liis name api)ears opposite roll No. 9374. An examination of the approved rolls shows that the name of Lou Pusley appears opposite roll No. 9374. There is, however, a Clay- ton W. Hunter enrolled as a citizen by blood of the Choctaw Nation opposite roll No. 9378, and according to said rolls he is at the present time about 24 years of age. If he is the uncle of the mother of Jackson Barrett, he has a great grand nephew older than himself, which may be possible but is very improbable. The statement of the applicants in regard to their relationship to Clayton Hunter is so in conflict with the records that it should be disregarded en- tirely, but the attorneys for these petitioners procured affidavits from wit- nesses, by which affidavits they attempt to corrol)orate the fabrications regard- ing the relationsliip, which is set up in the petition. Attached to the applicant's petition is an affidavit, signed by mark, of Alec Nail, who serves as a professional witness for IMr. Ballinger, and his associates, in enrollment matters. Alec Nail is a negro. His affidavit in support of the applicant's petition in this case is as follows : AFFIDAVIT OF AI,EC NAIL IN SUPPORT OF THE PETl'JION OF JACKSON BARRETT ET AL. AS CHOCTAW INDIANS. Alec Nail, being first duly sworn, on oath states that he is 72 years of age and that he lives at 1006 South Third Street, IMuskogee, Okla. That he knows the applicant and that lie was well and personally acquainted >vith his mother, Frances Barrett ; her father, old Billy Hunter ; they were all full-blood Choctaws. I also knew her brothers ; one was named Silas Hunter and the other one was Thomas Hunter, who run for .governor at the last election for chief of the Choctaw Nation ; I think the oldest one was Nelson. ^^'hen I am at home I live in Atoka County, but am staying at Muskogee for the present. I have met all the older children of the applicant, but I could not positively identify them if they were away from home. I do know that he has a large family and that they grew up in the southern part of the Choctaw Nation. (Signed) Alec Nail (by mark). State of Oklahoma, Muskogee County, ss: Subscrilied and sworn to before me this the 20th day of February, lOl.'i. I further certify that I read over and fully explained the contents of the above INDIAN APPROPRIATION BILL. 345 afRflnvit to the affiant and that he knew the contents thereof, and that he stated that same was true. [seal.] .Tulixts Golden, Notary Public. My commission expires June 2, 1917. On the 31st day of July, 191.5, Alec Nail was called upon to testify in rei^ard to his knowled.ffe of the facts in the ahove-entitled case before INIr. W. L. Bowie, an official of the Interior Department, and, after being first duly sworn, testi- fied as follows : Q. Did you make affidavit for Jackson Barrett for use in his application for enrollment? — A. Yes, sir. Q. Did you Ivnow Jackson Barrett before you met him in Ballinser's oflice a short time acio? — -A. Never seen him before. Q. You told me you made an affidavit for Jackson Barrett in Ballinger's office. — A. Ye?-', sir ; I swore I Icnew the Hunter family. Q. That you knew the Hunter family? — A. Yes, sir; old Ben Hunter. This man claims tliat Ben Hunter's daughter was his mother. I didn't know her, but I knew Tommy and Charlie. Q. Who did you say Jackson Barrett is? — A. He looks like a white man. Q. Did he have any indications of negro blood? — A. No, sir; he is just a dark, red-headed white man. Q. Does he claim to be a negro? — A. No, sir; Choctaw. He claims to be old Bennie Hunter's grandson. Q. Does he associate with negroes? — A. I do not know. He does not stay around here. Q. You say you never knew him until you met him in Muskogee a short time ago? — A. No, sir. Q. Did you know his mother? — A. No, sir; I don't know his mother. This Choctaw woman misiht have been his mother as far as I know. Q. You know nothing about it only what he claims? — A. No, sir. Q. Do you know her name? — A. No, sir; it was Beckie, I think lie said. Q. Who did he claim was his father? — A. Well, his father must have been a white man as there was nothing said about him. Q. Did you ever know a person named Billie Hunter? — A. That is the old man. Q. Is he tlie person you called Benny Hunter? — A. Yes, sir; that is Billie Hunter. Yes, sir ; Billie Hunter ; but the Choctaws called him Benny Hunter. Q. He is the person you thought was meant when Benny Hunter was men- tioned. You mean Billy Hunter? — A. Yes, sir; and there was Silas and Tom Hunter. Q. Who was Tom Hunter? Where does he live? Is he the person who was candidate for governor?— A. Yes, sir. Q. Does he live at Hugo? — A. About Hugo, I guess. Q. Are you acquainted with Tolliver Barrett? — A. No, sir. Q. You do not Ivnow wbetlier Tolliver was the father of Jackson Barrett? — A. No, sir; I don't. I don't know that at all. Q. Did you know Clayton Hunter? — A. I knew a Charlie Hunter ; there might have been a Clayton. It needs no discussion to show the conflicts between the testimony of Alec Nail and his affidavit filed in support of the applicant's petition. W. M. James, another professional witness used by INIr. Ballinger and his associates, made an affidavit in sujiport of the applicant's petition. When called upon to testify in regard to the facts set forth in the affidavit he testified as follows: Q. Are you acquainted with one Jackson Barrett? — A. No, sir; I am not acquainted with .Jackson Barrett. Q. You say that you are not acquainted with Jackson Barrett? — A. No, sir. Q. Did you ever live at Boswell? — A. No, sir. Q. Never did reside there? — A. No, sir. Q. Have you ever been in Boswell?^— A. I have. Q. Every stay there any length of time? — A. No, sir; I used to go to Boswell while running over the country in the early days buying cattle for cattlemen. Q. Are you acquainted with Thomas Hunter? — A. No, sir. Q. With Silas Hunter?— A. No, sir. 346 INDIAN APPKOPEIATION BILL. Q. With Nelson Hunter? — A. No, sir. Q. Were you ever acquainted with Toliver Barrett? — A. No, sir. Q. With Francis Hunter? — A. No, sir. Q. Did you ever Icnow Billy Hunter? — A. No, sir. Q. You never knew any of the Choctaws? — A. No, sir; was not very well acquainted with thein. Q. Did you know any of the Choctaw freedmen? — A. No, sir; none of the (]hoctaws and Chiclvasaws ; but I knew the Creeks and Cherokees. I drove a mail hack all through here. Q. I will read you an affidavit purporting to have been made by you and bearing your thumb print, acknowledged to before Julius Golden, notary public of Muskogee County, Okla., under date of March 13, 1915 ; filed by Mr. Webster Ballinger with the ai)plication for the enrollment of Jackson Barrett et al., as citizens by blood of the Choctaw Nation, which is as follows : " That he is well and personally acquainted with the applicant ; that he first knew him at Boswell, Okla., about 20 years ago. "Th;it lie has always known that his mother was one of the Hunter family, and that he was well and personally acquainted with her brothers, Thomas Hunter, Silas Hunter, and the oldest one that died long time ago, Nelson Hunter; that were all Choctaw Indians and that the said Thomas Hunter run for governor at the last election that the Choctaws had. "That the applicant is now living at Haskell. Okla., where he moved a short time ago; that prior to that time I knew him in the Chicasaw Nation and first and most in the Choctaw Nation. "Affiant further states that the applicant went to Texas and stayed for a while, but this was after 1900; that wherever I have known him he has always been recognized as a descendant of the Hunter family, his mother having been the sister of the above Hunters, and as a' Choctaw citizen. (Signed.) " W. M. Jamks (by tlmnib mark)." Q. Did you make this aflidavitV— A. I don't think T did that * * * for a (Choctaw. Q. You deny that you ever made such an affidavit? — A. Yes, sir; for a Choc- taw. Q. You do not know the Jackson Barrett named in this application? — A. No, sir; I don't know nothing at all about that, foi' I was not acquainted with that Choctaw family at all. Q. Yon are not acquainted with that Choctaw family at all? — A. None of the Choctaw families at all. Q. You do not know any of the membei's of the Hunter family named in this petition? — A. No, sir. Q. You do not know the applicant or any of his ancestors? — A. No, sir. Q. His father, mother, sisters, or brothers? — A. No, sir. Q. Are -you acquainted with Julius Golden, who executed this affidavit? — A. Yes, sir. I had not examined this case to any great extent until I found that the Thomas Hunter referred to in the affidavits made by Mr. Ballinger's two pro- fessional witnesses in support of his contentions in this case was the Hon. Thomas W. Hunter, of Hugo, Okla.. who has for many years been prominent in Choctaw politics, and is at the i)resent time a member of the house of repre- sentatives of the State of Oklahoma. It should be noted that the aflldavits state that the jnother of the applicant, Jackson Barrett, was a sister of Thomas AY. Hunter and Silas Hunter and the oldest one. Nelson Hunter, who is dead. They also attempt to show that the name of the fathei- of Thomas W. Hunter was Billie Hunter. I wrote a letter to Hon. Thomas W. Hunter and set forth the facts and asked him to please advise me if these aiiplicants were relatives of his: and if so, what relation. On July 23, 1915, I received the following letter from Hon. Thomas W. Hunter : House of Repeesentatives, State of OKLAHo>rA. FOXTRTH LeOISLATTTRE, Hugo, Olda., Juli/ 23, JDlf). Hon. Pat J. Hurley, Choctaw Xational Attorney, Tiilsa, Olla. Dear Pat: I have just read your favor of the 22d instant, inclosing aflldavits of Alec. Nail and W. M. James (copies) in support of the ai)plication of Jackson INDIAN APPKOPKIATION BILL. 347 Rnrrett for enrollment of himself :is :i Choctaw Induin. I have read the afli- (lavit.s with a areat deal of annisement. They have their cards mixed. In fact, this same biuich tried to be enrolled at Tushkahoina many years a?;o upon the claim that they were near relatives of myself. Tliat Uilly Hunter was a brother to my father. Where they fell down was that my father's real name was not Hunter. His true name was Bina Ahantubby, and it beini;" hard to pronounce by the English-speaking people he was called Bennie Hunter, for short; you notice the similarity of the names. I had no sister who was the mother of Jackson liarrett. I am 40 years of age and have never heiird of Jackson Barrett. I know the bunch that claim to be Choctaws thrcmgh an old man by the name of Billy Hunter. I have seen Billy Hunter. About 30 years ago he came to see my father and claimed to be a brother, and my father told him in my presence that it was not so. Billy and his bunch afterwards came near getting by the citizenship conunittee of the Choctaw Council. The conunittee sent for me, and got my testimony. They failed of enrollment. ]\Iy father was a full-blood Choctaw Indian and could speak but a little English. He had one brother — the only one that ever came to the Choctaw Nation from Mississippi with my father. His name was Pisachabe, also a full-blood Choctaw. If all other claim- ants for citizenship are as fictitious as this one is, they cau't get by. There is nothing to the claim of Jackson Barrett, if he depends upon getting by as stated. I am very glad that you tnkeu this matter up with me. In case there is anything else I can do, I should he pleased to he advised. In the meantime I beg to be. as ever. Very respectfully, T. W. Hunter. After having received this letter and after liaving continued the investigation of the case for some time I found that the applicants insisted that Jackson liarrett was the son of Francis Hunter, who was a sister of Hon. Thomas W. Hunter. As shown by the above letter, Thomas W. Hunter had stated, "I had no sister who was the mother of Jackson Barrett." I again wrote Mr. Hunter, telling him that while his letter was very definite to the effect that Jackson Barrett was not rehited to him, I wanted him to state liositively whether lie had ever had a sister named Francis Hunter. On November 8, 1915, I received from him the following letter : Hugo, Okla., November S, 1915. Hon. Pat J. Hurley, Attornei) for Choctaws, Mnskogec, Okla. Dear ]Mr. Hurley : I have your letter of the 5th instant, making further in- ijuiry relative to the application for citizenship by Jackson Barrett on the state- ment that he was the son of Frances Biirrett, nee Hunter. I wish to state that I have never had a sister by the name of Frances Hunter. I had two half sisters — Enice and Agnes— wlio died a great many years ago. I have two mai"- ried grown sisters living and one that died in infancy. I had never heard of Jackson Barrett until you wrote me some time ago. Yours, truly, T. W. Hunter. These letters, together with the testimony of W. B. James and Alec Nail, the professional witnesses used by Mr. Ballinger and his associates in these mat- ters, seem to show conclusively that these applicants are not entitled to enroll- ment as citizens of the Choctaw Nation ; they are not possessed of Choctaw Indian blood; they are imposters. If they were possessed of Indian blood, they do not reside in the Choctaw Nation and did not make application for enrollment within the time prescribed by law. I have not attempted to procure the testimony of the applicants, for the reason that to do so would consume unnecessary time and cause the Choctaw Nation unnecessary expense. The examination of the professional witnesses used by Mr. Ballinger and his associates, together with the connnunications from Hon. Thomas W. Hunter, are sufiicient to show that the statements contained in the petition of the appli- cant and th(> allidavils submitted in .'^upitort thereof are false. The alleged relationship between these people and the Hunter family does not exist. The person through whom they claim relationship to the Hunter family 348 INDIAN" APPROPRIATION BILL. lias never existed. There was no such person as "Francis Hunter," sister of Thomas W. Hunter. P. J. Hurley, National Attorney for the Choctaio Nation, CASE NO. 3 B. STATEMENT OF P. J. HUELEY, ATTORNEY FOR THE CHOCTAW NATION. In re petition of INIary Ross, nee Dunn, nee Fulsom, for enrollment of herself and Teddy Dunn, her minor son, as citizens by blood of the Choctaw Nation. Department of the Interior, United States Indian Service, Five Civilized Tribes, Muskogee, Olda., November 3, 1915. Postmaster, Haskell, Okla. Sir : Desiring to personally interview Mary Ross, said to be the wife of one Linnon Ross, in an official matter, I would thank you to promptly inform me, by indorsement hereon and under cover of the inclosed envelope, whether she resides within the delivery of your office ; and, if so, whether in town or at what distance and in what direction in the country. If she does not reside within your delivery, any information you may furnish with respect to present post-office address and nearest town or railway station will be appreciated. Very respectfully, Wm. L. Bowie, Of Special Investigation Service, Office of Superintendent for the Five Civilized Tribes. Mary Ross lives in the town of Haskell, Okla. She can be found most any time. She runs a restaurant there. Is this person white, Indian, or colored? Negro. T. J. Way, Postmaster Haskell, Okla. I'Etition of urARY ROSS, nee dun, nee fulsom, for the enkollmext of herself AND child AS CHOCTAW INDIANS BY HLOOD. Comes Mary Ross, nee Dun, nee Fulsom, and shows: That she is 29 years of age and that she lives at Haskell, Okla. That she is a Choctaw Indian by birth, by blood, by descent, by residence; that she is the daughter of William Fulsom, who died many years ago, and who was a Choctaw Indian and was sometimes called a full blood, but I was always informed that he had some white blood in him. That her mother was Fannie Fulsom, who also died prior to final enroll- ment; that she died the year that old Oklahoma was opened, 1889; that she was a three-quarters Choctaw Indian. , That applicant was born and grew to be a good-sixed girl near Atoka, then her mother took her to Oklahoma City, where she died: that applicant lived in Oklahoma City then five years and has since lived either in the Chickasaw or Clioctaw Nation, and this has been the last past 19 years. That on the (3th day of July, 1900, she was duly and lawfully married to Ed Dun, deceased ; that there was born to this union one child, Teddy Dun, born July' 6. 1905, and is still living and lives with applicant at above-stated place of residence. „ ,, That on the 2Gth day of September, 1909, she was duly and lawfully married to Lennon Ross, a noncitizen. That she has lived at Haskell for the last past two years ; that prior to that time I was at Durant, at Caddo, and different i)lac('s, and was out at different periods following my profession at different places, but never for more than six months at any one time. ^, . , That during years 1890-1899 she was most of the time in Ada, hi the Chicka- saw Nation; the rest of the time she was in Stringtown and other places, wherever she could get the best wages, being a single girl till 1900. INDIAN APPROPRIATION BILL. 349 That the reason that I have never heen enrolled was that dnring the enrolling^ period she was a minor and an orphan ; that the roll was closed when she first became of ase, and she went to Ballenger and Lee, attorneys, at Ardmore, and was informed that the roll was closed. Wherefore petitioner prays that her name and the name of her said child, Teddy Dun, her present name being Mary Ross, be placed on the roll of Choc- taw Indians by blood, and that to them and to each of them be given their distributive share of the common property of the Choctaw Tribe of Indians the same as is given to all other such Indians so enrolled. Emmer.son Fulsom. Dr. Fulsom, Julius Fulsoin, et al., are the brothei'S of my father ; are all enrolled. Mary Ross. State of Oklahoma. Muscogee Cotinty, ss. ]Mary Ross, being first duly sworn, on oath states that she is the above- nnmed ^lary Ross; that she has read over the above and foregoing petition and knows the contents thereof; and that the matters and things therein contained are true. Mary Ross. Snbscribed'and sworn to before me this the 9th day of March, 1915. I further certify that I read over the above petition to the affiant, and that she knew the contents thereof, and that she stated that same was rue. [seal.] Julius Golden, Notary Puhlic. My commission expires June 2, 1917. AFFIDAVIT OF W. M. JAMES IN SUPPORT OF THE PETITION OF MARY ROSS FOR THE ENROLLLMENT of herself AND CHILD AS A CHOCTAW INDIAN BY BLOOD. W. M. James, being first duly sworn, on oath states that he is 70 years of age and that he lives at Beeland. Okla. That he knows the applicant and knows where she was born; and that he has been to the house and eat there with them — this was near where Atoka is now; affiant further states that he knew her until her mother took her away to Oklahoma City — that was after her father died and when she was a girl ; I also knew her father, William Fulsom, and was well acquainted also with his brother Dr. Fulsom. I knew of other brothers that he had, and know that all of them were Choctaw Indians and were so considered — and considered as full bloods by most of the people. Her mother, Fannie Fulsom, lived with her said father, William Fulsom, until he died. I bought cattle from both William Fulsom and the Dr. Fulsom. Affiant further states that he also knew the applicant when she lived in Oklahoma City with her said mother; that her mother run a boarding house there. I have not known her since, until she moved to Haskell, Olvla. W. M. James (his thumb i)rint). The name W. M. James was written by me at his request and in his presence and mark made by him in my presence. Julius Golden (Witness to mark). State of Oklahoma, Muskogee County, ss: Subscribed and sworn to before me this the 9th day of March, 191.'); I fur- ther certify that I read over and fully explained the contents of the above affidavit to the affiant; and that he knew the contents thereof; and that he stated that same was true; and that he is the above-named affiant. [seal.] Julius Golden, Noiarii Piihlic. My connnission expires June 2, 1917. affidavit of alec N.ML in SUPPORT OF THE PETITION OF MARY BOSS FOR THE ENROLLMENT OF HERSELF AND CHILD AS CHOCTAW INDIANS BY BLOOD. Alec Nail being fir.st duly sworn, on oath states that he is 72 years of age and that he lives near Boggy Depot, Okla. 350 INDIAN APPROPRIATION BILL. That he knows tho applicant, Mary Ross ; her maiden name was Mary Ful- som ; she was the (Iaiijj;hter of William Fulsom, who was mostly considered a full-blood Choctaw, hut may have had some white blood ; that her mother was Fannie Fulsom, and she was a mixed blood, about tliree-foui-ths Choctaw. Allinnt further states that he knows where the applicant was born, and that it was in old Atoka, near the toll bri(l,a(» on old lady Flax's place ; that she livefl there until slie was a good-sized girl, and then her mother took her to Oklahoma City. I lost track of her, then, for a good many years, and was talking and inquir- ing about her last fall to Julius Fulsom, at Atoka ; he stated that her mother had died and that she was just left to go it alone, and that she was somewhere, and he had also lost her. I have been staying in Muskogee for some time and have met her and now know that she lives at Haskell, and she tells me that she has lived there for the last past two years. The other places she has lived she has told me about, and I know the places but can't say how long she lived at any of them, only what she tells me. I know nothing of her child, only what slie tells me. Affiant further states that he was well and personally acquainted with the Fulsom family, to which the father of the applicant belonged, and that said father of the applicant had about 7 or 8 brothers and they were all enrolled Choctaws that lived long to be enrolled ; that the names of the ones that I know best and remember vrere Emerson Fulsom, Dr. Fulsom, Julius Fulsom that were finally enrolled. William died a long time ago. Alec (his thumb print) Nail.. The name of Alec Nail was written by me at his request and in his presence and mark made by him in ray presence. Julius Golden (witness to name). State of Oklahoma, Muskogee County, ss: Subscribed and sworn to before me this 9th day of March, 191 5 ; I further certify that I read over the above affidavit to the affiant and that he knew the contents thereof and that he stated that the same was true and that he was the identical person named as affiant in the above affidavit. [seal.] Julius Golden, Notary P.ubUc. (My commission expires June 2, 1917.) statement of p. J. hurley, attorney for the CHOCTAW NATION. In re petition of Mary Ross, nee Dunn, nee Fulsom, for enrollment of herself and Teddy Dunn, her minor son, as citizens by blood of the Choctaw Nation. The foregoing petition was served upon me by Webster Ballinger, an attorney at law of Washington, D. C. The petitioner, Mary Ross, claims right to enroll- ment for herself and her minor son, Teddy Dunn, as citizens by blood of the Choctaw Nation. The applicant claims that she is the daughter of William Fulsom and that William Fulsom was a brother of Dr. I. W. Fulsom, Julius Fulsom, and Emerson Fulsom. The Fulsom family is one of the most promi- nent families in the Choctaw Nation. The applicant in this case is a negro. The testimony of the applicant was taken on the 23d day of November, 1915. A complete copy of her testimony is attached hereto. Attention is called to the fact that the applicant does not know whether her father's name was William Fulsom or not. She states that her father was killed before she was born; that she believes that her mother was married to her father but does not know whether slie was or not. The applicant is not a creditable witness. During the time she was on the stand in this case she made a mnnber of statements about her relatives and tlie places where sb(> liad lived that are entirely at variance with each other. From her testimony, however, it apjiears that while she may have at one time i-esided at Atoka, in the ('hoctaw Nation, she was not a resident of that nation on June 28, 1898, and under the law would therefore be not entitled to enrollment, even if the allegations of her petition in regard to her Indian blood were correct. The act of Congress approved June 28, 1898, by which act the "Atoka agreement" between tlie United States and the Choctaw and Chickasaw Nations was approved (30 Stat., 495), provides as follows: INDIAN APPROPRIATION BILL. 351 " No person shall be enrolled who has not heretofore removed to and in good faith settled in the nation in which he claims citizenship." Mary Ross did not make application for enrollment within the time required by law. The supplemental agreement between the Choctaw and Chickasaw Nations and the United States, approved by act of Congress July 1, 1902, pro- vides, in part, as follows (32 Stat., G41) : " * * * the application of no jierson whomsoever for enrollment shall be received after the expiration of the said 90 days * * *." The 90 days referred to are 90 days after the ratification of the supple- mental agreement. The supplemental agreement was ratified on the 2.5tli day of September, 1902. This applicant did not make application for enrollment within the required time. The application now before us was executed by Mary Ross liefore Julius Golden, a notary public, on the 2d day of March, 1915, and in regard to the making of this application, Mary Ross testified as follows : Q. Were you led to believe they were enrolling people? — A. I asked, and they said they were. Q. They were enrolling people? — A. Yes, sir; I asked for Ballinger, and Lee was gone, and Ballinger was in Washington, D. C, and they were hired by the Interior, but this man that was doing this writing, he told me he was hired and was getting a salary to enroll people and this colored man. Q. Did this man tell you he was hired by the Secretary of the Interior? — A. Yes, sir ; his duty was to enroll applicants. Q. Did he tell you whether or not he coiild take any fees for his service? — A. He wouldn't take a penny ; was being paid by the Government. Q. Who was the colored man? — A. Nelson Durant. That is the man I gave the money to. Q. What money?— A. The $5. Q. How much did he ask for?— A. $2.5. Q. What was the reason? — A. He was charging — I asked him how come him to charge, and he said, " These witnesses." I wouldn't pay him a cent, so I says. I went l)ack and stalled him. I had the money, but I stalled him. T said after these witnesses, I know her and says there is no use in paying that fellow anything if he won't take the time up with you and find your people. Don't you pay him a penny. So I studied and says that might be I am losing out and I couldn't speak to the white gentlemen. He wouldn't let me in the little room and you go out by the desk and so I talked to him and didn't know what to do and I made up my mind if he would take .$5 and promise him the other $15 and I never did send the $15 to him. I have quoted this part of the testimony only to indicate the nature of the institution being conducted by Mr. Ballinger and his associates at Muskogee through which these ignorant and gullible negroes are separated from their money. I am sure that no one could hear the facts in the case as set forth by this applicant and entertain any hope to secure her enrollment as a citizen by blood of the Choctaw Nation. Yet this firm of attorneys not only took her pe- tition and allowed her to be swindled by a negro in their employment, but also procured the affidavits of two negi-oes who have served this firm of attorneys as pi'ofessional witnesses. These alTidavits thus .secured were for the purpo.se of corroborating the fal.se statements contained in the petition of Mary Ro.ss. In the first place. Dr. I. W. Fulsom, Julius Fulsom, and Emerson P'ulsom never had a brother by the name of William Fulsom, as stated in the petition of this api)li(ant. I am .setting forth in full tlie testimony of William Fulsom, a son of Dr. Fulsom. This testimony was taken on November 22, 1915, and is in full as follows : Q. State your name. — A. AVilliam W. Fulsom. Q. Where do you reside? — A. Muskogee, Gkla. Q. Are you a member of the Choctaw Tril)e of Indians? — A. I am. Q. Where were you born? — A. Atoka, Okla. Q. What was your father's name? — A. I. W. Fulsom. Q. What was your father's i)rofession? — A. Physician and surgeon. Q. Did your father have any brothers? — A. Yes, sir. Q. Name your father's brothers. — A. A. E. Fulsom, Julius Fulsom, F. E. Fulsom, and Theodore Fulsom, who died about 25 or 30 years ago. Q. Mary Ross, who claims she is 29 years of age and a daughter of William Fulsom, states that William Fulsom was a brother of Eni(>rson Fulsom, Dr. Fulsom, aiul Julius Fulsom. Do you know whether or not your father had a brother named William Fulsoni? — A. He did not; no, sir. 352 INDIAN APPEOPRIATION BILL. Q. Your father's brother referred to iu your statement as A. E. Fulsom is Emerson Fulsom? — A. Yes, sir. Q. Attached to an application made by IMary Itoss for the enrollment of her- self and child as a citizen by blood of the Choctaw Nation is a petition made by W. M. James. Anions other statements, James alleges, " I also knew her father, William Fulsom, and was well acquainted with his brother. Dr. Fulsom. I knew the other brothers that he had, and know that all of them were Choctaw Intlians and were considered as full-blood among the people." Is that state- ment true or untrue V — A. It is untrue. JMy father had no brijther named Wil- liam Fulsom, and the statement that they were considered as full-bloods is not true. They were considered half-blood Indians, and were in fact. Q. The allidavit purporting to have been made by Alec Nail, attached to the petition of Mary Koss, and is in part as follows : "Alliant further states that he is well and personally acquainted with the Fulsom family, to which the father of the applicant belongs, and that the said father of the applicant had seven or eight brothers, and that they were all en- rolled as Choctaws that lived long enough to be enrolled ; that the names of the cues he knows best and remembers were Emerson Fulsom, Dr. Fulsom that were Anally enrolled. William died a long time ago." Did your father have seven or eight brothers? — A. No, sir; he had only four brothers. Q. And those four are the ones you have heretofore named in this testi- mony? — A. Yes, sir. Q. Your father had no brother named William? — A. No, sir. Q. Do you know anything about the applicant, Mary Koss? — A. No, sir; I never heard of her before. Q. You were well acquainted with all of the members of your father's family"^ — A. Yes, sir. Q. Your uncles and aunts, except the one who died about the time you were born? — A. Yes, sir. Q. How old are you now? — A. I am 38. Q. Where did your father reside during his lifetime? — A. He was born near Durant, at Old Carriage Point, and he lived at Atoka for many years and then moved from Atoka to Oklahoma City, and was there for about three years, and then moved to Ardmoi-e, where he lived until he died, three years ago. Q, Was there another Dr. Fulsom besides your father? — A. I never heard of one. Q. You are well acquainted with all of the Fulsoms in the Choctaw Nation? — A. Yes, sir. Q. And you never heard of a Dr. Fulsom besides your father? — A. No, sir. It would be unnecessary for us to go further to show that this claim is fraudu- lent, as no such person ever existed as the man whom this negro claimed was her father ; but the lirm of attorneys who prepared this case do not hesitate to produce allidavits of their professional witnesses to corroborate the false and fraudulent statements contained in the petition of the applicant. W. M. James, one of Ballinger, Lindley t^ Uodkeyss professional witnesses, whose allidavit is attached to many of the petitions which they have submitted in citizenship cases, and who is now serving a term in the State penitentiary at McAlester, Okla., testilied in this case before an officer of the Interior Depart- ment on July 30, 1915, as follows: Q. Are you acquainted with Mary Ross? — ^A. Yes, sir; she lives at Haskell. Q. Do you know who her father was? — A. No, sir; this is another one of Nails ; I don't know anything about her. Q. Did you see her down here? — A. Yes, sir; seen her after she made affidavit. I read you an affidavit purporting to have been made by you before Julius Golden, a'notary public, on March 9, 1915, tiled by Mr. Webster Ballinger with the petition of Mary Koss for enrollment of herself and child as Intlians by blood of the Choctaw Nation : " W. M. James, being first duly sworn, on oath states that he is 70 years ox age and that he lives at Beeland, Okla. ■' That he knows the applicant and knows where she was born, id you pay any money direct to Ballinger"? — A. I .sent him $2. Q. When did you send him this money "^ — A. About four years ago. You know the year that that colored man killed the high sheriff from Oklahoma City. Alf Hunter, the man who was hanged for the murder of the sheriff; I mean the year he killed the sheriff. Q. You mean Mr. (Jarretson? — A. Got a red-headed .son in Oklahoma City. That is the year I went before the notary public and .sworn, and told liim I knowed about the papers. I can't tell you everytliiug about it. I sent him the $2 and I never got another word from him until I heard he was here. Q. Have you liad any letters recently'.' — A. I told you I got it about two months ago. I got a letter from Muskogee from Ballinger. so it said to meet him in IMuskogee at this office. I wrote to Washington. D. C, about it, and I got a letter from Washington, and I fell out with Ballinger and wouldn't come to IMuskogee. I thought he was a fraud : he would try to work me for more money, and I wouldn't get nothing back. After I wrote to W^ashington T gave it up. Q. I>o you know W. M. James? — A. Yes, sir. Q. Was he one of your witnesses? — A. Yes. sir; l)ald headed; and another one that lu^s asthma. They ku/ew me when I was a kid. I saw him about two months ago in IMuskogee, and I asked him what about it, and he said he was a grand rascal. Q. Y"ou say that W. .M. James knew your father and mother '.•' — A. He says he does. Q. Did he say he knew you when you were a baby? — A. Yes. sir. Q. Did you ever .see him before you saw him in Ballinger's office? — A. Yes, sir. Q. On the ;>()tli day of July. 1915, W. :M. .James testified in his case before this office, and. among other things, he was asked the questioH, "Are you ac- ijuainted with IMary Koss?" and he answered, "Yes, sir; she lives at Haskell." Q. Do you know who her father was? — A. No sir ; that is another one of the Nails. I don't know anything about her. Q. Is this the same one that knew you when you were a girl"? — A. There were two Nails. This is the testimony — tall, yellow fellow, bald headed. Mr. HtTitLEY. He has an affidavit attached to your p(4ition. He swears now that he didn't know. Do you remember him when you were a girl? — A. I re- member this old man ; I remember both of these old men. I don't remember them; I know their faces. I know this bald-headed man. Q. Where did he live? — A. Since I have been grown, in Muskogee. ii. When'? — A. Ijong time ago. Q. How many years":' — A. I don't know. I wasn't nothing but a kid. There is two old men; one has the asthma and the other is bald-headed, and has real white hair. The tall, bald-headed one is the one that I know. Q. Did you i)romise to i)ay him and Alec Nail $25 each in cash in case yoiv wen; enrolled? — A. Nd. sir; something to eat is all. down at a restaurant. Q. Did you ever see this man W. M. James before you were introduced to him by Nail? — A. I am trying to think; I can't thiidv of those names. Q. James; do you know him"? — A. I have s(>eii him; h»^ is from the Choctaw Nation. Q. Did you know W. M. James before you mi't him in Ballinger's office? — A. Yes; I knew this old yellow man; he was W. M. James — William, seems like to me. Q. Tell mo whether or not the man you are speaking of is W. M. James, who made the affidavit? — A. He is an old yellow man; we call him Uncle William. INDIAN APPKOPRIATION BILL. 359 Q. Where did you first know this manV — A. Tlio first time to icnow hiin was in Muskogee. Q. How long ago? — A. That has been a long time ago. Q. Since you have been living in Haskell or before that — where did you live when you knew him lirstV — A. I don't know positively the first time I met him; he shook hands with me. Q. Who was he with? — A. He wasn't with anybody. Q. Did he just step up and speak to you? — A. I don't know whether he did or not. He just said, " Where are you and where have you been? " I just swopped a few words with him and passed him. Q. You hadn't seen him before he stepped up to you on tlie street and shook hands with you? — A. No, sir. Q. How many years ago has that been? — A. I can't tell you. Q. Are you married ? — A. Sure, I am ; married twice. Q. When were you nuirried to you.r last husband? — A. Al)out five years ago. Q. Was it before that? — A. Yes, sir; there was something going on in Muskogee. Q. Who were you married to before you married Ross? — A. Dan Ranson. Q. Where were you married to him? — A. Hern, Tex. Q. Was he a colored man? — A. He wasn't. Q. What was he? — A. He was supposed to be Cherokee. Q. When were you married to him? — A. When I was about 16. Q. You are about 30 years of age now? — A. Yes, sir. Q. Then you were married to Ranson in Texas 14 years ago? — A. Yes, sir. Q. Was it before that that you met James on the streets of ^luskogee? — A. Before I was married the first time, no ; after. Q. What became of Ranson?— A. He is dead. Q. Where did he die? — A. He died in Oklahoma City. Q. When? — A. About seven years ago. Q. When did you come from Hern, Tex., to Oklahoma ('ity? — A. I can't teli you just when ; I was rumiing a hair parlor in Texas wlien I mari'ied. Q. How long did you live there after you married before you came to Okla- homa? — A. I was visiting there; I learned the lialr trade there; I had been writing to him a long time. Q. Ranson was never enrolled as a citizen or freedman? — A. No, sir. Q. How long had you been living in Texas? — A. I hadn't been there no time; it was during the holidays that I laid off. Q. You haven't established the first time }nu met James. — A. Tlie first linu' I remember him, I rememl)er that I had been married tlie first time wlien I met him in Muskogee. Q. Did you and your first husband live in Muskogee ■:" — .\. No, sir. Q. r)id he die in Oklahoma City? — A. Yes, sir. Q. Was it since your first husband died in the last seven years that you first met James in Muskogee? — A. Yes, sir. Q. Before you married Ross? — A. Yes, sir. Q. Which is five years ago? — A. Yes, sir. Q. Then you met him lietween six and inne years ago? — .\. Yes, sir. I think it was on Second Street. Q. That was the first time you had ever seen him? — A. Since I have been grown, that is the second time. Q. Did you see him l)efore you met him? — A. The first time I remember seeing him, the old yellow man, was after I was nuirried the first time, after my first husband died. Q. Tlien you didn't know him when you were a girl'.' — .\. No, sir; not when I was a girl. Q. Anotlier affidavit attached to youi' iMtition, tlie aliidavit of .\lec Nail, do you know him? — A. Yes, sir; I know him wlien I see iiim. Q. Where did you first meet hiin? — A. The first time to l with the white people nearly all my life ; never did associate with the colored people. I would like for you to see my mother's picture, maybe somebody would recognize her. I was six years old — I remember that when the year that Cleveland was President, the last year that he was in office, my mother carried me to the depot in Atoka and the band was playing on the train and I know she held me up so I could see. She showed me those people going to Denison. That is all I know about the Folsoms. I guess any- body would ti-y a chance for getting anything. I have been living without it. When the man talked about the money I don't know what my mother said. My mother went by the name of Eliza Folsom, and she has been married three times. She married a man once by the name of Gus .Tohnson, no Lane, Gus Lane, before I was gr(nvn, and the man left her ; she conuuenced getting blind. I traveled with white people and was raised with white people. Q. Was your mother married to any of these husbands before you were born; she was married to Lane before you were born? — A. No, sir; I remember her marrying well. Q. Who was she married to before she married Lane? — A. I don't know, and lie didn't stay very long. Q. Was he colored? — A. He didn't look like it. Q. Did he as.sociate with colored men? — A. No, sir; he run a shoe store. Q. Where, in Oklahoma (Jity? — A. I think that is where she saw him; he was a .shoemaker. Q. How old were you when she died? — A. A very small girl. Q. Eight or ten?— A. No not that old. Q. Six? — A. I suppose so. Q. How long was she in Oklahoma City before she married him? — A. Not very long. Q. Wiis yoiu- father killed before* you were born? — A. Y'es, sir. Q. Did you have any bi'others and sisters? — A. No, sir. Q. Yom- mother never had any other children"? — A. I think three or four. Q. Who was the father? — A. I never asked her. Q. Do you know whether she was married to your father? — A. I couldn't swear to that. Q. Do you know the children? — A. The children are all dead. Q. Y'ou don't know whether this man Folsom was the father of these children born before you? — A. I don't know. All her children is dead but me. INDIAN APPROPRIATION BILL. 363 Q. Will you send me those letters you claimed to have received from Bal- linger? — A. Yes, sir; I will hunt them all up; lots of them are postal cards. He told me the roll was open. Q. How long ago has it been?— A. Not very long. Q. Has it been six months since he wrote you? — A. Said he would let me know, and for me to keep up and see when the roll, the Choctaw rolls wei-e open. Q. When was that? — A. A good while ago. Q. These men that took your application, what officer of the Interior Depart- ment did they say they represented, the Secretary of the Interior, the Commis- sioner of Indian Affairs, or the Superintendent of the Five Civilized Tribes? — A. The Secretary of the Interior. They told me Choctaws and Creeks and Chickasaws, and there was a (^reek and Chickasaw woman there. Susan Harris enrolled her child the same day I was enrolled, and another woman from the Cherokee Nation the same day, and there was four of us — there was six enrolled there that day. Q. Did those people claim they were authorized by the Government to enroll those people? — A. This white man told me he was getting a salary from the Government to enroll the people ; he wouldn't take any money from them. I never offered him any. I sat in front of the table. The old man, both of them talked so plain I was getting the value of the land in money. I told them I iiio you know who his father was? — A. Sure I know his father. Q. Where does he live? — A. He is dead: they said the boy could be put on the rolls through me. I never tried to get him in on his father. They made me i)ay $1.7."). Q. Were you married to Koss when this boy was born? — A. No, sir. Q. Were you nuirried to Hanson at the time he was born? — A. I was mar- ried, which one I can't tell yon; I don't want to ruin my reputation; I will tell you privately. Q. Did you ever make application for cnrollnieiit during the time the rolls were being made? — A. Yes, sir. Q. Where did you make it? — A. With Ballingcr and Ia'v. Q. While they were making the roll? — A. I was not here. Q. Where did you live? — A. I was with my mother. Q. In Oklahoma City?— A. Yes, sir. Q. Why was it you didn't make it before now? — A. I told you that I didn't make application before this time, and I told them I had maer 2, 1907, deceased. Petitioner states that, by reason of her right to enrollment through the blood of her said father, and by reascm of the date of the birth of her said child, Mary Mills, her said child, Mary Mills, is also entitled to enrollment upon the approved rolls of the Choctaw Nation. Wherefore, petitioner prays that the names of herself, Emily Mills, and of her said minor child, IVIary Mills, be placed upon the approved rolls of the said Choctaw Nation, as Choctaw freed men ; and that to them there be given their respective distributive shares of the common property and fimds of said Choc- taw Tribe of Indians, the same as is given to all other citizens so enrolled as such freedmen. And she will ever pray. Emily Mills. State of Oklahoma, County of Okfuskee, ss: Emily Mills, nee Allen, after being first duly sworn, upon her oath, states that she is 28 years of age ; that she is the person named in the within, above, and foregoing petition for the enrollment of herself and her minor child, Mary Mills ; that she has read over said petition and knows the contents thereof ; and that the statements, matters, and things therein set forth and contained are true. Dated this 7th day of April, A. D. 1915. Emily Mills. Subscribed and sworn to before me, Charles E. Guthrie, a notary public in and for the above named county and State, on this the 7th day of April, A. D. 1915. [seal.] Chas. E. Guthrie, Notary Public. My commission expires January 9, A. D. 1917. •affidavit of G. W. WILSON IN SUPPORT OF THE PETITION OF EMLEY MILLS, N^E allen, for the enrollment of herself and her minor child, aiaiiy mills, as choctaw freedmen. State of Oklahoma, County of Okfunkee ss: G. W. AVilson, after being first duly sworn, upon his oath, depo.ses and says that he is about 39 years of age; that he lives and resides at 619 East Archie Street, Tulsa, Okla. Afliant further states that was, for a long time, a resident of the Choctaw Nation ; and that he is and has always been well and personally acquainted with Bart Allen, of Idabel (I. T.), Okla.; and that he, affiant, knows that the said Bart Allen was a full brother to Kizzie Allen, who is duly enrolled upon the approved rolls of the Choctaw Nation as a Choctaw Freedman ; and oppo- site roll No. 3GC3. Afiiant states that the petitioner above named, Emley Mills, nee Allen, is a daughter of the said Bart Allen and a niece of the said Kizzie Allen, Clioctaw FrcM'dmnn, roll No. .3(503; and that the said Emley Mills, nge Allen, was duly and legally married to Lum IMills in the year 1902; and that to this union ii child l)y the name of Mary Mills was born. That I do not know the exact date of the birtli of the said Mary IMills, but know that she was born some time during the year 190."); and that .said Mary Mills is still living. Further adiant saith not. Dated this 7th day of April, A. D. 1915. G. W. Wilson. Sub.scribi'd and sworn to before me, Chas. E. Guthrie, a notary public in and for Okfuskee County, Okla., tliis tlie 7th day of April, A. D. 1915. [seal.] Chas. E. Guthrik, Notary Public. My commission expires January 9, A. D. 1917. 366 INDIAN APPROPRIATION BILL. affidavit of nelson t. tolbert in support of the petition of emley mills, nee allen, in support of her petition for the enrollment of herself and her minor child, mary mills, as choctaw freedmen. State of Oklahoma, County of Okfuskee, ss: Nelson" T. Tolbert, after being first duly sworn, upon his oath, deposes and states that he is 57 years of age; that he lives and resides at G19 East Archie Street, Tulsa, Okla. ; that he was born and reared in the Choctaw Nation, and resided in said nation until about the year 1902. Affiant further states that he is and always been well and intimately ac- quainted with the family of Aliens of which Bart Allen was a member ; that the said Bart Allen and Kizzie Allen were full l)rotlier and sister. That the said Kizzie Allen is enrolled as a Choctaw Freedman opposite roll No. 3G8G. Affiant further states that the petitioner herein above named, Emley Mills, nee Allen, is a daughter of the said Bart Allen; and that the said Emley Mills, nee Allen, was duly and legally married to Lum IMills about 10 years ago; that the said Lum and Emley ]Mills have a child, whose name is Mary ; and that said Mary Mills was born some time during the ni-onth of March, 1905; and that said Mary Mills, niinor, is still living. Further affiant saith not. Dated this 7th day of April, A. D. 1915. Nelson T. Tolbert (his thumb mark). Witnesses to mark : G. W. Nelson. Daist R. Morton. Subscribed and sworn to before me, Chas. E. Guthrie, a notary public, this the 7th day of April, A. D. 1915. [SEAL.] CiiAS. E. Guthrie, Notnni I'ublic. My commission expires January 9, A. D. 1917. The name of Nelson T. Tolbert written by me at his request and in his presence, he then made Ins thumb print. C. E. Guthrie. STATEMENT OF P. J. HURLEY, ATTORNEY FOR THE CHOCTAW NATION. In re petition of Emily Mills, nee Allen, for the enrollment of herself and minor child, Mary Mills, as Choctaw freedmen. The foregoing petition was served upon me by Mr. Webster Ballinger, attor- ney at law, of Washington, D. C. The petitioner claims that she resided in the Choctaw Nation during the time the rolls were being made, but that she did not make application for enrollment during that i)eriod. Even if all the allegations made in the plaintiff's petition were ti"ue, she would not now be entitled to t>nrollment. The act of July 1, 1902 (32 Stat. L., G41). which approved the supplemental agreement between the Choctaw-Chickasaw people and the United States, pro- vides in part as follows : *< * * * rpjjg application of no person whomsoever for enrollment shall be received after the expiration of the said 90 days." The 90 days herein referred to is 00 days after the ratification of the agree- ment by the' Choctaw and Chickasaw people. The agreement was ratified on September 25, 1902. Emily IMills did not make application for enrollment within the time required by law, and under Ihe law would not be entitled to enrollment, even if her statements regarding her rights as a freedman citizen of the Choctaw Nation were true. Again there is no definite or reliable evidence to show that Emily Mills was a resident of the Choctaw Nation on Jiuie 28, 1898. The act of Congress ap- proved June 28, 1898 (80 Stat. L., 495), by which the Atoka agreement between the United States and the Choctaw and Chickasaw Nations was approved, provides in part as follows: " No person shall be enrolled who has not heretofore removed to and in good faith settled in the nation in which he claims citizenship." INDIAN APPROPEIATION BILL. 367 The foregoing are legal bars wlili'h wonkl prevent the enrollment of Emily Mills as a freedman citizen of the ('ho<-ta\v Nation, even if the allegations of her petition were true, but the allegations of the petition of this applicant are untrue. She is not a freedman citizen of the Choctaw Nation ; her father's name was not Bart Allen as alleged in her petition, but was in fact Bart Holmes. On this point the applicant herself testified as follows : Q. Did Bart Holmes and your mother live together up until her tleath? — A. Yes, sir ; they were living together when my mamma died. Q. Were they living together at the time you tirst recollect anything? — A. Yes, sir. Q. You regarded him as your father? — A. Yes, sir. Q. You were told that he was your father? — A. Yes, sir. That was all I knew anything about it. Then folks begun to tell me back there. Q. What did they say? — ^A. That man is not your papa. Your father's name was Allen. Q. You say you don't remember the given name of this Allen, your father? — A. No, sir ; I don't. Q. You know anything about where he lived?— A. No, sir; I don't. Q. Do you know when he died? — A. No; I don't. The testimony of this witness will indicate that her father's name was not Bart Allen at all. but was in fact Bart Holmes, and that she assumed the name of Allen for the purpose of attempting to establish relationship with the freed- woman, Kizzie Allen, whose name appears upon the Choctaw rolls. Again in this same testimony the witness states : Q. You state in your application that your father's name was Bart Allen. You state to me that you do not remember the given name of your father. How about this? — A. Well, I really don't know the name of my own papa. I gave Holmes as my papa. The old man, the old gentleman, I calls grandpa, he told me about my father. His name — it was Bart or something like that. He told me about my father before I went over there. This statement means that she was told to swear that Bart Allen was her father before she went before the attorneys who were taking applications for enrollment as citizens of the Choctaw Nation. Her testimony will show that the man to whom she refers as grandpa is Nelson Tolbert, a negro, who has served Mr. Ballinger and his associates in many of these cases as a witness. Nelson Tolbert's affidavit, which is intended to corroborate the false state- ments contained in the petition of the applicant, is, in part, as follws : " Affiant further states that he is and always been well and intimately ac- quainted with the family of Aliens of which Bart Allen was a member ; that the said Bart Allen and Kizzie Allen were full brother and sister. That the said Kizzie Allen is enrolled as a Choctaw freedman opposite roll No. 3063." On November 27, 1915, Nelson Tolbert, after being first duly sworn, testified as follows : Q. Do you know Kizzie Allen? — A. Kizzie Allen; I know of her. I don't think I know her. Don't know her personally. Q. Was she an Indian or negro? — A. I don't know. When Tolbert was testifying he apparently forgot that these applicants were endeavoring to be enrolled as freedmen of the Choctaw Nation and he attempts in his testimony to establish the fact that they are Indiaiis. A copy of Tolbert's testimony is attached hereto. There is attached hereto a photographic copy of freedman census card No. 3103, showing the enrollment of Kizzie Allen. This card shows that Kizzie Allen did not have a brother named Bart Allen — in fact, the card shows that "Allen " was her married name and not her maiden name. Her husband was (ieorge Allen, a Chickasaw freedman. The mother of Kizzie Allen was Winnie I'itchlyn, a slave of I'eter IMtchlyn. The name of Kizzie Allen's mother apiu-ars on Choctaw freedman census card No. 429 — a p.hotographic copy of which is attached hereto. The evidence in this case is cfniclusive on the following points: First. That Kizzie Allen did not have a brother named I'.art Allen. Second. That Ihe MiijilicMUt's father was not named Bart Allen, but was in fad liart Holmes. Third. 1'his applicant is not a freedman of the Choctaw Nation, and is not related to Kizzie Allen. Fourth. That the allegations of the petition of this applicant and the affi- davit of Nelson Tolbert in support thereof are false. P. J. HURLKY, National Attorney for the Choctaw Nation. 368 TNDL\X .Vl'PKOL'HIATlOX BILL. Cliocfdir \atioii. frcciliiuii nill. [Residence: Eagle County. Post office: Eagle Town, I. T. Field No. 429.] Dawes roU No. Name. Relation- ship to per- son first named. Age. Sex. Tribal enrollment. Slave of— Year. County. No. 931 1 Gable, Albert 40 36 12 69 Male.... Female.. Male Female.. 1896 1896 1896 1896 Eagle ...do ...do ...do 1515 1516 1517 2753 Peter Pitch- 932 933 934 2. Gable, Virginia 3. Gable, Robert 4. Pitchlynn, Winnie . Wife Son Mother lynn. Calvin Howell. Peter Pitch- lynn. Stamped: Enrollment of Nos. 1, 2, 3, and 4 hereon approved by the Secretary of Interior, Mar. 6, 1903. Name of father. Father's tribal enrollment. Father's owner. Name of mother. Mother's tribal enrollment. Mother's owner. Year. County. Year. County. 1 2 Charlie Howell.. Ben Pitchlynn.. No 1 De'd Eagle. 1896 ...do... do... Calvin Howell... Peter Pitchlynn. Winnie Pitch- lynn. Lucy Pitchlynn. No.2 1896 Eagle . 1896 ...do... Peter Pitchlsmn. Calvin Howell. 4 i...do... Choctaw Celia Butler 1896 Eagle Peter Pitchlynn. 1 Clioctaiv Nation, frvcdmcu roll. [Post office: South McAlester, I. T. Field No Dawes' Name. Relation- ship to person first named. Age. Sex. Tribal enrollment. roll No. Year. County. No. Remarks. 3663 27 9 12 6 F. F. M. M. Not on roll. 2297 2298 Allen, Bertie Allen, Henderi'on Allen, Jefferson. . Dau Son ...do.... 1896 1896 1896 TobucVsy do 2 3 4 2299 do (Stamped:) Enrollment of No. 1 hereon. Approved by the Secretary of Interior Sept. 26, 1903. Enroll- ment of Nos. 2, 3, 4 hereon. .Approved by the Secretary of Interior .\pr. 8, 1903. No. 2 on roll as Luvina Allen. No. 4 on roll as Oliver -Allen. Husband of No. 1 and father of children hereon is No. 1 on 1896 roll. Mother of No. 1 on (hoc. Freed, card No. 429. Husband of No. 1 and father of children hereon is George Allen, ( hickasaw freedman card No. 956. See affidavit of No. 1, filed Mar. 14, 1903. Name of father. Father's tribal enrollment. Name of mother. Mother's owner. Year. County. 1 Non cit Winnie Pitchlyn. . No. 1 Peter Pitchlyn. 2' Dd Atoka 3 do do 4 do do INDIAN APPROPRIATION BILL. 369 Department of the Interior, Office of the Superintendent for the Five Civilized Tribes, Tulsa, Okla., November 11, 1915. In the matter of the application for enrollment of Emily Mills, nee Allen, as a Choctaw freedman. Mrs. Emily Mills, being first duly sworn by William L. Bowie, United States deputy clerk of the United States Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, on oath testified as follows : Examination by Mr. William L. Bowie : Q. State your name. — A. My name — my mother was married twice Q. What is your name nowV — A. Emily Mills. Q. Emma Mills? E-m-m-a M-i-1-l-s? — A. E-m-i-1-y M-i-1-l-s, the way I would spell it. Q. How old are you? — A. Don't know 'zactly. I can't remember about my father and very little about my motlier, only what folk say. * * * Q. About how old are you, as near as you can tell? — A. I estimate about 27 or 28. Q. Where do you live? — A. I live here in Tulsa. Q. What number and street? — A. Four hundred and twenty-seven Exeter. Q. You are married? — A. Yes, sir. Q. I'^our husband living? — A. Yes, sir. Q. State his name? — A. Columbus Mills. Q. What is your husband's occupation? What does he do? — A. He works at the hotel. Q. Hotel porter? — A. Yes, sir. Q. What hotel?— A. The Metropolitan Hotel. Q. Here in Tulsa?- — A. l^es, sir. Q. Do you know who was your mother? — A. Mary. Her name was Mary. That's what the old gentleman tells me. Q. AVhat was her surname? — A. She was married — as near as I can come at it, first married to Allen Q. What was the name of Allen; what was his given name? — A. That is where I can't remember. I can't remember him. Q. Is your mother living? — A. No, sir ; she is dead. Q. Where did she die?— A. I think about Hugo — down about there — below there — down at little town. I don't remember the name. Down below there Q. Down about Idabel?— A. I think that's the town. The town of Q. Below Hugo? — A. l^es, sir; I know that was the place, Idabel. Q. Did slie die in town? — A. No, sir; near the town, from what I was told. There is an old gentleman here who knows her better than I knows him myself. Q. What is the name of this man? — A. We calls him grandpa. Lives on Q. Don't you know his name? — A. Tolliver or Tolliber, something like that. Q. Nelson Tolbert? — A. Yes, sir. I aUvays calls him grandpa. Q. How long has your mother been dead? — A. Well, I don't know. You can ask — I can't remember it. Q. How long has your father been dead? — A. I can't remember him. I don't remember my papa at all. Q. How old were you when your mother died? — A. Don't know 'xactly. I was quite small. After mamma died I went to white people that mamma works for. Q. Were you old enough to work out when your mother died? — A. No, sir. Q. Were you a good-sized girl? — A. Old enough to remember, but wasn't working out. (}. Did these white people take you right away? — A. Yes, sir. Q. What was the name of these people? — A. Brown. Q. What was the given name? — A. I don't know, sir. I always calls her Mrs. Brown. Q. Where did she live? — A. In the country where we lived. Q. Out from Idabel? — A. Yes, sir. Q. How far? — A. I don't know, sir. 31362—16 24 370 INDIAN APPROPRIATION BILL. Q. What direction? — A. I can't toll you tliat. I can't tell you to save my life. You know just about how a kid is. I don't know. This old gentleman knew me. He always tells me Q. Have you any sisters? — A. No, sir. If there was I didn't know anything about them. Q. Did you ever have any sisters?— A. Not that I know of. Q. Did you ever have any brothers? — A. Not that I know of. Q. What was your father's name? — A. l\Iy own father I never saw. They said his name was Allen. I don't know. Often used to tell me about him. Q. You never saw him? — A. Not that I remember. Q. W^ere they married? — A. I suppose so. Q. That is your understanding? — A. Mine? Yes, sir. My mother married twice, so the old gentleman said. Q. You were told that she married twice? — -A. Yes, sir. Q. W'hat was the name of this man you speak of? The one you refer to as the second husband of your mother? — A. Holmes. Q. What was his given name? — A. I think they said his name was Bart Holmes. The white folks always said Bart. Q. Is he living? — A. I don't know whether he is living or not. Q. Was he living at the time your mother died? — A. Wlio? Q. Bart Holmes. — A. Y"es, sir ; he was living. Q. Did Bart Holmes and your mother live together up until her death? — A. Yes, sir ; they were living together when my mamma died. Q. Were they living together at the time you first recollect anything? — A. Yes, sir. Q. You regarded him as your father?— A. Y^es, sir. Q. You were told that he was your father? — A. Yes, sir. That was all I knew about it. Then folks begun to tell me back there. Q. AVhat (lid they say? — A. " That man is not your papa. Your father's name was Allen." Q. You say you don't remember the given name of this Allen, your father? — A. No, sir ; I don't. Q. You know anything about where he lived ? — A. No, sir ; I don't. Q. Do you know when he died? — A. No; I don't. Q. You don't know whether he had any brothers? — A. No, sir. Q. Or their names? — A. No, sir. Q. You don't know whether he had any sisters? — A. No, sir; I don't. Q. You said you had no idea where he lived? — A. No; I don't. Q, You remember your mother? — A. Yes, sir. I remember her complexion. She was brighter than I. Q. What color do you call yourself? — A. I calls myself brown skin. Q. What color was Bart Holmes?— A. My stepfather? Q. The man you call your stepfather? — A. I would call him brown skin. He is blacker than I is. Q. Your mother has negro blood?— A. Yes; she had negro blood. Q. She lived with negroes? — ^A. Yes, sir. Q. Your husband is a negro?— A. Yes, sir; he is. He's a negro. He's blacker than me. Q. What do you call blacker than you?— He's darker than me, but not negro black. Q. Dark brown? — A. Yes, dark brown. Q. Colored like a ginger cake left in the stove too long?— A. He ain't black, he's brown skin. Q. You have made application before some one for enrollment as a citizen by blood of the Choctaw Nation? — A. Yes, sir. Q. Before whom did you make this application? — A. Sir? Q. Before whom did you make this application? — A. Mr. Rodkey. Q. Mr. Perry Rodkey? — A. Yes, sir. Q. Did you ever see INIr. Perry Rodkey? — A. Yes, sir. Q. WasMr. Perry Rodkey here? — A. No, sir. Q. Wliere did you see Mr. Rodkey?— A. Down at— I believe it was Okemah, I believe — I think it was Okemah. Q. Did you go to Okemah to see him. — A. Yes, sir. Q. What made you go to see Mr. Rodkey. Had some one been to your home to see you about being enrolled?— A. They were talking to me— they said, " How come you don't go to try to get on the rolls?" Q. Who said this? — A. Mr. — that black man that swear for me. INDIAN APPROPRIATION BILL. 371 Q. Mr. Wilson? — A. Yes, Mr. Wilson. Q, A notary public who lives on Archer Street, Tulsa? — A. Yes, sir. Q. 619 Archer Street. — A. I don't remember the number. Q. I stated to you that you had made application for enrollment as a Choctaw citizen by blood. After looking over your application I note that you ask for enrollment as a Choctaw freedman instead of a Choctaw citizen by blood? — A. Yes. Q. Do you know about how old your mother was at the time she died? — A. No, I do not. Q. Was your mother a slave? — A. A slave; what do you mean? Q. Was she a slave at any time during slavery? — A. I don't know whether she was or not. She was working for these people. Q. Do you know whether your father was a slave? — A. No, I don't know that. Q. You state in your application that your father's name was Bart Allen, l^ou state to me that you do not remember the given name of your father. How about this? — A. Well, I really don't know the name of my own papa. I gave Holmes as my papa. The old man, the old gentleman, I calls grandpa, he told me about my father. His name — it was Bart, or something like that. He told me about my father before I went over there. Q. As a matter of fact, your information was that your father and mother were never married, isn't that true? — A. I don't know. Q. Isn't it true that your mother and father were never married?— A. I don't know. Q. Isn't that what you have been told ? — A. No ; no one ever told me that. Q. Isn't that the fact? — A. No one ever told me that. Q. Was your mother enrolled as a Choctaw freedman? — A. I don't know. Q. Did your mother have any brothers? — A. If she did, I didn't know anything about him. Q. Did your mother have any sisters? — A. If she did, I don't know. Q. Know anything about your mother's father? — A. No, sir. Q. Your mother's mother? — A. No, sir. Q. You don't know anything relative to your mother being enrolled as a freed- man, a Choctaw freedman? — A. No; I don't. Q. Do you know whether your father had any brothers or sisters? — A. No, sir. Q. Do you know who your father's father was? — A. No, sir. Q. Do you know who your father's mother was? — A. No, sir. Q. Do you know anything about Kizzie Allen? — A. They said that she was my aunt. Q. Do you know anything about this Kizzie Allen? — ^A. No, sir. Q. Do you know where she lived?— A. The last time I heard of my aunt she was living down in Choctaw Nation. It has been a year since I heard about her. Q. What place in Choctaw Nation? — A. Down in about — what county is that — that Idabel's in? Q. McCurtain County? — A. That's the last county I heard of her. That place Q. Do you know how far she lived from Idabel? What her post-office address is? — A. No, sir. Q. Do you know whether she was enrolled? — A. No, sir. Q. You call her your aunt?- — A. Yes, sir. Q. Was she aunt on your mother or father's side? — A. My father's side. Q. Do you know who told you that? — A. First one, then another. I paid little attention to it. Q. Have you been married more than one time? — A. I'es, sir. Q. What was your husband's name? — A. Charley Swan. Q. Where did you marry him? — A. At Ardmore. Q. Do you know what vear or what date vou married him? — A. I think it was 1903. Q. Did you get a license? — A. Yes, sir. Q. Married by a preacher? — A. Yes, sir ; married by a preacher. Q. What was his name? — A. Rev. Ilall. Q. Do you know who were the witnesses? — A. I can't remember who was the witnesses. Q. What name did you marry Swan under? — A. Under my second father's name. Q. What was that — Holmes? — A. Yes. sir. Q. As a matter of fact you were nhv.iys known from your girlhood up to the time you were married to Swan as Emily Holmes? — A. Yes, sir. 372 - INDIAN APPROPRIATION BILL, Q. You never were known by the nnnie of Allen? Never told that was your name? — A. No. sir; never what I was told. Q. You never went by the name of Allen at any time? — A. No, sir. Q. How long did you live with Swan? — A. Until the following year. He died. Q. Where did he die? — A. He got killed at Ardmore. Q. Did you live in the town of Ardmore? — A. In the country — 7 or 8 miles west on a farm. Q. Whose farm? — A. Native persons. I think his name was Humley,' or Humby — something like that. Q. Did you stay there after your husband died? — A. No. sir. Q. Did your hu.sband liave any brothers?— A. Y'es, sir. He had a brother. Q. Wliat was his name? — A. He had one brotlier. His name was Lewis Swan. Q. Where did he live? — A. In town. Q. Where is he now? — A. Haven't Iieard from liini since I left there. Q. What was his occupation? — A. Nothing much. Q. Gambling? — A. I don't Ivuow what he did. Q. Bootlegging? — A. Not as I know. Don't know what he did. Q. Did he have any sisters? — A. If he did I didn't know it. Q. Have you any children? Any cliildren by Swan? — A. No, sir. Q. After Swan died wlio was your next husband? — A. The one I have got now. Q. Wlien did you marry him? — A. Married him the following year after he died. Q. Do you know what year?— A. I married Charley in 1903. He died 1904. About 1905 I married this other fellow. Q. What was his name? — A. Collumbus Mills. Q. You married here in the city? — A. No; Oklahoma City. Q. Married by license? — A. Yes, sir. Q. Who married you — a preacher? — A. Yes, sir. Q. Do you know the name of the preacher? — A. No, sir. Q. Do you know the number of the house wliere you were married? — A. No, sir; I don't. Q. Don't know whose residence it was? — A. Where I was married at? Q. Y^es. — A. The preacher had a l)ai-ber shop, and we were married in a little old back room ; the only thing I can tell you about it. Had a barber shop in front. Q. Do you know what street it was on? — A. No, sir ; I don't. Q. Y''ou have been living with this hu.sband ever since? — A. Yes, sir. Q. How many children have you? — A. I have one. Q. What is the name of that child?— A. Mary Mills. Q. Do you know the date of her birth? — A. Near as I can come at it, I sup- pose — I married him in 190.3, and she was born in 19 — . Well, I can't tell what year my child was born. I married him in 190.") — this one I got now. In 1906, the following year, my child was born. Q. Have you had any otlier children? — A. No, sir. Q. How about this Lonnie? — A. Dead, rigiit after it was born. Q. Do you know what year that was? — A. My kids followed pretty close. Mary born in 190.1. Aliout 1907 I had that other one. Q. You have furnished the affidavits of G. W. Wilson and Nelson T. Tolbert in support of your petition filed by Webster Ballinger. How long has Mr. Wilson known you? — A. I have known Mr. Wilson a long, long time. Q. What do you mean by long, long time"? — A. I guess ever since I can remember I got acquainted with him. Q. Living in Idabel? — A. No, sir; down near there. In the country down there. Q. Did he know your mother? — A. I couldn't tell. Q. Do you remember him down there? — A. Yes, .sir. Q. How long have you known Nelson Tolbert? — A. I been knowing him since I been getting big enough to know him ; I know old grandpa. I always called him grandpa. Grandpa Tolliver. Q. Do you know whether Wilson knew your father? — A. No, I don't know. Q. Do you know whether Tolbert knew your father? — A. I suppose he did; I don't know. Q. Do you know whether your mother ever applied for enrollment as Choc- taw freedman? — A. No, I don't know that. Q. Do you know whether she died prior to the time tliey were being enrolled by the Dawes Commission? — A. I don't know that. INDIAN APPROPRIATION BILL. 373 Q. Do you suppose that you were 6 or 8 years old when your mother died? — A. I suppose so, by uie remembering her. To tell the truth I remember my mother all right. Itemember her color. Q. I show you a photograph attached to your petition for enrollment, filed by Mr. Webster Ballinger. Is that your picture? — A. Yes, that's my picture. Looks better than I look. Q. Who was it who told you to fix your hair that way, so that it shows how straight and long it is?— A. The people what went up to have their pictures taken. Tliey came by. I said "Where you all going?" They said, "Come along and have your picture taken." Q. Did you have to pay any person to fix up these papers for you? — A. Did I have to pay for having these pictures taken? Q. No, these papers ?^A. Yes, sir, we paid. Q. To whom did you pay the money? And how much did you pay? — A. To tell you the truth I don't just remember what I did pay. Remember I did pay something, but don't remember wliat it was. Q. The papers were signed before Chas. E. Guthrie? — A. That's the man I paid it to. The man that did the stenographer's work. I gave him some money, but I don't just remember what I gave him. Q. Don't you remember how much? — A. I handed him a $5 bill and I don't just remember wiiat he handed me back out of that $5 bill. Q. Did you promise to pay him or any other person anything in addition? — A. No, sir. I never made any promise. Q. Did you sign any contract to pay anything in case this application was allowed? — A. No, sir. Q. This man Guthrie, is he a white man? — A. Yes, sir. Q. Is he the man who first saw you about making this application? — A. I never saw him until I went to that place, until I went to Okemah that day. Q. You went, then, to see Mr. llodkey and you found Mr. Guthrie there? — A. Yes, sir. Q. Where did he make out this petition, at Okemah?— A. Yes, sir. I suppose he did. I went to see him down there. Q. That is where you signed these papers? — A. Yes, sir. Q. Did you see Mr. Guthrie in Tulsa? — A. I never met Mr. Guthrie here in Tulsa. Q. That is all the money that you have paid out? What you told me? — A. Yes, sir. Q. No other sum w^as demanded of you? — A. No other sum demanded. Q. Do you know whether you signed any other kind of a contract? — A. I signed something (). Was it read to you? — A. Yes, sir. Q. What was the nature of the paper? — A. It was about trying to get my rights. Q. Were you given a copy of it? — A. No, sir. Q. Do you know where your mother was born? — A. When? Q. No. Where was she born? — A. Down in the Nation, I suppose. Q. You don't know? — A. I don't know, to tell the truth. Q. Do you know where your father was born? — A. No, sir, I do not. Q. Do you know how long your mother was a resident of the Choctaw Na- tion? — A. No, sir, I do not. Q. Do you know how long your father was a resident of the Choctaw Na- tion? — A. No, sir, I don't. Q. Do you know whether either one was a slave? — A. No, sir, I don't. Witness excused. State of Oklahoma, County of Tulsa, ss. IVIildred W. Kelsey, being first duly sworn, states that as stenographer to the national attorney for the Choctaw Nation, she ret)orted the proceedings in the above entitled cause on the 17th day of November, 1915, and that the foregoing is a true and correct transcript of her stenographic notes thereof. Mii.DKEi) W. KET.sp:y. Subscribed and sworn to before me this 3d day of December, 1915. [seal.] Faruar Smith, Notary Public. [My commission expires Sept. 9, 1918.] 374 IXDTAN APPROPRIATION P.TLL. Dei'aktm?:nt of the Interior, Ofmck ok the Sttpekintexdknt i"ou the Five Civilized Tribes, Titlsa, OJda., November 27, 1015. Ill the nintlcr of (ho ixpi)licati()u for enrollinoiit of Emily Mills, nee Allen, as a Choctaw freednian. Nelson TolI»ert, bein.!; first duly sworn by INIildrod W. Kelsey, a notary public in and for the county of Tulsa, State of Oklahoma, on oath testified as follows: p]xamination by Mr. P. J. Hurley : Q. What is your name? — A. Nelson Tolbert. Q. How old are you? — A. 58 years old last January. Q. Do you know p]mily ]Mills. nee Allen? — A. Yes, sir; I know tliem and her mother. Q. Who was her mother? — A. All I do know. That's all I do know. I start that right at the .lump. Q. Her father was Bart Allen? Was her father Bart Allen and her mother Mary Allen? — A. That is all I know about them. Q. Where did her parents live? — A. I couldn't tell what town they lived in. They lived about. Q. Do you know where they lived in the Choctaw Nation? — A. I know they was in the Choctaw Nation. I don't know whereabouts. Q. Who told you they were in the Choctaw Nation? — A. I seen them there. Q. When? — A. T couldn't tell just how long ago it has been. Good long time ago. Q. bo you know whether any of their relatives are enrolled as Choctaw citi- zens? — A. I don't know. I just tell you Q. How long ago has it been since tliey lived in the Choctaw Nation? — A. I don't know. Q. Where did they live in the Choctaw Nation? — A. I don't know exactly what town ; they lived close by. Didn't live in town, as far as I can remember now. Don't know whereabouts they lived. Q. How old were you when you knew them? — A. I guess I was about 27 or 28. Q. Where were you living in the Choctaw Nation?— A. I was in the country, wouldn't live in town. Q. What river or creek did you live by? — A. Little creek they called Boggy where I was living at that time. Q. Clear Boggy or IVIuddy Boggy? — A. I believe it was called Muddy Boggy. Q. There ort two creeks, one called Clear Boggy and one called IMuddy Boggy? — A. ]\Iuddy Boggy is the one. Q. WMiat town does Muddy Boggy run by? — A. I don't know. Q. WHiere did you do your trading? Where did you buy your groceries? — A. Caddo. Q. Then you claim these people lived clo.se to Caddo? — A. Guess that must have been the town I traded at. Q. Do you know when they left the Choctaw Nation? — A. No. sir. Q. Would you swear that you knew when they left the Choctaw Nation? — A. No, sir. Q. AVhen did you leave the Choctaw Nation? — A. I couldn't tell what year T left the Choctaw Nation. Good while I have been in Creek Nation — I have l)een in Creek Nation 12 or 14 years. Q. Where did you live before you came to the Creek Nation? — A. I come Irom down below Caddo. Q. In th? Choctaw Nation or Texas? — A. In the Choctaw Nation. Q. How long had you lived below Caddo? — A. I don't know how many years. Q. You said you lived there when you were 27 years old: did you stay there until you came to the Creek Nation? — A. That's what I did. I have been here in this nation 14 years, in this nation. Don't know how many years back to make just how long I stayed in the Choctaw Nation at that time. Q. You are HS years old now? — A. And 15 from 58 Q. 'Would be 43 when you left the Choctaw Nation, and you had lived at Caddo from the time you were 27 until you were 43? — A. I lived around Caddo quite a while. Q. Sixteen years? — A. I don't know how long. I don't know just how long it was. Q. How long has it been since you knew the Allen people at Caddo? — A. I forgotten that. Q. Is Ennly Allen a white person or a darkey? — A. Emily, she not a white person, becaiise her daddy was not a white man. INDIAN APPROPRIATION BILL. 375 Q. Wns her father a nesro? — A. Her father was an Indian. Q. \\hi\t was her mother? — A. A half hreed. Q. Half what else? — A. I don't know what. Negro or white it was. Q. Were the parents of p]niily Allen ever married? — A. If they was, more than I Icnow. INIore than I can rememher right now. Q. Wliere does Emily Allen live now? — A. Here in Tulsa. Q. What was the name of hor father?— A. Bart Allen. Q. What relation are yon to Emily Allen?-^A. Who? Me? T don't know. Q. Does she call you grandpa ? — A. If she do, just a nickname. Q. You say she lived at Caddo? That she lived at Caddo when you knew her? — A. Yes, sir. Q. How would you explain it if she said she lived at Idabel? — ^A. Well, it might have been. I knew her at Caddo. I knew her at both places. Q. Was her mother married twice? — A. I don't know whether she was mar- ried twice or not. Q. As a matter of fact, Emma Allen's name was not Allen at all? — A. Yes, sir. Q. Are you sure of that? — A. What the old folks said. Q. Who" told you that?— A. Her mother. Q. Did she have a stepmother? — A. Had a stepfather. Q. Married to a negro? Is she married to a negro? — A. Yes, sir. Q. Does she live with negroes all the time? — A. Yes, sir. Q. Did her mother live with negroes all the time? — A. Yes, sir. Q. Do you know Kizzie Allen? — A. Kizzie Allen. I know of her. I don't think I know her ; don't know her personally. Q. Was she an Indian or negro? — A. I don't l\;now. Q. You don't know whether her mother was an Indian or negro? — A. I told you her mother was half-breed negro — half breed and half Indian. Q. Who told you ? — A. She said so. Q. What was her father?— A. Full-blood Indian? Q. Who told you he was a full-blood Indian? A full-blood Creek?— A. A full- blood Choctaw, not Creek. Q. Do you know whether her father and mother were ever married? — A. No more than what I heard them say. They said they were married. Don't know positive. Q. How much did she pay you for making this affidavit? — A. Nothing. Q. How much is she going to pay you? — A. Never offered me nothing, never cliarged her nothing. Q. You do not know whether these folks are Indian or not, do you? — A. They said they was Indian. Looks like these Indians I see her walking around here Q. You are not in the Choctaw Nation— A. I sees lots of Choctaw men, Indians Q. Who have you seen up here? — ^A. I don't know their names, not more than a cat. I have seen them liere. Q. You know they — How do you know they were Choctaw Indians? — A. I know by their looks. Q. Do you know the difference between Choctaws, Chickasaws, Cherokees A. If you get them all together I can just show you once. Q. Can you speak the Choctaw language? — A. No kind; no more than wliat I am talking — that what you hear me talking. Q. You don't know anything about the parents of this Allen woman, except her mother claimed to be one-half negro — half-breed Indian and half negro? — A. Her father was a full-blood Choctaw. Q. What was her father's name? — A. Bart Allen. Q. You don't know whether her father and mother were ever married? — A. All I kno\v they said they were maried. I didn't see them. They were living together. Witness excused. Mildred W. Kelsey, being first duly sworn, states that as stenographer to the national attorney for the Choctaw Nation she reported the proceedings in the above-entitled case on the 27th of November, 1915, and that the foregoing is a true and correct transcript of her stenographic notes thereof. MiLUKKU W. Kki.skv. Subscribed and sworn to before me this 4th diiy of December, 1915. [seal.] Farrar Smitu. [My conunission expires Sept. 9, 1918.] 376 INDIAN APPROPRIATION BILL. CASE NO. 5. Statement of P. J. Hurley, Attorney for the Choctaw Nation, in re Appli- cation OF .ToHN Harrison et al., fob Enrollment as Citizens by Blood of Choctaw Nation. pbjtition of .john harrison for the enrolljient of himself and family and fob his brothers and sisters and their families as choctaw indians BY BLOOD. Comes now John Harrison and shows that he is 37 years of age and that he lives at Keefeton, Olvla. That lie is a Choctaw Indian hy birth, by blood, by descent, and by residence ; that he is the son of W. J. Sloan Harrison, who was a Choctaw Indian by blood and a resident of the Choctaw Nation prior to June 28, 1898 ; and that all the applicants herein mentioned were residents of the Choctaw Nation from their births and have lived either in the Choctaw or Chiclcasaw Nation. That the said W. J. Sloan Harrison was the brother of William H. Harrison, whose name appears on the approved roll of Choctaw citizens opposite 7663 ; and Robert Harrison, who is also enrolled No. 12175. That on the 6th day of April, 1901, he was duly and lawfully married to T.aura Harrison, with whom he still lives ; that there was born to this union the fol- lowing named children, to wit : Henry Harrison, age 14 years ; Kennith Harri- son, born December 6, 1902 ; Benjamin Harrison, born November 1, 1904. Son of W. J. Sloan Harrison. That the children of Sloan Harrison, for whom he appears in behalf, are Charley Harrison, age 17 years ; Randeen Harrison, age 1-5 years ; Willie May Harrison, age 12 years. Daughter of W. J. Sloan Harrison. That the children of Minnie Bowie, nee Hatcher, age 4.^ years, are Lou Tipton, age 20 years; Johnie Hatcher, age 19 years; Fannie Hatcher, age 18 years ; Ada Hatcher, age 17 years ; Manda Hatcher, age 15 years. Daughter of W. ,T. Sloan Harrison. That the children of Lydia Williams, age 47 years, are Johnson Williams, age 29 years; Jesse Williams, age 27 years; Hattie Robbins, age 22 years; Fannie Thompson, age 20 years ; Roxie Flannagin, age 18 years ; Harrison Williams, age 16 years; Rosie Record, age 15 years, married to Chas. Record. Petitioner further shows that his said father, W. J. Sloan Harrison, had lived with the other Choctaw Indians as such and had occupied the public domain as such Choctaw Indian, but tliat he relied on his residence and Choc- taw Indian blood and did not make an application for the enrollment of himself and family until May 23, 1901. That prior to that date he had gone to the Dawes Commission and told them his circumstances and had been rebuffed and told that he must do things like other applicants and that his family, in the enjoyment of their citizen- ship and the occupation of their home, loft all the matters of enrollment to their said father, who refused to make any further fight for his rights than to just malce an application, which the Dawes Commission held was too late and that all the decision that he ever received was a " too late" decision, not based on his residence, but on his failure to prove that he was the descendent of a party tliat had made application to " Col. William Ward " for a reservation in IMississippi, when in truth and fact he had been living in the Choctaw and Chickasaw Nation for the last past 40 years in the full enjoyment of his said rights as a tenant in common with the other Choctaws. That the record of his application is hereto attaclied and made a part hereof, marked " Exhibit A." That the following sentence was gratuitously added to said record : "This n])j)licant has slight appearance of being Indian; is dark skinned, has high ch(>ek bones, sti-aight nose, but his hair is slightly curley at the ends." Petitioner fm-ther shows that their said father was not the only Choctaw Indian whose hair was slightly curley at the ends, and that that was not legal grounds for denying them of their rights as Choctaw Indians. That tliis ai)i)licant and no member of his said father's family, for whom he makes application, has ever been called on to pay a permit in either the Choctaw or Chickasaw Nation. That the applicants named herein did work with their said father in making their home on the i)ublic domain, and that he h:ul in cidtivation 200 acres, with three sets of improvements thereon, which he lived on for 40 years and held INDIAN APPROPRIATION BILL. 377 until he died and which tliese appliciints held until it was allotted away from them. Wherefoi'e petitioner prays that his name, John Harrison, and the names of his said children, Henry, Kennith, and Benjamin Harrison ; also the name of Sloan Harrison and his family, to wit, Charley, Randeen, and Willie Harrison ; also the name of Minnie Bowie and her said children, Lou Tipton, Johnie, Fannie, Ada, and Manda Hatcher ; also the name of Lydia Williams, his sister, and her children, to wit, Johnson and Jesse Williams, Hattie Rawlins, Fannie Thompson, Roxie Flannigan, and Harrison Williams and Rosie Record, be placed on the approved roll as Choctaw Indians by blood, and that to them and to each of them be given their distributive share of the common property of the Choctaw Tribe of Indians, the same as is given to all other Choctaw Indians by blood. John Harrison. State of Oklahoma, Muskogee County, ss: John Harrison, being first duly sworn, on oath states that he is the above- named John Harrison ; that he has read over the above and foregoing petition and knows the contents thereof, and that the matters and things therein contained are true. John Harrison. Subscril)ed and sworn to before ine this the 5th day of March, 1915. I further certify that I read over the above petition to the afliant, and that he knew the contents thereof, and that he stated that same were true. Julius Golden, Notary Public. My commission expires June 2, 1917. SUPPLEMENTAL PETITION OF SLOAN HARRISON, IN SUPPORT OF THE PETITION OF JOHN HARRISON, FOR THE ENROLLMENT OF HIMSELF ET AL., AS CHOCTAW INDIANS. Comes now Sloan Harrison and shows that he is 39 years of age, and that he lives in Muskogee, Okla., at 803 South Eighth Street. That he is a Choctaw Indian by birth, by blood, by descent, by residence, and by recognition, as is shown by the petition of John Harrison, his brother, made in his behalf, to which this petition is attached and made a part. That he lias read over said petition and knows the contents thereof, and that the matters and things therein contained he knows to be true of his own personal knowledge. That his present home is in Muskogee, but that he has just recently moved to Muskogee, and that prior to tliat time, which lias only been the last past two months, he has lived in the Choctaw and Chickasaw Nations. Sloan Harrison. State of Oklahoma, Muslcoyee County, ss: Subscriljed and sworn to before me this the 6th day of IMarch, 1915. I further certify tliat I read over the above affidavit to the affiant, and that h^ knew the contents thereof, and that he stated that same was true, and that he has the identical person named therein as affiant. Julius Golden, Notary Public. My conmiission expires June 2, 1917. supplemental PETITION OF MINNIE BOWIE, n£e HATCHER, NtE HARRISON, IN SUPPORT OF THE PETITION OF .lOlIN HARRISON FOR THE ENROLLMENT OF HIMSELF ET AL. AS CHOCTAW INDIANS. Comes now Minnie Bowie, nOa Hatcher, nee Harrison, and shows that she is 40 years of age, and that she lives at No. 818^ South Second Street, Musko- gee, Okla. That she is a Choctaw Indian l)y birth, by blood, by descent, by residence, and l)y recognition, as is sliown by the petition of her brother, John Harrison, made in her behalf, to which this petition is attached and made a part. 378 INDIAN APPROPRTATTON BTLL. Tlmt slie has road over said petition and knows the contents thereof and tliat the matters and things contained tlierein are true. Tliat on the 20th day of December, 1905, she was duly and lawfully married to Mose Bowie, with whom she still lives. That prior to this said marriage she was the legal wife of Henry Thatcher, to which union the following named children were born : Lou Tipton, age 20 years; Johnie Hatcher, age 19 years; Fannie Hatcher, age IS years; Ada Hatcher, aged 17 years; Manda Hatcher, aged 1.5 years. That all of said children are alive and all the minors live with applicant at the above-stated place of residence. Petitioner further shows that she, with the other members of her said father's family, were all born and raised on the public domain with all the rights and privileges of other Choctaw Indians ; that they all depended on their said father to enroll the family, which he was slow about doing, and was compelled to make an application in 1891 as a Mississiiipi Choctaw, which included this applicant and her said family, and that the decision was rendered against them because they could not prove that they had complied with the fourteenth article of the treaty of 1S30 made between the United Slates and the Choctaws in Mississippi; when in truth and in fact this applicant and all of her said family were born in the Choctaw and Chickasaw Nations, and had always lived on the public domain and enjoyed all the rights and privileges of other Choctaw Indians, her said father, F. J. Sloan Harri.son, having a1 that time resided in the Choctaw Nation' for more than 40 years and had al the time of his death more than 200 acres in cultivation, and as resident Choctaws they were all entitled to enrollment. That her name and the names of her said children appear in the petition of her said brother, John Harrison, at her request, and that she hereby ratifies and confirms the same. Minnie Bowie (her thumb print). The name of Minnie Bowie was written by me at her request and in her presence, and mark made by her in my presence. Julius Golden, Witness to Mark. Attest : M. M. LiNDLY, Wittiess to Mark. State of Oklahom.\, Miiskogee County, ss: Subscribed and sworn to before me this the 25th day of March, 1915. 1 further certify that I read over the al>ove petition to the affiant and that she knew the contents thereof, and that she stated that same was true and that she was the identical person named therein as petitioner. Julius Golden, Notary Public. ]\Iy commission expires June 2, 1917. SUPPLEMENTAL PETITION OF LOU TIPTON, IN SUPPORT OF THE PETITION OF JOHN HARRISON FOR THE ENROLLMENT OF HIMSELF ET AL. AS CHOCTAW INDIANS. * Comes now Lou Tipton and shows that she is 20 years of age, and that she lives at 705 South Eighth Street, Muskogee, Okla. That she is a Choctaw Indian by birth, by blood, by descent, by residence, and by r(>cognition, as is shown by the petition of John Harrison, her uncle, made in her behalf, to which this petition is attached and made a jiart. That she has read over said petition and knows the contents thereof, and that Ihe matters and things therein contained with reference to her relationship and residence and the relationship and residence of all the other parties named therein she knows to be true of her own knowledge; that the matters and things therein contained with reference to the ancestors of her said father she has always been taught were true; that she has also been told that they were true by reliable persons that were personally acquainted with the parties and knew the facts; and that she believes them to be true, and so charges the fact to be. Petitioner furtlun- shows that .she has been a minor during all the enrolling period of her said tribe ever since she was born, and that the rolls thereof were closed by the operation of law long prior to her reaching her majority. INDIAN APPEOPRIATION BILL. 379 That HO proper application \\as made for her in due time and that on account of her minority slie was precluded from acting; that she now comes and claims the right due to all mipors after they reach iheir majority to recover what she was deprived of on account of her minority. That her name appears in the said petition of her said uncle at her request, and that she hereby ratifies and confirms the same and joins in the prayer thereto appended. Lou Tipton (her thumb print). The name of Lou Tipton was written by me at her request and in her pres- ence and mark made by her in my presence. Julius Golden, Witness to Mark. Attest : M. M. LiNDLY, Witness to Mark. State of Oklahoma, j\[uskogce Comity, ss: Subscribed and sworn to before me this tlie 25th day of March, 19L5. I further cei-tify that I read over the above petition to the affiant and that she knows the contents thereof and that she stated that same was true, and that she was the identical person named therein as petitioner. Julius Golden, Notary Fublie. My commission expires ,Tune 2, 1917. SUPPLEMENTAL PETITION OF FANNIE HATCHER IN SUPPORT OF THE PETITION OF JOHN HARRISON FOR THE ENROLLMENT OF HIMSELF ET AL. AS CHOCTAW INDIANS. Comes now Fannie Hatcher and shows that she is 18 years of age and that she lives at No. 8I82 South Second, Muskogee, Okla. That she is a Choctaw Indian by birth, by blood, by descent, by residence, and by recognition, as is shown by the petition of John Harrison, her uncle, made in her behalf, to wliich this petition is attached and made a part. That she has read over said petition and knows the contents thereof, and that the matters and things therein contained with reference to her relationship and residence and the relationship and residence of all the other parties named therein she knows to be true of her own knowledge ; that the matters and things therein contained with reference to the ancestors of her said parents she has always been taught were true ; that she has also been told that they were true by reliable persons that were well and personally acquainted with the parties and knew the facts, and that she believes them to be and so charges the fact to be. Petitioner further shows that during the entire enrolling period of her said tribe, since she was born, she was a minor ; that she has just reached her majority, and that the rolls have long since been closed by operation of law ; that at the time of the passing of said law this applicant w^as old enough to have been enrolled and allotted, but that no proper petition was made for her in time by her said father; that her said tribe never enrolled her. and the Dawes Commission likewise left her off the rolls, and having readier her majority she now asks to be restored to the property that she was deprived of while she was a minor. That her name appears in the said petition of her said uncle at her request, and that she iiereby ratifies and confirms the same and joins in the prayer thereto appended. Fannie Hatcher. State of Oklahoma, Muskogee County, ss: Sub.scribed and sworn tT. Sloan Harrison et al. Consolidated case. W. J. Sloan Harrison, full blood; wife, Lydia Harrison, negress. Second mar- riage to one Sanders. M. C. R. 2257. W. J. Sloan Harrison, 65, I & Negro ; wife, Mahala Harri- son, part Indian, Negro, & white. Claims for wife. M. C. R. 3832. Joe Harrison, 37, I Negro; wife, Beulah Harrison, negress. M. C. R. 8832. Maggie Dell Harrison, 1. M. C. R. 3833. Lydia Harrison, 35, h uegress, mar. Sam. Williams, Negro. M. C. R. 3833. Johnson Williams, 20. M. C. R. 3833. Jesse Williams, 13. M. C. R. 3833. Hattie AVilliams, 11. M. C. R. 3833. Finey Williams, 10.' M. C. R. 3S33. Roxana Williams. 8. M. C. R. 3833. Rosie Williams, 7. M. C. R. 3833. Sloan H. Williams, 4. M. C. R. 3833. Mamie Williams, 2. M. C. R. 3834. Annie Harrison, 34. i, negress, mar. Jim Ruth, Negro. M. C. R. 8834. Louisa Ruth, 17. M. C. R. 3884. Ella Ruth, 16. M. C. R. 3834. James Ruth, 14. M. C. R. 38.34. Angie Ruth. 12. M. C. R. 3834. Viola Ruth, 11. M. C. R. 3834. George Ruth, 8. M. C. R. 3884. Louisiana Ruth, 6. M. C. R. 3834. Haley Ruth, 3. M. C. R. 3834. John Ruth, 1. INDIAN APPKOPRTATION BILL. 39-1 M. C. K. 3835. Louisa Harrison. 28, i, uiar. Henry Hatcher, dead, Negro. M. C. R. 3835. Finey Hatcher, 6. M, C. R. 3835. Ada Hatcher, 4. M. C. R. 3835. Mandy Hatcher, 2. M. C. R. 4112. Sloan Harrison, 24, i; wife, Mollie Harrison, negress. M. C. R. 4112. Charlie Harrison, 4. M. C. R. 4112. Randy Harrison, 2. M. C. R. 4137. Ella Harrison. 24. i, mar. Will Hatcher, -Negro. M. C. R. 4137. Lula Hatcher, 5. M. C. R. 4137. Mollie Hatcher, 4. M. C. R. 4137. Dollie Hatcher, 2. M. C. R. 4137. Myrtle Hatcher, 9 mo. M. C. R. 413S. John Harrison, 23, i, Negro; wife, Lanra Harrison, M. C. R. 4138. Henry Harrison, 6 mo. Exhibit E. Department of the Interior, Commission to the Five Civilized Tribes, Atoka, Ind. T., May 23, 1901. In the matter of the application of Sloan Harrison for identification as a Mississippi Choctaw and for his wife as an intermarried Mississippi Choctaw. SLOAN HARRISON, having heen first duly sworn, testifies as follows: Examination by the Commission : Q. What is your name? — A. Sloan Harrison. Q. What is your age? — A. Sixty-five. Q. What is your post-ofiice address?— A. Cale, Ind. T. (Now Sterrett.) Q. How long have you lived there? — A. Twenty-one years and more. Q. Where did you live before that?— A. I came to the Territory from Texas. Q. What part of Texas? — A. Grimes County, Tex. Q. How long did you live in Texas? — A. I don't l^now; long time — ever since I came south from Alabama — can't tell how many years. Q. Where did you live before you came to Texas? — A. Mississippi and Ala- bama ; they both ad.ioin, you know. Q. Which one? — A. Alabama. Q. Were you born in Alabama? — A. Yes; bred and born there. Q. Lived there until you came to Texas? — A. Yes. Q. And from Texas you came to the Indian Territory? — A. Yes. Q. What is your father's name? — A. Sloan Harrison. Q. Is he living? — A. He is dead. Q. What is your mother's name? — A. Lydie Sanders. Q. Is she living?— A. Yes. Q. Through which one of your [tai-enls do you derive your Choctaw blood? — A. I .iust claim I am a Choctaw. Q. Was your father or your luother a Choctaw? — A. INIy father; my mother was not a Choctaw Indian. Q. How much Choctaw l)l««nd do you claim?— A. I claim the full riglit from liim. Q. Was he a full-bh.od?— A. Yes. Q. How much would that make you?— A. That would be one-half, wouldn't it? Q. What was your mother? — A. She was colored. Q. AVas she ever a slave? — .V. Yes. Q. Has your father, through whom you claim your i-ight to identification as a Mississippi Clioctaw, ever been recognized in any manner or enrolled as a member of the Choctaw Tribe of Indians by either the Choctaw tribal authori- ties or the authorities of the United States?— A. I don't know, you know. Q. He never was enrolled in Ihe Indian Territory?— A. No; he died back thei'e in their country. Q. Are you married? — .V. Me — yes. Q. What is vour wife's name?— A. :Mah!ila Harrison. 392 INDIAN APPEOPEIATION BILL. Q. Do you mtike any claim for her? — A. Yes. Q. How do you claim for her — is she Indian? — A. Her mother was Indian herself and grandmother. Q. Were they Choctaws? — ^A. I don't know whether they were Choctaws or Chickasaws, their part ; I know my part is Choctaw. Q. You claim for her, then, because she married you? — A. Yes. Q. AVhen were you married to Mahala Harrison? — A. I forget how many years I have been married now. Q. Can't you tell about how many years? — A. Yes; about 40 years old. Yes, mayl)e more, I recollect it's so far back, Q. Were you married before the war? — A. Yes, then, before the war. Q. What was your wife's age? — A. About 45; I am uneducated; don't know exactly. Q. What was her father's name? — A. George Walker. Q. Is he living?— A. Dead. Q. What was her mother's name? — A. Jane Walker. Q. Is she living? — A. She is dead. Q. Is your wife a white woman? — A. No; she is colored. Q. She makes no claim to Indian blood? — A. Only by her mother. Q. What was her mother? — A. Indian; her mother and grandmother, both. Q. What kind of Indian did they claim to be? — A. They know more than I do, both ; she aint putting in any claim. Q. What Indian blood does your wife claim to have? — A. I don't know whether it is Choctaw or Chickasaw. Q. Her mother, then, was one or the other, and you don't know which? — A. No. Q. Have you any children in your family under 21 years of age and un- married for whom you desire to make application now? — A. No, all mine are married. Q. You are making this application for yourself alone? — A. Yes; for me and my wife and my children. Q. You are making this just for yourself and wife? — A. Yes. Q. Did you obtain a license to marry? — A. Yes. Q. Were you married by an ordained minister or by an official authorized to perform the marriage ceremony? — A. By a minister. Q. Have you your marriage license and certificate, and do you desire to offer same in evidence? — A. They are recorded in the courthouse. It will be necessary for the commission to be supplied with evidence of your marriage with Mahala Harrison in support of your claim for her. Q. Is your name on any of the tribal rolls of the Choctaw Nation in the Indian Territory? — A. I don't know. Q. Have you ever made application to the Choctaw tribal authorities in the Indian Territory to be enrolled as a member of that tribe? — A. I have been down there with them — never got to them — stayed in Durant four days. Q. You are talking about the commission now? — A. Yes. Q. Have you ever made application to the Choctaw tribal authorities? — A. No. Q. Did you, or any one for you, in 1896, make application to the Commission to the Five Civilized Tribes for citizenship in the Choctaw Nation, under the act of Congress of June 10, 1896? — A. I don't know anything about that. Q. That was about five years ago; did you make application then? — A. Well, that's the time — no it's not at Durant — that is all i know; this one at Durant. Q. But you did not make application in 1896? — A. No; you see I am unedu- cated. Q. Have you ever been admitted to citizenship in the Choctah Nation by the Chocktaw tribal authorities, the Commission to the Five Civilized Tribes, or by judgment of the United States Court in Indian Territory? — A. No, I aint been before them to have anything carried on like that. Q. Have you ever made application prior to this time to either the Choctaw tribal authorities or the authorities of the United States to be admitted or en- rolled as a citizen of the Choctaw Nation? — A. No, I never. Q. Is this the first application you have made of any description? — A. Yes; I have tried before, you know, but it aint done any good. Q. When you say that you were before the connuissioner with the commission at Durant, do you mean that you were just up there and listening, or do you mean that yo\i were sworn and examined and a record made of it? — A. I aint been sworn, but I just asked questions and wanted to find out. INDIAN APPEOPEIATION BILL. 393 Q. You never were sworn and put on the stand and asked questions like now? — A. No. Q. Is it now your purpose to make application for identification as a Missis- sippi Choctaw? — A. Yes. Q. Do you claim your rights as beneficiaries under the fourteenth article of the treaty of 1830?— A. I dou"t know that 1430. Q. Article 14 of the treaty of 1830 is as follows : " Each Choctaw head of a family being desirous to remain and become a citizen of the United States shall be permitted to do so by signifying his intention to the agent within six months from the ratification of this treaty, and he or she shall thereupon be entitled to a reservation of one section of six hundred and forty acres of land, to be bounded by sectional lines of survey ; in like manner shall be entitled to one- half that quantity for each unmarried child which is living with him over ten years of age, and a quarter section of land to such child as may be under ten years, to adjoin the location of the parent. If they reside upon said lands intending to become citizens of the States for five years after the ratifica- tion of this treaty, in that case a grant in fee simple shall issue. Said reser- vation shall include the present improvement of the head of the family or a portion of it. Persons claiming under this article shall not lose the privilege of a Choctaw citizen, but, if they ever remove are not to be entitled to any portion of the Choctaw annuity." Do you claim under that article of that treaty? — A. Yes, I claim it. Q. Have you ever received any benefits as a Choctaw Indian? — A. No; just been working like the rest of them. Q. Do you know what benefits means? — A. I suppose you mean owning this land and using it. Q. Or moneys? — A. No. I haven't got any money. Q. Nor land?— A. No. Q. Are you living on land in the Territory now? — A. Yes. Q. How much land do you claim? — A. Where I am I am claiming 160 acres. Q. Have any of your ancestors ever received any benefits as Choctaw In- dians?— A. No. Q. What was the name of your ancestor or ancestors who, your fore-parents, your father or mother, grandfather or grandmother, who were residents of the old Choctaw Nation in IMississippi or Alabama and i*ecognized members of the Choctaw Tribe of Indians in 1830 when the treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek was entered into between the United States and the Choctaw Tribe of Indians? — A. I reckon at that time I was too young to know anything about it. Q. Well, was your father living in Mississippi or Alabama at that time? — A. Yes, I reckon that is where he died. Q. Well, was he living there in 1830? — A. I don't know what number that was neither. Q. Well, that is a little over 70 years ago? — A. I don't know. Q. Did you ever hear that your father was living in Mississippi five years before you were born? — A. He was living there then; my mother told me so; she knows about that. Q. Have you any evidence showing that such ancestor was a recognized member of the Choctaw tribe of Indians at that time — that is, have you any evidence to prove that your fatlier was a Choctaw Indian and known as such by the Choctaw Indians themselves in Mississippi? — A. I know plenty of them but I can't find them. Q. Did your father, if a Cboctaw Indian, remove from the territory occupied by the old Choctaw Nation in Mississippi or Alabama to the present Choctaw Nation in Indian Territory, at the time of the removal of the otlier members of the Choctaw tril)e. from 1833 to 1938? — A. I guess he was dead then. Q. He did not come West? — A. No; he died there. Q. If he did not reiuove wltli the other members of the tribe, did he, within six months after the ratification of the treaty of 1830, signify to the United States agent to the Clioctaw Tribe of Indians in Mississippi, his intention to remain in Mississippi and become a citizen of the United States? — A. I didn't know tliat there was anytliing of this kind in them days, you know. Q. Did he go to tiu? Indian agent in Mississippi, Col. Ward, and Icll him tliat he intended to stay there, and take land and become a citizen of the United States? — A. I don't know anytliing aitont that. Q. Did any of your ancestors ever claim or receive any land in Mississippi as beneficiaries under the fourteenth article of tlie treaty of 1830? — A. If I 394 INDIAN APPROPRIATION BILL. li!iv»' land by my Dafldy's side? I know lio got land there; my father was; he is dead, but he got land there. Q. Did he get it from the Government? — A. He got it like tlie balance; don't know whether he got it that way. Q. Who owns the land now that he used to have in Mississippi? — A. I reckon it is tliere now. Q. Are there any additional statements that yon desire to make now in sup- port of this application; that is, is there anything more that you want to say? — A. I claim that I have a riglit to get land if it is respected. Q. Have you any documentary evidence, aftidavits, written evidence of any description, copies of records, deeds of i)atents, or any proper papers showing that any of your ancestors were recognized members of tlie Choctaw Tribe of Indians in Mississippi in 1830, or tliat they ever complied or attempted to comply with the provisions of the fourteentli article of the treaty of 1830, or that they ever received any benefits under that article of that treaty? — A. That is sometliing I don't get on to. Q. Are there any papers that you want to offer now to the conunission to file in support your application? — A. Yes. Petition of W. J. Sloan Harrison offered in evidence by applicant, marked " Exhibit A." filed and made a part of the record in this case ; affidavit of Joseph Davis, offered in evidence, marked " Exhibit B," filed and made a part of the records in this case ; affidavit of Lydia Sanders offered in evidence by applicant, marked " Exhibit G," filed and made a part of tlie records in this case. Q. Do you want more time to file additional evidence? — A. Yes. (Thirty days' time is allowed applicant in which to file any more additional evidence in support of his application.) The decision of the commission as to your application for identification as a Mississippi Choctaw, and for your wife as an intermarried Mississippi Choctaw, will be determined at the earliest possible date, and report of same made to the Secretary of the Interior, conformable to the provisions of the twenty-first section of the act of Congress of June 28. 1898, and a copy of the same will be mailed to you at your post-office address as given by you in your testimony. This applicant has slight apfiearance of being Indian; is dark skinned; has high cheek bones, straight nose, but his hair is slightly curly at the ends. Henry G. Hains, being duly sworn, on his oath states that as stenographer to the Conuuission to tlie Five Civilized Tribes he reported in full all proceed- ings had in the above-entitled cause on May 22, 1901, and tliat the above and foregoing is a full, true, and correct transcript of his stenographic notes in said cause on said date. [SEAL.] Henry G. Hains. Subscribed and sworn to before me this lutli day of July, 1901. (Signed) D. H. Linebaugh, Notari/ Public. Exhibit P. Department of the Interior, Office of Superintendent, Five Civilized Trihes, iluskofjcc, Okla., Auf/ust 10, 1915. Ill the matter of tlie application for the enrollment of John Harrison as a citizen l)y blood of the (Choctaw Nation. J(tlIX ilAUHISON, iH'ing first duly sworn by William L. Bowie, Deputy Clerk of the United States Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, on oath testified as follows : Examination Iiy William I-. Howie on helialf of tiie SnjH'rintendent for the Five Civilized Tribes : Q. State your name. — A. John HarrisoiL Q. State "your age.— A. 37. Q. Where do you live? — A. Live in the Cherokee Nation, Keefeton. Q. How far from Keefeton? — A. One and one-lialf miles. Q. AVhat is your occupation? — A. Farming. INDIAN APPROPRIATION BILL, 395 Q. You have made application for enrollment as an Indian citizen? — A. Yes, sir. Q. Before whom did you make this application? — A. I have forgotten the man's name; I can't call his name. His office is down on the second floor, though. Q. Do you remember the number of the office? — A. No, sir; I don't. Q. Is there more than one person engaged in that business? — A. No, sir; there was just one. Q. A wliite man? — A. Yes, sir. Q. What is the occupation of that man? — A. I don't know, sir; the only thing I seen him doing was taking applications. Q. Applications for enrollment? — A. Yes, sir. Q. Do you know whether his name was Lindly? — A. I think that is his name. Q. How did you happen to go to Mr. Lindly's office to make application for enrollment? — A. I just heard of him being here for that purpose from other people, so I just went. Q. What was told you exactly about his business? — A. AVell, I don't know, sir ; I can't tell you. Q. ^■\'ere you told that he was in the Government service? — A. I don't know whether he was in the Government service or not. Q. What was your belief about it when you went to him ; did you go to him Tinder the impression that he was a Government man? — A. Yes, sir; I think that is what I understood. Q. You understood that before you went to him? — A. Yes, sir. Q. Did he give you to understand that he was in the Government service? — A. I never asked him. Q. Did he say anything to yoii that led you to believe that he was in the Government service*/ — A. He asked me after I made my statement to him if I had witnesses. Q. What did you tell him?— A. I told him I had. Q. What witnesses did you tell him you had? — A. Alec Nail. Q. Anyone else? — A. Him and his brother. Q. What is his brother's name? — A. Peter Nail. Q. AVhere does Peter live? — A. At Wagoner. Q. Did you talk with Alec Nail before you .saw Mr. T.,indly? — A. Why, no, sir; I didn't have no talk with him until I came up here. Q. You saw Mr. I.indly first before you talked with Alec Nail? — A. I saw Alec Nail in the office up here. Q. Did you talk with Mr. Lindly before you talked with Alec Nail; answer yes or no? — A. Let me see; I want to tell the truth about it. Yes, sir. Q. You talked with Alec first?— A. I talked with Lindly first. Q. Well, how did you come to tell him that you had Alec for a witness? — A. I knew that he knew my father. Q. Had you seen Alec Nail ; how did you know he was here? — A. You mean here in town? Q. Yes. — A. I didn't know he was in town at the time until I sent after Peter. Q. Did you talk with I'eter before you talked to :Mr. Lindly? — A. No, sir; I sent up for him. Q. AVho told .you Peter was in Wagoner? — -A. I knew lie was there: I had been in Wagoner. Q. Did you talk with him any before you talked with Mr. Lindly? — A. No, sir. Q. What did Mr. Lindly tell you he would charge you for i)Utting in this application for you? — A. He didn't say he would charge anything. Q. Did he say there would be no cost connected with it? — A. He said I would liave to pay all the notary fees and the witness fees. Q. What did he say tlie notary and witness fees would amount to? — A. He didn't say, but I knew what I would pay. Q. Did he send you to some one else after you talked with him? — A. No, sir. Q. Did he take yoiu* testimony himself? — A. Yes, sir. Q. You did not talk with a colored man named Nelson Durant? — A. No, sir; he was not in when I put in my application. I don't know him. Q. All the conversation you had, then, in this office about this matter was with Mr. Lindly?— A. Yes, sir. Q. How nmch did you pay your witnesses? — A. I paid them $1 a day. Q. How many days did it take? — A. He was up here two days before they came to my case. 396 INDIAN APPROPRIATION BILL. Q. What one was that? — A. Alec and Peter both. Q. You gave them $1 a day each? — A. Each; yes, sii'. Q. So that was $4 for two days?^A. Yes, sir. Q. How much did the notary public charge you? — A. Fifty cents. Q. Fifty cents a piece for your papers? — A. I paid him 50 cents. Q. For all the work that he did? — A. No, sir; for mine. Q. For your application? — A. Yes, sir. Q. What did you pay him for executing this affidavit? — A. Fifty cents a piece, I believe. Q. How much did you pay him altogether? — A. $1.50, I think. Q. Two affidavits?— A. Three. Q. Did some of your sisters come up here and make affidavit? — A. Yes, sir. Q. Were you present when they were here? — A. No, sir. Q. You do not know how much they paid? — A. No, sir; I don't know. They didn't tell me. Q. Did you promise to pay anything more if your application went through all right? — A. l''es, sir; I promised to pay them for the expense. Q. How much? — A. I thing I promised to pay them $100. Q. Who did you promise to pay this to? — A. Alec and Peter Nail. Q. Did Mr. Lindly exact any promise from you of that nature? — A. No, sir. Q. Well why did you think you had to pay Alec and Peter Nail such an amount of money for their work? — A. I jest agreed to give them that for their trouble. Q. Did you not pay them for their trouble? — A. I paid them $1 a day. Q. Did they do anything except act as your witnesses? — A. No, sir. Q. Why did you think you had to pay them more? — A. I thought they de- served it. Q. Why did you think they deserved $50.00 apiece? — A. Because they were old men. Q. You do not mean to say that you intend to give $50.00 to all the old men ? — A. No, sir ; Mr. Nail is old and feeble and he deserved something. Q. What was the name of your father? — A. Sloan Harrison. Q. The name of your mother? — A. Mahala Harrison. Q. What Indian blood do you claim to be? — A. One-fourth. Q. What tribe?— A. Choctaw. Q. From which side do you get your Indian blood? — A. From my father. Q. Is all your Indian blood from your father's side? — A. Yes, sir. Q. What degree of blood was your father? — A. He was said to be one-half blood. Q. From whom did he obtain this blood, from his father or mother? — A. His father. Q. Of what degree of blood was his father? — A. He was said to be a full blood. Q. That is your grandfather on your father's side? — A. Yes, sir. Q. What was his name?— A. Well, I don't know. They say my father was named after him, Sloan Harrison. Q. You think it is the same name? — A. Yes, sir. Q. Of what blood was your mother? — A. She was colored. Q. Altogether colored? — A. I guess so, I don't know. Q. Do you know of what blood your father's mother was, your grandmother on your father's side? — A. No, sir. Q. You do not know whether she was of negro blood? — A. No, sir; I don't know. I don't know whether she had negro at all or not. Q. Did your father have any brothers?— A. He was supposed to have from what I have always been taught. Q. Give the names of your father's brothers?— A. Half brothers is all. Q. Do you know their names? — A. I think one was Robert. Q. Robert Harrison?— A. Yes, sir; and William. Q. Is that all? — A. I don't know whether that is all or not. Q. Were they your father's full brothers?— A. No, sir; half brothers. Q. Different mother? — A. Yes, sir. Q. Of what blood was the mother of those two boys, do you know? — A. No, sir^ I don't; I don't know any thing about them. Q. Did vour father have any sisters? — A. I don't know, sir. Q. Was'your father enrolled as a citizen of the Choctaw Nation?— A. I don't know whether he was or not, he used to own land down there before allotment. Q. When did he die?— A. 1912. INDIAN APPEOPRIATION BILL. 397 Q. After allotment? — A. Yes, sir. Q. Never received an allotment of land? — A, No, sir. Q. Your mother was not a freed woman? — A. No, sir; I don't think she was. Q. She never received an allotment? — A. No, sir; not that I know of. Q. Was your father's father enrolled as a member of any of the tribes? — A. I don't know, sir ; I couldn't tell you that. Q. Do you know whether your father's half brothers that you have named were enrolled or not? — A. No, sir; I don't think so. Q. Now name your sisters? — A. Fannie Williams, Anna Ruth, Mollie Jones, Ella Hatcher, and Minnie Bowie. Q. Is that all?— A. Yes, sir. Q. Are all those sisters living? — A. Yes, sir; I guess so. Q. Name your living brothers. — A. Joe Harrison, Solan Harrison, and John Harrison. Q. Have you any sisters dead? — A. No, sir. Q. Any brothers dead? — A. Well, I have one brother that is dead, but he died when he was little. Q. What is his name? — A. I think they called him Marster. Q. Are all these sisters full sisters? — A. Yes, sir. Q. Are your brothers full brothers? — A. Yes, sir. Q. Was your father married more than one time? — A. No, sir. Q. When did your mother die? — A. She died in 1908. Q. Did you father and mother live together up until their death? — A. Yes, sir. Q. Do you Ivuow when they were married? — A. No, sir. Q. Do you know whether ,they were married by ceremony ? — A. No, sir ; I couldn't tell you. Q. Do you know whether your father applied for an allotment ? — A. Yes, sir ; I tliink he did. Q. Before the Dawes Commission? — A. Yes, sir. Q. What do you know about that exactly ?^A. I don't know; I couldn't tell you anything about it. Q. Did you ever look it up or have it looked up? — A. We got his application up in the office. Q. You have it? — A. No, sir; I haven't got it. Q. Well, the question I asked was. Did you ever look it up? Did you ever see these papers or have them examined to find out what action was taken concerning his application? — A. No, sir. Q. Was not this application of his rejected by the Dawes Commission? — A. I think it was ; I am not sure. Q. Do you know upon what grounds that application was rejected? — A. No, sir. Q. Was your father ever a recognized citizen of the Choctaw Nation? — A. Yes, sir ; he used to be down there. Q. He was? — ^A. Yes, sir. Q. Who was he recognized by? Was he ever on any of the rolls of the Choc- taw Nation? — A. Not that I know of; I couldn't tell you. Q. What makes you think he was a recognized citizen? — A. Thei*e are lots of the old ones down there that say he was a Choctaw. Q. Did he vote as a citizen of the Choctaw Nation? — A. I don't know, sir; I suppose he did. Q. You don't know? — ^A. No, sir. Q. You do not know whether he enjoyed any other rights in the Choctaw Nation ? — A. No, sir ; I don't know. Q. Where were you born? — A. I was born in the Choctaw Nation. Q. Where exactly? — A. Close to Carriage Point. Q. Where is that close to? — A. Four miles southwest of Dewey. Q. Were you raised there? — A. Yes, sir. Q. How old were you when you left that vicinity? — A. When I left that part of the country down there? Q. Yes.— A. I left there in 1908. Q. Had you ever moved away from there prior to 1908 ? — A. Yes, sir ; I have traveled around. Q. How long did you remain away on these travels? — A. Sometimes 2 or 3 months. Q. Sometimes 2 or 3 years? — A. No, sir. Q. Ever stay away as long as a year? — A. No, sir. 398 INDIAN APPROPRIATION BILL. Q. Where did you go? — A. Up in Kansas, St. Louis, and Kansas City. Q. What did you do in Kansas City and St. Louis? — A. Worked. Q. At what occupation? — A. I worljed for the Wabash. Q. When was this? — A. That's been since I have been up here. Q. I mean when you were in the Choctaw Nation? — A. I was not up there Avhen I was down there. Q. Do you know where your father was born? — A. He was born in Mississippi. Q. Do you know when lie came to tliis country? — A No sir, I don't. Q. When he left Mississippi where did he go? — A. Came to the Indian Terri- tory, I suppose. Q. What Nation?— A. Choctaw. Q. Have you any understanding upon the subject as to when he left Missis- sippi? — A. I don't think I can say. Q. When he applied for enrollment did he apply as a Mississippi Choctaw? — A. I can't tell you. Q. You do not know whether he applied for enrollment as a Mississippi Choctaw or not? — A. No, sir. Q. Are you married? — A. Yes, sir. Q. When were you married and to whom? — A. I married in 1901. Q. What is the name of your wife? — A. Laura, used to be Laura Robbins. Q. Where were you married? — A. On Blue. Q. In 1901?— A. Yes, sir. Q. Where is Blue located? — A. North of Durant. Q. In the Choctaw Nation? — A. Yes, sir. Q. Were you married by ceremony? — A. Yes, sir, license. Q. Of what blood is your wife? — A. She is colored. Q. What is her color? — A. She is brown skin, near my color. Q. Have you ever been to school? — A. No, sir. Q. Can you write your name?^A. Yes, sir. Q. Where did you learn to write your name? — A. Just doing it by practice. Q. You have always passed as a colored man, lived around colored people? — A. Well, I used to be classed as a half blood. Q. That is what you call your.self you mean? — A. Yes, sir. (}. But you have always lived with colored people? — A. Yes, sir; after the country got settled up. Q. How many brothers did you say your father had? — A. Two is all that I know. Q. Name those brothers again. — A. Robert and William. I don't know for certain only what I have been taught. Q. Do you know whether your father had any other name than Sloan? — A. Why yes, sir ; lots of times they called him Henry but that was just a given name. Q. What name was he commonly Ivuown by, Henry? — A. Yes, sir. Q. Generally called Henry? — A. Sometimes he was called Henry. Q. You say he had a half brother named William? — A. Yes, sir. Q. Same mother and same father? — A. I don't know; I suppose same fatlier. Q. Did you ever know William? — A. No, sir. Q. Ever see him? — A. If I did I don't know it. Q. How about Robert? — A. I don't know him. Q. You do not know then whether William or Robert is living? — A. No, sir; I don't. Q. You say you do not know whether they were enrolled? — A. No, sir; I don't know. Q. In this application that you made before INIr. Lindly, sworn to before Julius Golden, I will ask you to identify your signature as it appears there attached to the affidivit? — A. Yes, sir. Q. In this application you state that your father had a l)rother named Wil- liam H. Harrison, whose name appears on the approved roll opposite No. 7663; how about this statement ; do you know as a matter of fact whether the person who is enrolled opposite this number, 7663. under the name of William H. Har- rison, is a brother of your father? — A. Only what I have been told. Q. Who told you that this person on the roll at No. 7663 is a brother of your father? — A. I don't know any thing about the number, I didn't testify to that. Q. You did not understand, then, that you were testifying that the person borne on the rolls under this number was your father's brother; you do not know that to be a fact? — A. No, sir; I don't know. INDIAN APPEOPRIATION BILL. 399 Q. You do not know that a person borne on the rolls of citizens by blood of the Choctaw Nation opposite No. 32175, under the name of Robert Harrison, Is a brother of your father? — A. No sir, I don't laiow. Q. Who identitied these persons on the rolls? Who found these names on the rolls, did Lindly look tliem ui>? — A. I don't know whether he did or not. Q. Who wrote this affidavit? — A. ]Mr. Lindly wrote it off. Q. Did he look these roll numbers up? — A. Not that I know of. Q. Who did? — A. I don't know, sir. Q. You do not know? — A. No. sir, I don't. Q. How long have you known Pgter Nail? — A. I have been knowing Peter Nail Q. When did you first meet him personally? — A. Been about 4 years ago when I met him i^ersonally. Q. Where did you first meet liim? — A. At Wagoner. Q. That is since you have lived up here in this country? — A. Yes sir, I got acquainted with Alec at Durant. Q. When was it that you first met Alec? — A. I can't tell you what year that was, it was several years ago. Q. You are po.sitive you met him at Durant? — ^A. Yes sir. Q. Just met him one time?— A. No sir, I have met him more than one time at Durant. Q. Where did Alec Nail live when you met him in Durant? — A. Around Durant. Q. As a matter of fact I think he testified that he had been living around Boggy Depot. — ^A. Yes sir, that is where he used to live when he came down to my father's farm. Q. Where was your father's farm? — A, Right on the line of the Choctaw and Chickasaw Nation. Q. Exactly how far from the nearest railroad station? — A. The nearest rail- road station was close to Kay. Q. Kay is the station below Durant. — A. Yes sir. 5 miles below Durant. Q. Who did your father rent from? — A. He didn't rent from anyone at the time. Q. What place did he live on? — A. He lived on a place of his own, he called it his own. Q. That was before allotment? — A. Yes sir. Q. You were an applicant for enrollment before the Dawes Commission be- fore the rolls were closed? — A. Yes sir. Q. Were you denied the right to enrollment as a citizen of the Choctaw Nation? — A. We just came here at Muskogee before the Dawes Commission and gave in our names. Q. I asked you if you were denied enrollment, were you enrolled or refused enrollment? — A. Refused. Q. Why? — A. I don't know. I can't tell you that part of it, I don't know. Q. Did you tell Mr. Lindly that j^ou were refused enrollment"? — A. Yes sir, I did. Q. Did you tell Mr. Lindly why you were refused enrollment? — A. No sir, I don't think I did. Q. Did you tell Mr. Lindly that all the decision you received from the Dawes Commission was the "too late" decision? — A. I don't remember. Q. You did not tell Mr. Lindly that? — A. I don't remember. Q. Would you tell Mr. Lindly some thing that was not true? — A. No sir. Q. Well it is not true, is it? — A. I don't know. Q. You just slated to me that you did not know why you were refused enrollment? — A. No sir, I don't know. Q. You do not mean to state now that you were refused because you were too late? — A. No sir, I don't know. Q. Did you ever receive a copy of the decision of the Dawes Commission? — A. No sir. Q. Rejecting the enrollment of your father? — A. Not mvself but my father did I think. Q. Did you see a copy of that decision? — A. No sir. Q. Do you know if the Connnissioner to the Five Civilized Tribes rendered a decision upon your father's aiiplication for enrollment, diited July 22, 1002, rejecting his application? — A. No sir, not that I know of. Q. Did your father ever apply for enrollment as a freedman? — A. No sir. I don't think he did. 400 INDIAN APPEOPEIATION BILL. Q. Do you know whether he was ever advised to apply for enrolliiiciit :is a freedmaii? — A. I think he was, I heard him say he was. Q. Do you know whether he had any rights as a freedman? — A. No sir. lie says that he didn't, he never was a freedman. Q. Do you know how old a man your father was when he diedV — A. I tliinU he was 78 or 79. Q. Was he a slave?— A. He says he was not. Q. Was your mother a slave? — A. I don't know whether she was or not, I don't remember anything about it. Q. Was your mother a State woman? — A Yes sir. (Witness excused.) Lee G. Grubbs, being first duly sworn, on oath states that he reported the proceedings in the above-entitled case on August 10. 1915. and that the above and foregoing is a true and correct transcript of his stenographic notes taken thereof. Lee G. Grubbs. Subscribed and sworn to before me this 21st day of August, 1915. [seal.] R. p. Harrison, Clerk. By A. G. McMillan, Deputy. PETITION NO. 6. Statement of P. J. Hurley, Attorney for the Choctaw Nation, In re petition of Malissa Marcy, nee Carroll, nee Birdsonff, for the enrollment of herself and family as citizens by blood of the Choc- taw Nation. petition of malissa marcy, N]6e CARROLL, N6e BIRDSONG, FOR THE ENROLLMENT OF HERSELF AND FAMILY AS CHOCTAW INDIANS BY BLOOD. Comes now Malissa Marcy, n6e Caroll, nee Birdsong, and shows that she is 47 years of age and that she lives at Boley. Okla. That she is a Choctaw Indian by birth, by blood, by descent, residence, and by recognition; that she is the daughter Adaline Birdsong, nge Sanders, who was about three-quarters Choctaw Indian by blood. That the father was a half-blood Choctaw, but was placed on the Freedman roll over his protest; his name was Willie Birdsong, That she was born in the Choctaw Nation near the Old Harris Ferry and grew up in the Choctaw Nation ; that on the 2.3d day of December, 1SS5, she married Tony Carroll, who lived across the river in Texas, and that he took her over into Texas and that she lived for the next 11 years on both sides of the river, part of the time in Texas and part of the time in the Nation. Then we moved to Lake West, in the Choctaw, and lived there for about 6 years; since which date I have lived at different places both in and out of the Choctaw Nation. That there was born to this union the following named children : Joda Carroll, aged 29 years, died March. 1910: Maggie Carroll, aged 27 years, died August 14, 3910; Delvan Carroll, aged 24 years, living; Effie Carroll, aged 23 years, living, now INIolton ; Willie May Carroll, aged 21 years, living ; Lillie Carroll, aged IS years, died September, 1910. That after the death of Tony Carroll, September, 1914, which was after they had been divorced, she married William Marcy, with whom she still lives; this was July 8, 1899. That there was born to this union one child, to wit, Devoy Marcy, aged 14 years. That, up till shortly before her marriage to William Marcy, she was still living in the Choctaw Nation; that is. applicant had no other home until after she married Marcy and took her to Texas and since that time she has lived at different places, mostly out of the Choctaw Nation. That during the time that I should have enrolled myself and family or looked after them, my family was sick and I could not go, and I .iust sent to the Dawes Commission a list of the children, their ages, and everything, and thought that that was sufficient; when I got able to go the roll was closed and commission never answered my letter. That this was all that she was able to do and all that she could do. INDIAN APPKOI'RIATION lill.l.. 401 Wherefore petitioner priiys that lier naiue, Malissa Marcy. and tlie names of her said chihlren, Joda, Maggie, Del van, Willie May, and Lillie Carroll and EfBe Molton, nee Carroll, and Devoy .Marcy be placed on the approved roll of Choctaw Indians by blood, and that to them and to each of them be given their distributive share of the common property of the Choctaw Tribe of Indians, the same as is given to all other such citizens so enrolled. Malissa Marcy. St.\te ok Oki.ahoaia, Muskoyec Counlij, -v*"." Malissa Marcy, being first duly sworn, on oath states that she is the above named Malissa Marcy ; that she has read over the above and foregoing petition and knows the contents thereof, and that the matters and things therein contained are true. Malissa Marcy, Subscribed and sworn to before me this the IGth day of March, 1915. I further certify that I read over the above petition to the affiant and that she knew the contents thereof and that she stated that same was true. [SEAL.] Julius Golden, Notary Puhlic. (My commission expires June 2, 1917.) AFFIDAVIT OK ALEC NALL IN SUPPORT OF THE PETITION OF MALISSA MARCY FOR THE ENROLLMENT OF HERSELF AND FAMILY AS CHOCTAW INDIANS BY BLOOD. Alec Nail, being first duly sworn, on oath states that he is 72 years of age and that his post office is Boggy Depot, Okla. That he knows the applicant, but that he has not known her very long; that he was well and personally acquainted with her father and mother. Her father was Willie Birdsong, a half-blood Choctaw Indian that was placed on the freedman roll over his protest ; that her mother was Adaline Sanders, before she married Willie Birdsong, and that she was a three-quarter Choctaw Indian by blood. That they both lived in what was old ScuUyville County, now Le Flore, near the line of Arkansas. That all of the Sanders were all recognized Choctaw Indians ; that William Sanders was the brother of her said mother, Adaline Birdsong, nee Sanders. That he does not know any of the applicant's family. Alec Nail (his thumb print). The name of Alec Nail was written by ine at his request and in his presence and mark made by him in ray presence. Julius Golden. State of Oklahoma, Muskogee County, ss. Subscribed and sworn to before me this the 16th day of March, 1915. I further certify that I read over the above affidavit to the affiant and that he knew the contents thereof and that he stated that same was true and that he was the identical person named therein as affiant. [seal.] Julius Golden, Notary Public. (My commission expires June 2, 1917.) affidavit of W. M. JAMES IN SUPPORT OF THE PETITION OF MALISSA MARCY FOR THE ENROLLMENT OF HERSELF AND FAMILY AS CHOCTAW INDIANS BY BLOOD. W. M. James, being first duly sworn, on oath states that he is 70 years of age and that he lives at Beeland, Okla. That he first knew the ai)pliems to be rendered more ridiculous when we take into consideration the fact that the sickness to which she refers did not prevent her from marrying her second husband during the j)eriod in which applications were being received. She swears that she was married during the year 1S99 to her present husband. The indications from the petitions and accompanying attidavits are that Mrs. Marcy was not a resident of the Choctaw Nation at the time the rolls were being' made, but we have not investigated to find whetlier she was or was not residing in the Choctaw Nation at the time of the passage of the act of June 28, 1898. If she was in the Choctaw Nation at that time, she did not make application, and the act of July 1, 1902 (32 Stat. L., 041), provides as follows: " During the 90 days first following the date of the final ratification of this agreement the commission to the Five Civilized Tribes may receive applications INDIAN APPEOPRIATION BILL. 403 for enrollment only of persons whose names are on the tribal rolls, but who have not heretofore been enrolled by said commission, connnonly known as " delinquents," and such intermarried white persons as may have married recognized citizens of the Choctaw and Chickasaw Nations in accordance with the tribal laws, customs, and usages on or before the date of the passage of this act by Congress, and such infant children as may have been born to recog- nized and enrolled citizens on or before the date of the final ratification of this agreement ; but the application of no person whomsoever for enrollment shall be received after the expiration of the said 90 days : Provided, That nothing in this section shall apply to any person or persons making application for enrollment as Mississippi Choctaws, for whom provision has herein otherwise been made." Even if these applicants had resided in the Choctaw Nation, and were pos- sessed of Indian blood, they would not, under this law, be now legally entitled lo enrollment, but the applicants are not Indians. They are, in fact, negroes. There is attjiched hereto, and marked " Exhibit A," a letter from Caesar F. Simmons, postmaster at Boley, Okla., where this claimant resides, saying that the applicant is colored. The town of Boley is populated exclusively by negroes. IMr. Ballinger and his associates have in this case, as in most of their citizenship cases, offered in support of the petition of this applicant the alfl- davit of Alec Nail, a professional citizenship witness. Nail is an old negro who signs by mark. His affidavit in support of this petition is as follows: "Alec Nail, being first duly sworn, on oath states that he is 72 years of age and that his post office is Boggy Depot, Okla. "That he knows the applicant but that he has not known her very long; that he was well and personally acquainted with her father and mother. " Her father was Willie Birdsong, a half-blood Choctaw Indian that was placed on the Freedman roll over his protest; that her mother was Adaline Sanders, before she married Willie Birdsong, and that she was a three-quarter Choctaw Indian by blood. " That they both lived in what was old Scullyville County, now Leflore, near the line of Arkansas. "That nil of the Sanders were all recognized Choctaw Indians; that William Sanders was the brother of her said mother, Adaline Birdsong u6e Sanders. " That he does not know any of the applicant's family. "Alec Nail (his thumb-print). '• State of Oklahoma, Muskogee County, ss. " Subscribed and sworn to before me this, the 16th day of March, 1915. I further certify that I read over the above affidavit to the affiant and that he knew the contents thereof, and that he stated that same was true, and that he was the identical person named therein as affiant. " My commission expires June 2, 1917. " The name of Alec Nail was written by me at his request and in his pres- ence, and mark made by him in my presence. " Julius Golden, " Witness to mark. "Attest. , " Witness to mark." On the .31st day of July, 1915, Alec Nail testified before an officer of the Interior Department as follows: "Do you know a person named Malissa Marcy, nge Carroll, nee Bird- song. — A. I don't know. " Q. There is an affidavit purported to have been made by you in which you are made to say that you were acquainted with this person; you say you do not remember such a person? — A. No, sir. " Q. You were made to state you were personally acquainted with her mother and father; that her father's name was Willie Birdsong. Do you recall a Willie Birdsong?— A. Yes, sir; I don't know him, but there has been a man up there that claims to be a Birdsong. " Q. You do not know that that person is the father of this applicant? — A. No, sir. " Q. You were made to state that her mother was Adaline Sanders; do you remember her? — A. It seems that some one was In that office by tlie name of Sanders. " Julius Golden. " Notart/ Puhlc. 404 INDIAN APPROPRIATION BILL. " Q. You iiu'iiu to say that Adaline Sanders, wlio iiiarrieil Willit' IMnlsong,. was the motlior of the applicant in tiiis ease? — A. No, sir; I (h)n't know who they was talking about. " Q. You do not remember this applicant?- — A. No, sir; I don't rememlier her ; I don't know nothing- about the Blrdsongs. " Q. Do you remember William Sanders? — A. No, sir." This testimony is, of course, a complete denial of everything contained in the affidavit, but there is one further allegation in the affidavit which INIr. Ballinger and his associates had this old negro swear to that I desire to call attention to. It is this: " Her father was Willie Birdsong, a half-blood Choctaw Indian, that was placed on tlie Freedmau roll over his protest." The old negro witness, when placed on the stand, of course swore that he did not know Willie Birdsong, but the person who prepared the affidavit was, in the usual manner of these attorneys, attempting to set up a relationship between this applicant and some person on the Clioctaw rolls, and the old negro. Alec Nail, is made to swear that Willie Birdsong is the father of this applicant, and is enrolled as a Freednian. The fact is that there is a Willie Birdsong eiu-olled as a P^'reedman citizen of the Choctaw Nation. His name appears opposite- Freedmau Roll No. 4506, but this Willie Birdsong was 9 years of age at the time he was enrolled, which was in 1890. This applicant swears that she was 47 years of age at the time she executed the foregoing petition. In other words, Willie Birdsong, who is alleged to be her father, would be 24 years of nge at this time, and his daughter, IMalissa, would be 47. This discrepancy would be unusual in most cases, but this firm of attorneys seems to find no allegations or statements of facts, however ususual and incongruous tliey may seem, that they can not substantiate by the testimony of their faithful wit- nesses, Alec Nail, AVebster Burton, and W. I\I. James. For the information of the connnittee, I am attaching hereto a photogra])hic- (!opy of Freednian census card No. 13.")2. which bears the naiue of Willie Bird- song, his age, and the date of his enrollment. This exhibit is marked " Exhibit B." In order to digrnfy the petition of Malissa Marcy and the affidavit of Alee Nail, Mr. Ballinger and his associates offer in corroboration of these two instruments the affidavit of W. M. James. . Mr. James is a negro criminal, who signs his name by mark. He is at present serving a terra in the State penitentiary at McAlester, Okla. Before an officer of the Interior Department at Muskogee, Okla., on August 6, 1915, James testified as follows: " You are an inmate of the county jail now, are you?- — A. Yes, sir. " Q. AVhat crime are you charged with? — A. Check. " Q. What is the charge against you? — A. Identifying a check; identification. " Q. Is the charge for false pretense? — A. Yes, sir." (Since rendering this testimony the witness has been simtenced to a term in the penitentiary.) " Q. Are you acquainted with Malissa Marcy? — A. No, sir. " I read you an affidavit purporting to have been made by you before Julius Golden, a notary public, on March 16, 1915, filed by Mr. Webster Ballinger. with the petition for the enrollment ot IMalissa Marcy and her family as citizens by blood of the Choctaw Nation : . " W. M. Jaiues, being first duly sworn, on oath states that he is 70 years of age and that he lives at Beeland Okla. "That he first knew the applicant near Bowell in the Choctaw Nation; that she is the daughter of Malissa Birdsong, who was Malissa Sanders before she married Birdsong. "That the said Malissa Sanders was a Choctaw Indian by blood and was always considered three-quarters ; that I also knew her brother William SandVrs and the whole Sanders family and they were all Choctaw Indians. When I first knew them they were living on Sans Bois River; but when I last knew them they were living down on Blue River. "The mother died down there on Blue River; I knew the father Willie Bird- song, but don't know where he died; he was a half-breed Choctaw who was placed on the Freedman roll over his protest. "That he was well acquainted with the first husband of the applicant; his name was Tony Carroll and they separated; I knew about the fjimily but not well enough to identify them; I know the man she lives with now at Boley, Okla. ; his name William Marcy. They have a boy that lives with them now about 14 years old. " (Signed.) W. M. James (by thumb mark). INDIAN APPEOPEIATION BILL. 405 " Q. Did you make this affidavit? — A. I may liave made tliis affidavit, but I didn't see tliose people at all. Nail came to me and told me there was a woman who had been here and said I knew her. She had been here and gone. Nail told me who she was and I remembered seeing her at I'orum once. " Q. You took his word for it? — A. Yes, sir; I remember making the affidavit. " Q. You did not know anything about it yourself? — A. No, sir. " Q. You took his word that she was a Choctaw by blood? — A. Yes, sir." Then the reason that these applicants are not entitled to enrollment appears to be — First. They have not proven that they were residents of the Choctaw Nation on the 2Sth day of June, 1898, as required by law. Second. They did not make application for enrollment as citizens of the Choctaw Nation within the time required by law. Third. They have no Indian blood ; they are negroes. Fourth. The allegations of their applications are false. Fifth. Affidavits submitted in corroboration of the allegations of their peti- tions are admitted by tlie witnesses who made them to be false. P. J. Hurley, National Attorney for the Choctato Nation. Department of the Interior, United States Indian Service, Five Civilized Tribes. Mnskogee, Okla., November 3, 1915. Postmaster, Boley, Okla. Sir : Desiring to personally interview Malissa Marcy, probably wife of one William Marcy, in an official matter, I would thank you to promptly inform me, by indorsement hereon and under cover of the inclosed envelope, whether she resides within the delivery of your office, and, if so, whether in town or at what distance and in what direction in the country. If she does not reside within your delivery, any information you may furnish with respect to present post-office address and nearest town or railway station \sill be appreciated. Very respectfully, Wm. L. Bowie, Of Special Investigation Service, Office of Superintendent for the Five Civilized Tribes. Exhibit A. Malissa Marcy, Boley, Okla., general delivery. This per.son is colored. Caesar F. Sim.mons. P. it. E.XHIBIT B. Choctaw Nation, frccdnicn roll. [Residence, Kiamitia County; Post Office, Grant, I. T.; Field No. 1352.] Dawes roll No. Name. Relation- ship to per- son first named. Age. Se.x. Tribal enrollment. Slave of— Year. County. No. 4502 1. IJirdsong, Lucy Ann 2. McDon.ild, Ida 'A. HirdsDug, Vialet 4. Uirdsong, Frank 5. Hirdsonc, Willie f). Birdsong, Arthur... 7. McDonald, Eddie (born Feb. 21, 1900). 35 15 13 11 9 4 2i Female. . ...do ...do Male.... ...do ...do ...do 1896 1896 1896 1896 1896 1896 Kiamitia.. ...do ...do ...do ...do ...do 3619 2566 580 581 582 583 Sampson Foi- som. 4503 4504 Daughter.. ...do Son ...do ...do Grandson . 4505 4506 4507 4508 No. 1 on 1896 Choctaw as Lucy Ann Ware. No. 2 i.s wife of Eii McDonald, Chit ka.saw freedman card No. D53, refused. Evidence of marriage fded Dec. 24, 1902. No. 7enr(lled Dec. 24, 1902. Transferrpd fn m Chickasaw freedman card No. 1277. (Stamped:) ICnr^lIment of Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, hereon aijproved by the Secretary of the Interior June 28, 1904. Da(e of application for enrollment, 9, 1899. 406 INDIAN APPKOPRIATJON BILL. [Additional information on reverse side.] [Printed numbers in first column refer to individual names on reverse side.] Name of father. Father's tribal enroll- ment. Father's owner. Name of mother. Mother's tribal enrollment. Mother's Year. County. Year. County. 1 Ed. Folsom Sim McCarty. . Dead. Kiamitia Noncitizen . Sampson Folsom. Rh oda Folsom. No. 1 Died. Kiamitia. . Sampson Folsom. 3 Allen Birdsong.. .do. .. . ..do 4 do ...do 5 do ...do 6 do .do 7 Eli McDonnel. . . Chickasaw freedman. No. 2 ENROLLMENT CASE NO. 9. Petition of Thomas F. Eubanks for Enrollment as a Citizkn by Blood of THE Choctaw Nation, Presented by Webster Ballinger, Attorney at Law — Reply and Argument of P. .T. Hurley, Attorney for the Choctaw Nation. supplemental petition of JOSEPH T. EUBANKS IN SUPPORT OF THE PETITION OF THOMAS F. EUBANKS FOR THE ENROLLMENT OF HIMSELF ET AL. AS CHOCTAW INDIANS. Comes now .Tosepli T. Eubanks and shows : That lie is 25 years of age and that he lives at Ada, Okla. That he is a Choctaw Indian by birth, by blood, by descent, by residence, and by recognition as is shown by the petition of Thomas F. Eubanks, his father, made in his behalf, to which this petition is attached and made a part. That he has read over said petition and knows the contents thereof and that the matters and things therein contained with reference to his relationship and residence and the relationship and residence of all the other descendants of his said father, he knows to be true of his own knowledge ; that the matters and tilings therein contained with reference to the ancestors of his said par- ents, he has always been taught was true ; that he has also been told that they were true by reliable persons that were personally acquainted with the parties and knew the facts, and that he believes them to be true and so charges the fact to be. That h(^ has been considered and recognized as a Choctaw Indian ever since he could remember, having been born and raised in the Choctaw. That he knows that his father had his home on the public domain and lived there un- molested. That he has never been required to pay permits but was accorded all the rights and recognition of the other Choctaw Indians all his life, except an allotment. That during the enrolling period of his said tribe ever since he was born he was a minor ; that roll was closed by operation of law long before he reached his ma.i'ority and although he was long past the age to have been enrolled and allotted his name was never placed on the roll and he was denied his allotment. That he has thus been deprived of his share of the common property of his tribe through no fault of his, but solely on account of the negligence of his parents, the disregard of the Choctaw Nation and the omission of the Dawes Commission, solely because he was a minor. That he now claims what he should have received during that period as in law, justice, and equity he is entitled. That his name appears in the said petition of his said father at his request and that ho hereby ratifies and confirms the same and joins in the prayer thereto appended. •TOSEPH T. EtTBANKS. State of Oklahoma, Payne County, ss. Subscribed and sworn to before me this the 29th day of April, 1915. I further certify that I read over the above petition to the affiant and that he INDIAN APPKOPKIATION BILL. 407 knew the contents thereof and that he stated that the matters and things therein contained were true and that he was the identical person named therein as petitioner. [sEAn.] J. w. Neil. Notary Public. (My connnission expires Mar. 31, 1918.) VETITIOX OF THOAfAS F. EUIJANKS FOK THE ENROLLMENT OF ITrilSKLF AM) FAMILY AND IN HEHALF OF HIS GBANIlCHILDREN AS CHOCTAWS HY ULOOD. Comes now Thomas F. Euhanlcs and sliows : That he is 62 years of age and tliat he lives at Alabama Avenue, South Okmulgee, Okla. That he is a Choctaw Indian by birth, by blood, by descent, by residence, and l)y recognition ; that he is the son of Betsey Eubanks, nee Robbins, a three- quarter Choctaw Indian; that the name of my father was William Eulianks, a Choctaw Indian by blood ; that both said father and mother died prior to final enrollment. That his said mother had a sister named Patsie, who married a .Toe Ward, deceased, as is also the said Patsie. Tliat Daiv Rol)bins, eni'olled No. 6618, on the approved i-oll of Choctaws by blood, is a cousin of my said mother. That the enrolled relatives of his said father as shown by the approved roll ai-e Earnest Eubanks, enrolled opposite No. 15432, and Ella Eubanks, enrolled opposite No. 15954, on said roll. That they are the children of his said father's brother, Talt, by different women, as he is inforiued. That he was born in the Choctaw Nation near Scully ville and lived there until he was 4 years of age, then was taken by his said father to Texas, then to Arkansas, where his said father died in 1868. and that he then returned to the ChocUiw Nation and has since lived in the Choctaw and Chickasaw Nations at various places. That on the 30:h day of April, 1876, he was duly and lawfully married to liUtliie Allen, with whom he still lives ; that there was born to this union the following-named children, to wit: Caria Eubanks, age 34 years; INIaudella Star, age 32 years; Lula V. Hirrell, age 28 years; Joseph T. Eubanks, age 25 years; Morlin Eubanks, age 19 years; I^eroy Eubanks, age 17 years; Lillie H. Eubanks, age 15 years; Willie B. Eubanks, age 13 years. Children of Caria Eubanks (grandchildren) : Sammie Eubanks, age 13 years ; Erie Eubanks, age 11 years. Chihlren of Maudella Star (grandchildren): Teddie Star, age 13 years; Eddie Star, age 11 years; Clara INIay, age 10 years. ('hildren of Lulu V. Hirrell (grandchildren) : Ruby May Hirrell, age 10 years. Petition further shows that the reason that his name and the names of his said family were not placed on the approved roll by tlie Dawes Commission was that he came to Muskogee to the Dawes Commission for the purpose of enroll- ment of himself and fjimily; that he met one of his Indian neighbors that had l>i-ecede(l him and was tohl l)y him that he had to pay $60 to get to the Dawes Commission ; that that was what he had to pay. When I went there I expected to pay the $60, as he had informed me, and the small man — I can't give Ids name — met me at the door and collected from me the $60, and I went before the commission and they told me that they would Lotify me when to come back; then the same small man told me that I would have to pay $500 per capita for the enrollment of myself and family. I just simply did not have the money, as I was a poor man, and I went home; tlion, after the roll was closed, the connnission notified mo to return; but I learned tluit '•he roll was closed, through the paper, and thought it useless to come. Petitioner further shows that he had always been recognized as a Choctaw Indian and enjoyed all the privileges as such that the other Choctaw Indians had. That he built him a home on the public domain 10 ndles Avest from Ada and put in cultivation 160 acres which he lived on until it was allotted away from me, unmolested. 408 INDIAN APPROPRIATION BILL. " I knew that I was a Choctaw Indian and never entertained any idea that for any reason that I would be deprived of my right and dispossessed of my home on wliicli I had lived for nine years, as a Choctaw Indian, unmolested and recoj;nize(l." Petition furllier shows, tliat the enrollment by the Dawes Connnission, on the final roll, of the descendants from the same common ancestor as here- tofore mentioned in this petition, is a final adjudication and a full determina- tion of tlie ri5,'hts of this applicant and his lineal descendants to be enrolled. That if flH\v were entitled, which applicant admits, he is also entitled and if he is not entitled, their names should be stricken from the I'oll. That his said tribe never notified him that his recognition would ever cease or that for any reason he was required to protect his birthright or make proof of his blood as a Choctaw. That he did everything that he was able to do and knew how to do, with the result that his said tribe took advantage of his ignorance, the Dawes ('ommission disi-egarded his application, and him and his family, all of whom were citizens by birth, were omitted from the roll. Wherefore petitioner prays that his name, Thomas F. Eubanks and the said names of his children, Carria Eubanks, Maudella Star, Lulu V. V. Hirrell, Joseph T., Morlin, Ler(jy, IJllie H., and Willie R. P^ubanlvS ; also the names of his said grandchildren, Sammie and Erie I']ubanks, and Teddie, Eddie, and Clara Star, and lluby May Hirrill, be placed on the approved roll of Choctaw Indians by blood, and that to them and to each of them be given their dis- tributive share of the conmion property of the Choctaw Tribe of Indians, the same as is given to all other Choctaws by blood. Thomas F. Eubanks. State of Oklahoma, MusJcotjee Comity, ss: Thomas F. Eubanks, being first duly sworn, on oath states, that he is the above named Thomas F. Eubanks ; that he has read over the above and fore- going petition and knows the contents, and the matters and things tlierein contained ai'e true. Thomas F. Eubanks. Subscribed and sworn to before me this 26th day of March, 19L5 ; I further certify that I read over to the affiant the above petition and that he knows the contents thereof, and that he stated that same was true. rr>. s.] JuT.ius Golden, Notary Public. (My connnission expires June 2, 1917.) SUi'PLEME.NTAI. i'ETITIO.X OF (AKIA M. EUIiANKS IN SUl'l'OKT OK THE PETITION OF THOMAS F. EI'BAMsS FOK THE ENROLLME.XT OF HISISEI.F ET AI,. AS CHOCTAW INDIANS. Comes now (Jaria M. Eubanks and shows: That he is ;>4 years of age and that his present i)ost office is Santa Harbara, Cal. That he is a Choctaw Indian by blood, by descent, by residence, and by recog- nition, as is shown by the petition of Tliomas F. Eubanks, his father, made in Ills behalf, to which (his petition is attached and made a part. That he has read over said petition and knows the contents thereof, and that the matters and things therein contained with reference to his relationship and residence and the relationship and residence of all the other descendants of his said parents named therein he knows to be true of his own knowled.ge. That the matters and things therein contained with reference to the ancestors of his said parents he has always been taught were true ; that he has also been told that they were (rue by reliable persons that were personally ac- quainted with the parties and knew the facts, and that he believes them to be true, and so charges the fact to be. That on the — day of February, 1901, he was duly and lawfully married to Evaline Owens; that (here was born to this union the following-named children, to wit: Sammie Eubanks, born August 11, 1902; Erie Eubanks, l)orn Fel)ruarv 2. 1905. Thnt both of said children are living and live witli the petitioner at above stated place of residence. INDIAN API'HOPHIATION BII.T.. 409 Tliat lie lias luvn considered and recognized as a Choctaw Indian ev«>r since ho could ronuMiiiier ; that he helped his said father to clear up the place on the puhiic domain descrihed in his petition. That he lived on llu> jiiaco aftci- he was married and until it was allotted away from them. That during all the years that they lived there as Choctaw Indians they were not niolesled or re- quired to pay permits. That he waited for his father to enroll himself and family until it was too late for him to make an application ; the roll was closed. That his name appears in the said petition of his father, and also the names of his said children at his request, and that he hereby ratifies and confirms the same and juins in the prayer thereto app(>nded. Cakta Etjbanks. State tti' Cai.ifoknia, Santa Barbara Vountii, fis. Subscribed and sworn to before nie this the 8th day of April, 1915. I further certify that I read over the above petition to the afliant and that he knew the contents thereof and that he stated that the same was true, and that be was the identical person named therein as the petitioner. [SKAL.l <}• IM. MOLEY. Nulary Vuhllc in and for the Coirnty of Santa BarJxira. Stat'' of California. (My commission expires Afar. 9, 1918.) SUPPLEMENTAL PETITION OF MAUDETJ.A START, IN SUPPORT OF THE PETITION OF THOJIAS F. EUBANKS FOR THE ENROLLMENT OF HIMSELF ET AL., CHOCTAW INDIANS. Comes now Maudella Start and shows — That she is 32 years of age and that she lives 3 miles northwest from Max- well. Okla. That she is a Choctaw Indian by birth, by blood, by descent, by residence, and by recognition, as is shown by the petition of Thomas P. Eubanks, her father, made in her behalf, to which this petition is attached and made a part. That she has read over said petition and knows the contents thereof and that the matters and things therein with reference to her relationship and residence and the relationship and residence of all the other parties named therein, she knows of her own knowledge; that the matters and things therein contained with reference to the ajicestors of her parents, she has always been taught were true ; that she has also been told that they were true by reliable persons who were personally acquainted with the parties and knew^ the facts, and that she believes them to be true and so charges the fact to be. That on the 14th day of May, 1899. she was duly and lawfully married to James Start : that there was born to this union the following named children, to wit: Teddie Start, boi-n October 12, 1900; Eddie Start, born September 9, 1902 ; Clara Start, born October 18, 1905. That all the above-named children are alive and liv(^ with their said parents at the above-stated place of residence. Petitioner further shows that she has been considered and recognized as a Choctaw Indian ever since she could remember, having been born and raised in the Choctaw Nation on the public domain that her father had improved. That she, like the others of her said father's family, depended on him to en- roll her, and as he did not succeed she made no application. That her name ans and confirms the same and joins in the prayer thereto appended. IVIauo Start. State of Oklahoma, Mnslcofirc County, ss : Subscribed and swoi-n to helore me this the 3d day of April. 191."). I further certify that I read over the above petition to the athant and that she knew the contents thereof and that sh.e stated that same was true and that she was the identical person nanieil therein as petitioner. TSeal.I Julius Colden. Notav}! rirl)lir. (My commission expires June 2. 1917.) 410 INDIAN APrKOPKlATION BUA.. SUPPLEMENTAL PETITION OF LULA HIRKILL IN SUPPOKl OF THE PETITION THOMAS V. EUBANKS FOn THE ENROLLMENT OF HIMSELF ET. AL. AS CHOCTAW INDIANS. Comes now Lulu HiiTill tuid shows: Thiit she is 28 years of age, and that she lives in Alabama Avenue. South Okmulgee, Okla. That she is a Choctaw Indian by birth, by blood, by descent, by residence, and by recognition, as shown by the petition of Thomas F. Eubanks, her father, made in her behalf, to which this petition is attached and made a part. That she has read over said i)etltion and know^s the contents thereof, and that the matters and things therein contained with reference to her relationship and residence and the relationship and residence of all the otlier descendants of her said father, ?he knows of her own knowledge to be true; that the matters and things therein contained with reference to ancestors of her said parents, she has always been taught were true; that she has also been told that they were true by reliable persons that were personally acquainted with the parties and knew the facts, and that she l)elieves them to be true, and so charges the fact to be. That on the 22d day of March, 1903. she was duly and lawfully married to Henry Hirrill ; that there w\as born to this union the following-named child, to wit : Ruby May Hirrill. born July 14, 1905. and is still living. That she has been considered and recognized as a Choctaw Indian ever since she could remember, having been born and raised in the Choctaw Nation; that she lived with her said father on the public domain until the same was allotted away from him; that prior to allotment they all lived on the public domain unmolested. That her name and the name of her said child appears in the petition of her said father at her request, and thnt she hereby ratifies and confirms the same and joins in the prayer thereto appended. Lulu Hiuuill. State of Oklahoma, Muskogee County, ss. Subscribed and sworn to before me this the od day of April, 1915. I further certify that I read over the above petition to the affiant, and that she knew he contents thereof, and that she stated that same was true, and that she was the identical person named herein as peitioner. [seal] Julius Golden, 'Notary Piihlic. My commission expires June 2, 1917. affidavit of ISAAC FULSOME IN SUPPORT OF THE PETITION OF THOMAS F. EUBANKS for the enrollment of himself et al. as choctaws by blood. State of Oklahoma, Comity of Garvin, ss.: Isaac Fulsome, being by me first duly sworn, deposes and says that Thomas Franklin Eubanks is the son of William Eubanks and Betsey P^ibanks, nee Robins, and that Betsy Eubanks, nee Robins, is a cousin of mine by blood, me being a full-blood Choctaw Indian, and further states that I have known the above stated parties all my life and have always known them to be Choctaw Indians. (Signed) Isaac Fulsome. Subscribed and sworn to before me this the 9th day of January, 1915. (Signed) C. H. IMassey, Notary Public. afl'ldavtt of johnson gift in support of the petition of thomas f. eubanks for the enrollment of himself et al. as choctaw indians. Stafford, Okla. This is to certify that I am an Indian by blood ; that I am well acquainted with Thomas F. Eubanks and his family ; that he is a Choctaw by blood ; and that INDIAN APPROPRIATION BILL, 411 he held hind under the public domain until it was allotted away from him, and have always known him and his family to he Choctaws. (Signed) Johnson Gift. Subscribed and sworn to before me this the 24th day of April, 1915. (Signed) C. H. Massey, Notary Ptihlic. (My commission expires March 3d, 1917.) AFFIDAVIT OF ALKC NAIL IN SUl'POKT OF THE PETITION OF THOMAS F. EUBANKS FOR THE ENROLLMENT OF HI>[SET,F AND FAMILY AND GRANDCHILDREN AS CHOCTAW INDIANS. Alec Nail, l)eing first duly sworn, on oath states : That he is 72 years of age, and that he lives at 1206 South Third Street, Muskogee, Okla. That he has recently met the applicant, and that he is well and personally ac(iuainted with the Choctaw Indians that he claims to have been his ancestors. That his said father, William Eubanks, was the son of Old .Toe Eubanks, and that they were always counted full blood. They lived like full bloods. They lived about 4 miles east of Fort Towson, where I lived until I was 12 years old. I further know that some of the same family moved up to near Old Scullyville, where the applicant says he was born. I knew Betsey Robins, the woman that he says is his mother, and have been told that she married a Eubanks. In fact, it was generally known that she married a Eubanks. She lived in huts just like the other full bloods, and was counted a full blood. All the above persons referred to were Choctaw Indians, and all lived in either the Choctaw or Chickasaw nations. Affiant further states that he has heard read the affidavit of Old Isaac Pulsom, with whom he is well and personally acquainted, and if there had been any doubts about the parties being Indians he would never have given them such an affidavit. Alec. Nail (his thumb print). The name of Alec. Nail was written by me at his request and in his presence, and mark made by him in my presence. Julius Golden, witness to clerk. State of Oklahoma, Muskogee County, ss: Subscribed and sworn to before me this the 26th day of March, 1915. I further certify that I read over and fully explained the above affidavit to the affiant, and that he knew the contents thereof, and that he stated that same was true, and that he was the identical person named therein as ffiant. [seal.] Julius Golden, Notary rublic. (My commission exjiires June 2, 1917.) STATEMENT OF P. J. HURLEY, ATTORNEY FOR THE CHOCTAW NATION. A copy of a petition was served on me l)y Mr. Webster Ballinger, an attorney at law, of Washington, D. C, for the enrollment of Thomas P. Eubanks et ai. as citizens by blood of tlie ('lioctaw XatioiL Thomas F. Eubanks claims to be a citizen by blood of the Choctaw Nation and petitions that himself and family be enrolled as such. He claims to be related to certain persons whose names appear upon the approved roll of the Choctaw Nation. Thomas F. Eubanks swears to the following statement: "That he was born in the Choctaw Nation, near Scullyville, and lived there until he was 4 years of age; then was taken by his .said father to Texas, then to Arkansas, where his said father died in 1S6S. and that he then returned to the Choctaw Nation and has since lived in the Choctaw and Chickasaw Nations at various places." Eubanks's address at the present time is Okmulgee, Okla., which is not in the Choctaw Nation. Eubanks states that he was always recognized as a Choctaw Indian and enjoyed all the privileges of citizenship in said tribe; that he made application 412 INDIAN APPROPRIATION BILL. to the Dawes Commission for enrollment for himself and his family ; that he did evorythinj; he was able to do and knew how to do to secure his rights, hut that advantaf?e was taken of him on account of his ignorance, and that the Dawes Connuission disregarded liis application for himself and the nieiiiljers of his family, and that they were all omitted from the roll. It appears from the records of the oflice of the Commission to tlie Five Civilized Tribes tluit Thomas F. Eubanks and his family were ;ii)i)licaiits for identification as ^Mississippi Choctaws in case No. K. 553G. It liappeus also that in said mentioned case the testimony of Tliomas F. Eubanks was talien before the Connuission to the Five Civilized Tribes at Muskogee, Ind. T., on May 10, 3902. L. P. Hudson appeared at said liearing as attorney for the applicants. It is necessary for me to quote here a few lines of Kul)anks's testimony before tlie commission on tlie date above mentioneil to show the absolute disregard for the truth evidenced in tliat part of Eubanks's petition filed by IMr. Ballinger, whicli I have quoted above. " (,). ^^'llat is youi- nanieV — A. Thomas F. Eul)anks. " ' i. How old are you? — A. I am 49 years old. '■ (}. Wiiiit is your post-office addi-ess?— A. Asher, Okla. "ss, Alec Nail, who signs by mark. We iiave read so many affidavits concerning difTerent applicants, their i-ights, tlu'ir degree of tilood, their family relationship, their jilace of residence, and their ages, made by this witness, that we are confident that for proper consideration he can swear to more facts concerning applicants who (lesire enrollment as Choctaw citizens than any person who has ever been used as a professional witness in citizenship mattei's. Mr. Ballinger seems to have discovered a genius as a witness wlien he discovered Alec Nail. The record in this case show that the applicants claim as Mississippi Clioc- taws. Thomas F. Eubanks states in his testimony, taken in 3902, that he claimed through his mother whom he alleges, was a Mississippi Choctaw of one-fourtli blood. That would malve Thomas F. Eubanks a one-eighth blood, his children, one-sixteenth blood, and his grandchildren, who are applicants, one thirty-second blood, but he was unable to prove that his mother was in reality a Choctaw at all. He was not al)le to prove that she complied or attempted to comply with the provisions of the fourteenth article of the treaty of 1830. Even if his mollier had been a Mississippi Choctaw she would not have been entitled to enrollment unless she could make such proof. No IMis- sissippi Clioctaws were entitled to enrollment unless they were enrolled under the so-cnlled full-blood rule, which permitted the enrollment of full-blood Mississippi Clioctaws, or could prove conclusively that they were descendants of a patentee or scriptee or one of those jiersons on the supplemental scheilule who complied or attempted to comply with the provisions of the fourteenth article of the treaty of 1830. The records show that this claimant failed absolutely to make such proof. They were riglitly denied enrollment by the Commission to the Five Civilized Tribes. The petitioner makes the following statement in his ])etition : " Petitioner further shows : that the reason that his name and the names of his family were not placed on the approved roll by the Dawes Commission was : that he came to Muskogee to the Dawes Commission for the purpose of enrollment of himself and family ; that he met one of his Indian neighbors w ho had i)receded him and was told by him that he had to pay $G0 to get to the Dawes Commission, that that was what he had to pay. INDIAN APPEOPRIATION BILL. 413 "When I went there I expected to pay $60 as he had informed me aiul that the small man — I can't give his name — met me at the door and collected from me the $G0, afid I went before the commission and they told me that they woidd notify me when to come back ; then the same small man told me that I would have to pay .$50 per capita for the enrollment of myself and family." Of course the petitioner had an attorney to appear for him in the case but it is probable that he did pay money to some one who was conducting a fraudulent citizenship biu-eau, and that he was asked for money. There are many cases in which claimants who were not enrolled, and not entitled to en- rollment, were led by unscrupulous lawyers to believe that they, the lawyers, had the power to enroll them, and that they could be enrolled by paying a certain amount of money. I have no doubt but that some of these lawyers led the applicants to believe that they, the lawyers, wei-e in reality the Com- mission to the Five Civilized Tribes, and that the ignorant applicants some- times believed they were bribing the commission when in fact they were not in the presence of the commission at all. I am informed that this practice was continued even after the rolls were closed, and there is some evidence to show that the same kind of fraud has been practiced within tiie last year. In fact, the firm of IJallinger, Lindley & Ilodkey have offices in the same building with the offices of the Superintendent to the Five Civilized Tribes, at Muskogee, Okla., and I have in my possession evidence to show that many claimants for citizenship were led to believe that this firm of attorneys is con- nected with the Government ; that the rolls of citizenship have been reopened, and that these gentlemen are engaged in the business of enrolling applicants for the Government. In this connection I refer to a report made by Mr. AYilliam L. Bowie, a special inspector in the service of the superintendent to the Five Civilized Tribes. In order to convince the committee that Tlunnas F. Eul)anks and his family were not deprived of their right by reason of the conduct of any fraudulent citi- zenship bureau, I am attaching hereto a complete and certified copy of the tes- timony of Thomas l'\ Fubanks taken before the Conuuission to the Five ('ivil- ized Tribes at Muskogee, Ind. T., May 10, 1902; also a complete and certified copy of the decision of the Comnnssion to the Five Civilized Tribes in the case of Thomas F. Eubanks and others on November 1. 1902. These papers show conclusively that Thomas F. Eubanks was denied enroll- ment as a citizen of the Choctaw Nation after a full and fair hearing, and was denied — first, because he was unable to prove that he was of Indian descent ; second, because he claimed as a Mississippi Choctaw and was unable to show that, as such, any of his iincestors had complied or attempted to comply with the fourteentli article of the treaty of IH'M. We have shown elsewhere in this argument that tlu> statements made by Thomas F. Eubanks in the petition unut 4 miles east of Fort Tow.son, whei-e I lived until I was 12 years old. I further know that some of the same family moved up to near oid Scully- ville, where the api)licant says he was born. " I knew Betsey Itobins, the woman that he says is his mother, and have been told that she married a Eub.-inks; in fact, it was generally known that she married a Eubanks; she lived in huts ju.st like the other full blon.ls and was counted a full blood. "All the above persons referred to were Choctaw Indians .-ind :ill lived in either the Choctaw or Chickasaw Nation. 414 INDIAN APPEOrEIATION KILL. " Affiant furtlK>r states that he has heard read the affidavit of ohl Isaac Fulsom, with wiiom lie is well and personally acquainted, and if there had been any doubts about the pai'ties being Indians he would never liave given them sucla an affidavit. "(Signed) At.ec Nail (by marlc). " State of Oklahoma, Muskoyee Cotinly, ss: " Subscribed and sworn to before me this the 2Gth day of March, 1915. I fur- tlier certify that I read over and fully explained the aljove affidavit to the affiant, and that he knew the contents thereof, and that he stated that same was true, and tliat lie was the identical person named therein as affiant. " [seal.] (Signed) Julius Golden, ".Notary Public. "(My commission expires June 2, 1917.)" As stated in other cases which I have pi-esented, Alec Nail is one of the professional witnesses used by Ballinger, Lindloy & Rodkey. His affidavit here corroborates the false statements contained in the petition which has been filed by Mr. Ballinger for Thomas P. Eubanks. The statements in this affidavit, like the statements in the petition, are in direct conflict with tlie true facts in this case, as shown by the certified copy of the evidence taken before the Commission of the Five Civilized Tribes, and the decision of that commission, which are attached liereto. When Alec Nail was asked to testify on this subject on July 31, 1915, after having first been duly sworn, he testified as follows : " Q. Do you know a man by the name of Thomas F. Eubanks? — A. Yes, sir; know him since he has been coming up to this ottice. " Q. You never saw him before? — A. No, sir. " Q. Was there a white man by this name who came up to this office to make application? — A. Yes, sir. " Q. Do you know where he lives? — A. No, sir; somewhere in the Creek Nation. " Q. How old a man is he? — A. He looks he is about HO or .55 years old — as old as I am. " Q. You say you never saw this man until he asked you to be a witness for liini? — A. No, sir; did not know him when this man asked me if I had met him. " Q. Did you know his parents? — A. No, sir; I forgot what he said; he claimed Ivin to some Indian family. " Q. Do you know Joe Eubanks? — A. Is a Choctaw? " Q. Do you know Joe Eubanks? — A. No, sir; I don't reckon so. " Q. Did you ever Ivuow William Eubanks? — A. Yes, sir; I think so. " Q. Y''ou think? — A. Am not positive. " Q. Do you know where he lives? — A. No, sir. He used to live close to Wheelock. " (}. Is Wheelock close to Fort Towson? — A. Yes, sir; in Towson County." Again in the same testimony, after having heard the affidavit above quoted read, the witness testified as follows: " Q. You state in this afiidavit th;vt William Eubanks was this applicant's father ; that he was the son of old Joe Eubanks, and you have just stated to me that you did not know this person? — A. Well, not to my mind; but if you call over their names I could recall them. I never knew nothing of the Eubanks until they came in. " Q. Was this affidavit read over to you before you made your thumb print thereon? — A. They read them over. I don't know what they were doing." Again, in the same testimony, the witness was asked : " Q. Do you remember what was given you for making this particular affi- davit?— A. No, sir; I don't. It was not much." P. J. HUIU.EY, Ndtioxnl Atlonicii for thr Choctnir Notion. Department ok Tin; I.xtekiou, Commission to the Five Civilizkd Trihes, Muskogee, Ind. T., May 10, 1902. In the matter of the application of Thomas F. Eubanks for the identification of hiiiLself and his six minor children, Louisa Y. Eubanks, Joseph Thomas INDIAN APPROPRIATION ]iILL. 415 Eubanks, Marlin Marcus Eubaiik.s, Roy Lee Eubanlis, I.illio Ilortense Kubanks, Willie Belle Eubanks, as Mississippi Choctaws. L. P. Hudson appeared as attorney for applicants. THOMAS F. EUBANKS, being first duly sworn, testified as follows: Examination by the Commission: Q. What is your name? — A. Thomas F. Eubanks. Q. How old you? — A. I am 49 years old. Q. What is your post-office address? — A. Asher, Oklahoma. Q. How long have you lived at Asher? — A. About six months. Q. Where did you live before that? — A. In the Chickasaw Nation. Q. How long did you ilve in the Chickasaw Nation? — A. Eighteen years. Q. Where did you live before you lived there? — A. In Texas. Q. How many years did you live in Texas? — A. I was raised there. Q. Were you born in Texas? — A. I was born in Arkansas and went froni there to Texas. Q. Is your father living? — A. No sir. Q. Is your mother liver? — A. No, sir. Q. What was your father's name? — A. William Eubanks. Q. What was your mother's name? — A. Elizabeth Eubanks. Q. Through which parent do you claim Choctaw blood? — A. My mother. Q. How much Choctaw blood do you claim? — A. One-eighth. Q. Has your mother ever been recognized in any way or enrolled as a citizen of the Choctaw Nation in Indian Tei-ritory? — -A. Not that I know of. Q. Are you married? — A. Yes, sir. Q. Is your wife living? — A. Yes, sir. Q. Is she an Indian or white woman? — A. She is a white woman. Q. What is her name? — A. Ruthie Ellen Eubanks. Q. Do you make any claim for her? — A. No, sir. Q. How many children have you under age and unmarried? — A. I have six. Q. Give me the name of the oldest one. — A. Louisa \. Eubanks. Q. How old is she? — A. Fifteen years old. Q. The next one? — A. Joseph Thomas Eubanks. Q. How old is he?— A. Thirteen. Q. Next? — A. Marlin Marcus Eubanks. Q. How old is he? — A. Eight years old. Q. Next one? — A. Roy Lee Eubanks. Q. How old is he? — A. Six years old. Q. Next one? — A. Lillie Hortense Eubanks. Q. How old? — A. Four years old. Q. Next?— A. Willie Belle Eubanks. Q. How old? — A. One year old. Q. You claim for yourself and these six children? — A. Yes, sir. Q, Is Ruthie Ellen Eubanks the mother of these children? — A. Yes, sir. Q. Are you and your wife living together and these children with you? — A. Yes, sir. Q. Were either of you married before you married each other? — A. No, sir. Q. Have you the proof of your marriage with you? — A. No, but I suppose I can get it. A reasonable time will be allowed applicant in which to supply the proof of his marriage. Q. Is your name or the names of any of your children on any of the tribal rolls of the Choctaw Nation in Indian Territory? — A. Not that I know of. Q. Have you ever made application for citizenship for yourself and children in the Choctaw^ Nation either to the Choctaw tribal authorities or to the United States authorities in Indian Territory? — A. No, sir. Q. Have you ever api)lied to the Commission to the Five Civilized Tribes for enrollment of yourself and children under the act of Congress of June 10, 189G?— A. No, sir. Q. Is this the first application you have ever made to any authority what- ever for the enrollment of yourself and children as citizens of the ('hoctaw Nation? — A. Yes, sir. Except as I .spoke to Judge Hudson this morning; three years ago I wrote to the Secretary of the Interior and sent the names of my 416 INDIAN APPROPEIATION BILL. family, and lie wrote to me to go to the Dawes Coiiimissiou with my application. Q. What did you do?— A. I did not go before the Dawes Commission, because there were so many sharks over there where I was who wanted to ri^present me tliat I woidd not have anytliing to do with them. I did not do anytliing more aljout it. Q. Do you now come before tlie connnissiou to identify yourself and children as Mississippi CHioctaws, claiming under article 14 of the treaty of 1830? — A, Yes, sir. Q. Do you understand thai articit- of tliat treaty? — A. 1 lliiiik so. It reads as follows : "Each Choctaw head of a family being desirous to remain and become a citizen of the States shall be permitted to do so by signifyiitg his intention to the agetit within six luonths froiu the ratification of tliis treaty, and he or she slial! thereupon be entitled to a reservation of one .section of six hundred and forty acres of land to be boiuided by sectional lines of survey ; in like manner shall be entitled to one-half that quantity for each unmarried child which is living with him over 10 years of ago and a (luarter section to such child as may be under 10 years of age. to a. Did she claim through her mother or father? — A. She claimed through her mother. Q. What was her mother's name? — A. Gaffey, to the best of my recollection. Q. What was her first name? A. They called her Nellie. Q. Nellie Caffey was her maiden name before she luarried Robl)ins? — A. Yes ; her married name was Nellie Robbins. Q. Did Nellie Caffey or Nellie Robl)ins have Indian Idood? — A. She claimed to have ; yes, sir. Q. Did she live in Mississippi or Alabama in 1S.S0? — A. It .seems to me that she did live in Mississippi and went from there to Texas. . Q. Do you know whether she lived in IMississip])! in 1830 and had a family there then? — A. I don't know whether she did or not at that time. Q. Did any of your Choctaw ancestors own or claim any lands in the old Choctaw Nation under ai-ticl(> 14 of the treaty of 1830?— A. Not that I know of. Q. Did any of your Choctaw ancestors within six months after the treaty of 1830 was ratified go to the United States Indian agent, Col. Ward, and tell him that they wanted to remain in Mississippi, take lands there, and become citizens of the States?— A. I don't know. Q. Did any of them own any improvements on lands in Mississippi or Ala- bama in 1830?— A. I don't know. Q. Did any of your Choctaw ancestors go with the other Indians from the Choctaw Nation east of the Mississippi River to the Choctaw Nation in Indian Territory between 1833 and 1838 and 1840-?— A. Not that I know of. INDIAN APPEOPEIATION BILL. 417 Q. Did any of your Choctaw ancestors within six months after the ratifica- tion of the treaty* of 1830 go to the United States Indian agent. Col. Ward, and tell him the wanted to stay, take lands, and become citizens of the States? — A. I don't know. Q. In 1837 and 1842 commissions were appointed by Congress which went to Mississippi and heard claimants under article 14 of the treaty of 1830. Many of the Choctaw Indians who went to Col. Ward in accordance with the provi- sions of article 14 and signified their intention of remaining and becoming citi- zens were not put upon his list, known as "Ward's register," and his failure to so put them upon his record caused many to lose both their land and improvements, for both were taken from them and sold by the Government at its public land sales. These commissions went to Mississippi to hear the claims of those who had had land or improvements taken from them by the Government and sold. Do you know whether any of your ancestors went before either of these commissions and claimed benefits under article 14 of the treaty of 1830? — A. I don't know. Q. Did any of your Choctaw ancestors receive any scrip from the Government which was issued under the act of Congress of August 23, 1842, and which en- titled the holders to select lands from the vacant Government lands in Missis- sippi, Alabama, Louisiana, or Arkansas to take the place of those which had l3een taken by the Government and sold? — A. I don't know. Q. Have you any relatives or kinsfolk who have been before the commission to be identified as Mississippi Choctaws? — A. None that I know of. Q. You are not related to Benjamin F. Brock, are you? — A. No, sir. Q. Have you any other evidence you will want to introduce later? (L. P. Hudson, attorney for applicant, asks leave to file written evidence in support of this application in the near future. Motion allowed by the commission.) Q. Do you speak or understand the Choctaw language? — A. No, sir. I know very little about it. This applicant has the appearance and physical characteristics of being descended from white parentage; has dark complexion, somewhat tanned; brown eyes and black hair ; he has no knowledge of the Choctaw language and no knowledge of any compliance on the part of any of his ancestors with any of the provisions of article 14 of the treaty of 1830. S. A. Apple, being duly sworn, on his oath states that as stenographer to the Commission to the Five Civilized Tribes he reported the above proceedings on May 10, 1902; and that foregoing is a true and correct transcript of his stenographic notes in same, to the best of his knowledge and ability. S, A. Apple. Subscribed and sworn to before me this 15th day of May, 1902. [SEAT..] Charles H. Sawyer, 'Notary Puhlic. Department of the Interior, Commission to the Five Civilized Tribes. In the matter of the application of Thomas F. Eubanks et al, for identification as Mississippi Choctaws. M. C. R. 5536. DECISION. It appears from the record herein that application for identification as Mississippi Choctaws was made to this commission by Tliomas F. Eubanks for himself and his six minor children, Louisa V., Joseph Thomas, Marlin Marcus, Roy Lee. Lillie Ilortense, and Willie Belle Kubanks, under the follow- ing i)rovision of the act of Congress approved June 28, 1898 (30 Stats., 495) : " Said commission shall have authority to determine the identity of Choctaw Indians claiming rights in the Choctaw lands under article fourteen of the 31362—16 27 418 INDIAN APPROPEIATION BILL. treaty between the United States and the Choctaw Nation, concluded Septem- ber twenty-seventh, eighteen hundred and tliirty, and to that end may aihiihi- ister oaths, examine witnesses, and perform all other acts necessary thereto, and make report to the Secretary of the Interior." It also appears that all of said applicants claim rights in the Choctaw lands under article 14 of the treaty between the United States and the Choctaw Nation, concluded Se]itember 27, 1830, by reason of being descendants of one Nellie Bobbins (nee Caffey), who is alleged to have been a Choctaw Indian (degree of blood not stated). It further appears from the evidence submitted in support of said applica- tion, and from the records in the possession of the commission, that none of said applicants has ever been enrolled by the Choctaw tribal authorities as a member of the Choctaw Tribe, or admitted to Choctaw citizenship by a duly constituted court or connnittee of the Choctaw Nation, or by the Commission to the Five Civilized Tribes, or by a decree of the United States Court in Indian Territory, under the provisions of the act of Congress approved June 10. 1896 (29 Stats., 321). It does not appear from the testimony and evidence offered in support of said application or from the records in the possession of the connnission relat- ing to persons who complied or attempted to comply with the provisions of said Article 14 of the treaty of 1830, and to persons who heretofore were claimants thereunder; that the said Nellie Robbins (n^e Caffey) or a less remote ancestor, signified (in person or by proxy) to Col. Wm. Ward. Indian Agent. Choctaw Agency, an intention to comply with the provisions of said Article 14, or pre- sented a claim to rights thereunder to either of the commissions authorized to adjudicate such claims bv the acts of Congress approved March 3, 1837 (5 Stats., 180), and August 23, 1842 (.5 Stats., 513). It is therefore the opinion of tliis commission that the evidence herein is insufficient to determine the identity of Thomas F. Eubanks, Louisa V. Eubanks, Joseph Thomas Eubanks, IMarlin Marcus Eubanks, Roy Lee Eubanks, Lillie Hortense Eubanks, and Willie Belle Eubanks as Choctaw Indians entitled to rights in the Choctaw lands under the provisions of said Article 14 of the treaty of 1830, and that the application for their identification as such should be refused, and it is so ordered. Commission to the Five Civilized Tribes. (Signed) Tams Bixby, Acting Chairman. (Signed) T. B. Needles. Coniniissioner. (Signed) C. R. Breckinridge, Commissioner. Muskogee, Ind. T., November 1, 1902. Department of the Interior, Office or the Superintendent, Five Civilized Tribes, Muskogee, Okla. This is to certify that I am the officer having custody of the records pertain- ing to the enrollment of the members of the Choctaw, Chickasaw, Cherokee, Creek, and Seminole Tribes of Indians, and the disposition of the land of said tribes, and that the above and foregoing is a true and correct copy of testimony taken on May 10, 1902, and decision dated November 1, 1902, in the matter of the application of Thomas F. Eubanks et al., for their identification as a Missis- sippi Choctaw. Gabe B. Parker, Superintendent, By W. H. Angell, Clerk in Charge Choctaiv Records. July 22, 1915. INDIAJf APPROPRIATION BILL. 419 Asher, Okla.; Mississippi Choctatv Indians; field No. R. 5536. (Stamped: Refused. Rejected.) Relation- ship to person first named. Age. Sex. Blood. Tribal enrollment of parents. Name. Name of father. Name of mother. 1. Eubanks, Thomas F. . 49 15 1.3 8 6 4 1 M. F. M. M. M. F. F. i t Williim Eubanks (dead), noneitizen. William Eubanks claims Choctaw. do do Elizabeth Eubanks 2. Eubanks, Louisa V... 3. Eubanks, Joseph T... 4. Eubanks, Marlin M... Daugh- ter. Son ...do .do . (dead), claims Choc- taw. Ruthie E. Eubanks noneitizen. Do. Do. 5. Eubanks, Roy Lee . . . do Do. 6. Eubanks, LillieH.... Daugh- ter. ...do do Do. 7. Eubanks, Willie Belle do Do. Decision rendered November 1, 1902. Notice of decision forwarded applicant November 1, 1902. (See testimony. May 10, 1902.) Notice of decision mailed attorneys for Choctaw and Chickasaw Nations November 1, 1902. Record forwarded department November 17, 1902. Decision prepared. The application of the several persons herein for identification as Mississippi Choctaws refused in the decision in the case of Thomas F. Eubanks, et al., M. I. R. 5536, forwarded the Secretary of the Interior November 17, 1902. Action approved by Secretary of Interior January 20, 1903. Notice of departmental action mailed applicant January 31, 1903. Notice of departmental action forwarded attorneys for Choctaw and Chickasaw Nations January 31, 1903. CASE NO. 12. Statement of P. J. PIitrley, Attorney for the Choctaw Nation, in the Matter of the Application for the Enrollment of Bertha Tolber and Family as Citizens by Blood of the Choctaw Nation. petition of bertha tolber for the enrollment of herself and family as choctaw indians by blood. Comes now Bertha Tolber and shows, that she is 23 years of age and that her present post office is Canadian, Olila. That she is a Choctaw Indian by birth, by blood, by descent, by residence, and by recognition ; that she is the daughter of Elmyra Wimley, nee Wright ; that father of the said Elmyra Wimley, n6e Wright, was Leonard Wright, a full brother to the ex-Governor Allen Wright, who, petitioner is informed, came to the Choctaw Nation west and then returned to the old Choctaw Nation in Mississippi and died there ; that her father was Samuel Wimley, a noneitizen. That she was born and raised near Colbert, in the Chickasaw Nation ; that she has always lived in the Chickasaw and Choctaw Nations. That on the 19th day of August, 1909, she was duly and lawfully married to James Tolber, and that she has three children too young to be enrolled. That (luring all the years of the enrolling period of her said tribe since she was born she was a minor; that the roll was closed by operation of law before she reached her majority; that although she was long past the age to have been enrolled aneonard. Alfred, and Jack Wright. I don't know how many sisters there were, but one of them married a Wimley, whom the applicant claims as her mother. " The above-named Wrights were all brothers, and were related in some way with Allen Wright, who was at one time the governor of the Choctaw Nation. "All of the Wrights above named and many others all lived south from Atoka and down on the mouth of Blue River, and they were all recognized Choctaw Indians. "Affiant further states that .the said mother of the applicant, Elmyra Wimley, lived, prior to her death, at what is now Tuska, Okla. That the same place used to be called Peck. I don't know just how maiiy children the said Elmyra AVimley had, but I do know that there was a bunch of them — seven or eight, anyway. Some of them died and they have scattered, and some of them now live in Muskogee. "This family were all considered and recognized as Choctaws and lived and worked around the neighborhood. "(Signed) Alec Nail (by thumb mark)." This testimony indicates that this ignorant old negro was made to swear to false statements to corroborate the false statements contained in the petition of the applicant. It also indicates clearly that the i)urported facts sworn to by Alee Nail were not within his knowledge. Then we must conclude — First. That the applicant is not an Indian — that she is a negro. Second. That she did not make application within the time required by law. Thii-d. That the facts statetl in her petition are false. Fourth. That the affidavits submitted in support of the petition are false. In view of these facts we consider it unnecessary to pursue the investigation further with a view to locating the applicant and the other witnesses. P. J. Hurley, National Altorncij for the Choctaio Nation. Department of the Interior, United States Indian Service, Five Civilized Tribes, Mmko(/ee, Okla., Novemhcr 3, 1915. Postmaster, Canadian, Okla. Sir: Desiring to personally interview Bertha Tolber. age given as 23, said to be the wife of one James Tolber, in an official matter. I would thank you to promptly inform me, by indorsement hereon and under cover of the inclosed envelope, whether she resides within the delivery of your office, and, if so, whether in town or at what distance and in what direction in the country. If she does not reside within your delivery, any information you may furnish INDIAN APPEOPRIATION BILL. 425 with respect to present post-otTice address and nearest town or railway station will be appreciated. ^ Verj' respectfully, Wm. L. Bowie, Of Special Investigation Service, Office of Superintendent for the Five Civilized Tribes. Bertha Tolber lives 4* miles northeast of here, near Wirth. I understand she gets her mail at Eufaula. Is this person white, Indian, or colored? Colored. I have been told that .Jim Tolber works at the new M. K. & T. works on the Canadian River, near home on what is called the Island. I do not know these people personally. J. D. TiGNOR, Postmaster. PETITION NO. 13. Statement of P. J. Hukley, Attorney for the Choctaw Nation, in ke Peti- tion OF JURDEAN SmYERS FOR ENROLLMENT OF HeRSELF AND FAMILY AS CITI- ZENS BY Blood of the Choctaw Nation. PETITION of JORDEANA SMYRES, N^E GIVENS, FOR THE ENROLLMENT OF HERSELF AND FAMILY AS CHOCTAW INDIANS. Comes now Jurdean Smyres, nee Givens, and shows that she is 38 years of fige and that she lives at Gatesville, Okla. That she is a Choctaw Indian by birth, by blood, by descent, by residence, and by recognition ; that she is the daughter of Adaline Pusley, and that the said Adeline Pusley was the daughter of Ellen Pusley, a full-blood Choctaw Indian, who lived and died in the Choctaw Nation. That the father of applicant was Ed Givins, who was a half-blood Choctaw Indian, who died when she was small. That applicant was born and raised about 7 or 8 miles southeast from Durant, and that she lived there until she moved to Hartshorne, Okla., where she was duly and lawfully married to Aaron Smiles; that there was born to this union the following-named children, to wit : Haiiey Smyres, age 20 years ; Arthur Smyres, age 18 years; Xenia Smyres, age 16 years; Coy Smyres, age 15 years ; Adeline Smyres, age 14 years ; Jesse Smyres, age 13 years. That all the above-named children were born and raised in the Choctaw Na- tion and lived there until about 6 years ago, when I brought them to the Creek Nation, where they still live at the above-stated place of residence. Petitioner further shows that she was left an orphan and married a State man and had no one to help her oi- look after her enrollment, and she never knew how to help lierself and never made any application. That she lived on tlie public domain all her life with her parents until she moved to Hartshorne, and then she moved in town and had to rent a house. That she and her said family have always been recognized as Choctaw Indians and lived with the Choctaws as members of the tribe. That she has done the very best she could to be enrolled — that is, the best she knew how to do. Wherefore petitioner prays that her name, .Turdean Smires, and the names of her said children, Harley, Arthur, Zenia, Coy, Adeline, and Jesse Smyres, be placed on the approved roll of Choctaw Indians by blood, and that to them and to each of them be given their distributive share of the common property of the Choctaw Tribe of Indians the .same as is given to all other such citizens so enrolled. Jukdean Smyees. State of Oklahoma, Muskogee County, ss: .Turdean Smyres, n6e Givins, being first duly sworn, on oath states that she is the above-named Jurdean Givins; that she has read over the above petition and knows the contents tliercof, and tliat tiio matters and things therein con- tained are true. Jubdean Smyres. 426 INDIAN APPEOPEIATION BILL. Subscribed and sworn to before nie this the 13th day of April, 1915. I further certify that I read over to tlie affiant the above petition, and that she knew the contents tliereof and tliat she stated that same was true. [seal.] Julius Golden, Notary Ptihlic. (My connnission expires June 2, 1917.) AFFIDxVVIT OF MARY BOSS IN SUPPORT OF THE PETITION OF JURDEAN SMYERS FOR THE ENROLLMENT OF HERSELF AND CHILDREN AS CHOCTAW INDIANS. Mary Ross, being first duly sworn, on oath states that slie is 29 years of age and that she lives in Haskell, Okla. That she is well and personally acquainted with the applicant and that she has known her for about five years. That she also knows her children ; that her baby boy is just one year younger than the youngest child of the applicant and that they go to school together ; she also has a girl a year older, Adeline, that goes to school with the said boys, and the older ones are not going to school. She has six children altogether and they all live with her and their father. That she only knows who were the ancestors of the applicant from hearsay, but that she is informed they were Choctaw Indians. Mary Ross. State of Oklahoma, Muskogee County, ss: Subscribed and sworn to before me this, the 13th day of April, 1915. I fur- ther certify that I read over the above affidavit to the affiant and that she knew the contents thereof and that she stated that same was true and that she was the identical person named therein as affiant. [seal.] Julius Golden, Notary Public. (My commission expires June 2, 1917.) affidavit of W. M. JAMES IN SUPPORT OF THE PETITION OF JURDEA SMYERS FOR THE ENROLLMENT OF HERSELF AND FAMILY AS CHOCTAW INDIANS. W. M. .Tames, being first duly sworn, on oath states that he is 70 years of age, and that he lives at Beeland, Okla. That he first became acquainted with the applicant about 15 years ago; at this time she was living with her husband on Blue River about 8 miles from Durant ; that they only had two children when he first knew her ; her husband was named Aaron Smyers. That he was not personally acquainted with the mother of the applicant, but that he knew about her ; her name was Pusley and she was said to be a full-blood Choctaw. That he did know her father ; his name was Ed Givins. I don't know how much Choctaw blood he was ; he was just considered a Choctaw Indian the same as the other Choctaw Indians that lived there in that part of the country. That he knows that she now lives at Catesville and that she has lived there for several years; that he has seen her children, but does not know them per- sonally. W. M. James (his thumb print). State of Oklahoma, Mvakogee Connty, ss: Subscribed and sworn to before me this the 13th day of April, 1915. I fur- ther certify that I read over the above attidavit to the attiant and that he knew the contents thereof and that he stated that same was true and that he was the identical person named therein as affiant. [seal.] Julius Golden, Notary Public. (My commission expires .Tunc 2, 1917.) INDIAN APPEOPRIATION BILL. 427 AFFIDAVIT OF ALEC NAIL IN SUPPORT OF THE PETITION OF JUDEAN SMYRES FOR THE ENROLLMENT OF HERSELF AND FAMILY AS CHOCTAW INDIANS. Alec Nail, being first duly sworn, on oath states, that he is 72 years of age, and that he now lives at 1206 South Third Street, IMuskogee, Okla. That he has recently become acquainted with the applicant, but that he knows the persons that she states is her ancestors ; that he was well and personally acquainted with her said grandmotlier, Ellen Pusley, who was a full-blood Choctaw Indian. That she had two brothers, McAlester Pusley and Old Jack Pusley that were allotted as he has been informed ; that he was well and per- sonally acquainted with the daughter of Ellen Pusley named Adeline, but that he does not know who she married and never had heard until he met the applicant ; that he did not know the father of the applicant nor does he know her family. Alec Nail (his thumb print). State of Oklahoma, Mitskogee County, ss: Subscribed and sworn to be fore me this the 13th day of April, 1915 ; I fur- ther certify that I read over the above affidavit to the affiant and that he knew the contents thereof and that he stated that the same was true, and that he was the identical person named therein as affiant. [seal.] Julius Golden, Notary Public. (My commission expires June 2, 1917.) Department of the Interior, United States Indian Service, Five Civilized Tribes, Muskogee, Okla., November 8, 1915. Postmaster, Porter, Okla. Sir: Desiring to personally interview Jurdena Smyres, (nee Givens), age given as 38, said to be the wife of Aaron Smyres or Smiles, and to have for- merly received mail at Gatesville, Okla^ in an official matter, I would thank you to promptly inform me, by indorsement hereon and under cover of the inclosed envelope, whether she resides within the delivery of your office, and, if so, whether in town or at what distance and in what direction in the country. If she does not reside within your delivei'y, any information you may furnish with respect to present post-office address and nearest town or railway station will be appreciated. Very respectfully, Wm. L. Bowie, Of Special Investigation Service, Offlce of Superintendent for the Five Civilized Tribes. November 9, 1915. Jurdena Smyres, post office. Porter, Okla., R. F. D. No. 3, Box 51 ; lives near Gatesville, Okla. Is this person white, Indian or colored? Colored. Emjiett II. Howard. Postmaster, Porter, Okla. statement of p. j. hurley, attorney for the ciiootaw nation. In re petition of Jurdeau Smyers for enrollment of herself and family as citi- zens by blood of the Choctaw Nation. The foregoing petition, and accompanying affidavits, was served upon me by Mr. Webster Ballingcr, an attorney at law of Washington, D. C. In this petition Jurdo.ni Smyers makes .'ipplication for enrollment of herself and her children as citizens by blood of the Choctaw Nation. We have been unable to locate the petitioner, in order to procure her testimony. She does not reside at the address given by her in the petition. In fact we find in a number of the petitions filed by Mr. Ballinger that the true addresses of the applicants are not given. With the statements contained in the petition and the affidavits attached thereto, and the testimony of the two persons whose affidavits are attached to the petition, we have sufficient evidence to identify the applicant, and to show that the claims made by her for enrollment of 428 INDIAN APPEOPKIATION BILL. herself and the members of her family as citizens by blood of the Choctaw Nation are fraudulent. Before beginning a discussion of the facts, let me first call the attention of the committee to the law. First. Upon the face of the petition it is shown that neither the chief ap- plicant nor her family resides in the Choctaw Nation. According to the peti- tion they reside in Clarksville, a small town located in the Arkansas River Bottom in the Creek Nation near Muskogee. The chief applicant admits upon the face of her i)etition that she did not make application for enrollment of herself or the members of her family during the period in which the rolls of citizenship were being made. Section 34 of the supplemental agreement be- tween the Choctaw and Chickasaw people and the United States is as follows : "During the ninety days first following the date of the final ratification of this agreement, the Commission to the Five Civilized Tribes may receive appli- cations for enrollment only of persons whose names are on the tribal rolls, but who have not heretofore been enrolled by said commission, commonly known as "delinquents," and such intermarried white persons as may have married recognized citizens of the Choctaw and Chickasaw Nations in accordance with the tribal laws, customs and usages on or before the date of the passage of this act by Congress, and such infant children as may have been born to recognized and enrolled citizens on or before the date of the final ratification of this agreement; but the application of no person whomsoever for enrollment shall be received after the expiration of the said ninety days: Provided, That nothing in this section shall apply to any person or persons making applica- tion for enrollment as Mississippi Choctaws, for whom provision has herein otherwise been made." (32 Stat. L. 641.) Under this law the petitioner would, of course, be barred, as no application was filed within the required time. The Commission to the Five Civilized Tribes and the Dawes Commission had been receiving applications for enroll- ment of citizens in the Choctaw and Chicksaw Nations from June 10, 1896, up until 90 days after the passage of the act of July 1, 1902, which is quoted above, so that ample time was given to all resident applicants to file their petitions. It appears that these applicants were not residents of the Choctaw Nation on the 2Sth day of June, 1S9S. The act of Congress approved on that date embodied what is commonly known as the Atoka agreement be- tween the United States and the Choctaw and Chickasaw people. That agree- ment provided: "No person shall be enrolled who has not heretofore removed to and in good faith settled in the Nation in which he claims citizenship:" (30 Stat L 491), a proviso following this provision to the effect that this pro- vision should not be construed to militate against whatever rights and privi- leges the Mississippi Choctaws had under treaties with the United States. These applicants are not and do not claim to be Mississippi Choctaws; conse- quently they would not be entitled to enrollment in the Choctaw Nation even if they had made application during the time in which the rolls were being made. These applicants are barred on two legal grounds. First, they did not make application within the time required by law, and second, they were not residents of the Choctaw Nation on June 28, 1898. We will now discuss the facts. The chief applicant in this case states thift the reason that application was not made for her and her children for en- rollment as citizens of the Choctaw Nation during the time that the rolls were being made is that she was an orphan. She does not state whether or not her children were orphans at that time, and we assume that her husband was living. We do not care to dispute Mrs. Smyers's statement to the effect that she was an orphan at the time the rolls were being made, but, according to her sworn statement, she is the mother of a child who was 20 years of age at the time she made the foregoing application. This child would have been 8 years of age at the time Imitation on filing application was placed in the act of 1902. Ai)plicati<)ns for children born after the passage of the act of July 1, 1902, could be filed up to and including July 25, 1906. The rolls were not finally closed until March 4, 1907. According to the sworn statement of Mrs. Smyers she was tlie mother of six children in 1907, the youngest of whom was six years of age. No application was made for any of these chil- dren during the time the rolls were being made. Under these circumstances the plea of Mrs. Smyers was left an orphan would not seem to be entitled to great consideration as an excuse for the fact that she made no application for enrollment during the period which her application could have been received and considered. She may have been an orphan, but she most certainly was not a minor. She had reached her majority before the closing of the rolls, INDIAN APPROPRIATION BILL. 429 and was the mother of a family. She comes now, eight years after the clos- ing of the rolls, with the statement that she and her family were recognized members of the Choctaw Tribe. She offers no proof except her own assertion and the affidavits of two of the professional witnesses usually used by Mr. Bal- linger and his associates in enrollment matters. These witnesses are Alec Nail, a negro who signs by mark, and W. M. James, a negro who signs by .mark. Alec Nail's affidavit in support of the plaintiff's petition in this case is as follows : "Alec Nail, being first duly sworn on oath, states that he is 72 years of age, and that he now lives at 1206 S. 3d St., Muskogee, Okla. "That he has recently become acquainted with the applicant, and that he knows the persons that she states is her ancestors ; "That he was well and personally acquainted with her said grandmother, Ellen Pusley, who was a full-blood Choctaw Indian. That she had two brothers, McAlester Pusley and Old Jack Pusley, that were allotted, as he has been informed ; "That he was well and personally acquainted with the daughter of Ellen Pulsey named Adeline, but that he does not know who she married, and never had heard until he met the applicant. "That he did not know the father of the applicant nor does he know her family. "Alec Nail (his thumb print). "State of Oklahoma, Muskogee County, ss. "Subscribed and sworn to before me this the 13th day of April, 1915 ; I further certify that I read over the above affidavit to the affiant and that he knew the contents thereof and that he stated that the same was true and that he was the identical person named therein as afBaut. "[SEAL.] Julius Golden, Notary Puhlic. "My commission expires June 2, 1917." At Muskogee, Okla., on July 31, 1915, Alec Nail, after having been first duly sworn by Mr. William L. Bowie, deputy clerk of the United States court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, on oath testified as follows: "Q. Do you remember a person named Jordeana Smyers, nee Givens? — A. No sir, I don't remember her. " Q. In the affidavit filed with the application for the enrollment of this per- son, made by you on April 13, 1915, you state that you were acquainted with the applicant and that you knew the persons whom she stated wei-e her ances- tors, and with her grandmother, Ellen Pusley, a full-blood Choctaw. Do you remember Ellen Pusley? — A. I remember the Pusleys, they were Choctaw In- dians ; I don't remember though the woman who made that application. " Q. Do you remember the brothers of Ellen Pusley ? — A. Three of them, I do. " Q. What wei-e their names? — A. George, Billy, and Josh. "Q. Who was Jack Pusley? — A. I don't know. " Q. You do not remember? — A. No, sir. " Q. Who was McAlester Pusley ? — A. I don't remember. "Q. Do you remember Adaline Pusley? — A. No, sir; I just know Ellen and Elmyra." This affidavit is very carefully drawn. The affiant does not allege that he knows that this negro woman is in any manner related to Choctaw Indians by the name of Pusley. He is made to swear in the affidavit, however, that he knew two brothers and a sister of Ellen Pusley, who is alleged to be the grand- mother of the applicant, but when he attempts, in his testimony, to give the names of the brothers of Ellen Pusley he gives them an entirely new set of names, and swears positively that he does not know the persons whom he swears in his affidavit that he is well and personally acquainted with. The other professional witness used by Mr. Ballinger and his associates in citizen- ship matters, in his affidavit, positively identifies the applicant. This witness is W. M. James. His aflidavit is as follows: " W. M. James, being first duly sworn, on oath states that he is 70 years of age and that he lives at Beeland, Okla. "That he first became acquainted with the applicant about 15 years ago; at this time she was living with her Jiusband on Blue River, about 8 miles from Durant ; that they only had two children when he first knew her ; her husband was named Aaron Smyers. "That he was not personally acquainted with the mother of the applicant, but that he knew about her ; her name was Pusley and she was said to be a full-blood Choctaw. 430 INDIAN APPROPRIATION BILL. " That he did know her father ; his name was Ed Givins ; I don't know how much Choctaw blood he was ; he was just considered a Choctaw Indian, the same as the other Clioctaw Indians that lived there in that part of the country. " That he knows that she now lives at Gatesville and that she has lived there for several years ; that he has seen her children, but does not know them per- sonally. " W. M. James (his thumb print). " State of Oklahoma, Muskogee County, ss: " Subscribed and sworn to before me this the 13th day of April, 1915. I further certify that I read over the above affidavit to the affiant and that he knew the contents thereof and that he stated that same was true and that he was the identical person named therein as affiant. " [seal.] "Julius Golden, Notary Public. " (My commission expires June 2, 1917." A full and complete copy of the evidence rendered by him in this case at Muskogee, Okla., on July 30, 1915, before an officer of the Interior Department, is attached hereto and marked Exhibit A. I will quote herein some of the testimony in order to give an idea of the reliability to be placed in affidavits filed by Mr. Ballinger in support of petitions. This witness is a keen criminal. At the time he rendered this testimony he was confined in the county jail at Muskogee. He is at the present time serving a term in the State penitentiary. The witness first testified that the applicant herein was a Creek freedman, and was a man and not a ^\•oman, and that the father of the applicant was named John Smyers. It finally dawned upon him that the applicant was a woman instead of a man and he changed his testimony accordingly. He then stated that the applicant was a woman and lived in the Little Deep Fork country in the Creek Nation, and was half Creek Indian and half negro. It may be seen from the affidavit that the witness swore, in support of the petition, that he had known the applicant 15 years ago when she was living with her husband 8 miles from Durant. He then proceeds to show that her mother was a full- blood Choctaw, and that her father was Ed Givens, but when asked the ques- tion : " When did she live at Durant? " he answered : " I do not know when she lived there." "Q. What direction did she live from Durant? — A. I don't know. "Q. When was the last time you saw her? — A. I haven't seen her for 4 or 5 years until she came here." Again, in the same testimony : "Q. How do you know that she is one-half blood Choctaw Indian? — A. She said she was. "Q. She told you?— A. Yes, sir. "Q. That is all you know about it? — A. Yes, sir. "Q. You don't know her father or mother? — A. No, sir. "Q. You never knew her brothers or sisters? — A. No, sir. "Q. The first time you ever saw her was at Wewoka? — A. Yes, sir; that was the first time. "Q. Never saw her anywhere else outside of Wewoka? — A. No, sir. "Q. Not until she came here? — A. No, sir; I never knew what became of her until she came here. "Q. Do you know where Blue River is? — A. Yes, sir. "Q. Where is it? — A. In the Choctaw Nation. "Q. Where? — A. About 7 or 8 miles below Caddo; no, sir; Blue River is be- tween Caddo and Atoka. "Q. Did that woman ever live on Blue River? — A. Not that I know of. "Q. Have you ever been on Blue River? — A. Yes, sir. "Q. For some time? — A. Yes, sir : several times. "Q. Did that woman have a husband that you know of on Blue River? — A. No, sir. "Q. Do yon know anything about her children? — A. No, sir. "Q. Did you ever know a man by the name of Aaron Smyers? — A. No, sir. "Q. You do not know whether Aaron Smyers is her husband? — A. No. sir. "Q. Do you know whether this woman's mother's name was Pusley? — A. I don't know that. "Q. Do you know whether her father's name was Ed Givens? — A. No, sir. "Q. Did you ever know an Ed Givens, a Choctaw? — A. No, sir. * * *" The affidavit which is quoted above was then read to the witness and the question was asked: INDIAIST APPBOPEIATIOX BILL. 431 "Q. What do you kuow about this affidavit? — A. I don't remember making that. I don't know about it. "Q. Does this affidavit refresh j^our memory any? — A. No, sir; not a bit; it is a fraud." P. J. Hurley, National Attorney for the Choctaw Nation. Exhibit A. Department of the Interior, Office of Superintendent Five Civilized Tribes. Muskogee, Olcla., July 30, 1915. In the matter of the enrollment of various persons as citizens of the Choctaw Nation. W. M. JAMES, being first duly sworn by William L. Bowie, deputy clerk of the United States Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, on oath testifies as follows: Examination by William L. Bowie on behalf of the superintendent for the five civilized tribes : Q. What is your name? — A. William James. Q. Have you any middle initial? — A. William AI. James. Q. You sign your name W. M. James? — A. W. M. James. Q. What is your age? — A. I was born in 1846. Q. Are you a citizen of any of the nations?— A. No, sir; I was born and raised in Kentucky. Q. You are not enrolled as a freedman, then? — A. No, sir. Q. Where did you say you were born — A. In Kentucky. Q. What county? — A. Washington County; Springfield is the county seat. Q. How far did you live from Springfield? — A. Three miles north. Q. How long did you live there? — A. Until I was 20 years old. Q. Then where did you go William? — A. I went from there to Louisville and worked on a boat from Louisville to New Orleans. Q. How long did you run on the boat? — A. I run on the boat during '67, '68, and part of '69. Q. Then where did you go from there? — A. Came out here. Q. From there to Muskogee? — A. To Indian Territory. Q. Where did you live in the Indian Territory? — A. I stopped around Fort Gibson. Q. How long did you stay there? — A. I got work in tlie survey gang for the Katy in '70 and worked on the road to Denison, Tex. Q. How long did you work with the survey party? — A. I worked with it until they got through and then helped them to grade into Parsons. Q. How long were you in Parsons? — A. I didn't stay there over 3 or 4 days. Q. Where did you go then? — A. I worked on the railroad until it was com- pleted. I drove a supply wagon. Q. From Parsons down to Denison? — A. Yes. sir. Q. Where did you next settle down? — A. I stopped in Denison in '72. they completed the road in '72, and I stoppefl in Denison until July, '7.^. Q. Where did you go next? — A. Came back to Muskogee. It was just started to build. Q. And have you resided here continuously ever since? — A. Ever since; I have not been out of town for years. Q. Have you not been out of town? — A. No, sir; not 20 miles away. Q. You have not been 20 miles away from Muskogee? — A. No, sir; to stay any length of time since 1873. * * * Q. Are you acquainted with Jurdean Smyers? — A. Yes, sir. Q. Who is this person? — A. Supposed to be a Creek freedman. Q. Man or woman? — A. A man — Ihe one I know. Q. Where does he live? — A. Used to live southwest of Okmulgee. Q. How far? — A. Used to live out between Wewoka and Springfield. Q. You say this person was a Creek freedman? — A. Yes, sir. Q. Eni'olk'd? — A. No; he was enrolled. Q. Do you know whether this person was enrolled? — A. No, sir; if he wag he would not be making application. 432 INDIAN APPROPRIATION BILL. Q. When did you first get acquainted with this person? — A. I got acquainted with his people in 1883. Q. Who was his father? — A. John Smyers. Q. Who was his mother? — A. I don't linow now; I can't remember now. Q. Did you ever Ijnow a woman by the name of Jurdean Smyers? — A. I can't get that name. ^ Q. Well, did you know any other person * * *? — A. I knew a woman by the name of Julius IMyers. Q. Where does she live? — A. She used to live on Little Deep Fork. Q. Where is Little Deep Fork, what county? — A. In Okmulgee County. Q. Is she an Indian? — A. Well, she is one-half blood; used to live at Coweta. Q. What nation now? — A. Creek. Q. What is the other half?— A. Colored. Q. Negro? — A. Yes, sir. Q. Did you know the parents of this person? — A. Yes, sir; Geo. Myers is her vincle. Q. Do you know a Choctaw Indian by the name of Jurdean Smyers? — A. Yes, sir ; used to be woman that lived at Wewoka. Q. This Smyers? — A. That is the same woman. Q. Did she have a Creek man? — A. Yes, sir. Q. Ever live at Durant? — A. She said she did; yes, sir. Q. Did you ever live at Durant? — A. I worked there some years ago, but she used to live at Wewoka. Q. She lived at Wewoka? — A. Yes, sir. Q. Where does she live now? — A. I don't know, sir. Q. When did she live at Durant? — A. I don't know when she lived there. Q. What direction did she live from Durant? — A. I don't know. Q. When was the last time you saw her? — A, I hav'nt seen her for four or five years until she came here. Q. Came where? — A. Here in town. Q. When did you see her here? — A. On the streets. Q. Did you identify her in this office downstairs? — A. Yes, sir; I identified her ; Alec Nail showed her to me. Q. Alec Nail showed her to you? — A. Yes, sir. Q. Is that the first time you had ever seen her? — A. For a good while. Y. Where had you seen her before that? — A. Wewoka. Q. You saw her in Wewoka? — A. Yes, sir. Q. Wewoka is in the Seminole Nation? — A. Yes, sir. Q. What were you doing in AVewoka? — A. I used to drive the mail hack. Q. What was she doing there? — A. She used to live there, or close to Wewoka. Q. She lived close to Wewoka? — A. I'es, sir; right on the line of the Creek Nation. Q. How far from Wewoka? — A. Lived about 7 miles, north and west. Q. Seven miles north and west? — A. Yes, sir. Q. Was she married? — A. She was living with a fellow; I don't know whether she was married or not. Q. Who was the fellow? — A. Csesar Bowlegs. Q. Was she white, Indian, or colored? — A. I don't know; I suppose part Indian. Q. What part?— A. One-half. Q. And of what Indian blood? — A. Choctaw. Q. How do you know that she is one-half blood Choctaw Indian? — A. She said she was. Q. She told you? — A. Yes, sir. Q. That is all you know about it? — A. Yes, sir. Q. l"ou don't know her father or mother? — A. No, sir. Q. You never knew her brothers or sisters? — A. No, sir. Q. The first time you ever saw her was at Wewoka?— A. Yes, sir; that was the first time. Q. Never saw her anywhere else outside of Wewoka? — A. No, sir. Q. Not until she came here? — A. No, sir; I never knew what became of her until she came here. Q. Do you know where Blue River is? — A. Yes, sir. Q. Where is it? — A. In the Choctaw Nation. Q. Where?— A. About 7 or 8 miles below Caddo — no, sir; Blue River is be- tween Caddo and Atoka. Q. Did that woman ever live on Blue River? — A. Not that I know of. INDIAN APPKOPRIATION BILL. 433 Q. Have you ever been on Blue River? — A. Yes, sir. Q. For some time? — A. Yes. sir; several times. Q. Did that Avoinan have a hushaiul that jou know of on I>lue River? — A. No, sir. Q. Do you know anything,' about her children? — A. No. sir. Q. Did you ever know a man by the name of Aaron Smyers? — A. No. sir. Q. You do not know whc'tlicr Aiu'dii Sniyers is her husband? — A. No, sir. Q. Do you know whether tills woman's mother's nnme was Pusley? — A. T don't know that. Q. Do you know whether her father's name was Ed Givens? — A. No. sir. Q. Did you ever know an Ed Givins. a Choctaw? — A. No, sir. Q. Where is Gatesville? — A. I don't know exactly. Q. You do not know where this place is? — A. I don't know. (>. Vou don't know whcthor this woman is living there now or not? — A. No. sir. Q. Where is Reeland? — A. Eleven and one-half miles southwest of Muskogee. Q. Did you ever live there? — A. Yes, sir. Q. When dhl you live there? — A. I have lived there ever since 1899. Q. Where is your home now? — A. That is my home. O. You are an inmate of the county jail now, are you? — A. Yes. sir. Q. What crime are you charged with? — A. Check Cf. What is the charge against you? — -A. Identifying a check, identification. Q. Is the charge for false pretense? — A. Y'es, sir. I read you an affidavit piu-porting to have been made by you on A))ril 15. 191.0. before .Tulius Golden, notary public, filed by INIr. Webster Ballinger with the petition of Jnrdean Smyers for the enrollment of herself and family as' Choctaw Indians. " W. I\I. ,Tamc>s, being first duly sworn, on oath states that be is 70 years of age and that he lives at Reeland, Okla. "That he first became acquainted with the applicant about 15 years ago; nt thi'^ time she was living with her husband on Blue River about 8 miles from Durant ; that they only had two children v\'hen he first knt-w her ; her huslmnd was named Aaron Smyers. " That he was not pei-sonally acquainted with the mother of the applicant, but that he know about her; her name was Pusley and she was said to be a full blood Choctaw. " That he did know her father ; his name was Ed Givens ; I don't know how nuii-h Choctaw blood he was ; he was just considered a Choctaw Indian the snmc as the other Choctaw Indians that lived there in that part of the country. " That he knows that she now lives at Gatesville and that she has lived there for several years; that he has seen her children but does not know them personally. " (Signed) W. M. James, (by thumb mark)." i). Whnt do you know about this affidavit? — A. I don't remember making that. I don't know about it. (). Does tins afiid.'ivit refresh your memory any?— A. No. sir; not a bit; it i^ a fniml. (>. As a matter of fact. James, did you ever see this woman before Alec Nail introduced her to you? — A. I took her to be the same woman. (). You took her to be the same woman? — A. Y^es, sir. Q. Did you know that she was the same wonuin?— A. She told me she was ihe same woman. Q. \\ hat did you say her name was — A. Bowlegs at that time. Q. You knew her by the name of Bowlegs? — A. Yes. sir. Q. You did'nt know her hy the name of Sniyers? — A. No. sir. Q. Did not know her by the name of Smyers until Alec Nail introduced you? — A. No. sir. Q. What was her maiden name? — A. No, sir; I don't know. * * * This is not a complete copy of th(> testimony of this witness taken on the dnte given, imt is a complete copy of his testimony concerning the applicant Jurdean Smyns. We have acted in perfect good faich in this matter and have waited since 1908 for our money, and ludess the pro- vision on page 34 of the bill as amended as pi-oposed above, we are afraid an injustice will l)e done to us. We may add that practically \ho same amendment was submitte adopted the iimendnKMit, and we understand the anuMidment was agreed to Jn conl'i'i-cnce. but the Indian aiM»i"opriation bill fiiilcd of ])assage. Trusting that this amen'e. There would not be any if that were to go the same way. Senator Cuutis. There would be $30,000,000 left they could be paid out of. Senator Lane. If they keep on getting it, as in this case, there will be nothing, and there w^ill be less left than there was if you spend a portion of it. That puts it right back tp what I said in the begin- ning, that the funds ought to be projiortioned. Senator Curtis. They would be given their proportionate shares? Senator Lane. They would have less leverage here and less oppor- tunity than if it goes in now^ Senator Curtis. I think not, with $30,000,000 undisposed of prop- erty. Senator Lane. Why not deduct that amount, whether it repre- sents 1,000 or 1,200 Indians, and then pay the balance to these others, and then when you pay again keep on doing the same thing. Senator Owen. The commissioner has just stated there is between $20,000,000 and $30,000,000. Senator Lane. You might have $250,000,000, and if you paid out one-half there would be that much less left to divide up. Senator Owen. The pro-rata share has a fixed value, so that what you say would not really affect the interests of these persons if there were any, if they should be hereinafter enrolled. Senator Lane. There are certain numbers of them, I think it has been pretty generally conceded, who have a right on the roll, who have not been able to establish it for one reason or another. Now if the number could be estimated and deducted from this amount, say, if you appropriate $7,000,000, take out what would cover the share of these others, and let them have the rest, you would have that much more left when they come in here with a claim, when they go into court and make the Government pay the money. Senator Curtis. There is no danger of that because the courts have decided that Congress has the final word in this matter, and Congress having fixed the date for the closing of the rolls and left them off, so far as the courts are concerned they would hold these people have lost their rights. The only question is wdiether or not Congress will in the future act upon their cases. Senator Owen. The matter is entirely and exclusively in the hands of Congress? Senator Curtis. Yes; the matter is entirely and exclusively in the hands of Congress, the courts so held that there was no question about that. But there is another side to this case that we ought to state now before the record is closed. A good many people say the folks now there had not a fair chance. They were given many years, and I want to say that Congress was influenced to close these rolls as it did because of the character of the testimony filed in the en- rollment cases. We discovered on inxestigation that they had forged 444 INDIAN APPROPRIATION BILL. seals, that men justices of the peace who were supposed to liave sworn persons whose names were signed to the documents had been dead 10 or 15 3'ears before the oath was taken before them, and we discovered that the records Avere filed for the enrollment of people, especiall.y the Chickasaws and Choctaws, and those rolls Avere placed in buildings, and the buildings burned, so that Congress and the officials could not inquire into the truthfulness of those affidaA'its and run them down. And it was, in view of all this, that Congress did fix at least a date to close these rolls to stop this kind of conduct. I think it is only fair to the Congress and to the members of the com- mission who looked into the cases that the statement be made. The Chairman. But, Senator, the rolls Avere not closed summa- rily. A year elapsed after the act passed until the rolls were closed? Senator Curtis. They Avere given plenty of time, it seems to me. The time Avas extended' from time to time. The only question is as to these men Avho filed their claims. Because of the time it took to get reports from Oklahoma up here the de])artment did not have time to act on those 2,000 and some applicati(ms — I think they invoh^e about 6.000 names all told. I have ahvays thought that those people Avho filed their applications in time should have a day in court. I mean by that they should have a hearing before Congress, or we should authorize some one to look into those cases. I ha\"e always be- lieved they lost out, not^because of any lack on their part, but be- cause tlie department did not haA^e time to act upon those cases, and I understand stamped them " disalloAved.'' because they did not have time to inspect and look into the applications. I also understand — I have not looked at the i-ecord. but it is my recollection — that an amendment Avas offered to the Indian appropria- tion liill at the session of Congress folloAving the closing of the rolls, and folloAving this act of the department, but it Avas stricken out on the floor of the Senate on a point of order. I am not sure about that. Senator Oavex. They did afterwards, I think, actually g(^ into the records. Senator Gronna. A couple of years ago Ave provided for the enrollment of 400 Avho Avere held as having equities by the Depart- ment of the Interior, so that seven years after the rolls had been closed in 1907, Avhen the department had seven years in AA'hich to go through it, they reported that they thought there Avere 400 Avho were entitled, equitably, to be enrolled, and Ave did enrcill them by a special act. Senatoi- Cnrns. Was that after an iuA'estigation of the 2.700 applications ? Senator Oaven. I suppose so, Senator. I do not knoAv, but I sup- ])Ose that is the case. Senator Gronna. May I ask Senator Curtis a question? The Chairman. Certainly. Senator Gronna. May 1 ask you. Senator Curtis, Avhether the statement you made as to the method of setting up ]n'oof — does that apply to tiie Mississippi ChoctaAvs? Senator Curtis. No, Ave did not discover anything of that kind in regard to the Mississippi ChoctaAvs. That matter all came up after- Avards, and it Avas handled largely by the officers of the department on INDIAN APPROPRIATION BILL. 445 the ground in Mississipi^i. Some of them, (juite a number of them, came up to Oklahoma and made a showing, but officers were sent to Mississippi. What I had reference to was other applicants for en- rollment in the Choctaw and Chickasaw country; and for that matter in the Cherokee and Creek countr}- there were persons of that kind. Senator Owen. I have no d('ul)t they enrolled thousands of people who were not entitled to enrollment at all by fraudulent testimony, and that is what the Indians are so sore aljout, and that is why they liave been so deeply opposed to reopening the rolls, because they thought if the rolls were again reopened they would again be sub- jected to the same character of false testimony, of which they felt they had been the victims before. Senator Gronna, I wish to make this statement to the committee. ]\Iy interest in this matter has really been stimulated, I might say, by the eloquent pleas made by the two senators from Mississippi. On various occasions I have listened to Senator Williams, and he has on every occasion demonstrated that really there is merit, some merit, there must be some merit, to the claims of those Mississippi Choctaw^s. Senator Curtis. Senator Williams brought this matter to my attention when this bill was originally prepared, and it Avas on his request that an item was put in protecting the interests of the Missis- sippi Choctaws, but I have been looking over the record, and if you look over it, you will find that plenty of time was given those Mis- sissippi ChoctaAvs, that is in my judgment, and if my recollection serves me right when the question was up in Congress they were given six months extra time in which to report. I think Senator Williams asked for a year, and we compromised on the floor of the House on six months. In addition to that the Government appro- priated money to aid and assist these people; the Government sent the officers down there, put them on the ground, paid all the expenses, and appropriated money to pay the expenses of the Mississippi Choc- taws to come up to Oklahoma. You must bear in mind they had no right unless they did remove to Oklahoma. They must go there and go on the land. There are a lot of these people claiming rights Avho never atempted to go to Oklahoma. Then again, looking over this list, I find there are but 10 families of Mississippi Choctaws that were not acted on for want of time. That was the report of the Sec- retary of the Interior. Senator Gronna. If you will allow me to interpose just there? Senator Curtis. Certainl3\ Senator Gronna. We do jiot deal with the Indians strictly accord- ing to rules of law, do we? Senator Curtis. That is true; yes, sir. Senator Gronna. Why should iTot an Indian, because he does not live on a certain place, if he is of the same blood, why should he not have some ecpiity ? Senator Curtis. I will tell you. Because in tlie treaty these peo- ple, their ancestors, Avere given lai-ge tracts of land in Mississippi, much larger in amount than would have been given them in the Indian Territory. Senator Gronna. I agree* that is a fair answer, but I cannot feel Senator Curtis. Wait a moment. There was also a further con- dition; they were parties to the treaty, a further condition that in 446 INDIAN APPEOPEIATION BILL. order to have rights in Oklahoma, then the Indian Territory, they must remove to the Indian Territory; they must settle among their brothers in the Indian Territory, and as fast as they came to that countr}^ they were given their rights, except, I think, annuity rights, which they had waived in the treaty. Senator Owen. Yes. Senator Curtis. And not only that, but the Chickasaw and Choc- taw Tribe of Indians time and again passed resolutions inviting them to come, and in some instances I think offered to pay their expenses. Senator Owen. They did pay their expenses. Senator Curtis. And did everything they could to get them there. Then, Senator, this question, has been pending in Congress and was agitated for years, and they had time and they did not remove ; and I think, in view of the authority Congress gave these tribes, and all that was done, that their rights were protected as fully as they could have expected them to be protected under the circumstances. I mean the Mississippi Choctaws, now. I have taken great interest in the Mississippi Choctaws for the same reason that Senator Gronna has, namely, because Senator AVilliams from the very first has been a very ardent supporter of the rights of those people, and I took an interest in it first at his request and have continued to do so, and now if I thought a great injustice was done those people I would not vote for this amendment, but I believe if they have any rights there will be sufficient money left to pay them. The Chairman. Is there any further discussion? Senator Gronna. If I thought that the Mississippi Choctaws know ihe conditions, that this legislation was not made without their knowledge, of course I should not oppose it. If they had had their day in court, if they understood it, but I will not agree that it is a fair proposition to a tribe of Indians, or to a number of In- dians I will say, that simply because they did not live in a certain particular place, that they were not entitled to property which is held by their tribe. Senator Curtis. You must remember that they were exempted from the act of June l>8, 1898. Senator Gronna. That is not the way we are legislating for In- dians. Senator Curtis. They wore especially exempted and were the only branch of any of the tribes that were exempted. They were given additional time and after that the agents of the Government were sent down tlierc to aid and assist them, and the Government, as I said, appropriated money to help move them to Oklahoma. The only ones set out were those who had been in Oklahoma or in the Indian Territory at some time, and had moved of their own volition. The CiiAiRiviAN. Is there any further discussion? If not, the sec- retary will call the roll. The question being taken by yeas and nays, resulted: Yeas five, as follows: Senators Pittman, Owen, Clapp, Cuilis and Ashurst. Nays two, as follows : Senators Page and Gronna. The Chairman. The yeas have it, and the proposal of the House is agreed to. That finishes Oklahoma. We now have Minnesota. INDIAN APPROPRIATION BILL. 447 RED RIVER AND FLAMliEAU (wiS.) DISPOSITION OF Ti:\rBER. Senator Clapp. Before we take up Minnesota, on behalf of Sena- tor La Follette, I want to call the committee's attention to the amendment to S. 4383 to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to dispose of the timber on the so-called lands and swamp lands within the Red River and the Flambeau Indian Reservations, which has not only been approved by the Department but somewhat earnestly urged. Senator Curtis. Is that Senator Nelson's amendment? Senator Clapp. No, this is for Wisconsin. Senator Gronna. Is it in the original bill? Senator Clapp. No, sir. Senator Gronna. It must have been estimated for since the bill came from the House then? Mr. Meritt. We have an item found on page 408 of the Hearings of the House covering the matter. Senator Page. I think I have some knowledge of this, Mr. Chair- man. It has been a matter of dispute for a long time as to whether these lands belonged to the Indians or to the State, and the time has come when they ought to be disposed of, I think, and it is provided here that the proceeds be deposited at interest somewhere for safe- keeping until the adjustment is reached. I rather think the bill is good. Senator Curtis. You think the question ought to be settled. Sena- tor, on the appropriation bill, do you? The Chairman. It is a separate bill, Senator. Senator Page. I thought it was on the appropriation bill. Senator Curtis. I do not think we settle the question. We simply say the lands may be sold and the money kept until the matter is adjusted. Senator Clapp. Senator La Follette wanted it put on the ajipro- priation bill under the Wisconsin item. Senator Curtis. Did you not, as a member of the committee, in- vestigate that at one time. Senator Page? Senator Page. Yes; Senator Clapp and Mr. Brown, Mr. Small and myself. I think. Am I right about that, Senator Clapp? Senator Clapp. Yes. The Chairman. It is in the amendments asked for by the depart- ment. Is there any objection to the legislation going on the bill? Senator Gronna. I was told the other day there would be a bill in the course of a few days before this committee that would take care of bills that were purely legislation. I have no objection that I know of to this particular provision. It is hardly fair to the rest of us to say that simply because the department wants cei-tain things that legis- lation must go on, and then some Meml^ers of Congress want to know whether there has been any estimate for it or not. Now, whether that is a fair way of proceeding, I do not know. Senator Ci rtts. I think Senator Gronna is right. MISSISSIPPI CIIOCTAWS — ENROLL.^IENT. The Chairman. I ask leave to include in the record some corre- spondence regarding the per capita payments, being a letter I wrote 448 INDIAN APPROPPJATION BILL. Mr. Bixby, of Muskogee, and his reply, under the head of Choctaw and Chickasaw per capita payments. (The letter and reply referred to is here pi'inted in full, as fol- loAvs : ) July 30, 1915. Hon. Tam.s IJixhy, .Muskogee, OJda. My Di:au Sru : Tlie Indian Committee (hu'inji tlie last session of Omgress was sul).iecte(l to tlie strenuous contention that the Mississippi ('lioctaws still residin.i: in Mississippi were entitled to enrollment under the treaty of 1S30. Our records show that the Dawes Conunission reported in January, 1898, that the INIississippi Choctaws were unable to prove their descent from ances- tors who were supposed to be fourteenth article claimants, and were unable to pi-ove that their ancestors had comjilied with the requirements of the foiu*- teenth article of the treaty of 1830, and therefore could not qualify themselves under the law ; that Cou.s;ress passed an act iNIay 31. 1900, that those " didy iden- tified " mi.ii'ht be enrolled for allotment if tlie.v should x'emove to the Choctaw country west, but that the Dawes Conunission, upon an inquiry, found that very few, indeed, if any, could show thenis(>lves the descendants of foiu'teenth article claimants, or that their ancestors had complied with the conditions of the fourteenth article, and therefore that the Dawes Commission were unable to find more than a very few who could be " duly identified." It ap])ears, however, that when the Choctaw-Chiclcasaw a.tcreenient of 1902 was submitted to Con.2:i*ess, recognizing Mississippi Choctaws who might be " duly identified " a strenuous contention was made to change the rules of evi- dence so that the full bloods might be recognized as entitled under the four- teenth article, without regard to technical proof that their ancestors had com- plied with the conditions of the fourteenth article. I am informed, after the Interior Department, in February, 1901, changed its attitude from a recognition of the schedule of IMarch 10, 1899, and the full- blood rule of evidence as submitted by the Dawes Commission, and stood strictly ui)on the technical requirements of the law until June, 1902, when a compro- mise was effected by which the full-blood rule of evidence was inserted as an amendment on the floor of the House of Representatives, recognizing the fuU- l>lood rule of evidence, upon an agx'eement between the members of the Indian Committee, the attorneys for the Choctaws and Chickasaws, and the representa- tives of the Mississijipi Choctaws. I should nice a statement from you as to whether or not tliese I'epresenta- tions are strictly true and to have from you a statement of what the facts were, to the best of your understanding, because this matter will again come up in Congress this winter in all human probability, and we should have a plain statement fi-om you with regard to this matter. I understand that the Dawes Commission oppo.sed admission of the Missis- sippi ('hoctaws except where they made the strictest technical proof until the c()mi)roniise was entered into fixing the full-blood rule of evidence in the agree- ment of July 1, 1902. I should appreciate your writing me fully and cleai-ly with regard to this matter. Yours, respectfully. (Signed) Henry F. Ashukst. Muskogee, Oki.a.. Se/jteviher 23, Wl-l. Hon. Henry F. Ashurst, Chairman, Committee on Indian Affaira, United States Senate. Dear Sui: In answer to your i-equest, under date of July 30, with regard to the Mississii)pi Choctaws and their ri.ght to have the Choctaw rolls reopened and to be admitted to citizenship, I have the following statement to malce relative to the history of this case : Under the act of 1896, authorizing the Dawc^s Conunission to make the rolls of citizens of the Five Civilized Tril)es. application was made to the commis- sion in the case of Jack Amos et al., and in which the question was raised as to whether fuU-bkxMl ]\Iississi'")i Choctaws residing in Mississippi had the right to be enrolled as Choctaw citizens. IXDTAX APPEOPRIATIOX BILL. 449 The Dawes Counnissiou denied the Jack Ainos case December 1, 1896, and it was appealed to Judge W. H. H. Clayton's court and he decided that the Dawes Conmiission was correct in its decision in denying Jack Amos et al. Judge Claxton gave as his reason for sustaining the r)awes Commission that Jack Amos et al. (Mississippi Choctaws residing in IMlssissippi) not having removed to the Choctaw country west were not entitled to be enrolled, even if they were full-blood Mississippi Choctaws, and that their claim to the right to be enrolled while resident in Mississippi could not be sustained. This judg- ment against the Mississippi Choctaws was final under the law which made Judge Clayton's court final arbiter in matters appealed from the Dawes Com- mission. It was recognized that the Jack Amos case was a test case. In the Indian appropriation bill which passed in INIarch, 1897, an item was inserted directing the Dawes Commission to make a report to Congress on the rights of the Mississippi Choctaws. President Cleveland failed to sign this act of Congress, but it was reenacted the following June (1897) and was signed by the President. Under this direction of Congress the Dawes Connnission made its repoi't, which was sent in to Congress in January, 1898, in wliich the commission held that the Mississippi Choctaws who were the lineal descendants of the fourteenth article claimants under the treaty of 1830 would be entitled to move to the Choctaw Nation and be enrolled for citizenship, provided they were identified by some competent tribunal and should actually remove to the Choctaw country west. In the Curtis Act of June 28, 1898, Congress instructed the Dawes Com- luission to identify the Rlississippi Choctaws who should be entitled to remove under this report of the Dawes Commission. Maj. A. S. McKennon went to Mississippi during February, 1899, and iden- tified 1,923 Mississippi Choctaws, but stated in the report that it was made up on the theory that in making the enrollment he thought it only fair to regard full-blood Choctaws as the descendants of fourteenth article claimants. He stated in this report, substantially, that no proper record had ever been made in 1830 of the fourteenth ai'ticle claimants ; that the IMississippi Choc- taws in 1899 could not prove, first, that their ancestors had complied with the fourteenth article, and, second, could not prove their lineal descent from their ancestors of 1830 as they had no family records. While the Dawes Commission joined in this report made by Hon. A. S. IMcKennon it was v.'ith some misgiving that the commission was not justified in rendering an opinion without competent evidence that would give the Mississippi Choctaws property worth millions of dollars in the Choctaw country west, and upon a more careful examination into the matter the commission concluded that the full-blood rule of evidence, so called, adopted by the report of 1899, was not justified as a matter of law and could not be maintained. On the 31st of IMay, 1900, Congress passed an act that Mississippi Choctaws " duly identified "' by the Dawes Conunissi.n might remove to the Clioctaw country west at any time before the rolls closed. IMany applications were made under this act for identification. The Dawes Commission decided that any person to be " duly identified " must prove that his ancestor had complied with the conditions of the fourteenth article of the treaty of 1830, and that he was a lineal descendant of such ancestor. After examining nearly every case which had been enrolled imder the schedule of March 10, 1899, the commission decided that only a very few individuals would be entitled to enrollment as "duly identified." Neither the Dawes Connnission nor the Interior Department felt that it had a right by loose interpretation to permit the Mississippi Choctaws to absorb millions of dollars of property vested by law in the Choctaw Nation west imless it were done upon tlie direct and express authority of Congress. It did not seem right that those who had lived in Mississippi for generation after generation, and who had taken no part in developing the Choctaw country west, should have the right to joint ownership of this property unless they could prove themselves entitled by competent evidence, and this th(>y could not do. For that rea.son the Dawes Commission and the Interior Dejiartment were opposed to their enrollment and in the report of the Dawes Conmiission of May 19, 1902, the reasons of the Dawes Commission were fully set up and were sustained by the ii^ecretary of the Interior in his letter of June 2, 1902. The Choctaws and Cliickasaws west naturally felt that they were not called upon to divide this estate with persons who had not lived with them for over 70 years and they were opposed to admitting Mississippi Choctaws who could 31362—16 29 450 INDIAN APPEOPRIATION BILL. not support their claim by adequate and competent evidence, and, for this reason, the agreement was presented to Congress February 23, 1901, and also March 24, 1902. providing that only Mississippi Choctaws " duly identified " should be admitted. Those representing Mississippi Choctaws strenuously contended that the full- blood rule of evidence should be adopted and that the schedule of March 10, 1899, should be recognized as binding. This schedule was erroneous in many particulars as the Dawes Commission discovi'red upon a critical examination of it, but finally, in order to adjust this controversy, a compromise was reached when the Choctaw-Chickasaw agreement of 1902 was passed on in Congress so that an amendment providing for the full-blood rule of evidence was adopted, so drawn, however, as to recognize only those who were living full bloods an(l not recognizing their half-breed children. It was thought better by the Gov- ernment authorities to yield this point as a settlement of the controversy as the friends of the Mississippi Choctaws were demanding very much larger concessions. I do not think that the rolls should be opened or that those not already on the rolls as Mississippi Choctaws should be given any further consideration for the simple reason that this contest was pending from 1S96 to March 4, 1907, when the rolls were closed by act Of Congress, and it is of great importance to the peace of the Choctaws and Chickasaws and of the State of Oklahoma that these rolls, which were finally closed by act of Congress eight years ago, should not be disturbed on any account whatever. Yours, very respectfully, Tams Bixby. CHIPPEWA INDIANS FOND DU LAC BAND. Senator Clapp. I ask leave to report that bill, S. 4G83, giving juris- diction to the Court of Claims to the Chippewa Indians of the Fond du Lac Band, calendar No. 117. While the Indian Office does not think these people have very much of a claim, they are rather in- clined to think they might go to the court to settle the question. The Chairman. Is there any objection to the Senator reporting that bill favorablj^? Senator Page. I should like to know more about it, because I do not know anything about it. Senator Clapp. It relates to the pine that Avas taken off of the Fond du Lac Reservation, a small reservation near the head of Lake Superior, right out from Duluth, and it is claimed this pine was sold by the Government, and consequently the Indians should be reimbursed. While the suit is brought by the Fond du Lacs under the bill, because it relates to their reservation, the money, of course, will go into the general fund of the Chippewas in Minne- sota. The Indian Office is not very much impressed with the idea that the Indians have a claim here, but they do feel there is enough of it anyway to warrant them letting them go to the court and find out about it. Senator Gronna. Is that all of this bill? Senator Page. I should like to hear from the department, if there is no objection. The Chairman. Have you any objection, Mr. INIeritt? Mr. Meritt. We have no objection to the Indians going to the Court of Claims on this matter. I have not gone over the wording of the bill carefully. The Chairman. Is there any objection to the motion? If not, the Senator will report it. Part Thirteen CHOCTAW AND CHICKASAW PER CAPITA PAYMENT EXTRACTS FROM SPEECH OF HON. ROBERT L. OWEN OF OKLAHOMA IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES MARCH 27, 1916 CONTAINING ARGUMENT OF MR. P. J. HURLEY, NATIONAL ATTORNEY FOR IHE CHOCTAW NATION REPORT OF HON. FRANKLIN K. LANE, SECRETARY OF THE .NTERIOiJ, AND REPORT OF THE SUBCOMMITTEE OF THE COMMITTEE ON INDIAN AFFAIRS, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AGAINST THE CLAIMS OF THE MISSISSIPPI CHOCTAWS AND OTHERS FOR ENROLLMENT AS CITIZENS OF THE CtiOC- TAW AND CHICKASAW NATIONS ^ 37G]7— 15507 WASUINGTON GOVERNMENT PUINTING OPPIOB lUlO m I .#**© Nk5*>^ EXTRACTS FROM SPEECH OF HON. EGBERT L. OWEN". Having completed an argument on the floor of the Senate against the reopening of tlie Choctaw and Chicka- saw rolls and in favor of a provision carried in the Indian appropriation bill anthorizing a per capita ])a}T:nent to the Choctaws and Chickasaws, Mr. Oaven submitted the following : ]\Ir. OWEN. I wish to put in the Record with regard to tlus matter several statements by the attorney for tlie Choctaw Nation, which give in brief extracts from treaties, citations of decisions of courts and of decisions of the different Secretaries of the Interior and reports of the present Secretary of the Interior and of the special committee of the House of Representatives who examined these claims at very great length. Four different Secre- taries of the Interior have decided against the claim of the Mississippi Choctaws — Republican Secretaries and Democratic Secretaries. There is no longer any ground whatever, either in law or morals or ethics, why this matter should be reopened; nor have the Mississippi Choctaws any claim against the United States except the claim of a dependent, impoverished people, for whom the United States has always shown generous care. They have no claim whatever against the property or funds of the Choctaw and Chickasaw Indians of Oklahoma. There being no objection, the matter referred to was ordered to be printed in the Record^ as follows : Statement of P. J. Hurley, Nattoxal Attorney for THE Choctaw Nation. IN RE ENROLmiENT :MATTERS. The following is a brief statement outlining generally the history and the present status of the claims which are 37617—15507 3 now being presented by persons for enrollment as citizens of the Choctaw and Chickasaw Nations. MISSISSIPPI CHOCTAWS. On March 10, 1899, the Dawes Commission reported that there Avere extremely few, if an^^, Indians in Mis- sissippi who conld prove their right to enrollment as citizens of the Choctaw and Chickasaw Nations, under the fourteenth article of the treaty of September 27, 1830. At that time there was much agitation for the enrollment of the so-called Mississippi Choctaws, and in the agreement between the Choctaws and Chickasaws and the United States, approved July 1, 1902 (32 Stat. L., 641), a compromise was reached on the Mississippi Choctaw claim. The Choctaws and Chickasaws agreed to enroll, as a gratuity, all full-blood Choctaws who then resided in Mississippi if they would remove to and establish a. resi- dence in the Choctaw or Chickasaw Nations. Under this agreement 1,634 Mississippi Choctaws were enrolled and received allotments in the Choctaw and Chickasaw Nations. With a few exceptions, the entire 1,634 were enrolled under the full-blood rule of evi- dence and Avere not required to ])rove a right to enroll- ment. The approximate value of the property received by these 1,634 persons is $15,000,000. This is the price paid by the Choc^taw and Chickasaw Nations for a settle- ment of the Mississippi Choctavv^ claim in 1902. In consideration for this concession on the part of the Choctaws and ChickasaAvs the Government agreed to close the rolls, to sell the residue of tribal property, and distribute the proceeds per capita among the enrolled members of the tribes. The United States Government has not performed its part of the agreement. The agreement of 1902 (32 Stat. L., 641), above re- ferred to, contained the folloAving provision : " No person Avhose name does not appear upon the rolls prepared as herein provided shall be entitled in any manner to ])articipate in the distribution of the common property of the .ChoctaAV and ChickasaAv Tribes, and those Avhose names api:>ear therein shall participate in the manner set forth in this agreement." 37017—15507 The act of April 26, 1906 (34 Stat. L., 137), declared the rolls of the Choctaw and Chickasaw Nations closed in the following language : " Provided, That the rolls of the tribes (Choctaw and Chickasaw) affected by this act shall be fully completed on or before the 4th day of March, 1907, and the Secre- tary of the Interior shall have no jurisdiction to approve the enrollment of any persons after that date." The rolls of the Choctaw and Chickasaw Nations are therefore closed and have been closed since the 4th day of March, 1907. The claim which is now being presented by the pi'o- ponents of the legislation for the enrollment of Missis- sippi Choctaws has heretofore been fully considered and decided adversely to the so-called ^lississippi Choctaws bv the following tribunals and officials: "(1) .1897: The Federal courts of Indian Territory. (Jack Amos v. Choctaw and Chickasaw Nations. Juris- diction affirmed by Supreme Court, Stephens v. Cherokee Nation, 174 U. S., 445.) (2) 1898: The Dav/es Commission to the Five Civi- lized Tribes. (See reports Jan. 28, 1898, and Mar. 10, 1899.) (3) 1902: The Choctaw and Chickasaw people and the United States Government in the preparation of the sup- plemental agreement of July 1, 1902. (32 Stat. L., 641.) (4) 1906: The Congress of the United States, which by the act of April 26, 1906, finallv directed the closing of the rolls March 4, 1907. (34 Stat. L., 137.) (5) 1912: Hon. Samuel Adams, First Assistant Sec- retary of the Interior. (See report dated July 2, 1913, addressed to Hon. John H. Stephens, chairman Com- mittee on Indian Aifairs, House of Representatives.) (6) 1915: A. subcommittee of the Committee on Indian Affairs of the House of Representatives. (See report on H. R. 12586, dated Jan. 2, 1915.) (7) 1915: Hon. Franklin K. Lane, Secretary of the Interior. (See report dated Jan. 8, 3915, addressed to Hon. John H. Stephens, chairman of Ww. Committee on Indian Affairs of the House of Representatives.) The United States Covernment is bound by solemn agreement to sell the residue of Choctaw and Chickasaw tribal propert}^ and distribute the proceeds among the enrolled memi)ers of the tribes. Fulfillment of this 37G17— 15507 obligation has Ijcen, and is l^eing, prevented by the rep- I'esentations of the alleged Mississippi Choctaws and hy the proponents of legislation intended to be of assist- ance to the alleged Mississippi Ohov^taws. It has been repeatedly shown that the ]\Iississippi ( 'hoctaws have no legal, eqnita])le, or moral right to share in the property of the Choctaw Nation. CLAIlNiANTS FOR CITlZEXSHir OTHEE THAN INriSSTSSim CHOCTAWS. It has been contendc^d by attorneys and agents rep- resenting claimants for enrollment as citizens of the niioctaw and Chickasaw Nations that there was a period inunediately before the closing of the rolls on March 4, 1907, during which action on all pending cases was rushed, and that the applicants were not given the benefit of a cautious consideration of their cases. This contention is v6ry misleading, because it is a fact that the cases wdiich Avere considered during the so- called " rush period " had been considered before^ some of them had been considered and determined a number of times, and were pending on motion to review^ or on appeal from the order denying a motion to review. Very few, if any of them, w^ere pending on a direct ap- peal from the original decision of the Commission to the Five Civilized Tribes, and none of them were p(mding for a consideration on the merits of the cases — the merits having theretofore been passed upon by the Commission to the Five Civilized Tribes. All of these matters have been under consideration almost continuously since the closing of the rolls March 4, 1907. At one time the agitation for the reopening of the rolls of the Five Civilized Tribes became so great that the matter was brought to the attention of the President of the ITnited States, and after having fully considered the matter. President Taft wrote the follow- ing letter to Richard C. Adams, an attorney at law, of Washington, D. C. : The White House, Washington, April 20, 1910. My Dear Sir: I am in receipt of your letter w^hich you visited my office with Mr. Creager, of Oklahoma, to hand me. Your letter deals with the question of 07017—15507 claims of Indians against the Government. ,0f course I am in favor of facilitating the hearing of those claims as much as possible ; and as to the second, I am opposed to the reopening of the Indian citizenship rolls. It seems to me it would be like opening a Pandora's box. Exceptional cases that present great equities might be considered by special legislation. In conclusion, I can only say that no one is more anxious than I am to close out these Indian disputes and put Indians on the basis of other citizens, in so far as it is possible to do so without exposing those who are un- educated and unable to look after their own interests to the fraudulent manipulation of unprincipled persons. Sincerelv, vours, Wm. H. Taft. Mr. Richard C. ADA]\rs, Bond Building, Washinf/ton, D. C. (See H. R. Rept. isTo. 2273, 61st Cong., 3d sess.) It will be noted that the President was opposed to the reopening of the rolls, but said '' exceptional cases that present great equities might be considered by special legislation." On February 12, 1910, Hon. R. A. Ballinger, then Sec- retary of the Interior, addressed a letter to Hon. Moses E. Olapp, chairman of the Committee on Indian Affairs of the United States Senate, in which he made the follow- ing recommendation : " In conclusion, I am constrained to believe, and there- fore recommend, that the rolls be not opened up, but that proper legal authority be given the Secretary of the In- terior to place upon the rolls those Indians (about 52 in number) whose applications were approved by the Com- missioner to the Five Civilized Tribes and were trans- mitted to Washington before the 4th of March, 1907, but did not reach the department until after the rolls were closed; and, furthermore, that proper authority be given the Secretary of the Interior to examine and ])lace upon the rolls the minor orphan children, incompetents, and Indians in incarceration whose claims were not presented in due time for adjudication. I am informed that this class numbers about 200. No one seems to have taken the responsibility of presenting the claims of this class for 3TG17— mSOT 8 consideration. They conld not look after their own inter- ests." (See S. Bog. No. 1139, 62d Cong., 3d sess.) The Secretary in this letter recommends against the re- opening of the rolls, but favors special legislation for the j'clief of 52 pc^rsons, whose names were omitted from the rolls through inadvertence, and recommends that au- thority be gi^'en for the examination of the cases of cer- tain other persons, not to exceed 200 in all. Both President Taft and Secretary Ballinger, after having fully considered the question that is now under consideration, both decided against the reopening of the rolls. They considered, however, that there were a few exceptional cases wherein the applicants had strong equities and were in justice entitled to some relief. Two investigations were made by the Interior Depart- ment to ascertain the names of all persons who were legally or equitably entitled to enrollment as citizens of the Five Civilized Tribes and whose names were not upon the finally approved rolls. With the consent and upon the advice of the attorneys for the tribes, Hon. Robert L. Owen, a Member of the United States Senate from Oklahoma, addressed a letter to the Secretar}^ of the Interior asking that he be fur- nished with the names of persons who, upon investigation, had been found apparently equital)ly entitled to enroll- ment. On April 24, 1914, Senator Owen received the following letter from Hon. A. A. Jones, First Assistant Secretary of the Interior: Dj-.rARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, Washington, April 24, 1914. My Dear Senator: In response to your request of April 22, I am inclosing herewith a list of the names of persons who, upon the investigation heretofore made, have been found apparently equitably entitled to enroll- ment on the rolls of the various tribes composing the Five Civilized Tribes, of Oklahoma. The data as to each of these names have h(^retofore been submitted to the Com- mittee on Indian Affairs of the Senate, and may be found in Senate Document No. 1139, Sixt^^-second Congress, third session. This list contains the names of all those whom the de- partment has found equitably entitled to enrollment, omit- G7G17 — 10507 ting, as suggested, the names of newborn Choctaw freed- men. Very trulj^, yours, A. A. Jones, First Assistant Secretary, Hon. Egbert L. Owen, United States Senate. The list transmitted to Senator Owen with the above letter contained the names of 318 persons. The Indian appropriation bill which became a law August 1, 1914 (38 Stat. L., 582), carried a provision authorizing the enrollment in the respective tribes of the persons whose names appear upon said list. All of said persons have since been enrolled and have received their distributive share of the property of the tribe to which they belong. The letter of Secretary Jones, and the list, are set forth in full in Senate Document No. 478, Sixty-third Con- gress, third session. Inasmuch as it has been repeatedly shown that the so-called Mississippi Choctaws have no right to enroll- ment, and inasmuch as all those residing in the Choctaw and Chickasaw Nations who appear to have been equit- ably entitled to enrollment have been enrolled, the mem- bers of the Choctaw and Chickasaw Tribes can not under- stand w^hy the Government of the United States does not comply with tlie terms of its agreement made with them in 1902. There appears to be no just reason why the residue of tril^al property should not be sold and the proceeds arising from such sale distributed per capita among the enrolled members of the tribes in compliance with the terms of the treaty of 1902. A considerable amount of tribal property has been sold and the money is now on deposit. There have been jDartial crop failures in Oklahoma for the past four years — in some sections the failure was almost complete. There are many Choctaw^s and Chickasaws who have been, and are now, in destitute circumstances and are in dire need of the money tliat belong to them. The United States Government should at once pay tbom the money that is now on deposit to their credit. For this reason we res]:)ectfully request the enactment of the provision now carried in the Indian ap])ro]iriation 37617—15507 2 10 bill, authorizing a distribution of all funds now to the credit of the Choctaw and Chickasaw Nations, as shown by memorandum of the Commissioner of Indian Affairs transmitted to the Committee on Indian Affairs of the House of Representatives on December 15, 1915. Said memorandum is in full as follows: " The books of the Indian Office show that on Decem- ber 15, 1915, there was in the Treasury of the United States to the credit of the Choctaw Nation, Okla., the sum of $3,360,620.11, and in banks in Oklahoma to the credit of said nation the sum of $4,071,733.13, the total Choctaw "tribal fund being $7,432,353.24. The books of the Indian Office further show that on said date there was in the Treasury of the United States to the credit of the Chickasaw Nation, Okla., the sum of $778,471.51, and in banks in Oklahoma to the credit of said Chickasaw Nation the smn of $1,143,638.97, the total Chickasaw, tribal fund being $1,922,110.48, the aggregate fund of the Choctaw and Chickasaw Nations being $9,354,463.72. The deferred payments on the Choctaw and Chickasaw tribal lands heretofore sold approximate $6,000,000 and the estimated value of the unsold land and other proi3erty of said nations approximates $16,149,491.23. Thus the total funds and other property of the Choctaw and Chick- asaw Nations ax^proximates $31,503,954.95. " Twenty thousand seven hundred and ninety-nine en- rolled citizens of the Choctaw Nation are entitled to share in any per capita distribution of the funds of said nation, and 6,304 enrolled citizens of the Chickasaw Nation are entitled to share in any per capita distribution of the tribal funds of tliat nation. '^ For the purpose of further carrying out the Atoka agreement with the Choctaw and Chickasaw Tribes (see act of Congress of June 28, 1898, 30 Stat. L.,_ 495, 512, 513) and the supplemental agreement with said Indian tribes adopted by the act of Congress of July 1, 1902 (32 Stat. L., 641-654), and in view of the general needy conditions existing in said nations it is recommended that an appropriation be made out of the Choctaw tril^al funds for a per capita payment to the enrolled members of the Choctaw Tribe or to the heirs of deceased enrolled mem- bers, and out of the Choctaw tribal funds iPor a per- (;apita payment to the enrolled members of the Chickasaw Tribe or to the heirs of deceased enrolled members of ;i7017- 15507 11 said tribe, and that it be i3rovided that such payments shall be made under rules and regulations to bo prescribed by the Secretary of the Interior, and that in cases where the enrolled members of the Choctaw and Chickasaw Nations or their heirs are Indians who by reason of their degree of Indian blood belong to the restricted class, tlie Secretary of the Interior may, in his discretion, with- hold such payments and use the same for the benefit of such restricted Indians. " Inasmuch as a $100 per capita payTiient was made to the enrolled members of the Chickasaw Nation under the act of August 1, 1914, at which time no pajanent was made to the enrolled members of the Choctaw Nation, it is therefore reconnnended that the enrolled members of the Choctaw Nation should be paid $100 per capita more than the amount provided for the enrolled members of the Chickasaw Nation. These payments would be made from the tribal funds belonging to the Choctaw and Chickasaw Nations and would not be a tax on the Federal Treasury." P. J. HlTELEY, National Attorneij for the Choctaw Nation. Washingtox, D. C, Fehruary 3, 1915. Hon. ITexey F. Ashurst, United States Senate, Washington, D. C. My Dear Senator: The Indian appropriation bill, which is now being considered by the Committee on Indian Affairs of the Senate, contains a provision author- izing a per capita i5a}mient of $200 to the enrolled mem- bers of the Choctaw Nation and a pa;smient of $100 to the enrolled members of the Chickasaw N'^.tion. Every member of the Choctaw and Chickasaw Tiibes is the owner of an equal undivided interest in the tril)al propert}' of both tril)es. The Chickasaws received a ]K'r capita i^apnent of $100 last year. The Choctaws received no payment. The provision now carried in the bill, if enacted, will equalize the amount received from ti'ibal funds by the Choctaws and Chickasaws. I am advised that an effort will be made l)y those who espouse the claim of the so-called AIississii)pi Choctaws to prevent the enactment of the provision referred to and that an attempt will be made to reo|)en the rolls of the 37017— 1G.J07 12 Choctaw and Chickasaw Nations for the enrollment of the alleged Mississippi Choctaws. T eallyonr attention to the fact that on March .10, 1899, the Dawes Connnission reported that there were ex- tremely few, if any, Indians in ^lississippi who could prove a light to enrollment as citizens of the Choctaw and Chickasaw Nations. At that time there was much agitation for the enrollment of the so-called Mississippi Choctaws, and in the agreement approved July 1, 1902 (82 Stat. L., 641), hetween the Choctaw and Chickasaw Nations and the United States a compromise was reached on the Mississippi Choctaw claims. The Choctaws and Chickasaws agreed to enroll, as a gratuity, all full-blood Choctaw Indians who then resided in jMississippi if they v/ould remove to the Choctaw or Chickasaw Nations. Under this agreement 1,634. Mississippi Choctaws were enrolled and received allotments in the ChoctaAV and Chickasaw Nations. With a few exceptions the entire 1,684 Avere enrolled under the full-blood rule of evidence and were not required to prove a right to enrollment. The approximate value of the property received ])y these 1,634 persons is $15,000,000. This is the price paid by the ChoctaAY and Chickasaw Nations for a settlement of the Mississippi Choctaw claim in 1902. In consideration for this concession on the part of the Choctaws and Chickasaws, the Government agreed to close the rolls, to sell the residue of tribal property, and distribute the proceeds per capita among the enrolled members of the tribes. The United States Government has not performed its part of the agreement. The agreement of 1902, above referred to, contained the following provision : " No person whose name does not appear upon the rolls prepared as herein provided shall be entitled in any manner to participate in the distribution of the common property of the Choctaw and Chickasaw Tribes, and those whose names appear therein shall participate in the manner set forth in this agreement." The act of April 26, 1906, declared the rolls of the Choctaw and Chickasaw Nations closed in the following lan*^"ua"'e : '^Provided, That the rolls of the tribes (Choctaw and Chickasaw) affected by this act shall be fully completed ;'.7Gi7-]rjr.07 on or before the 4th day of March, 1907, and the Secre- tary of the Interior shall have no jurisdiction to approve the enrollment of any person after that date." The rolls of the Choctaw and Chickasaw Nations are therefore closed, and have been closed since the 4th day of March, 1907. The claim which is now being presented b.y the propo- lients of the legislation for the enrollment of Mississi])pi Choctaws has heretofore been fully considered and de- cided adversel.y to the so-called Mississippi Choctaws by tlie following tribunals and officials : 1. 1897: The Federal courts of Indian Territory. (Jack Amos v. Choctaw and Chickasaw Nations.' Juris- diction affirmed bv Supreme Coui't, Stephens v. Cherokee Nation, 174 U. S.j 445.) 2. 1898: The Dawes Commission to the Five Civilized Tribes. (See reports Jan. 28, 1898, and Mar. 10, 1899.) o. 1902: The Choctaw and Chickasaw people, and the United States Government in the preparation of the sup- plemental agreement of July 1, 1902 (32 Stat. I.., 641). 4. 1906: The Congress of the United States, which by the act of April 26, 1906, hnallv directed the closing of tlie rolls ]\rarch 4, 1907. 5. 1912: Hon. Samuel Adams, First Assistant Secre- tary of the Interior. (See report of eluly 2, 1912.) 6. 1915: A subcommittee of the Committee on Indian Affairs of the House of Representatives. (Copy of re- port attached.) 7. 1915: Hon. Franklin K. Lane, Secretary of the In- terior. (Copy of report dated Jan. 8, 1915, attached.) The United States Government is bound b)^ solemn agreement to sell the residue of Choctaw and Chickasaw tribal property and distribute the proceeds among the enrolled members of the tribes. Fulfillment of this obli- gation has been and is being prevented by the represen- tatives of the alleged ^lississippi Choctaws and by the proi^onents of legislation intended to be of assistance to the alleged ]\lississippi Choctaws. It has been repeatedly shown that the Mississippi Choctaws have no legal, equitable, or moi'al i-iglit to share in the property of the Choctaw Nation. A considerable amount of tri])al propei-ty has been sold and the money is now on deposit. There iiave been ])ar- tial crop failures in Oklahoma for the past four years — 37G17— 15507 14 in some sections the failure was almost complete. There are many Clioctaws and Chickasaws who have been, and are now, in destitute ciremnstances and are in dire need of the money that belongs to them. The United States Govermnent should at once pay them this money in com- l^liance with the terms of the agreement of 1902. In view of these circumstances we respectfully solicit your assistance in preventing the reopening of the rolls of the Choctaw and Chickasaw Nations and in securing the enactment of a law authorizing a per capita payment. Yours, respectfully, P. J. Hurley, National Attorney, Choctaw Nation. Report of the Secretary of the Interior on the Harrison Bill (H. R. 12586). The Secretary of the Interior, Washington, January 8, 1915. My Dear Mr. Stephens: I have the honor to refer herein to a communication of August 12, 1914, from Hon. C. D. Carter, then acting chairman of the Conmiittee on Indian Affairs of the House of Representatives, mth which was inclosed a copy of H. R. 12586, entitled "A bill to reopen the rolls of the Choctaw-Chickasaw Tribes and to provide for the awarding of the rights secured to certain persons by the fourteenth article of the treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek, of date September 27, 1830." He also referred to H. R. 4536 and requested that I con- sider the two bills together and make a report thereon. Upon examination of H. R. 4536, I find that said bill is identical witli H. R. 19213, introduced by Mr. Harri- son of Mississii)pi in the Sixty-second Congress, second session, u]:>on which last-mentioned bill the department submitted to your committee a report dated July 2, 1912. H. R. 12586, introduced in the present Congress by Mr. Harrison, is a similar bill to the above-mentioned bills, except that in said H. R. 12586 an additional paragraph is included in section 2 to provide for the enrollment of all persons who were identified as Mississippi Choctaws by the Dawes Commission in its report of March 10, 1899, commonly known as the McKennon roll, and of all per- 37017— loSOT 15 sons identified as Mississippi Clioctaws bv the Dawes Conmiission from Marcli 10, 1899, to March 4, 1907, wh-ose identification was approved by the Secretary of the Interior but whose names did not appear on the final citizenship rolls of the Choctaw and Cliickasaw Nations. The claims of Mississipi^i Choctaw Indians to recog- nition as citizens of the Choctaw Nation of Oklalioma and to share in the property of said nation are based upon article 14 of the treaty of September 27, 1830. (7 Stat. L., 335.) Pursuant to the terms of the treaty, a large number of Clioctaws were transferred from Missis- sippi to the country west, later known as Indian Terri- tory. These Clioctaws who so I'emoved and their descend- ants now constitute the main body of what is knoAWi as tlie Choctaw Nation. There were, however, a consider- able number of Clioctaws who remained behind in Missis- sippi, some of them under the provisions of article 14 above mentioned. Said article 14 provided that the person who claimed thereunder should not lose the privilege of a Choctaw citizen, but if they ever removed were not to be entitled to any part of the Choctaw annuity. The Indians who re- mained behind under the provisions of said article 14 re- ceived either land in MississipiDi or scrip, which gave the applicants the right to enter upon public lands in certain Southern States. A part of said scrip, however, was later commuted by a money paj^nent. Some of the fourteenth- article claimants later made their way west and joined tlie main body of the trilio in the Indian Territory. The (,'hoctaw Council by various acts recognized the right of said absentee ^Mississippi Choctaws to remove to the na- tion, and actually invited them to do so. Under the provisions of the Atoka agreement with the Choctaw and Chickasaw Tribes contained in the act of Congress of June 28, 1898 (30 Stat. L., 495), the supple- mental agreement contained in the act of July 1, 1902 (32 Stat. Ij., 641), and later acts of Congress for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of said agreements, the claims of individual Mississippi Choctaw Indians to be identified and to be enrolled as entitled to share in the property of the Choctaw Nation wei'e full>' considered by the Commission to tlu' Five Civilized Tribes and by the department after full heai'iug, at whicli tli(» clnimants had ample opportunity to present all \hv evidence which they 37017— inso? 16 could procure in support of their claims. Very few claimants were able to prove descent from an ancestor who received or applied for benehts under the provisions of article 14 of the treaty of 1830. The history of the Dawes Commission enrollment work relative to Mississippi Choctaw claimants is very fully set out in a communication of April 14, 1914, from AVil- liam O. Beall, at one time secretary of the Commission to the Five Civilized Tribes. A cop)^ thereof is inclosed for your information. For 3^our further information as to the history of the Mississippi Choctaw claims and of the department action in the preparation of the final rolls there is inclosed a copy of department letter of July 2, 1912, to the chairman of the Committee on Indian Affairs of the House of Rep- resentatives. Judge William H. H. Clayton in his decision in the case of Jack Amos i'. The Choctaw Nation, a coi:)y of which may be found in the appendix of the annual report of the Commission to the Five Civilized Tribes for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1901, said that no treaty or acts of the Choctaw Council or of any officer of the Choctaw Council since the treaty of 1830 could be cited, or at least he had not found them, whereby any right or privilege had been conferred, granted, or recognized in or to a Mississippi Choctaw so long as he remained away from his people, and that no right was recognized or conferred upon such absent Indian except upon the condition that he should remove to the nation, and the i ight was not to be consummated or enjoyed until actual removal. Mississippi Choctaw Indians who, while the opportunity was theirs under the privileges accorded them, refused to emigrate with the tribe to the new country west, and who never shared in the burdens and hardships of the pioneer life incident to the establishment of the new tribal gov- ernment west of the Mississippi, have at this late date (now that the tribal property of the Choctaw Nation made valuable by the emigrants is being divided per capita among the' enrolled recognized citizens of the nation) no equitable right to share in said property. With respect to the i^ersons who were identified by the Dawes Commission as Mississippi Choctaws under the provisions of the act of Congress of June 28, 1898 (30 Stat. L., 495), ])ut who failed to remove and make S7017— ir>507 17 settlement iu the Choctaw-Chickasaw country, as re- quired by the act of (bngress of July 1, 1902 (32 Stat. L., 641, sees. 41, 42, 43, and 44), it' may be said that, irresj^ective of their unfortunate condition of poverty and ignorance there is no ground, legal or equitable, for holding the Choctaw and Chickasaw Nations res])onsible for the failure of said identified persons to comply with the law as to removal and settlement. No o])ligation rested upon the United States to provide means for tlie removal of such Indians. Referring to the class of claimants whose names were contained in an identification roll submitted by the Com- mission to the Five Civilized Tri])cs on March 10, 1S99, but never approved by the Secretary of the Interior, your attention is invited to the fact that the conmiission soon recognized the inaccuracy and incompleteness of that roll and requested the deparfment to disregard it and to return the same to the commission. In order tha„t there might be no doubt as to the standing of said roll, it was disapproved by the department in March 1, 1907. The larger part of the persons whose names were con- tained on that disapproved roll were afterwards placed on the approved identification rolls, and those who com- plied with the law as to removal and settlement were enrolled on the final rolls of Mississippi Choctaw Indians. In the investigation and examination of Mississi|)pi Choctaw claims made in 1900 and the years following by the Commission to the Five Civilized Tribes every effort that was possible to be made was made bj^ said commis- sion to reach all persons who had any equitable claim to recognition as Mississippi Clioctaws, and especially to find those who were full-blood (^hoctaw Indians. II. R. 4536 and 125(S6 in effect provide, so far as tlie Mississipi:)! Choctaw claimants are concerned, a general reopening of the rolls of the Choctaw Nation, necessitat- ing a review of all the cases which had l)een adversely decided by the United States courts, tlu^ I)e])artment of the Interior, and the Choctaw and Chickasaw citizenshi]) court, as well as the consideration of claims not hereto- fore presented or considered, and em])ower the Secret;- ry of the Interior to determine the rights of the claimants upon such evidence as may be i)roduced by the a])]'>U- cants, without regard to any adverse judgment or de- cision heretofore rendered by any court or commission a7G17— 15.j07 18 to the Five Civilized Tribes or the Department of the Interior, and without regard to any condition or dis- ability heretofore imposed by any act of Congress. The records of the department show the Mississippi Choctaw^ claimants have been to an unusual extent the victims of numerous extortionate contracts, and the cor- respondence in many cases indicates that contracts were obtained through misrepresentations as to the facts, and in some cases that such contracts were obtained from claimants who believe tliat the persons obtaining the contracts were Government agents. Your attention is invited to the report of Inspector McLaughlin, of this department, which report appears in print in the Congressional Record of July 10, 1914, commencing on page 13022. Referring to section 9 of said bills, I am of the opinion that, in view of the large amount of tribal property yet to be disposed of and of other matters affecting the tribes, it would be advisable to abolish the tribal organi- zation of the Choctaw and Chickasaw Nations at the present time. In view of the facts as presented to me, I am of the opinion that no legislation should be enacted for the reopening of the rolls of the Choctaw Nation for the benefit of the Mississippi Choctaw claimants. Very truly, yours, Franklin K. Lane. Hon. John H. Stephens, Chairman Committee on Indian Affairs, House of Representatives. REPORT ON H..R. 125SG. I January 2, 1915. Hon. John H. Stephens, Chairman House Committee on Indian Affairs, Washington, D. C. Sm: Your subcommittee appointed to investigate and report on H. R. 12586 begs leave to submit the following observations : A careful and painstaking investigation of all treaties, laws, and other rccords bearing on this claim, including 37617—15507 19 healings lasting from April 1, 1914, nntil August 27, 1914, was gone into by vonr committee. PI. R. 12586 directs: ' 1. Tlie Secretary of tlie Interior to enroll certain Mississippi Choctaws upon the rolls of the Choctaw Nation in Oklalioma, with a full participation in their tribal estate. 2. To reopen the Choctaw rolls for the adjudication of 20,000 or more alleged claimants. There are some Choctaws still remaining in Mississippi who have persistently refused and successfully resisted all efforts of the Federal. Government and the Choctaw Nation to have them move west and affiliate with the tribe. The testimony l)efore the suljcommittee discloses many thousands of persons of doubtful descent, African and other, living in Mississippi and surrounding States, who have attempted to assert claims as ClK^ctaAv Indians. Such Indians of real Choctaw blood as still reside in Mississippi appear to take little interest in the claims asserted by their alleged attorneys. On the other hand, those claiming remote Indian blood and of doubtful descent have manifested much interest in being enrolled and sharing in a division of the Choctaw funds in Oklahoma. The contention of these latter seems to have been in- spired and augmented by certain attorneys who have sent agents among these people advising them that they were Indians and taking contracts for their enrollment foi* a contingent fee of from 30 to 40 per cent of recovery, and in many instances a small cash retainer in addition. According to statements and admissions of these at- torneys and their agents, two firms alone, those of Cant- well & Crews, of St. Louis, Mo., and Ballinger & Lee, of Washington City, D. C, and Ardmore, Okla., hold^con- tracts with 15,596 individuals carrving i:)ixivisions for fees aggregating $10,882,815. The testimony further shows that a syndicate for the purpose of securing the eiu'ollment of Mississippi Clioc- taws and a x^articipation in the tribal estate of the western Choctaws has been formed under the name *' the Texas-Oklahoma Investment Co.," capitalized at $100,000, $25,000 of \vhir'li lias been ]iaid in and used. The di- .">7017— 1",07 20 rectors of this corporation are S. L. Hurlbut, of El Campo, Tex.; H. Masterson and W. A. Smith, of Hous- ton, Tex.: and T. B. Crews and H. J. Cantwell, of St. Louis, Mo. This claim of the Mississippi Choctaw attorneys for enrolment of their clients and participation in the Choc- taw Nation's estate is by no means a new contention. The claim was, under direction of law, fully adjudicated by the Commission to the Fi^^e Civilized Tribes (H. Doc. No. 274, 55th Cong., 2d sess.) and afterwards by the Fed- eral court, to which appeal was taken (Jack Amos et al. v. The Choctaw Nation, Decisions of United States Courts in Indian Territory, 465), both decisions being adverse to the Mississippi Choctaw contention for enrollment. In rejecting the claim of nonresident Mississippi Choc- taws the Commission to the Five Civilized Tribes said in part : '' This historical review of the acquisitioii of this terri- tory by the Choctaw Nation and its subsequent legal rela- tions to it makes it clear in the opinion of this commis- sion that the Mississippi Choctaws are not under their treaties entitled to all rights of Choctaw citizenship except an interest in the Choctaw annuities and still continue their residence and citizenship in Mississippi." (H. Doc. No. 274, 55th Cong., 2d sess.) In affirming the decision the United States District Court for the Central District of Indian Territory closed its decision with the following paragraph : ' ' To permit men with, perchance, but a strain of Choc- taw blood in their veins, who, 65 3^ears ago, broke away from their kindred and their nation, and during that time, or the most of it, have been exercising the rights of citizenship and doing homage to the sovereignty of another nation and have become strangers to the people, to reach forth their hands from their distant and alien homes and lay hold on a part of the public domain, the common property of the people, and appropriate to their own use, would be unjust and inequitable. It is, there- fore, the opinion of the court that the absent Mississippi Choctaws are not entitled to be enrolled as citizens of the Choctaw Nation. The action of the Dawes Commis- sion is therefore affirmed, and a decree will be entered for the Choctaw Nation." (Jack Amos et al. v. The Choc- 37017—15507 21 taw Nation, Decisions of United States Courts in Indian Territory, 465.) An appeal was taken from these decisions by the at- torneys for the Mississippi Choctaws to the Supreme Court of the United States and the Jack Amos case was dismissed upon motion of the attorne^^s foi' the Missis- sippi Choctaws (190 U. S., 873). Several years subsequent to the date of these decisions excluding the Mississippi Choctaws from enrollment this matter was again taken up and readjusted by the legally constituted authorities of the Federal Government and the Choctaw and Chickasaw Nations in Oklahoma, by which agreement the JMississippi Choctaws were given additional time for identification and establishment of bona hde residence in the Choctaw Nation in Indian Ter- ritory. (Supplemental agreement, ''An act to ratify and affirm the agreement with the Choctaw and Chicka- saw Tribes of Indians," etc., approved July 1, 1902.) The Choctaw Nation in Oklahoma has dealt justly and liberally with the Mississippi Choctaws, always granting them full citizenship in their nation, with all emoluments thereto, Avhenever they would agree to affiliate with the tribe, and the Choctaw Nation in Oklahoma is under no legal, equitable, or moral obligation to enroll the ^Slissis- sippi Choctaws as citizens of the tribe in the West at this time. By the agreements negotiated between the Federal Government and the Choctaw Nation, all native western Choctaws were required to be on the reservation by Jime 28, 1898, or stand del)arred from enrollment and partici- pation in the tribal estate forever tliereafter, and this rule has been strictly adhered to. The time for establishment of residence on the reser- vation was extended to the Mississippi Choctaw claimants until July 1, 1903, giving the Mississippi Choctaws five years to move on the reservation after the time for es- tablishment of such residence had been closed to the na- tive Choctaws. After 11 years were consumed by the Commission to the Five Civilized Tri])es in making up the rolls of the Choctaw and Chickasaw Nations such rolls were affirma- tively closed by action of Congress on IMarch 4, 1907. The rolls of the Choctaw Nation Avere lu^ld oj^en to the Mississippi Choctaws from 1830 until ^Tarch 4, 1907, giv- 37G17— 1o.j07 22 ing the Mississippi Choctaws 77 years in whieli to com- plete eiirollinent ^Yitll full benefits of citizenship. The Federal Government as such is neither legally nor equitably obligated to enroll Mississippi Choctaws with the Choctaws WTst, and is under only such moral obliga- tion to the ]\Iississippi Choctaws as is due to dependent North American Indians who were originally occupants and owners of the soil and wdio have been deprived of their patrimony by w^hite settlers. The passage of PI. E. 12586 would completely upset and undo 11 years of careful, painstaking work of the Interior Department in settling the affairs of the Five Civilized Tribes, turn the wheels of progress backwards for more than 20 years, and, as has been said by Presi- dent Taft, " open up a Pandora's box of troubles, wdiich the life of the present generation might not see closed." The passage of H. P. 12586 would doubtless result in stupendous claims of millions of dollars against the Fed- eral Government on the part of the Oklahoma Choctaws, because of a division of their funds among persons wdiom the Federal commissions and Federal courts have decided were not entitled thereto. Its passage w^ould lend encouragement to grafting at- torneys with contracts for enormous attorneys' fees, run- ning into millions of dollars, and hold out inducement for procuring additional contracts from spurious claimants. Your subcommittee therefore recommends that the Harrison bill (H. R. 12586) be not favorably reported by the House Committee on Indian Affairs. Respectfully submitted. C. D. Carter, Chairman, J. P. Post. RoBT. P. Hill. P. P. Ca^ipbell. 37617—15507 o Part Fourteen .J [Public — No. 80 — 64th Congress.] [H. R. 10385.] An Act Making appropriations for the current and contingent expenses of the Bureau of Indians Affairs, for fulfilling treaty stipulations with vari- ous Indian tribes, and for other purposes, for the fiscal year ending June thirtieth, nineteen hundred and seventeen. Be it enacted hy tTie Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the following sums be, and they are hereby, appropriated, out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, for the purpose of paying the current and contingent expenses of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, for fullilling treaty stipulations with various Indian tribes, and in fidl compen- sation for all offices and salaries which are provided for herein for the service of the fiscal year ending June thirtieth, nineteen hundred and seventeen, namely: For the survey, resurvey, classification, and allotment of lands in severalty under the provisions of the Act of February eighth, eight- een hundred and eighty-seven (Twenty-fourth Statutes at Large, page three hundred and eighty-eight), entitled "An Act to provide 101*' the allotment of lands in severalty to Indians," and under any other Act or Acts providing for the survey or allotment of Indian lands, $100,000, to be repaid proportionally out of any Indian moneys held in trust or otherwise by the United States and available by law for such reimbursable purposes and to remain available until ex- pended: Provided, That no part of said sum shall be used for the survey, resurvey, classification, or allotment of any land in severalty on the public domain to any Indian, whether of the Navajo or other tribes, within the State of New Mexico and the State of Arizona, who was not residing upon the public domain prior to June thirtieth, nineteen hundred and fourteen. For the construction, repair, and mamtenance of ditches, reservoirs, and dams, purchase and use of iri'igation tools and appliances, water rights, ditches, lands necessary for canals, pipe lines, and reservoirs for Indian reservations and allotments and for drainage and pro- tection of irrigable lands from damage by floods, or loss of water rights, including expenses of necessary surveys and investigations to determine the feasibility and estimated cost of new projects and power and reservoir sites on Indian reservations in accordance with the provisions of section thirteen of the Act of Juno twenty-fifth, nineteen hundred and ten, $235,000, reimbursable as provided in the Act of August fii-st, nineteen hundred and fourteen, and to remain available until expended: Provided, That no part of this appropri- ation shall be expended on any irrigation system or reclamation project for which specific appropnation is made in this Act or for which public funds are or may be available under any other Act of Congress; for pay of one chief inspector of irrigation, who shall bo a skilled irrigation en^neer, $4,000; one assistant inspector of irrigation who shall he a skilled irrigation engineer, $2,500; for travehng and incidental expenses of two mspcctors of irrigation, including sleeping- 2 (Pub. 80.] car fare and a per diem of S3 in lieu of subsistence when actually cmplo3^cd on duty in the field and away from designated head- quarters, $3,200; in all, $244,700: Provided also, That not to exceed seven superintendents of irrigation, six of whom shall be skilled irrigation engineers and one competent to pass upon water rights, and one field-cost accountant, may be employed. For the suppression of the traffic in mtoxicating liquors among Indians, $150,000. The provisions of sections twenty-one hundred and forty and twenty-one hundred and forty-one of the Revised Statutes of the United States shall also apply to beer and other intoxicating liquors named in the Act of January thirtieth, eighteen hundred and ninety-seven (Twenty-ninth Statutes at Large, page five hundred and six), and the possession by a person of intoxicating liquors in the country where the introduction is prohibited by treaty or Federal statute shall be prima facie evidence of unlawful intro- duction. For the relief and care of destitute Indians not otherwise provided for, and for the prevention and treatment of tuberculosis, trachoma, smallpox, and other contagious and infectious diseases, including transportation of patients to and from hospitals and sanatoria, $350,000: Provided, That not to exceed $90,000 of said amount may be expended in the construction and equipment of new hospitals at a unit cost of not exceeding $15,000: Provided further, That this appropriation may be used also for general medical and surgical treatment of Indians, including the maintenance and operation of general hospitals, where no other funds are applicable or available for that purpose: And 'provided further, That the proviso in the Act of August first, nineteen hundred and fourteen (Thirty-eighth Statutes at Large, page five hundred and eighty-four), which limits the cost of erection and equipment of hospitals authorized therein to $15,000 each, is hereby amended so as to approve the expenditure of additional sums for the purposes named not exceeding $2,500 in any one case: Provided, That the total expenditures for erection and equipment of said hospitals shall not exceed $100,000, the aggregate amount authorized for that purpose by the Act in question: And provided further. That out of the appropriation of $350,000 herein authorized, there shall be available lor the maintenance of the sana- toria and hospitals hereinafter named, and for incidental and all other expenses for their proper conduct and management, including pay of employees, repairs, equipment, and improvements, not to exceed the following amounts: Blaclvfeet hospital, Montana, $10,000; Carson hospital, Nevada, $10,000; Cheyenne and Ai-apahoo hospital, Okla- homa, $10,000; Choctaw andCluckasaw hospital, Oldahoma, $20,000, $5,000 of which shall be immediately available; Fort Lapwai sana- torium, Idaho, $40,000; Laguna sanitorium, New Mexico, $17,000; Mcscalero hospital. New Mexico, $10,000; Navajo sanatorium, New Mexico, $10,000; Pima hospital, Arizona, $10,000; Phoonix sanatorium, Aiizona, $40,000; Spokane hospital, Washington, $10,000; Sac and Fox sanatorium, Iowa, $25,000; Turtle Mountain hospital. North Dakota, $10,000; Winnebago hospital, Nebraska, $15,000; Crow Creek hospital. South Dakota, $8,000; Hoopa Valley hospital, California, $8,000; Jicarilla hospital. New Mexico, $8,000; Truxton Canyon camp hospital, Aiizona, $8,000; Indian Oasis hospital, Arizona, $8,000. IPUB. 80.1 3 ^ For support of Indian day and industrial schools not otherwise pro- vided for, for other educational and industrial purposes in connection therewith, $1,550,000: Provided, That not to exceed $40,000 of this amount may be used for the support and education of deaf and dumb or blind Indian childi'en: Provided further, That not more than $200,000 of the amount herein appropriated may be expended for the tuition of Indian children enrolled in the public schools: Provided further. That no part of tliis appropriation, or any other appropriation provided for herein, except appropriations made pursuant to treaties, shall be used to educate children of less than one-fourth Indian blood whose parents are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they live and where there are adequate free school facilities provided and the facilities of the Indian schools are needed for pupils of more than one-fourth Indian blood: And provided further, That no part of this appropriation shall be used for the support of Indian day and industrial schools where specific appropriation is made. For construction, lease, purchase, repair, and improvement of school and agency buildings, including the installation, repair, and improvement of heating, lighting, power, and water systems in con- nection therewith, $400,000: Provided, That the Secretary of the Interior is authorized to allow employees in the Indian Service, who are furnished quarters, necessary heat and light for such quarters without charge, such heat and light to be paid for out of the fund chargeable with the cost of heating and lighting other buildings at the same place: Provided further, That the amount so expended for agency purposes shall not be included in the maximum amounts for compensation of employees prescribed by section one, act of August twenty-fourth, nineteen hundi'ed and twelve: Provided, That of this amount there may be expended for construction of a sewer system and purchase of necessary easements therefor, for the Pala Indian Reservation, California, $4,000. For collection and transportation of pupils to and from Indian and public schools, and for placing school pupils, with the consent of their parents, under the care and control of white families qualified to give them moral, industrial, and educational training, $72,000: Provided, That not exceeding $5,000 of this sum may be used for obtaining remunerative employment for Indian youths and, when necessary, for payment of transportation and other expenses to their places of employment. The provisions of this section shaU also apply to native Indian pupils of school age under twenty-one years of age brought from Alaska. For the purposes of preserving living and growing timber on Indian reservations and allotments, and to educate Indians in the proper care of forests; for the emplo3'ment of suitable persons as matrons to teach Indian women and girls housekeeping and otlier houseliold duties, for necessary traveling expenses of such matrons; and for furnishing necessary equipments and supplies and renting quarters for them where necessary; for the conducting of (^xporim(>nts on Indian school or agency farms designed to test ttie possibilities of soil and climate in the cultivation of trees, grains, vegetables, cotton, and fruits, and for the employment of practical farmers and stockmen, in addition to the agency and school farmers now employed; for neces- sary traveling expenses of such farmers and stockmen and for fur- nishing necessary equipment and supplies for them; and for super- 4 [Pub. 80.) intending and directing farming and stock raising among Indians, $425,000: Provided, That the foregoing shall not, as to timber, apply to the IVIenominee Indian Reservation in Wisconsin: Provided fur- ther, That no money appropriated herein shall be expended on or after January first, nineteen hundred and seventeen, for the employment of any farmer or expert farmer at a salary of or in exceess of $50 per month, unless he shall first have procured and filed with the Commis- sioner of Indian Affaii-s a certificate of competency showing that he is a farmer of actual experience and qualified to instruct others in the art of practical agriculture, such certificate to be certified and issued to him by the president or dean of the State agricultural college of the State in which his services are to be rendered, or by the president or dean of the State agricultural college of an adjoining State: Pro- vided, That this provision shall not apply to persons now employed in the Indian Service as farmer or expert i'armer: And provided further, That this shall not apply to Indians employed or to be employed as assistant farmer: And provided further, That not to exceed S25,000 of the amount herein appropriated may be used to conduct experiments on Indian school or agency farms to test the possibilities of soil and climate in the cultivation of trees, cotton, grains, vegetables, and fruits: Provided, also. That the amounts paid to matrons, foresters, farmers, and stockmen herein provided for shall not be included within the limitation on salaries and compensation of employees con- tained in the Act of August twenty-fourth, nineteen hundred and twelve. For the purchase of goods and supplies for the Indian Service, including inspection, pay of necessary employees, and all other ex- penses connected therewith, including advertising, storage, and transportation of Indian goods and supphes, 8300,000: Provided, That no part of the sum hereby appropriated shall be used for the maintenance of to exceed two permanent warehouses in the Indian Service: Provided further. That section thirty-seven hundred and nine, Revised Statutes, in so far as that section requires that adver- tisement be made, shall apply only to those purchases and contracts for supplies or services, except personal services, for the Indian field service w^hich exceed in amount the sum of S50 each, and section twenty-three of the Act of June twenty-fifth, nineteen hundred and ten (Thirty-sixth Statutes at Large, page eight hundred and sixty- one), is hereby amended accordingly. For telegraph and telephone toll messages on business pertaining to the Indian Service sent and received by the Bureau of Indian Affairs at Washington, $10,000. For witness fees and other legal expenses incurred in suits insti- tuted in behalf of or against Indians involving the question of title to lands allotted to them, or the right of possession of personal ]u-operty held by them, and in hearings set by the United States local land officers to determine the rights of Indians to public lands, SI, 000: Provided, That no part of this appropriation shall be used in the payment of attorneys' fees. For expenses of the Board of Indian Commissioners, $10,000. For pay of Indiaii police, including chiefs of police at not to exceed $50 per month each and privates at not to exceed $30 per month each, to be employed in maintaining order, for purchase of equipments and supplies and for rations for policemen at nonration agencies, $200,000. IPuB. 80.] For pay of judges of Indian courts where tribal relations now exist, $8,000. For pay of special agents, at $2,000 per annum; for traveling and incidental expenses of such special agents, including sleeping-car fare, and a per (]iem of not to exceed $3 in heu of subsistence, in the discre- tion of the Secretary of the Interior, when actually employed on duty in the field or ordered to the seat of government; for transpor- tation antl incidental expenses of officers and clerks of the Office of Indian Afl'airs when traveling on oflicial dut}^; for pay of employees not otherwise provided for ; antl for other necessary expenses of the Indian Service for which no other appropriation is available, $135,000. For pay of six Indian Service inspectors, exclusive of one chief inspector, at salaries not to exceed $2,500 per annum and actual traveling expenses, and $3 per diem in lieu of subsistence when actually employed on duty in the field, $30,000. For the purpose of determining the heirs of deceased Indian allot- tees having any right, title, or interest in any trust or restricted prop- erty, under regulations prescribed by the Secretary of the Interior, $100,000: Provided, That the Secretary of the Interior is hereby au- thorized to use not to exceed $25,000 for the employment of addi- tional clerks in the Indian Office in comiection with the work of determining the heirs of deceased Indians, and examining their wills, out of the $100,000 appropriated herein: Provided further, That the provisions of this paragraph shall not apply to the Osage Indians, nor to the Five Civilized Tribes of Indians in Oklahoma: And provided further, That hereafter upon a determi- nation of the heirs to any trust or restricted Indian property of the value of $250 or more, or to any allotment, or after approval by the Secretary of any will covering such trust or restricted prop- erty, there shall be paid by such heirs, or by the beneficiaries under such will, or from tlie estate of the decedent, or from the proceeds of sale of the allotment, or from any trust funds belonging to the estate of the decedent, the sum of $15, which amount shall be ac- counted for and paid into the Treasury of the United States and a report shall be made annually to Congress by the Secretary of the Interior, on or before the first Monday of December, of all mone3^3 collected and deposited, as herein provided: Provided further, That if the Secretary of the Interior shall find that any iiiheritetl trust allotmcjit or allotments are capable of partition to the advantage of the heirs, he may cause such lands to be partitioned among them, regardless of their competency, patents in fee to be issued to the competent heirs for their shares and trust patents to be issued to the incompetent heirs for the lands respectively or jointly set apart to them, the trust period to terminate in acconhmce with the terms of the orighial patent or order of extension of the trust period set out in said patent. For the purpose of encouraging industry and self-sup j)()it among the Indians and to aid thom in the culture of fruits, grains, and other crops, $300,000, or so much thereof as may be necessary, to bo im- mediately available, whicli sum may be used for the purchase of seed, animals, machinery, tools, implements, and other equipment neces- sary, in the discretion of the Secretary of the Interior, to enable 6 IPUB. 80.J Indians to become self-supporting: Provided, That said sum shall be expended under conditions to be prescribed by the Secretary of the Interior for its repayment to the United States on or before June thirtieth, nineteen hundred and twenty-live: Provided further, That not to exceed $50,000 of the amount herein appropriated shall be expended on any one reservation or for the benefit of any one tribe of Indians. That not to exceed $200,000 of applicable appropriations made herein for the Bureau of Indian Affairs shall be available for the maintenance, repair, and operation of motor-propelled and horse- drawn passenger-carrying vehicles for the use of superintendents, farmers, physicians, field matrons, alloting, irrigation, and other em- ployees in the Indian field service: Provided, That not to exceed 1 15,000 may be used in the purchase of horse-drawai passenger- carrying vehicles, and not to exceed $30,000 for the purchase of motor-propelled passenger-carrying vehicles, and that such vehicles shall be used only for official service. That so much of section four of the Act of May eleventh, eighteen hundred and eighty (Twenty-first Statutes at Large, page one hun- dred and thirty-two), as prohibits granting permission in writing or otherwise to any Indian or Indians on any Indian reservation to go into the State of Texas, under any pretext whatever, be, aiul the same is hereby, repealed. That whenever it shall appear to the satisfaction of the Secretary of the Interior that the allotted lands of any Indian are arid but susceptible of irrigation and that the allottee, by reason of old age or other disability, can not personally occupy or improve his allot- ment or any portion thereof, such lands or such portion thereof, may be leased for a period not exceeding ten j'^ears, under such terms, rules, and regulations as may be prescribed by the ^Secretary of the of the Interior. For payment to the heirs of Farmer Jolin, an Indian, for land purchased by the Government for a boathouse site on Pelican Lake, Minnesota, $20. That the lands, buildings, fixtures, and aU property rights granted to the State of Colorado for educational purposes by section five of the Act of Congress approved April fourth, nineteen hundred and ten (Thirty-sixth Statutes at Large, page two hundred and seventy- three), may, in lieu of the use designated in said ^rant, be utilized by said State for the care of the insane, as an agricultural experiment station, or for such other public purposes as may be authorized by the legislature of the State: Provided, That Indians shall always be admitted to such institutions free of charge and upon an equality with white persons. That section two of the Act approved March second, nineteen hun- dred and seven (Thirty -fourth Statutes at Large, page twelve hun- dred and twenty-one), entitled "An Act providing for the allotment and distribution of Indian tribal funds," be, and the same is hereby, amended so as to read as follows: "That the pro rata share of any Indian who is mentally or phys- ically incapable of managing his or her own affairs may be withdrawn from the Treasury in the discretion of the Secretary of the Interior and expended for the benefit of such Indian under such rules, regu- lations, and conditions as the said Secretary may prescribe:" Pro- fPrs. 80.] 7 vided, That said funds of any Indian shall not be withdrawn from the Treasury until needed by the Indian and upon his application and when approved by the Secretary of the Interior. For reimbursing Indians for live stock which may be hereafter destroyed on account of being infected with dourine or other con- tagious diseases, and for expenses in connection with the work of eradicating and preventing such diseases, to be ex]3ended under such rules and regulations as the Secretary of the Interior may prescribe, $100,000, said amount to be immediately available and to remain available until expended. For the payment to Charles J. Kappler for the work of compiling, annotating, and indexing the third volume of Indian Laws and Treaties, the sum of 82,000. Section nine of the Act of March third, . eighteen hundred and seventy-five (Eighteenth Statutes at Large, page four hundred and fifty), is hereby amended so as to read as follows: ' 'That hereafter all bidders under any advertisement published by the Commissioner of Indian Affairs for proposals for goods, supplies, transportation, and so forth, for and on account of the Indian Service, whenever the value of the goods, supplies, and so forth, to be furnished, or the transportation to be performed, shall exceed the sum of $5,000, shall accompany their bids with a certified check, draft, or cashier's check, payable to the order of the Commissioner of Indian Affairs, upon some United States depository or some one of such solvent national banks as the Secretary of the Interior may designate, or by an acceptable bond in favor of the United States, which check, draft, or bond shall ^e for five per centum of the amoimt of the goods, supplies, transportation, and so forth, as aforesaid ; and in case any such bidder, on being awarded a contract, shall fail to execute the same with good and sufficient sureties ac- cording to the terms on which such bid was made and accepted, such bidder, or the sureties on his bond, shall forfeit the amount so deposited or guaranteed to the United States, and the same shall forthwith be paid into the Treasury of the United States; but if such contract shall be duly executed, as aforesaid, such draft, check, or bond so deposited shall be returned to the bidder." ARIZONA AND NEW MEXICO. Sec. 2. For support and civilization of Indians in Arizona and New Mexico, including pay of employees, S330,000. For support and education of two hundred Indian pupils at the Indian school at Fort Mojave, Arizona, and for ])ay of superintend- ent, S35,100; for general repairs and improvements^ S3, 800; for con- struction of a steel tank and tower, $4,000; in all, $42,900. For support and education of S(!ven hundred Indian pupils at the Indian school at Phoenix, Arizona, and for pay of superintendent, $119,400; for general repairs and improvements, $12,500; for the purchase of land adjacent to the school property, $3,500; in all, $135,400. For support and education of one hundred pupils at the In(Hau school at Truxton Canyon, Arizona, and for pay of superintendent, $18,200; for general r(>.pairs and improvements, $3,000; in all, $21,200. 8 (Pub. 80.1 For continuing the work of constructing the irrigation system for the irrigation of the lands of the Pima Indians in the vicinity of Sacaton, on the Gila River Indian Reservation, within the limit of cost fixed by the Act of March third, nineteen hundred and five, $10,000; and for maintenance and operation of the pumping plants and canal systems, $10,000; in all, $20,000, rcim])ursable as pro- vided in section two of the Act of August twenty-fourth, nineteen hundred and twelve (Thirt3^-seventh Statutes at Large, page five hundred and twenty-two), and to remain available until expended. For the construction and repair of necessary channels and laterals for the utilization of water in connection with the pumping plant for irrigation purposes on the Colorado River Indian Reservation, Arizona, as provided in the Act of April fourth, nineteen hundred and ten (Thirty-sixth Statutes at Large, page two hundred and seventy- three), for the purpose of securing an appropriation of water for the irrigation of approximately one hundred and fifty thousand acres of land and for maintaining and operating the pumping plant, $15,000, reimbursable as provided in said iVct, and to remain avail- able until expended. For improvement and smking of wells, installation of pumping machinery, construction of tanks for domestic and stock water, and for the necessary structures for the development and distribution of a supply of water and for maintenance and operation of constructed works, for Papago Indian villages in southern Arizona, $20,000. To enable the Secretary of the Interior to carry into effect the Provisions of the sixth article of the treaty of June first, eighteen undred and sixty-eight, between the United States and the Navajo Nation or Tribe of Indians, proclaimed August twelfth, eighteen hundred and sixty-eight, whereby the United States agrees to pro- vide school facilities for the children of the Navajo Tribe of Indians, $100,000: Provided, That the said Secretary may expend said funds, m his discretion, in estabUshing or enlarging day or industrial schools. For continuing the development of a water supply for the Navajo Indians on the" Navajo Reservation, $25,000, to be immediately available, reimbursable out of any funds of said Indians now or hereafter available. For beginning the construction by the Indian Service, of a dam with a bridge superstructure and the necessary controlling works for diverting water from the Gila River for the irrigation of Indian land and Indian allotments on the Gila River Indian Reservation, Arizona, as recommended by the Board of Engineers of the United States Army in paragraph two hundred and seventeen of its report to the Secretary of War of February fourteenth, nineteen hundred and fourteen (House Document numbered seven hundred and ninety-one), $75,000, to be immediately available and to remain available until expended, reimbursable as provided in section two of the Act of August twenty-fourth, nineteen hundred and twelve (Thirty-seventh Statutes at Large, page five hundred and twenty- two), the total cost not to exceed $200,000. That the Secretary of the Interior is hereby authorized and directed to provide for water rights in perpetuity for the irrigation of six hundred and thirty-one Salt River Indian allotments of ten acres each, to be designated by the Commissioner of Indian Affairs, water from works constructed under the provision of the Reclamation Act, [PPB.80.] 9 and Acts amendatory thereof or supplemental thereto: Provided, That the reclamation fund shall be rennbiirscd therefor upon terms the same as those provided in said Act or Acts for reimbursement by entrymen on lands irrigated by said works, and there is hereby appropriated $20,000, or so much thereof as may be necessary, to pay the initial installment of the charges when made for said water. For beginning the construction by the Indian Service of a diversion dam and necessary controUing works for diverting water from the Gila River at a site above Florence, Arizona, as estimated by the Board of Engineer Officers of tlie United States Army in paragraph one hundred and thirty-eight of its report to the wSecretary of War of February fourteenth, nineteen hundred and fourteen (House Docu- ment Numbered Seven hundred and ninety-one), $75,000, to remain available until expended, the total cost not to exceed $175,000: Provided, That said dam shall be constructed as a part of a project for the irrigation from the natural flow of the Gila River of Indian lands on the Gila River Indian Reservation and private and pubUc lands in Pinal County, Arizona: And providedfurther, That the water diverted from the Gila River by said diversion dam shall be dis- tributed by the Secretary of the Interior to the Indian lands of said reservation and to the private and public lands in said county in accordance with the respective rights and priorities of such lands to the beneficial use of said water as may be determined by agreement of the owners thereof with the Secretary of the Interior or by a court of competent jurisdiction : And provided further, That the construction charge for the actual cost of said diversion dam and other works and rights shall be divided equitably by the Secretary of the Interior between the Indian lands and the private and pubhc lands in said county; and said cost as fixed for said Indian lands shall be reim- bursable as provided in section two of the Act of August twenty- fourth, nineteen hundred and twelve (Thirty-seventh Statutes at Large, page five hundred and twenty-two); but the construction charge as fixed for the private and public lands in said county shall be paid by the owner or entryman ni accordance with the terms of an Act extending the period of payment under reclamation projects, approved August thirteenth, nineteen hundred and fourteen (Thirty- eighth Statutes at Large, page six hundred and eighty-six): Atid provided further, That said project shall only bo undertaken if the Secretary of the Interior shall be able to make or provide for what he shall deem to be satisfactory adjustments of the rights to the water to be diverted by saitl diversion dam or carried in canals, and satisfactory arrangements for the inclusion of lands within said project and the purchase of property" rights which lie shall deem necessary to bo acquired, and shall determine and declare said project to be feasible. For extension of the Ganado irrigation project on the Navajo Indian Reservation in Arizona for the irrigation of approximately six hundred acres of land in addition to the area to be irrigated by said i)roject, as authorized in section two of the Act of August twenty-fourth, nineteen hmuh'ed and twelve, $20, ()()(); and for main- tenance and operation of the project, $3,000; in aU $23,000, reim- bursable and to remain avaihiblc until expended. That the Secretary of the lnt(!rior be, and he hereby is, authorized and directed to cause to be made by competent engineers the neces- 10 [Pub. 80.] sary examinations, investigations, and surveys for the purpose of determining the most suitable and practicable method or methods of constructing levees, revetments, or other suitable works sufficient to prevent the Gila River from further eroding and wearing and washing oway its banks and from further overiiowing its banks at any point in Graham County, Arizona. Said engineers shall also determine and report upon the most suitable, feasible, and practic- able means of holding the said river within a fixed channel as it flows through said Graham County. Said Secretary shall submit to Con- gress the result of such examinations, investigations, and surveys, together with an estimate of the cost thereof, with recommendations thereon, at the earhest practicable date. The sum of $10,000, or so much thereof as may be necessary, is hereby appropriated, out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, for the pur- pose of conducting said investigations, examinations, and surveys. For the construction of a bridge across the Little Colorado River, at or near the town of Winslow, Arizona, 815,000, to be expended under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, and to be reimbur- sable from any funds now or hereafter placed in the Treasury to the credit of said Indians: Provided, That no part of the money herein appropriated shall be expended until the Secretary of the Interior shall have obtained from the proper authorities of the State of Ari- zona, or the county of Navajo, satisfactory guaranties of the payment by the said State of Arizona, or by the county of Navajo, of at least one-half of the cost of said bridge, and that the proper authorities of the said State of Arizona, or the said county of Navajo, shall assume full responsibility for, and will at aU times maintain and repair, said bridge and the approaches thereto: And provided further, That any and all expenses above the amount herein named in connection with the building and maintaining of said bridge shall be borne either by the said State of Arizona or the said county of Navajo. For the construction of three additional steel spans with abutment and piers to extend the bridge across the Gila River on the San Carlos Indian Reservation near San Carlos, Arizona, $17,000, or so much thereof as may be necessary, to be immediately available, re- imbursable to the United States by the Indians having tribal rights on said reservation and to remain a charge and lien upon the lands and funds belonging to said Indians until paid. For preservation and repair of prehistoric pueblo ruins and cliff dwellings, under supervasion of the Smithsonian Institution, Navajo National Monument, Arizona, $3,000. CALIFORNIA. Sec. 3. For support and civilization of Indians in California, in- cluding pay of employees, $42,000. For the purchase of lands for the homeless Indians in California, including improvements thereon, for the use and occupancy of said Indians, $10,000, said funds to be expended under such regulations and conditions as the Secretary of the Interior may prescribe. For support and education of seven hundred Indian pupils at the Sherman Institute, Riverside, California, including pay of super- intendent, $119,500; for general repairs and improvements, $10,000; in all, $129,500. [Pub. 80J 11 For reclamation and maintenance charge on Yuma allotments, $10,000, to remain available until expended and to be reimbursed from the sale of surplus lands or from other funds that may be avail- able, in accordance with the provisions of the Act of March third, nineteen hundred and eleven. For support and education of one hundred Indian pupils at the Fort Bidwcll Indian School, California, including pay of superintend- ent, S18,200; for general repairs and improvements, $3,600; in all, $21,800. For support and education of one hundred Indian pupils at the Greenville Indian School, California, including pay of superintendent, $18,400; for genera repairs and improvements, including purchase of additional land for school farm, $8,000; in all, $26,400. For the improvement and construction of roads and bridges on the Yuma Indian Reservation in California, $10,000, to be immediately available, reimbursable to the United States by the Indians having tribal rights on said reservation. FLORIDA. Sec. 4. For relief of distress among the Seminole Indians in Florida, and for purposes of their civilization and education, $8,000. IDAHO. Sec. 5. For support and civilization of Indians on the Fort Hall Reservation in Idalio, including pay of employees, $30,000. For improvement and maintenance and operation of the Fort Hall irrigation system, $25,000, reimbursable to the United States out of any funds of the Indians occupying the Fort Hall Reservation now or hereafter available. For fulfilling treaty stipulations with the Bannocks in Idaho: For pay of physician, teacher, carpenter, miller, engineer, farmer, and blacksmith (article ten, treaty of July third, eighteen hundred and sixty-eight), $5,000. For the Coeur d'Alenes, in Idaho: For pay of blacksmith, carpen- ter, and physician, and purchase of medicines (article eleven, agree- ment ratified March third, eighteen hundred and ninety-one), $3,000. KANSAS. Sec. 6. For support and education of seven hundred and fifty Indian pupils at the Indian school, Haskell Institute, Lawrence, Kansas, and for pay of superintendent, $127,750; for general repairs and improvements," $12,500; for barn, $8,000; in all, $148,250. For support and education of eighty Indian pupils at the Indian school, Kickapoo Reservation, Kansas, including pay of superin- tendent, $14,860; for general repairs and improvements, $2,000; in all, $16,860. That the Secretary of the Interior is hereby authorized to with- draw from the Treasury of the United States the sum of $10,000, or so much thereof as may be necessary, of the funds on deposit to the credit of the Fotawatomi Indians in the State of Kansas, ami to be expended under his direction, for the construction of bridges across 12 IPUB. 80.1 the Big Soldier Creek and Little Soldier Creek, within the Potawatonii Indian Reservation, Jackson County, Kansas: Provided, That no part of the money herein appropriated shall be expended until the Secretary of the Interior shall have obtained from the proper authori- ties of the county of Jackson satisfactory guaranties of the payment by the said county of Jackson of at least one-half of the cost of said bridges, and that the said proper authorities of the said county of Jackson shall assume full responsibility for and will at all times main- tain and repair said bridges: And j)rovided further, That any and all expenses above the amount herein named in connection with the building and maintaining of said bridges shall be borne by the said county of Jackson: And provided further, That this appropriation shall not become effective until approved by an Indian council to be called for that purpose. LOUISIANA. Sec. 7. For clearing the title to lands owned or possessed by the Chettimanchi Band of Indians of Louisiana, for purchase of such lands as may be required to place them on a basis of self-support, and for such other relief as may be needed in the discretion of the Secretary of the Interior, $1,500: Provided, That the Secretary of the Interior may, in his discretion, require that the legal title to all property Eurchased, or the title to which is to be cleared, with the funds ereby appropriated shall be in the name of the United States, for the use and benefit of the Indians. MICHIGAN. Sec. 8. For support and education of three hundred and fifty Indian pupils at the Indian school, Mount Pleasant, Michigan, and for pay of superintendent, S60,450; for general repairs and improve- ments, $5,000; for dairy barn, S8,000; in all, .173,450. For reimbursement of Joseph Bradley, a member of the Saginaw, Swan Creek, and Black River Band of Chippewa Indians in the State of Michigan, for traveling and incidental expenses incurred by him as an authorized representative of said band while appearing before Congress and the Interior Department in Januar}^, February, and March, nineteen hundred and sixteen, $250, or so much thereof as may be necessary, to be immediately available. MINNESOTA. Sec. 9. For support and education of two hundred and twenty- five Indian pupils at the Indian school, Pipestone, Miiniesota, includ- ing pay of superintendent, $39,175; for general repairs and improve- ments, and for remodeling building for dormitoiy purposes, $7,000; for mechanical and general utility shop building, $10,000; for septic tank, $5,500; to gravel and improve the road leading from tlie school buildings to the south line of the reservation, $1,000: to ])last out and deepen the ditch and creek on said reservation, $2,000; in all, $64,675. [Pub. 80.1 13 For support of a school or schools for the Chippewas of the Mis- sissippi in Minnesota (article three, treaty of March nineteenth, eighteen hundred and sixty-seven), $4,000. The Secretary of the Interior is hereby authorized to withdraw from the Treasury of the United States, at his discretion, the sum of $185,000, or so much thereof as may be necessary, of the principal sum on deposit to the credit of the Chippewa Indians in the State of Minnesota, arising under section seven of the Act of January four- teenth, eighteen hundred and eighty-nine, entitled "An Act for the relief and civilization of the Chippewa Indians in the State of Min- nesota," and to use the same for the purpose of promoting civiliza- tion and self-support among the said Indians in manjier and for purposes provided for in said Act: Provided, That not to exceed $60,000 of said amount, and the one-fourth interest on the tribal funds of tlie Chippewa Indians of Minnesota now to their credit in the Treasury to be used for the maintenance of free schools, shall be used for the compensation of employees in the Indian Service in Mmnesota except for hregular laborers, and that the said Chippewas shall receive the preference in fiUing permanent positions in the service of the Chippewas of Minnesota where the compensation is paid from their tribal funds: Provided further, That not less than $10,000 of said amount of $185,000 may be used to furnish employ- ment to the said Chippewas in building roads and making other improvements upon the Chippewa reservations in Minnesota for the benefit of the said Chippewas, and $10,000, or so much thereof as may be necessary, to establish an electric light plant at the Wliite Earth Agency, the boarding school there and the village of Wliite Earth, Minnesota, said plant, or its proportionate share of expenses to be maintained by the residents of Wliite Earth village under such rules and regulations as may be prescribed by the Secretary of the Interior. The Secretary of the Interior is liereby authorized to advance to the executive committee of the White Earth Band of Chippewa Indians in Minnesota the sum of $1,000, or so much thereof as may be necessary, to be expended in the annual celebration of said band to be held June fourteenth, nineteen hundred and sixteen, out of the funds belonging to said band. That the Secretary of the Interior be, and he is hereby, authorized to convey by patent in fee simple to independent school district numbered one, of Mahnomen County, Minnesota, for the pur|)ose of a demonstration farm in connection with the agricultural depart- ment of the pul^lic scliools of said place, that certain tract of land which had been set apart for the now abandoned Mahnomen Indian day school, said tract l)eing described as follows, to wit: W\^st half of the southwest fjuarter of section eleven, township one hundred and forty-four north, range forty-two west of the fifth principal meridian, in Mhmesota: Provided, That the purchase price of the property conveyed, wliich shall be not less than its appraised value, shall be divided equally among those mem])ers of the Pembina Band of Indians living on the date of passage of this Act who were l)oni prior to July twenty-first, nineteen hundred, but were not included on the allotment schedule approved on that date; appraisement of the property and payment of the proceeds to the said Indians to be under such rules and regulations as the Secretary of the Interior 14 Pub. 80.] may prescribe: Provided further, That this shall not be construed to affect any rights involved in pending litigation. That the Secretary of the Interior be, and he is hereby, authorized and directed to issue to the Nortiiern Minnesota Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church a patent in fee for forty acres of land on the Nett Lake Indian Reservation in Minnesota, described as follows: South half of northeast quarter of lot one; north half of southeast quarter of lot one: south half of north half of northeast quarter of lot one; north half of south half of southeast quarter of lot one; south half of northeast quarter of northwest quarter; and south half of south half of north half of northeast quarter of northwest quarter, all in section nineteen, township sixty-five north, range twenty-one west of the fourth principal meridian containing forty- acres more or less; such patent to be in lieu of that authorized and di- rected in the Act of August first, nineteen hundred and fourteen (Thirty-eighth Statutes at I^arge, page live hundred and ninety-one). That the Secretary of the Interior, under such rules and regula- tions as he may prescribe, is hereby authorized to advance to any individual Chippewa Indian in the State of Minnesota entitled to participate in the permanent fund of the Chippewa Indians of Min- nesota one-fourth of the amount which would now be coming to said Indian under a pro rata distribution of said permanent fund: Pro- vided, That the Secretary of the Interior, under such rules and regu- lations as he may prescribe, ma}^ use for or advance to any Chippewa Indian in the State of Minnesota entitled to share in said fund who is mcompetent, blind, crippled, decrepit, or helpless from old age, disease, or accident, one-fourth of the amount which would now be coming to said Indian under a pro rata distribution of said perma- nent fund: Provided furilier, That any money received hereunder by any member of said tribe or used for his or her benefit shall be deducted from the share of said member in the permanent fund of the said Chippewa Indians in Minnesota to which ne or she would be entitled: Provided furtlier, That the funds hereunder to be paid to Indians shall not be subject to any lien or claim of attorneys or other third parties. The superintendent of logging upon the Chippewa Reservations in Minnesota is hereby authorized to expend not to exceed $25,000, or so much thereof as may be necessary, from the amount derived from the sale of the pine timber of the Chippewas of Minnesota, in the payment of scalers, check scalers, as provided by the Act of January fourteenth, eighteen hundred and eighty-nme (I'wenty-fifth Statutes at Large, page six hundred and forty-two), and such clerks as he may employ. Any Act not in conformity with this provision is hereby repealed. A detailed statement of all the expenses herein- after mcurred and paid from the tribal funds of the Chippewas of Minnesota shall be reported to Congress annually. That the sum of $6,000, or so much thereof as may be necessary, of the tribal funds of the Chippewa Indians of the State of Minnesota, is hereby appropriated to pay the expenses of the general council of said tribe to be held at Bemidji, Minnesota, beginnmg on the second Tuesday of July, nineteen himdred and sixteen, pursuant to the con- stitution of the general council of said Chippewa Indians of Minne- sota, organized in May, nineteen hundred and thirteen, and to pay the actual and necessary expenses of the delegates who attended the [PTTB.80.1 15 meeting of said general council, commencing June twelfth and ending June fourteenth, nineteen hundred and fifteen, at White Earth, Minnesota, and at Detroit, Minnesota, October fourth, nineteen hundred and fifteen, and also the necessary expenses of the members of the executive committee of said council when attending to the busi- ness of the tribe, and to pay the expenses to Washington, in January and February, nineteen hundred and fifteen, and in .lanuary, Feb- ruary, and March, nineteen hundred and sixteen, of the delegations of the Chippewa Indians of the State of Minnesota, appointed by the president of said general council pursuant to the resolutions of said general councils of August fourteenth, nineteen hundred and four- teen, and June fourteenth, nineteen hundred and fifteen, to present the affairs of said Indians of the State of Minnesota to the ofhcials of the United vStates; said $6,000 to be immediately available, and the expenses of said delegation to be paid by the Secretary of the Interior upon itemized accounts approved by the president of the executive committee of said council and certified to by the secretary of the council. The Secretary of the Interior may authorize an inspector, or special agent, or Indian superintendent, to attend future sessions of said general council and conventions to which delegates therefor are elected. That the Secretary of the Interior be, and he is hereby, authorized to withdraw from the Treasury of the United States $500, or so much thereof as may be necessary, of the principal sum on deposit to the credit of the Chippewa Indians in the State of Minnesota, arising under section seven of the Act of January fourteenth, eighteen hundred and eighty-nine, entitled "An Act for the reJief and civiliza- tion of the Chippewa Indians in the State of Minnesota," and to use said withdrawn sum in the purchase and fencing of burial grounds for the Fond du Lac Band oi Chippewa Indians of Minnesota. For the tuition, board, books and paper and traveling expenses to and from their respective homes of two Chippewa boys for the school year ending June tenth, nineteen hundred and fifteen, $1,500; and lor five Chippewa boys for the school year ending June tenth, nine- teen hundred and sixteen, $3,250; incurred under the authorit}'^ of the general council of the Minnesota Chippewas, said amounts to be paid upon vouchers beinf; submitted to the Commissioner of Indian Affairs, and approved by the board of Indian education of the said general councd: Provided, That the said payments shall be made from the tribal funds of the Chippewa Indians of Minnesota in the Treasury of the United States. That the sixth paragraph of section nine of the Act approved June thirtieth, nineteen hundred and thirteen (Thirty-eighth Statutes at Large, page eighty-nine), bo, and the same hereby is, amended by striking out the words "one of whom shall be selected by the Depart- ment of Justice," in the third line thereof, and substituting therefor the words "one of whom shall be selected from assistants to the Attorney General, and who shall continue as such commissioner during the pleasure and under the direction of the Attorney General." That the unexpended balance of $3,436.03 of the appropriation for carrying into effect the provisions of the Act of Juno thirtieth, nineteen hundred and thirteen, making appropriations for current and continj^cnt expenses of the Indian Service for the fiscal year ending June thirtieth, nineteen hundred and fourteen (Tliirty-eighth Stat- 16 \PVB- 80.J utes at Large, page eighty-nine), creating a commission to prepare a roll of the allottees within the White Earth Reservation, in the State of Minnesota, and defining the duties of such commission, is herehy reappropriated and made imme(hately available for the payment of expenses incurred and salaries (uirned by the said commissioners, or under their direction, in carrying out the provisions of said Act since June thirtieth, nineteen liundrod and fourteen, and for the purpose of continuing the work of such commission under said Act. Tliat for the completion of the enrollment of the allottees within the White Earth Reservation, in the State of Minnesota, required by the Act of eTune tliirtieth, nineteen hundred and thirteen, as amended by this Act, there is hereby appropriated the sum of S5,000, or so much thereof as may be necessary for that purpose. This appropria- tion shah continue available until expended or the work of the said commission shall have been completed. To carry into effect the Act entitled "An Act for the relief and civi- ilization of the Chippewa Indians in the State of Minnesota, approved January fourteenth, eighteen hundred and eighty-nine, to provide for the establishment and administration of a forest reserve and for the sale of timber within the Red I^ake Indian Reservation, Minne- sota^" that the following-described lands within the Red Lake Indian Reservation, Minnesota, be, and the same hereby are, created into a forest reserve, to be known as the Red Lake Indian Forest: Town- ships one hundred and fifty and one hundred and fifty-one north, ranges thirty-two, thirty-three, thirty-four, thirty-five, and thirty- six west, and townships one hundred and fifty-two and one hundri^d and fifty-three north, ranges thirty-two, thirty-three, and thirty- four west of the fifth principal meridian, except the lands in town- ships one hundred and fifty-one north, range thirty -six west, which lie north of the north fine of sections twenty-six to thirty, inclusive, and except aU lands within sections four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, and eighteen, in township one hundred and fifty-three north, range tliirty-four west. The provisions of this paragraph shall not apply to any lands which have heretofore been reserved for school, agency, church, or town-site purposes or granted to private parties or corpora- tions within the area described, nor to the town site of Red Ijake, for the creation of wliich provision is made herein: Provided, That when any of said lands are no longer needed for the purpose for which they are reserved, the Secretary of the Interior may declare such lands to be a part of the Red Lake Indian Forest. That lands within said Red Lake Indian forest, which are not cov- ered with standing and growing merchantable })ine timber and which are suited for the production of agricultural crops and which are front- ing upon a lake shore, may bo allotted to individual Red Lake Indians: Proinded, That no such allotmtnit shall exceed eighty acres nor have more than eighty rods fronting upon a lake shore: Provided furiher, That in case an Indian -has improved and cultivated more than eighty acres, his allotment may embrace his improvements to the extent of one hundred and sixty acres. That said forest shall ])e administered by the Secretary of the Inte- rior in accordance with the ])rinciples of scientific forestry, with a view to the production of successive timber crops thereon, and he is hereby authorized to sell and manufacture only such standing and growing ^0 I [PCB, 80,1 17 ]Mno and oak timber as is mature and has ceased to grow, and he is also authorized to sell and manufacture form time to time such other ma- ture and marketable timber as he may deem advisable, and he is fur- ther authorized to construct and operate sawmills for the manufacture of the timber into merchantable products and to emj)loy such persons as he shall find necessary to carry out the purposes of the foregoing provisions, includmg the establishment of nurseries and the purchase of seeds, seedlings, and trans])lants when needed for reforestation pur- l)oses: Provided, That all timlter sold under the provisions herein shall !)(> sold on what is known as tlu^ bank scale: Provided further, That no contract shall be ma(k^ for the establishment of any mill, or to carry on any logging or lumbering operations which shall constitute a charge upon the proceeds of the timber, until an estimate of the cost thereof shall have fii*st been submitted to and approved by Congress. That the Secretary of the Interior may issue permits or grant leases on such lands for camping or farming. No permit shall be issued for a longer term than one year and no lease shall be executed for a longer term than five years. Every permit or lease issued under authority of this Act to Indians, or to other persons or corporations, and every pat- ent for an allotment within the limits of the forest created by section one, shall reserve to the United States the right to cross tiie land cov- ered thereby with logging roads or railroads, to use the shore line, or to erect thereon and use such structures as shall be necessary to the l)roper and economical management of the Indian Forest created by this Act; and the Secretary of the Interior may reserve from allotment tracts considered necessary for such administration. After the payment of all expenses connected with the administra- tion of these lands as herein provided, the net proceeds therefrom shall ])e covered into the Treasury of the United States to the credit of the Kcd Lake Indians and (h-aw interest at the rate of four per centum per annum. The interest on this fund may be used by the Secretary of the' Interior in such manner as he shall consider most advantageous and beneficial to the Red Lake Indians. Expenditure from the principal shall })e made only after the approval by Congress of estimates sub- mitted by the said Secretary. That the Secretary of the Interior shall select and set apart an area not exceeding two hun(h'(>d acres, in sections twenty, twenty-one, twenty-eight, and twenty-nine, township one hundred and fifty-one north, range thirtv-four west, cause the lands thus selected to be sur- veyed and ])latte(i into suitable lots, streets, and alleys, and dedicate said streets and alleys and such lots and parcels as he may consider necessary to public us{>s. The lands thus selected shall not be allotted, ])ut lield as an Indian town site subject to further legislation by Congress. That the timber on lands of the Red Lake Indian Reservation out- side the boundaries of the forest created by this Act may be sold imder regulations prescrilx'd l)y tlie Secretary of the Intei'ior, and the jiro- ceeds achninistered nnder the provisions of {]\v g(>neral (h^ficiency Act of March third, eigliteen liuiKh'ed and eiglity-tliree (Twenty-second Statutes at Large, page five liinuh'ed and ninety), and the Incban ap- propriation Act of March second, eighteen hmuh-ed and eighty-seven (Twenty-fourth Statutes at Large, page four hundred and sixty-three). Pub. No. 80 2 18 tPuB. 80.' MISSISSIPPI. Sec. 10. To enable the Secretary of the Interior to investigate the condition of the Indians living in Mississippi and report to Congress on the first Monday of next December as to their need for additional land and school facilities, $1,000, to be immediately available. MONTANA. Sec. 11 . For support and civilization of the Indians at Fort Belknap Agency, Montana, including pay of employees, $20,000. For support and civilization of Indians at Flathead Agency, Mon- tana, mcluding pay of employees, $20,000, of which amount not ex- ceeding $4,500 shall be expended for salaries. For support and civilization of Indians at Fort Peck Agency, Mon- tana, including pay of employees, $30,000. For support and civilization of Indians at Blackfeet Agency, Montana, including pay of employees, $2.5,000. For mamtenance and operation, including repairs, of the irrigation systems on the Fort Belknap Reservation, in Montana, $20,000, reimbursable in accordance with the prov^isions of the Act of April fourth, nineteen hundred and ten. For fulfdling treaties with Crows, Montana: For pay of pliysician, $1,200; and for pay of carpenter, miller, engineer, farmer, and black- smith (article ten, treaty of May seventh, eighteen hundred and sixty- eight), $3,600; for pay of second blacksmith (article eiglit, same treaty), $1,200; in all, $6,000. . For subsistence and civilization of the Northern Cheyennes and Arapahoes (agreement with the Sioux Indians, approved February twenty-eight, eighteen hundred and seventy-seven), including North- ern Cheyennes removed from Pine Ridge Agency to Tongue River, "Montana, and for pay of physician, two teachers, two carpenters, one miller, two farmers, a blacksmith, and engineer (article seven, treaty of May tenth, eighteen hundred and sixty-eight), $80,000. For the employment of "line riders " along the southern and eastern boundaries of the Northern Cheyenne Indian Resej'vation in the State of Montana, $1 ,500. For the support and civilization of Rocky Boy's Band of Chippewas, and other moigent and homeless Indians in the State of Montana, including pay of employees, $5,000. Tliat the Secretary of the Interior be, and he is hereby, authorized to withdraw from the Treasury of the United States not to exceed the sum of $100,000, or so much thereof as may be necessary, of the principal sum on deposit to the credit of the Indians on the Blackfeet Reservation in Montana, for the purpose of purchasing and carmg for cattle for the use of individual Indians, seeds, and necessary farming ef|uipment, to enable them to become self-supporting: Provided, ITiat said sum shall be expended under conditions to be prescribed by the Secretary of the Interior for its repayment and placed into the Treasury to the credit of the said tribe on or before June thirtieth, nineteen hundred and twenty-five: Provided further, Tliat the Secretary of the Interioi shall submit to Congress annually on the first Monday in December a detailed statement as to the ex- penditure of this fund. [Pub. 80.) 19 For the purchase of a strip of land contaming sixteen acres, more or less, lying between the Flathead River and the Flathead Indian Agency reserve, Montana, for an addition to said reserve, S820, and said amount shall be reimbursed to the United States from the pro- ceeds arising from the sale of lands and timber within the Flathead Indian Reservation. lliat lands on the Flathead Indian Reservation in Montana valuable for agricultural or horticultural purposes, heretofore classified as timber lands, may, in the discretion oi tlie Secretary of the Interior, be appraised and opened to homestead entry under regulations pre- scribed by him, upon condition that homestead entrymen shall at the time of makmg their original homestead entries pay the full value of the timber found on the land at the time that the appraisement of the land itself is made, such payment to be in addition to the appraised price of the lands apart from the tunber. For continuing construction of the irrigation systems on the Flat- head Indian Reservation, in Montana, $750,000 (reimbursable), which shall be immediately available and remain available until expended: Promded, That the payments for the proportionate cost of tlic con- struction of said systems required of settlers on the surplus unallotted land by section nine, chapter fourteen hundred ninety-live. Statutes of the United States of America, entitled "An Act for the survey and allottment of lands now embraced within the limits of tlie Flathead Indian Reservation in the State of Montana, and the sale and dis- posal of aU surplus lands after allotment," as amended by section fifteen of the Act of May twenty-ninth, nineteen hundred and eight (Thirty-fifth Statutes at Large, page four hundred and forty-eight), shall be made as herein provided: Provided further, That nothing contained in the Act of May twenty-ninth, nineteen hundred and eight (Thirty-fifth Statutes at Large, page four hundred and forty- four), shall be construed to exempt the purchaser of any Indian allot- ment purchased prior to the expiration of the trust period thereon from any charge for construction of the irrigation system incurred up to the time of such purchase, except such charges as shall have accrued and become due in accordance with the public notices herein frovided for, or to relieve the ow^ners of any or all land allotted to ndians in severalty from payment of the charges hereiii required to be made against said land on account of construction of the irri- gation systems; and in carrying out the provisions of said section the exemption therehi authorizccl from charges incurred against allot- ments purchased prior to the expiration of the trust period tliereon shall ))e the amount of the charges or instalhnents thereof due under public notice herein provided for up to the tune of such purchase. For continuing construction of the irrigation systems on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation, in Montana, S100,000 (reimbursa))le), which shall be immediately available: Provided, That the proportionate cost of the construction of said systems required of settlers and entry- men on the surplus unallotted irrigable land by section two of the Act of May thirtieth, nineteen hundred antl eight (Thirty-lifth Stat- utes at Large, |)age five hundred and lifty-eight), shall be ])aid as herein providecl : Provided further, That notliing contained in said Act of May thirtieth, nineteen hundred and eight, shall be con- strued to exempt tlie purchaser of any Indian allotment purchased prior to the expiration of the trust period thereon from any charge 20 (Pub. 80.1 for construction of the irrigation system incurred up to the time of such purchase, except such charges as shall have accrued and become due in accordance with the public notices herein provided for, and the purchaser of any Indian allotment to be irrigated by said systems purchased upon approval of the Secretary of the Interior before the charges against said aUotment herein authorized shall have been paid shall pay aU charges remaining unpaid at the time of such purchase, and in all patents or deeds for such purchased allotments, and also in all patents in fee to aUottees or their heirs issued before payment shaU have been made of aU such charges herein authorized to be made against their allotments, there shall be expressed that there is reserved upon the lands therein described a lien for such charges, and such lien may be enforced, or upon payment of the delinquent charges may be released by the Secretary of the Interior. For continuing construction of the irrigation systems on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation, in Montana, $25,000 (reimbursable), which shall be immediately available : Provided, That the entrjTnan upon the surplus unallotted lands to be irrigated by such systems shall, in addition to compliance with the homestead laws, before receiving patent for the lands covered by his entry, pay the charges apportioned against such tract as herein authorized, and a failure to make any two pa3rments when due shall render the entry subject to cancella- tion, with the forfeiture to the United States of aU rights acquired under the provisions of this act, as well as of any moneys paid on account thereof. The purchaser of any Indian allotment to be irri- gated by such systems, purchased upon approval of the Secretary of the Interior, before the charges against said aUotment herein authorized shall have been paid, shaU pay all charges remaining unpaid at the time of such purchase and in all patents or deeds for such purchased aUotments, and also in aU patents in fee to allottees or their hehs issued before pajrment of all such charges herein author- ized to be made agamst their aUotments, there shall be expressed that there is reserved upon the lands therein described a lien for such charges, and such lien may be enforced, or, upon pa3anent of the delinquent charges, may be released by the Secretary of the Interior. The work to be done with the amounts herein appropriated for the completion of the Blackfeet, Flathead, and Fort Feck projects may be done by the Reclamation Service on plans and estmiates furnished by that service and approved by the Commissioner of Indian Affairs: Provided, That not to exceed $15,000 of applicable appropriations made for the Flathead, Blackfeet, and Fort Feck irrigation projects shaU be available for the maintenance, re})air, and operation of motor- propelled and horse-drawn passenger-carrying vehicles for oflicial use upon the aforesaid irrigation projects: Provided furtlier , That not to exceed $7,500 may be used for the purchase of horse-drawn pas- senger-carrying vehicles, and that not to exceed $1,500 may be used for the purchase of motor-propeUed passenger-carrying vehicles. That the Secretary of the Interior be, and he is hereby, authorized and directed to announce, at such time as in his opinion seems proper, the charge for construction of irrigation systems on the Blackfeet, Flathead, and Fort Peck Indian Reservations in Montana, which shall be made against each acre of land irrigable by the systems on each of said reservations. Such charges shall be assessed against the land UTigable by the systems on each said reservation in the pro- [Pub. 80.] 21 portion of the total construction cost which each acre of such land bears to the whole area of irrigable land thereunder. On the first day of December after the announcement by the Secretary of the Interior of the construction charge the allottee, entryman, purchaser, or owner of such irrigable land which might have been furnished water for irrigation during the whole of the preceding irrigation season, from ditches actually constructed, shall pay to the superintendent of the reservation where the land is located, for deposit to the credit of tlie United States as a reimbursement of the appropriations made or to be made for construction of said irrigation systems, five per centum of the construction charge fixed for his land, as an initial installment, and shall pay the balance of the charge in fifteen annual installments, the first five of which shall each be five per centum of the construction charge and the remainder shall each be seven per centum of the construction charge. The first of the annual installments shall become due and payable on December first of the fifth calendar year after the initial installment : Provided, That any allottee, entryman, purchaser, or owner may, if he so elects, pay the whole or any part of the construction charges within any shorter period: Provided furtlier, That the Secretary of the Interior may, in his discretion, grant such extension of the time for payments herein required from Indian allottees or their heirs as he may determine proper and necessary, so long as such land remains in Indian title. That the tribal funds heretofore covered into the Treasury of the United States in partial reimbursement of appropriations made for constructing irrigation systems on said reservations shall be placed to the credit of the tribe and be available for such expenditure for the benefit of the tribe as Congress may hereafter direct. The cost of constructing the irrigation systems to irrigate allotted lands of the Indians on these reservations shall be reimbursed to the United States as hereinbefore provided, and no further reim- bursements from the tribal funds shall be made on account of said irrigation works except that all charges against Indian allottees or their heirs herein authorized, unless otherwise paid, may be paid from the individual shares in the tribal funds, wlien the same is available for distribution, in the discretion of the Secretary of the Interior. That in addition to the construction charges every allottee, entry- man, purchaser, or owner shall pay to the superintendent of the reservation a maintenance and operation charge based upon the total cost of maintenance and operation of the systems on the several reservations, and the Secretary of the Interior is hereby authorized to fix such maintenance and operation charge upon such basis as shall be equitable to the owners of the irrigable land. Such charges when collected shall be available for exj)emliture in the maintenance and operation of the systems on the reservation where collected: Provided, That delivery of water to any tract of land may be refu.sed on account of n(jnj)ayment of any charges herein authorized, and the same may, in the discretion of the Secretary of the Interior, bo collected by a suit for money owed: Provided further, That the rights of the United States heretofore acquired, to water for Indian lands referred to in the foregoing provision, namely, the Blackfeet, 22 [Pub. 80.) Fort Peck, and Flathead Reservation land, shall be continued in full force and effect until the Indian title to such land is extinguished. That the Secretary of the Interior be, and he is hereby, authorized to prescribe such rules and regulations and issue such notices as may be necessary to carry into effect the provisions of this Act, and he is hereby authorized and directed to determine the area of land on each reservation which may be irrigated from constructed ditches and to determine what allowance, if any, shall be made for ditches con- structed by individuals for the diversion and distribution of a partial or total water supply for allotted or surplus unallotted land: Pro- vided, That if water be available prior to the announcement of the charge herein authorized, the Secretary of the Interior may furnish water to land under the systems on the said reservations, making a reasonable charge therefor, and such charges when collected may be used for construction or maintenance of the systems through which such water shall have been furnished. NEBRASKA. Sec. 12. For support and education of four hundred Indian pupils at the Indian school at Genoa, Nebraska, including pay of superin- tendent, $68,800; for general repairs and improvements, $5,000; for new boilers at power plant, extension of lighting system and of water and sewer main, and for construction of septic tank, $10,800; for the purpose of making necessary repairs on the Government bridge across the Niobrara River near Niobrara, Nebraska; also to recon- struct one span of ninety feet over the back channel of the Niobrara River at the same point, the sum of $6,500; said sum to be expended under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior; in all, $91,100. That the Secretary of the Interior be, and he is hereby, authorized, in his discretion, to approve the assessments, together wdth maps showing right of way and definite location of proposed drainage ditches to be made under the laws of the State of Nebraska upon the allotments of certain Omaha and Winnebago Indians in Wakefield drainage district, in Dixon, Wayne, and Thurston Counties in Nebraska. That the vSecretary of the Interior be, and he is hereby, authorized to pay the amount assessed against each of said allotments: Pro- vided, That said assessment shall not exceed $10 per acre on any allotment or portion thereof; and there is hereby appropriated for said purpose, out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appro- priated, the sum of $.30,000, to be immediately available, the said sum to be reimbursable from the rentals of said allotments, not to exceed fifty per centum of the amount of rents received annually, or from any funds belonging to the said allottees, in the discretion of the Secretary of the Interior. That the Secretary of the Interior bo, and he is hereby, authorized, in his discretion, to' approve deeds for right of way from such said allottees or their heirs as may be necessary to permit the construc- tion and maintenance of said drainage ditch upon the payment of adequate damages therefor. That the Secretary of the Interior is hereby authorized to approve the assessments upon aU other restricted allotments located within any proposed drainage district located and made under the laws of the State of Nebraska. iPuB. 80. 23 That in the event any allottees shall receive a patent in fee to any allotment of land in any lawfully constituted drainage district within the State of Nebraska before the United States shall have been wholly reimbursed as herein provided, the amount remaining unpaid shall become a first lien on such allotment, and the fact of such lien shall be recited on the face of each patent in fee issued and the amount of the lien set forth thereon, and the receipt of the Secretary of the Interior, or of the officer, agent, or employee duly authorized by him for that purpose, for the payment of the amount assessed against any allotment as herein provided shall, when duly recorded by the recorder of deeds in the county wherein the land is located, operate as a satisfaction of such lien. That the Secretary of the Interior is hereby authorized to perform any and all acts and to make such rules and regulations as may be necessary and proper for the purpose of carrying these provisions into full force and effect. NEVADA. Sec. 13. For support and civilization of Indians in Nevada, in- cluding pay of employees, $18,500. For support and education of two hundred and ninety Indian pupils at the Indian school at Carson City, Nevada, including pay of superintendent, $50,430; for general repairs and improvements, $8,000; for irrigating school farm, $4,000; in all, $62,430. For the purpose of procuring home and farm sites, with adequate water rights, and providing agricultural equipment and instruction and other necessary supplies for the nonreservation Indians in the State of Nevada, $15,000: Provided, That no part of this appropria- tion shall be expended for mileage, salaries, or expenses of employees. For the improvement, enlargement, and extension of the irrigation diversion and distribution system to irrigate approximately three thousand three hundred acres of Indian land on the Pyramid Lake Reservation, Nevada, $30,000, reimbursable from any funds of said Indians now or hereafter available, and to remain available until expended: Provided, That the cost of said entire work shall not exceed $85,000. For the purchase of land and water rights for the Washoe Tribe of Indians, the title to which is to be held in the United States for the benefit of said Indians, $10,000, to be immediately available; for the support and civilization of said Indians, $5,000; in all, $15,000, NEW MEXICO. Sec. 14. For support and education of four hundred and fifty Indian pupils at the Indian school at Albuquerque, New Mexico, and for pay of superintendent, $77,400; for general repairs and improve- ments, $8,000; for the purchase of additional acreage adjoining or in the vicinity of the school farm, $12,000; in all, $97,400. For support and education of three hundred and fifty Indian pupils at the Indian school at wSanta Fo, Now Mexico, and for pay of super- intendent, $59,550; for general repairs and improvements, $6,000; for water supply, $1,600; for the construction of an assembly hall and gymnasium, $25,000; in all, $92,150. 24 iPuB. 80.] For the pay of one special attorney for the Pueblo Indians of New Mexico, to be designated by the Secretary of the Interior, and for necessary travehng expenses of said attorney, $2,000, or so much thereof as the Secretary of the Interior may deem necessary. For construction work on the Indian highway extending from the Mesa Verde National Park to Gallup, New Mexico, on the Navajo Reservation, $15,000, said sum to be reimbursed from any funds which are now or may hereafter be placed in the Treasury to the credit of said Indians: Provided, That such sum shall be expended under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior in such manner and at such times and places as he may deem proper, and in the employment of Indian labor as far as possible for the construction of said highway. NEW YORK. Sec. 15. For fulfilling treaties with Senecas of New York: For per- manent annuity in heu of interest on stock (Act of February nme- teenth, eighteen hundred and thirty-one), $6,000. For fulfilling treaties with Six Nations of New York: For perma- nent annuity, in clothing and other useful articles (article six, treaty of November eleventh, seventeen hundred and ninety-four), $4,500. NORTH CAROLINA. Sec. 16. For support and education of one hundred and eighty Indian pupils at the Indian school at Cherokee, North Carohna, including pay of superintendent, $30,000; for general repairs and improvements, $6,000; in all, $36,000. NORTH DAKOTA. Sec. 17. For support and civilization of the Sioux of Devils Lake, North Dakota, including pay of employees, $5,000. For support and civilization of Indians at Fort Berthold Agency, in North Dakota, including pay of employees, $15,000. For support and civilization of Turtle Mountain Band of Chippe- was, North Dakota, including pay of employees, $11,000. For support and education of one hundred and twenty-five Indian pupils at the Indian school, Bismarck, North Dakota, including pay of superintendent, $22,175; for general repairs and improvements, $4,000; for boys' dormitory, $30,000; in all, $56,175. For support and education of four hundred Indian pupils at Fort Totten Indian School, Fort Totten, North. Dakota, and for pay of superintendent, $68,500; sinking wells and making improvements of the water system, $4,000, to be immediately available; for barn, $5,000; for general repairs and improvements, $5,000; in all, $82,500. For support and education of two hundred and twenty Indian pupils at the Indian school, Wahpeton, North Dakota, and pay of superintendent, $38,540; for general repaii-s and improvements, $5,000; for new school building, $20,000; in all, $63,540. The Secretary of the Interior is hereby authorized to withdraw from the Treasury of the United States, from time to time, in his discretion, all moneys derived from the sale and disposition of surplus lands, withui the limits of the former Fort Berthold Indian Reserva- (Pub. 80.] 25 tion, North Dakota, arising under the provisions of the Act approved June first, nineteen hundred and ten (Thirty-sixth Statutes at Large, page four hundred and fifty-five), together with the accrued interest thereon, and distribute the same per capita to the Indians entitled thereto in the following manner, to wit: To competent Indians in cash share and share alike and to incompetent Indians by depositing equal shares to their individual credit in banks bonded and desig- nated as depositories for individual Indian moneys, subject to ex- penditure for the benefit of the Indians entitled under such rules as the Secretary of the Interior may prescribe, and hereafter annual distributions shall similarly be made of funds accruing under the provisions of the act herein referred to. To enable tlie Secretary of the Interior to redeem a mortgage on the allotment selection of "Starr McGillis, a Turtle Mountain Chippewa Indian, described as the northwest quarter of section thirty-four, tow^lship one hundred and sixty-four north, range seventy west of the fifth principal meridian. North Dakota, $1,500, or so much thereof as may be necessary. To enable the Secretary of the Interior to reimburse Benson County, North Dakota, for moneys actually paid to the State of North Dakota for care and maintenance of insane Indians at the State insane asylum, as foUows: Joseph Langer, $457.44; Mary J. Pejihutaskana, $410; Alfred Littlewind, $630; in all, $1,497.44. For the erection of a headstone to mark the grave of Scarlet Crow, a Sioux Indian chief of the Wahpeton Tribe, who was ])uried March thirteenth, eighteen hundred and sixty-seven, in the Congressional Cemetery, Washington, District of Columbia, in a grave marked "76-R. A. 22," $100. . OKLAHO^Ll. Sec. 18. For support and civilization of the Wichitas and affiliated bands who have been collected on the reservations set apart for their use and occupation in Oklahoma, including pay of employees, $5,000. The Secretary of the Interior is hereby authorized to withdraw from the Treasury of the United vStates, at his discretion, the sum of $25,000, or so mucli thereof as may be necessary, of the funds on de- fosit to the credit of the Kiowa, Comanche, and Apache Tribes of ndians in Oklahoma, for the support of the agency and pay of em- ployees maintained for their benefit. That the Secretary of the Interior be and he is hereby, authorized to withdraw from the Treasury of the United States, at his discretion, the sum of $250,000, or so much thereof as may be necessary, of the funds on deposit to the credit of the Kiowa, Comanche, and Apache Tribes of Indians in (Oklahoma, and pay out the same for the benefit of the members of said tribes for their maintenance and sui)port, and improvement of their homesteads, for the ensuing year, in such man- ner and under such regulations as he may prescribe: Provided, That the Secretary of the Interior sliall report to Congress on the first Monday hi Deceiul)er, nineteen hundred and seventeen, a detailed statement as to all moneys expended as provicknl for herein. For support and civilization of tlie Cheyeunes and Arapahoes who have been collected on the reservations set apart for their use and occupation in Oklahoma, including pay of employees, $35,000. 26 [Pub. sai For support and civilization of the Kansas Indians, Oklahoma, in- cluding pay of employees, $1,500. For support and civilization of the Kickapoo Indians in Oklahoma, including pay of employees, $2,000. For support and civilization of the Ponca Indians in Oklahoma and Nebraska, including pay of employees, $8,000. For support and education of five hundred Indian pupils at the Indian school at Chilocco, Oklahoma, including pay of superintendent, $86,250; for general repairs and improvements, $7,000; in all, $93,250. For fulfilling treaties with Pawnees, Oklahoma: For perpetual an- nuity, to be paid in cash to the Pawnees (article three, agreement of November twenty-third, eighteen hundred and ninety-two), $30,000; for support of two manual labor schools (article three, treaty of Sep- tember twenty-fourth, eighteen hundred and fifty-seven), $10,000; for pay of one farmer, two blacksmiths, one miller, one engineer and apprentices, and two teachers (article four, same treaty), $5,400; for purchase of iron and steel and other necessaries for the shops (article four, same treaty) , $500 ; for pay of physician and purchase of medicines, $1,200; in all, $47,100. For support of Quapaws, Oklahoma: For education (article three, treaty of May thirteenth, eighteen hundred and thirty- three) , $1,000; for blacksmith and assistants, and tools, iron, and steel for black- smith shop (same article and treaty), $500; in all, $1,500: Provided, That the President of the United States shall certify the same to be for the best interests of the Indians. That the unexpended balance of $9,533.38 is hereby reappropri- ated and made available for continuing the relief and settlement of the Apache Indians formerly confined as prisoners of war on the Fort Sill Military Reservation, Oklahoma, for the purchase of allot- ments in Oklahoma, as provided for in the Act of June thirtieth, nineteen hundred and thirteen (Thirty-eight Statutes at Large, page seventy-seven), for the three adult heads of families who have not heretofore received allotments. That the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway Company be, and is hereby, authorized to reconstruct its line of railroad through the Chilocco Indian School Reservation in the State of Oklahoma to eliminate, where necessary, existing heavy grades and curves, and for such purpose to acquire the necessary right of way, not exceedbig two hundred feet in width, subject to the approval of the Secretary of the Interior and to the payment for the land so taken and occu- pied by such new right of way of such an amount as may be deter- mined by the Secretary of the Interior to be fair and adequate com- pensation therefor, including aU damage which may be caused by the reconstruction of said line of railroad to adjoining lands, crops, and other hnprovements, said amount to be paid to the Secretary of the Interior for the use and benefit of the Chilocco Indian School. FIVE CIVILIZED TRIBES. Sec. 19. For expenses of administration of the affairs of the Five Civilized Tribes, Oklahoma, and the compensation of employees, $185,000, of which $10,000 shall be immediately available. tPuB. 80.] 27 That the Secretary of the Interior be, and he is hereby, authorized to pay to the enrolled members of the Choctaw and Chickasaw Trioes of Indians of Oldahoma entitled under existing law to share in the funds of said tribes, or to their la\vful heirs, out of any moneys belonging to said tribes in the United States Treasury or deposited in any bank or held by any official under the jurisdiction of the Secretary of the Interior, not to exceed $300 per capita, in the case of the Clioctaws, and S200 per capita in the case of the Chickasaws, said payment to be made under such rules and regulations as the Secretary of the Interior may prescribe: Provided, That in cases where such enrolled members, or their heirs, are Indians who by reason of their degree of Indian blood belong to the restricted class, the Secretary of the Interior may, in his discretion, withhold such payments and use the same for the benefit of such restricted Indians: Provided further, That the money paid to the enrolled members as provided herein shall be exempt from any lien for attorne3's' fees or other debt contracted prior to the passage of this Act except that the Secretary of the Interior is hereby authorized within thirty days after the passage of this Act, to investigate claims not to exceed $1,950 growing out of contracts alleged to be in existence between John Calvin Gray, William T. Lancaster, Arthur Jennings and Clyde Jennings, as enrolled members of the Choctaw or Chickasaw Nations, and Henry W. Blair, Kappler and Merillat, James K. Jones, Charles M. Fechheimer and Eugene Hamilton, as attorneys, and in case such claims are found to be valid and the contracts approved in accordance with existing law, the said Secretary of the Interior may, in his discretion apply any amounts that may be found due under this paragraph to the aforesaid enrolled members of the Choctaw or Chickasaw Nations to the payment of such fee, but the amounts due hereunder to other enrolled members of the Choctaw and Chickasaw Nations shall not be held in abeyance to this claim but shall be paid promptly without reference to same: Provided further, That the Secretary of the Interior is hereby authorized to use not to exceed $8,000 out of the Chickasaw and Choctaw Tribal funds for the expenses and the compensation of all necessary em- ployees for the distribution of the said per capita payments. That the Secretary of the Interior be, and he is hercDy, authorized to i)ay to the enrolled members of the Seminole Tribe of Indians of Olda- homa entitled under existing law to share in the funds of said tribe, or to their lawful heirs, out of any moneys belonging to said tribe m the United States Treasury or dopositod in any bank or held by any official under the jurisdiction of the Secretary of the Interior, $300 per capita: Provided, That said payment shall be made under such rules and regulations as the Secretary of the Interior may Erescribe: Provided further, That in cases where such enrolled mem- ers or their heirs are Indians who belong to the restricted class, the Secretary of the Interior may, in his discretion, withhold such and use the same for the benefit of such restricted IiuHans: \ovided further, That the money paid to the enrolled members or their lieirs as provided herein shall be exempt from any lien for attorneys' fees or other debt contracted prior to the passage of tliis Act. Ihere is hereby appropriated a sum not to exceed $2,000 out of the funds of said Semmole Tribe for the payment of salaries and other expenses of said per capita payment or payments. 28 |PUB. 80.) For salaries and expenses of such attorneys and other employees as the Secretary of the Interior may, in his discretion, deem necessary in probate matters affecting allottees or their heirs in the Five Civilized Tribes and in the several tribes of the Quapaw Agency, and for the costs and other necessary expenses incident to suits instituted or con- ducted by such attorneys, $85,000. For the support, continuance, and maintenance of the Cherokee Orphan Training School, near Tahlequah, Oklahoma, for the orphan Indian children of the Five Civilized Tribes belonging to the restricted class, to be conducted as an industrial school under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, including repairs and improvements, $40,000: Provided, That the unexpended balance of $7,500 appropri- ated by the Act of August first, nineteen hundred and fourteen, is hereby reappropriated for the purchase of additional land, not to exceed sixty acres. The sum of $275,000, to be expended in the discretion of the Secre- tary of the Interior, under rules and regulations to be prescribed by him, in aid of the common schools in the Cherokee, Creek, Choctaw, Chickasaw, and Seminole Nations and the Quapaw Agency in Okla- homa, during the fiscal year ending June thirtieth, nineteen hundred and seventeen: Provided, That this appropriation shall not be subject to the limitation in section one of this Act limiting the expenditure of money to educate children of less than one-fourth Indian blood. That the Secretary of the Interior be, and he is hereby, authorized to use not exceeding $35,000 of the proceeds of sales of unallotted lands and other tribal property belonging to any of the Five Civilized Tribes for payment of salaries of employees and other expenses of advertising and sale in connection with the further sales of such tribal lands and property, including the advertising and sale of the land within the segregated coal and asphalt area of the Choctaw and Chickasaw Nations, or of the surface thereof as provided for in the Act of Congress approved February nineteenth, nineteen hundred and twelve (Thirty-seventh United States Statutes at Large, page sixty- seven), and of the improvements thereon, which is hereby expressly authorized, and for other work necessary to a final settlement of the affairs of the Five Civilized Tribes: Provided, That not to exceed $10,000 of such amount may be used in connection with the collection of rents of unallotted lands and tribal buildings: Provided fvrtJier, That during the fiscal year ending June thirtieth, nineteen hundred and seventeen, no moneys shall be expended from tribal funds belong- ing to the Five Civilized Tribes without specific appropriation by Congress, except as follows : Equalization of allotments, per capita and other payments authorized by law to individual members of the respective tribes, tribal and other Indian schools for the current fiscal year under existing law, salaries and contingent expenses of governors, chiefs, assistant chiefs, secretaries, interpreters, and mining trustees of the tribes for the current fiscal year at salaries at the rate heretofore Eaid, and attorneys for said tribes employed under contract approved y the President, under existing law, for the current fiscal year: Provided further, That the Secretary of the Interior is hereby author- ized to pay the cost of maintenance during the current fiscal year of the tribal and other schools and to continue during the ensuing fiscal year the tribal and other schools among the Choctaw, Chickasaw, Creek, and Seminole Tribes from the tribal funds of those nations, (Pub. 80.] 29 witliiii his discretion and under such rules and regulations as he may prescribe: And provided fiirtlicr, That the Secretary of the Interior is hereby empowered, during the fiscal year endino; June thirtieth, nine- teen hundred and seventeen, to expend funds of the Chickasaw, Choctaw, Creek, and Seminole Nations available for school purposes under existing law for such repairs, improvements, or new buildings as he may deem essential for the proper conduct of the several schools of said tribes. For fulfilling treaties with Choctaws, Oklahoma: For permanent aimuity (article two, treaty of November sixteenth, eighteen hundred and five, and article thirteen, treaty of June twenty-second, eighteen Imndred and fifty-five), -13,000 ; for permanent annuity for support of light-horsemen (article thirteen, treaty of October eighteenth, eighteen hundred and twenty, and article thirteen, treaty of June twenty- second, eighteen hundred and fifty-five), $600; for permanent an- nuity for support of blacksmith (article six, treaty of October eighteenth, eighteen hundred and twenty, and article nine, treaty of January twentieth, eighteen hundred and twenty-five, and article thirteen, treaty of June twenty-second, eighteen hundred and fifty- five, $600: for permanent annuity for education (article two, treaty of January twentieth, eighteen liundred and twenty-five, and article thirteen, treaty of June twenty-second, eighteen hundred and fifty- five), $6,000: for permanent annuity for iron and steel (article nine, treaty of January twentieth, eighteen Imndred and twenty-five, and article thirteen, treaty of June twenty-second, eighteen hundred and fifty-five), $320: in atl, $10,520. For the salaries and expenses of not to exceed six oil and gas inspectors, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, to supervise oil and gas mining operations on allotted lands leased by members of the Five Civilized Tribes from which restrictions have not been removed, and to conduct investigations \Ai\\ a view to the pre- vention of waste. $15,000. That the Secretary of tlie Interior is hereby authorized to acquire on behalf of the Choctaw Nation, Oklahoma, by purchase or other- wise, such lands or easements as shall be necessary for the purpose of a roadway leading from Whcelock Academy, Choctaw Nation, Okla- homa, to the public higliway, and to expend therefor not to exceed $150, from Choctaw tribal funds. That tlie Secretary of the Interior be, and he is hereby, authorized to effectuate a compromise settlement of the suit of the United States against E. Dowden and others decided adversely to the Government on January fourth, nineteen hundred and fifteen, by tlie United States Circuit Court of Appeals for tlie I^^ighth Circuit and now pending on appeal in the Sujireme Court of the United States, and for said purpose to purchase whatever right, title, and interest that said E. Dowden may have in or to the land involved in said suit, said land being situated witiiin the area segregated for town-site purposes at Tuttle Oklalioma. and to take such otiier action as may be necessary to quiet the title in the Ciioctaw and (-liickasaw Nations to said land and in the purchasers from said nations at the Government sale of tlie town lots, and for the above purpose the sum of $57,500, together with interest thereon at tlie rate of six ])er centum per annum from Feb- ruary twenty-fourth, nineteen hundred and sixteen, to date of settle- ment, is hereby appropriated, out of any money in the Treasury of 30 [Pub. 80.J the United States not otherwise appropriated: Provided, That the United States is to be reimbursed to the extent of the proceeds here- tofore derived, or which may hereafter be derived, from the sale of the town lots within the area affected by such compromise settlement. OREGON. Sec. 20. For support and civilization of Indians of the Klamath Agency, Oregon, including pay of employees, $6,000. For support and civilization of the confederated tribes and bands, under Warm Springs Agency, Oregon, including pay of employees, $4,000. For support and civilization of the Indians of the Umatilla Agency, Oregon, including pay of emploj^ees, $3,000. For support and education of six hundred Indian pupils, including native Indian pupils brought from Alaska, at the Indian school, Salem, Oregon, including pay of superintendent, $102,000; for gen- eral repairs and improvements, $12,000; for remodeling sewer sys- tem, $5,000; for three high-pressure steam boilers, $7,200: Provided, That the unused balance of $9,830 of the amount appropriated by the Act of August first, nineteen hundred and fourteen (Thirty-eighth Statutes at Large, page six hundred and two), and an additional amount of $2,500 may be expended for an addition to the assembly hall; in all, $128,700. - For support and civilization of Indians at Grande Ronde and Siletz Agencies, Oregon, including pay of employees, $4,000: Provided, That section three of an Act entitled "An Act to authorize the sale of certain lands belonging to the Indians of the Siletz Indian Reserva- tion in the State of Oregon," approved May thirteenth, nineteen hundred and ten, be, and the same is hereby, amended by striking out all of said section and inserting in lieu thereof the following: "Sec. 3. That when such lands are surveyed and platted, they shall be appraised and sold, except land reserved for water-power sites as provided in section two of this Act, under the provisions of the Revised Statutes covering the sale of town sites located on the Eublic domain. That the proceeds derived from the sale of any lands ereunder, after reimbursing the United States for the expense incurred in carrying out the provisions of this Act, shall be paid, share and share alike, to the enrolled members of the tribe." For construction, maintenance, and operation of the Modoc Point irrigation system within the Klamath Indian Reservation, in the State of Oregon, $20,000, reimbursable in accordance with the pro- visions of the Act of March third, nineteen hundred and eleven: Pro- vided, That the limit of cost of said project fixed by the Act of August twenty-fourth, nineteen hundred and twelve, is hereby changed from $155,000 to $170,000. That the sum of $1,000, or so much thereof as may be necessary, of the tribal funds of the IQamath Indians of the State of Oregon, is hereby appro])riated to pay the actual expenses of the two delegates of the said tribe who have been elected by the general council of the Klamath Indians to attend to the business of the tribe and pay tlieir expenses to Washington in February and March, nineteen hundred and sixteen, to present the affairs of the said Klamath Indians of the State of Oregon to the officials of the United States. [Pub. 80.] 31 The Secretary of the Interior is hereby authorized to withdraw from the Treasury of the United States the sum of $3,000, or so much thereof as may be necessary, of the funds on deposit to the credit of the Klamath Indians of the State of Oregon, and use the same for the construction of a bridge across the Wilhamson River, on the Klamath Indian Reservation, Oregon, under such rules and regulations as he may prescribe. For the construction of two bridges on the UmatiUa Indian Reser- vation, in Oregon, suitable for .wagon and other purposes, across the UmatiUa River, at a hmit of cost of $28,000, the first at or near Thorn Hollow Station, the second at or near Mission Station, the sum of $18,666 is hereby appropriated to be expended under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior and to be reimbursable from any funds now or hereafter placed in the Treasury to the credit of said Indians: Provided, That no part of the money herein appropriated shall be expended until the Secretary of the Interior shall have obtained from the proper authorities of the State of Oregon, or from the county of Umatilla, at least one-third of the cost of said bridges, and that the proper authorities of the said State of Oregon or the said count}^ of Umatilla shall assume full responsibility for, and agree at all times to maintain and repair, said bridges and construct and maintain the approaches thereto: Provided, furtlier, That any and all expenses above the amount herein named in connection with the building and maintenance of said bridges shall be borne by the said State 01 Oregon or the said county of Umatilla. ^PENNSYLVANIA. Sec. 21. For support and education of Indian pupils at the Indian school at Carlisle, Pennsylvania, including pay of superintendent, $132,000; for general repairs and improvements, $20,000; in all, $152,000. SOUTH DAKOTA. Sec. 22. For support and education of three hundred and sixty- five Indian pupils at the Indian scliool at Flandreau, South Dakota, and for pay of superintendent, $61,500; for general repairs and im- provements, $6,000: in all, $67,500: Provided, Tliat the unoxpended balance of $1,607.44 aj)propriated by the Act approved August first, nineteen hundred and fourteen, for repairing buildings and replacing equipment destroyed or damaged by the tornado of June tenth, nineteen hundnKl and fourteen, at Flan(h"eau Indian School, South Dakota, is hereby r(!ai)propriated and niachi imnicHhately available for the purchase and installation of a water tank and the purchase of dairy cattle for said school. For support and education of two hundred and fifty Indian pupils at the Indian school at Pierre, South Dakota, including pay of super- intendent, $43,750; for general repairs and improvements, $6,000; for steel water tank, $2,000; for new boilers and installation thereof, $3,000; for addition to shop building, $1,000; for- barn, $5,000; in all $60,750. For support and education of two hundred and fifty Indian pupils at the Indian school, Rapid City, South Dakota, including pay of 32 [Pub. sa] superintendent, $48,500; for general repairs and improvements, $5,000; for new school building, $30,000; in all, $83,500. For support of Sioux of different tribes, including Santee Sioux of Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota : For pay of five teachers, one physician, one carpenter, one miller, one engineer, two farmers, and one blacksmith (article thirteen, treaty of April twenty-ninth, eighteen hundred and sixty-eight), $10,400; for pay of second black- smith, and furnishing iron, steel, and other material (article eight of same treaty), $1,600; for pay of additional employees at the several agencies for the Sioux in Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota, $95,000: for subsistence of the Sioux, other than the Rosebud, Chey- enne River, and Standing Rock Tribes, and for purposes of their civihzation (Act of February twenty-eighth, eighteen hundred and seventy-seven), $200,000: Provided, That this sum shall include trans- portation of supplies from the termination of raih'oad or steamboat transportation, and in this service Indians shall be employed whenever practicable; in all, $307,000. For support and maintenance of day and industrial schools among the Sioux Indians, including the erection and repairs of school build- ings, $200,000, in accordance with the provisions of article five of the agreement made and entered into September twenty-sixth, eighteen hundred and seventy-six, and ratified February twenty-eighth, eight- een hundred and seventy-seven (Nineteenth Statutes, page two hun- dred and fifty-four). The Secretary of the Interior is hereby authorized and directed to cause investigation to be made as to the probable cost of providing on the various Sioux Indian Reservations adequate school facilities for the children of the Sioux Tribes who are now without Government or public school facihties on the respective reservations, and to make a report thereof to Congress on or before the first Monday in January, nineteen hun(h*ed and seventeen, together with a complete and detailed statement of the per capita cost per annum, including mile- age paid, now expended for the education of the Sioux Indian chil- dren in all the schools, whether on or off the respective reservations, and there is hereby appropriated for the expense of such investiga- tion and report the sum of $1,000, or so much thereof as may be necessary, to be immediately available. For subsistence and civilization of the Yankton Sioux, South Dakota, including pay of employees, $14,000. For the equipment and maintenance of the asylum for insane Indians at Canton, South Dakota, for incidental and all other expenses necessary for its proper conduct and management, including pay of employees, repairs, improvements, and for necessary expense of trans- porting insane Indians to and from said asylum, $45,000. For a proportionate share of the amount required to construct a wagon road or highway through the Standing Rock Indian Reserva- tion in Corson County, vSouth Dakota, from a point on the Missouri River north of Pontis, South Dakota, thence in a northwesterly direc- tion to the town of Tatanka, the sum of $5,000, in accordance with the report of the Secretary of the Interior of December seventh, nine- teen hundred and fourteen, made in pursuance of the provisions of section twenty of the Act entitled "An Act making appropriations for the current ^nd contingent expenses of the Bureau of Indian Affaii-s, for fulfilling treaty stipulations with various Indian tribes, [Pun. 80 33 and for other purposes, for the fiscal year ending June tliirtietli, nine- teen liuiidred and fifteen," approved August fii'st, nineteen hundred and fourteen: Provided, Tliat such sum sliall be expended under tho direction of the Secretary of the Interior in sucli manner and at such times as he may deem proper, in the employment of Indian labor for the construction of said road or highway, and that the same shall be reimbursable from the Standing Rock Reservation three per centum fund under the Act of February fourteenth, nineteen hundred and thirteen (Thirty-seventh Statutes at Large, page six hundred and seventy-five). UTAH. Sec. 23. For support and civilization of Confederated Bands of Utes: For pay of two carpenters, two millers, two farmers, and two blacksmiths (article fifteen, treaty of March second, eighteen hun- dred and sixty-eight), $6,720; for pay of two teachers (same article and treaty), SI, 800; for purchase of iron and steel and the necessary tools for blacksmith shop (article nine, same treaty), $220; for annual amount for the purchase of beef, mutton, wheat, flour, beans, and potatoes, or other necessary articles of food and clothing, and farming equipment (article twelve, same treaty), $30,000; for pay of employees at the several Ute agencies, $15,000; in all, $53,740. For the support and civilization of detached Indians in Utah, includmg pay of employees, $10,000. The Secretary of the Interior is hereby authorized to withdraw from the Treasury of the United States," witliin his discretion, the sum of $300,000 of the principal funds to the credit of the Confederated Bands of Ute Indians and to expend the sum of $50,000 of said amount for the benefit of the Ute Mountain (formerly Navajo Springs) Band of said Indians in Colorado, and the sum of $200,000 of said amount for the Uintah, White River, and Uncompahgre Bands of Ute Indians in Utah, and the sum of $50,000 of said amount for the Southern Ute Indians in Colorado, which sums shall be charged to said bands, and the Secretary of the Interior is also authorized to ^vithdraw from the Treasury the accrued interest to and including June thirtieth, nineteen hundred and sixteen, on the funds of the said Confederated Bands of Ute Indians appropriated under the Act of March fourth, nineteen hundred and thirteen (Thirty-seventh Statutes at Large, page nine hundred and thirty-four), and to expend or distribute the same for the purpose of promoting civihzation and self-support among the said Indians, under such regulations as tho Secretary of the Interior may prescribe: Provided, That the Secre- tary of the Interior shall rc]:)ort to Congress, on the first Monday in December, nineteen hundred and seventeen, a detailed statement as to aU moneys expended as provided for herein. To carry into effect tho provision of article nine of the treaty of March second, eiglitecn liundred and sixty-eight (Fifteenth wStatutcs at Large, page six hundred and nineteen), wdtii tho ConfedcratcMl Bands of Ute Indians, for furuisiiing seeds and agricultural imple- ments, the sum of $10,000, or so much thereof as may be necessary. For a proportionate share of the amount required to construct an interstate wagon road or highway through the Kaibab Indian Reser- vation, Utah, the sum of $9,000: Provided, That such sum shall be Pub. No. 80 3 34 [Pub. 80.] expended under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior in such manner and at such times as he may deem proper in the emplo^anent of Indian hibor for the construction of said road or highway, reim- bursable out of any funds now or hereafter placed to the credit of said Indians in the Treasury of the United States. For continuing the construction of lateral distributing systems to irrigate the allotted lands of the Uncompahgre, Uintah, and White River Utes, in Utah, and to maintain existing irrigation systems, authorized under the Act of June twenty-first, nineteen hundred and six, reimbursable as therein provided, $40,000, to remain available until expended. To reimburse the board of education of Box Elder County, State of Utah, for education of twenty-three Indian pupils at the Washakie School, Box Elder County, during the school year of nineteen hun- dred and thirteen and nineteen hundred and fourteen, and for the education of twenty-one Indian pupils at the same school during the school year of nineteen hundred and fourteen and nineteen hundred and fifteen, SI, 684. For the education of twenty-two Indian pupils at the Indian school at Washakie, Box Elder County, for the school year nineteen hundred and fifteen and nineteen hundred and sixteen, or so much thereof as may be necessary, $832. Tlie Secretary of the Interior is hereby authorized to withdraw from the Treasury of the United States the sum of $1,000, or so much thereof as may be necessary, of the funds on deposit to the credit of the Uintah Tribe of Indians, in the State of Utah, and to use the same to protect the north abutment of the Government bridge at Myton, Utah, under such rules and regulations as he may prescribe, said sum to be immediately available. WASHINGTON. Sec. 24. For support and civiHzation of the D'Wamish and other alhed tribes in Washington, including pay of employees, $7,000. For support and civiHzation of the Makahs, including pay of employees, $2,000. For support and civiHzation of Qui-nai-elts and Quil-leh-utes, including pay of employees, $1,000. For support and civilization of Indians at Yakima Agency, includmg pay of employees, $3,000. For support and civilization of Indians at ColviUe, Taholah, Puy- allup, and Spokane Agencies, including pay of employees, and for purchase of agricultural implements, and support and civilization of Joseph's Band of Ncz Perce Indians in Washington, $13,000. For support of Spokanes in Washington (article six of agreement with said Indians, dated March eighteenth, eighteen hundred and eighty-seven, ratified by Act of July thirteenth, eighteen hundred and ninety-two), $1,000. For operation and maintenance of the irrigation system on lands allotted to Yakima Indians in Washington, $15,000, reimbursable in accordance with the provisions of the Act of March first, nineteen hundred and seven: Provided, That money received under agree- ments for temporary water supply may be expended under the direc- tion of the Secretary of the Interior for mamtenance and improve- ment of the irrigation system on said lands. PfB. 80.! 35 For support and oclucation of tlircc hundred and fifty Indian pupils at the Cushman Indian School, Tacoma, Washington, including repairs and improvements, and for pay of superintendent, !B50,000, said appropriation being made to supplement the PuyaUup school funds used for said school. For construction of a dam across the Yakima Ilivcr for the diversion and utilization of water provided for forty acres of each Indian allot- ment on the Yakima Reservation, Washington, and such other water supply as may be available or obtainable for the irrigation of a total of one hundred and twenty thousand acres of allotted Indian land on said reservation, and for beginning the enlargement and extension of the distribution and drainage system on said reservation, $200,000, to be immediately available and to remain available until expended: Provided, That the cost of the entire diversion works and distribution and drainage system shall be reimbursed to the United States by the o^\^lers of the lands irrigable thereunder in not to exceed twenty annual payments, and the Secretary of the Interior may fix operation and maintenance charges, which shall be paid as he may direct. In the apportionment of charges against Indians, due allowance shall be made for such amounts as may have been repaid the United States on account of reimbursable appropriations heretofore made for this project, and for the construction of the irrigation system prior to the passage of the Act of December twenty-first, nineteen hundred and four (Thirty-third Statutes at Large, page five hundred and ninety- five), as therein provided. All charges against Indian aUottees herein authorized unless otherwise paid may be paid from individual shares in the tribal fund when the same is available for distribution, and if any allottee shall receive patent in fee to his allotment before the amount so charged against him has been paid to the United States, then such amount remaining unpaid shall be and become a lien upon his allotment, and the fact of such lien shall be recited in such patent and may be enforced by the Secretary of the Interior by foreclosure as a mortgage, and should any Indian sell any part of his allotment with the approval of the Secretary of the Interior, the amount of any unpaid charges against the land sold shall be and becomes a first lien thereon and may be enforced by Secretary of the Interior by fore- closure as a mortgage, and delivery of water to such land may be refused within the discretion of the Secretary of the Interior until aU dues are paid: Provided further, That no right to water or to the use of any irrigation ditch or other structure on said reservation shall vest or be allowed until the owner of the land to be irrigated as herein provided shall comply with such rules and regulations as the Secretary of the Interior may prescribe, and he is hereby authorized to prescribe such rules and regulations as he may determine proper for making effective the foregoing provisions, and to require of owners of lands in fee such security for the reimbursement herein required as he may determine necessary, and to refuse delivery of water to any tract of land until the owners thereof shall have complied therewith. For the third installment in pa>Tnont of $635,000 for water supply for irrigation of forty acres of each Indian allotment on the Yakima Indian Jlesorvation irrigation system in the State of Washington, ])ro^^ded bv the Act of August lirst, nineteen luuidred and fourteen (Tliirty-eighth Statutes at Large, page six liundrcd and four), $100,000 to be covered into the reclamation fund. 36 iPuB. 80. i That tho Secretary of the Interior be, and he is hereby, aiitliorized to patent to the Washington State Historical Society, for memorial and park purposes, the following-described lands in tho diminished Colville Indian Reservation, in the State of Washington, to wit: A tract of land not exceeding four acres in area located in the northwest corner of lot two of section seventeen, the precise description of said tract to bo determined by said Washington Historical Society and the Secretary of the Interior prior to the issuance of the patent therefor, and lot seven, containing twenty and ninety one-hun- drcdths acres of section twenty-one, all in township thirty north, range twenty-five east of the Willamette meiidian, m Washington: Provided, That the lands hereby granted shall be paid for by the said society at their appraised value, to be ascertained in such man- ner as the Secretary of the Interior may prescribe, and the proceeds thereof placed in the Treasury of the United States to the credit of the Indians belonging on the reservation of which the lands herein desciibed are a part : Provided further, That the lands hereby granted shall be subject for a period of twenty-five years to all the laws of the United States prohibiting the introduction of intoxicants into the Indian country. That the Secretary of the Interior bo, and he hereby is, autliorized to sell and dispose of not to exceed twenty acres of that portion of the lands situated on the north side of and within the limits of the abandoned Fort Spokane Military Reservation, State of Washington, not necessary for hospital purposes, as provided for in the Act ap- proved August fh'st, nineteen hundred and fourteen (Thirty-eighth Statutes at Large, page five hundred and eiglity-f our) , at not less than the appraised value thereof, and to place the proceeds thereof in the Treasury of the United States to the credit of the Spokane In- dians in said State. That there be, and hereby is, granted to school district numbered fifty-six, Klickitat County, Washington, the northwest quarter of the noithwest quarter of the northeast quarter of the northeast quarter of section eleven, township six north, range fourteen east of the Willamette meridian, containing two and one-half acres, now used as a public school site by said district, and being a part of the Yakima Indian Reservation, and the Secretary of the Interior is authorized to issue patent to said district for said lands, the same to be used for school purposes. That tho Secretary of the Interior be, and he is hereby, authorized to make an allotment of not more than eighty acres of land -within tho diminished Colville Indian Reservation in the State of Washing- ton to Se-cum-ka-nullax in lieu of a portion of the Moses agreement allotment numbered thirty-six embraced witliin the homestead entry of Charles M. Hickerson. That the Secretary of the Interior be, and he is hereby, authorized and directed to accept the homestead proof submitted by Charles M. Hickerson for that part of his homestead embraced within allotment numbered thirty-six to Se-cum-ka-nullax, of Chief Moses's Band of Indians, if the same is shown to be in compliance with the homestead laws, and the title of said Indian to that part of said allotment em- braced within said entry is hereby extinguished. The Secretary of the Interior is authorized and directed to lease to citizens of the United States for mining purposes unallotted iPuB. 80. 37 minoriiA lands on the diminished Spokane Reservation in the State of Wa-^hingtoii for periods of twenty-five years with privih^g(>s of re- newal, on such reasonable renewal conditions as may he determined by the Secretary of the Interior, and also \vith reasonable conditions to be fixed by the Secretary of the Interior providing for the prose- cution of mining development and operation. Such leases shall be made to applicants in the order in which applications shall be made. Free opportunity shall bo given for prospecting of the said lands, and rental shall be based upon mining production, and shall be reasona})le, and the proceeds of rental shall bo paid into the Spokane Indian tribal fund. That there is hereby appropriated, out of any funds in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, $95,000, to be used by the Commissioner of Indian Affairs under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, in the accpiisition of water rights for the lands heretofore allotted to Indians, situated within the boundaries of the West Okanogan Valley irrigation district, Okanogan County, Washington, and for the payment of the proportionate operation and maintenance charges of the said district. The Secretary of the Interior is authorized to ne- gotiate for said water rights and to pay therefor as he may deem appropriate, such part of the sum herein appropriated as he may determine to be necessary for the best interests of the Indians: Pro- vided, Tliat nothing hereni contained shall be construed to authorize any hen or claims upon or against said allotted lands not herein specifically appropriated for: Provided further, That the amounts ex- pended mider this appropriation shall be reimbursed to the United States by the owners of the land on behah of which such expenditure is made, upon such terms as the Secretary may prescribe, which shall be not less favorable to the Indians than the reimbursement required of settlers upon lands irrigated under the provisions of the Reclamation Act of June seventeenth, nineteen hundred and two (Thirty-second Statutes at Large, page three hundred and eighty- eight), and Acts amendatory thereof or supplementary thereto; and if any Indian shall sell his allotment or part thereof, or receive a patent in fee for the same, any amount oi the charge maelc to secure reimbursement remaining unpaid at the time of such sale or issuance of ])atent shall be a lien on the land, and patents issued therefor shall recite the amount of such item. WISCONSIN. Sec. 25. For the support and echication of two hundred and fifty Indian pupils at the Indian school at llayward, Wisconsin, including pay of superintendent, $43, .'^50; for general repairs and imj)rove- ments, $5,000; for dairy barn, .$3,200; in all, $51,550. For support and education of two hundred and seventy-five Indian pupils at the Indian school, Tomah, Wisconsin, including pay of superintendent, $47,625; for general repairs and improvements, $6,000; for installing electric dynamo and switchboard for a li<^hting plant, $2,.500; in all, $.56,125. For sup])ort and civiHzation of th(> Chippcwas of Lake Sujierior, Wisconsin, including pav of employees, $7,000. For support, education, and civilization of (lie Pottawatomie Indians who reside in the State of Wisconsin, nicluding pa}^ of employ- ees, $7,000. 38 |PUB. so.] There is hereby appropriated the sum of $95,000, to he used in addition to the tribal funds of the Stockbridge and Munsee Tribes of Indians, for the payment of the members of the Stockbridge and Munsee Tribes of Indians who were enrolled under the Act of Con- gress of March third, eighteen hundred and ninety-three, equal amounts to the amounts paid to the other members of said tribe prior to the enrollment under said Act, and such payments sliall be made upon the certificate and order of the Commissioner of Indian Affairs upon claims being filed with him, showing to his satisfaction that siich claimants, or the ancestors of such claimants, were enrolled under the Act of March third, eighteen hundred and ninety-three, entitled, "An Act for the relief of the Stockbridge and Munsee Tribes of Indians of the State of Wisconsin." For the purchase of pure bred dairy cattle for the Oneida Indian School, Wisconsin, $5,000. For the support and civilization of those portions of the Wisconsin Band of Pottawatomie Indians residing in the States of Wisconsin and Michigan, and to aid said Indians in establishing homes on the lands purchased for them under the provisions of the Act of Congress approved June thirtieth, nineteen hundred and thirteen, $100,000, or so much thereof as may be necessary, said sum to be reimbursed to the United States out of the appropriation, when made, of the principal due as the proportionate share of said Indians in annuities and moneys of the Pottawatomie Tribe in which they have not shared, as set forth in House Document Numbered Eight hundred and thirty (Sixtieth Congress, first session), and the Secretary of the Interior is hereby authorized to expend the said sum of $100,000 in the clearing of land and the purchase of houses, building material, seed, animals, machinery, tools, implements, and other equipment and supplies necessary to enable said Indians to become self-support- ing: Provided^ That in order to train said Indians in the use and handling of money, not exceeding $25,000 of the above appropria- tion may be paid to them per capita, or be deposited to their credit subject to expenditure in such manner and under such rules and regulations as the Secretary of the Interior may prescribe. The Secretary of the Interior is hereby authorized to withdraw from the Treasury of the United States, in his discretion, the sum of $300,000, or so much thereof as may be necessary, of the tribal funds of the Menominee Indians in Wisconsin, arising under the provisions of the Acts of June twelfth, eighteen hundred and ninety (Twenty- sixth Statutes at Large, page one hundred and forty-six), and March twenty-eighth, nineteen hundred and eight (Thirty-fifth Statutes at Large, page fifty-one), and to expend the same in the clearing of land, the erection of sanitary homes, and the purchase of building material, seed, teams, farming equipment, dairy stock, machinery, tools, implements, and other equipment and suj^plies necessary to enable said Indians to become self-supporting under such regulations as he may prescribe: Provided, That no lands shall be cleared for agricultural purposes, pursuant to the foregoing provision, excepting such lands as liave Ix'en heretofore completely and wholly cut over. Section three of the Act of March twenty-eighth, nineteen hundred and eight (Thirty-fifth Statutes at Large, page fifty-one), is hereby amended to read: "That the lumber, lath, shingles, crating, ties, piles, poles, posts, bolts, logs, bark, pulp wood, and -other marketable [Pub. 80.| 39 materials obtained from the forests on the Menominee Reservation shall be sold under such rules and regulations as the Secretary of the Interior may prescribe. The net proceeds of the sale of all forest products shall be deposited in the Treasury of the United States to the credit of the Menominee Tribe of Indians. Such proceeds shall bear interest at the rate of four per centum per annmn, and the inter- est shall be used for the benefit of such Indians in such manner as the Secretary of the Interior shall prescribe." That without bias or prejudice to the rights or interests of any- party to the litigation now pending, the Secretary of the Interior be, and he hereby is, authorized to seU the timber on the so-called ''school lands" and "swamp lands" within the boundaries of the Bad liiver and La*c du Flambeau Indian Reservations in Wisconsin, and to which the State of Wisconsin has asserted a claim; to keep a separate account of the proceeds of such sale with each legal subdivision of such land and to deposit the said proceeds at interest in a national bank, bonded for the safe-keeping of individual Indian moneys, to be paid over, together with the interest thereon, to the party or parties who shall finally be adjudged to be entitled to such fund: Provided, That the consent of the State or parties claiming title therefrom be obtained before any such sale shall be made. With the consent of the Indians of the Lac Court Oreilles Tribe, to be obtained in such manner as the Secretary of the Interior may require, flowage rights on the unallotted tribal lands, and, with the consent of the allottee or of the heirs of any deceased allottee and imder such rules and regulations as the Secretary of the Interior may prescribe, flowage rights on any allotted lands in the Lac Court OreiUes Reservation, in the State of Wisconsin, may be leased or granted for storage-reservoir purposes. Tlie tribe, as a condition to giving its consent to the granting or leasing of flowage rights on tribal lands, and any allottee or the heii-s of any deceased allottee, as a con- dition to giving his or their consent to the leasing or granting of flow- age rights on their respective allotments, may determine, subject to the ai)proval of the Secretary of the Interior, what consideration or rental shall be received for sucn flowage rights, and in what manner and for what purposes such consideration or rental shall be paid or expended; and the consideration or rental shall be paid or expended uncier such rules and regulations as the Secretary of the Interior may prescribe. For the completion of the road on the Red Cliff Reservation, $6,500, to be reimbursed out of the funds of the Indians of said reservation, mider such rules, regulations, and conditions as the Secretary of the Interior nuiy prescribe. WYOMING. Sec. 26. For support and civilization of Shoshone Indians in Wyoming, including pay of employees, SI 5,000. For support and education of one hundred and seventy-five Indian pupils at the Indian school, Shoshone Reservation, Wyoming, nu'luding pay of superintendent, $31,025; for general repairs and improvements, $5,000; in aU, $36,025. For support of Shoshones in Wyoming: For pay of ])hysician, teacher, carpenter, miller, engineei-, farmer, and blacksmith (article ten, treaty of July third, eighteen hmuh-cMl and sixty-eight), $5,000; 40 [Pot. 80.J for pay of second blacksmith, and such iron and steel and other materials as may be required, as per article eight, same treaty, $1,000; in all, $6,000. For repairs at the old abandoned military post of Fort Washakie, on the Wmd River Reservation, Wyoming, $1,721. For continuing the work of constructing an irrigation system within the diminished Shoshone or Wmd River Reservation, in Wyoming, including ths maintenance and operation of completed canals, $50,000, reimbursable in accordance with the provisions of the Act March third, nineteen hundred and five, and to remain available until expended. To enable the Secretary of the Interior to have prepared and submitted to Congi'ess at the beginning of the next regular session plans and estimates of the character and cost of structures necessary lor completing the irrigation of all of the irrigable lands of the Sho- shone or Wind River Reservation, including the ceded lands of said reservation, in Wyoming, $5,000. For continuing the work of constructing roads and bridges within the diminished Shoshone or Wind River Reservation, in Wyoming, $25,000, said sum to be reimbursed from any funds which are now or may hereafter be placed in the Treasury to the credit of said In- dians. For payment of salary and expenses of Joseph H. Norris as super- visor of Indian schools, October twenty-first to November eleventh, inclusive, nineteen hundred and twelve, $257. Sec. 27. On the first Monday in December, nineteen hundred and seventeen, and annually thereafter, the Secretary of the Treasury shall transmit to the Speaker of tlie House of Representatives esti- mates of the amounts of the receipts to, and expenditures which the Secretary of the Interior recommends to be made for the benefit of the Indians from, aU tribal funds of Indians for the ensuing fiscal year; and such statement shaU show (firet) the total amounts esti- mated to be received from any and all sources whatsoever, which will be placed to the credit of each tribe of Indians, in trust or other- wise, at the close of the ensuing fiscal year, (second) an analysis show- ing the amounts which the Federal Government is directed and re- quired by treaty stipulations and agreements to expend from each of said funds or from the Federal Treasury, giving references to the existing treaty or agreement or statute, (third) the amounts wliich the Secretary of the Interior recommends to be spent from each of the tribal funds held in trust or otherwise, and the purpose for which said amounts are to be expended, and said statement shall show the amounts which he recommends to be disbursed (a) for per capita payments in money to the Indians, (b) for salaries or compensation of officers and employees, (c) for compensation of counsel and attor- ney fees, and (d) for support and civdization: Protnded, That there- after no money shall be expended from Indian tribal funds without Bpeeific appropriation by CfonCTCss except as follows: Equalization of allotments, education of Indian children in accordance with exist- ing law, per capita and other payments, all of which are herebv continued in full force and eft'ect: Provided further, That this shall not change existing law with reference to the Five Civilized Tribes. Sec. 28. On or before the thirty-first day of December, nineteen hundred and sixteen, the Bureau of Efficiency shall prepare and PUB. 80.1 41 submit to the vSecrctary of the Interior a system of hookkecpino; and accounting for the Bureau of Indian Affairs that will enable the said Secretary, on or before July first, nineteen hundred and seventeen, to meet the requirements of section twenty-six of the Indian Appro- priation Act approved June thirtieth, nineteen hundred and thirteen (Thirty-eighth Statutes at Large, page one hmidred and three). Approved, May 18, 1916. ^^ A^ 1. l.!Mr'33 ^. ^' '^^^/ V ^. •V . , i> ^ .^V^'^ ^ .. ^^"^ .f 0" ■-;/-^'- > ^. c K^ ,^0. ^C- o J^ c ° " " * '^^ .'^ .^ ^ ^--^u^-'^^* ^^ ^^ ■'0 K .-?>' ' n c, ^ c,^ ^-. ^- %;;*i3^-<^* - ?-^'- ,*^ -ir" ■-» , ,. --y '^> /• 4^ ^^:. U * - I:r •■> c ° " ' • • ^ .0^ ^>* ^-^' V ^^^ '''^,. v.- "^^\''' 7\\ ^^M 0^ c°" *^^,/7^^ ' ,,4 ?<, ^. .0' '"-^ o"* .^ 40. :ki .^" -'i'^;, '^^ ,^^ •<"<;^ ^-i^. ,v. 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