Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 31.djvu/900

This page needs to be proofread.

848 FIFTY-SIXTH CONGRESS. Sess. II. CHS. 674, 675. 1901. and receive Government patent for said land; and that upon proof produced to the officers of the proper local land_ office by the widow, 1f unmarried, or in case of her death_or marmage, then his minor orphan children or his or their legal representatwes, that the applicant for patent is the widow, if unmarried, or in case of her death or marriage, his orphan children or his or their legal replresentatives, and that such soldier, sailor, or marine died while in the service of the United States as hereinbefore described, the patent for such land shall issue. Approved, March 1, 1901. March 1, 1901. CHAP. 67 5.-An Act To ratify and confirm an agreement with the Cherokee tribe ‘”‘“‘_1“‘ of Indians, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Rqyresentatives of the United cgggfggyggflzmeg gtzttes of zinvériea in Qong;·estshas.<§jeivzbZligt, 'I{hat;1tg`e%·reern1ep1:: nggotialted chemkee mee of in- e ween e omm1ssion o e 1ve 1v1 1ze I'1 es an e ero ee duns "°m°d‘ tribe of Indians at the city of Washington on the ninth day of April, nineteen hundred, as herein amended, is hereby accepted, ratified, and confirmed, and the same shall be of fullforce and effect if ratified by a majority of the votes cast by the members of said tribe at an election §ra¢ggs¤.ti b _ I to be held for that purpose: Provided, That such election shall be held mm., °“ °“ ’ _"` vgtlpln ninleléy days from the approval of this Act by the President of t e United States. This agreement, by and between the United States, entered into in its behalf by the Commission to the Five Civilized Tribes, Henry L. Dawes, Tams Bixby, Archibald S. McKennon, and Thomas B. Needles, duly appointed and authorized thereunto, and the Cherokee tribe of Indians, in Indian Territory, entered into in behalf of said tribe by Lucian B. Bell, Percy Wyly, Jesse Cochran, and Benjamin J. Hilderbrand, duly appointed and authorized thereunto. Vllitnesseth, that in consideration of the mutual undertakings herein contained it is agreed as follows: DEFINITIONS. 1>efi¤i¢i<>¤¤- 1. The words "nation" and "tribe” shall each be deemed to refer to the Cherokee Nation or tribe of Indiansin Indian Territory. The words " principal chief" shall be deemed to refer to the principal chief of said tribe. The words "citizen" or "citizens" shall be deemed to refer to a member or members of said tribe. The words "Dawes Commission " or "commission" shall be deemed to refer to the United States Commission to the Five Civilized Tribes.- The yvord "Secretary ” shall be deemed to refer to the Secretary of the nterior. 0,"§§gg;f*l ““°““"”* GENERAL ALLOTMENT or LANDS. Appmsai. 2. All lands belonging to the Cherokee tribe of Indians in Indian Territory, except as herein reserved, shall be appraised at their true value, considering location and fertility of soil in each case, excluding im rovements placed by allottee on the lands selected by him: Ho- §;‘{},§§‘g ,0 remove viazd, however, That in cases where a citizen holding lands in excess

>iu}1•j1in§
i!{r¤mexce¤- of his rightful share has failed to sell or remove the buildings and

"° ° gs' fences frcflm spiddexcgssive balding on pr Eefgrighe firstddgy of J glly, nineteen un re an one, the va ue 0 the ui in s an ences s al be added to the value of the land by the appraisemgnt committee. sg whom appmxsai 3. _The apgraiseuient shall be made under the direction of the Dawes m“ °‘ Commission y such number of committees of appraisement as may be deemed sufficient to expedite the work, one member of each committee