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Show 102 REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF INDIAN AbFAIR8. portion of their land, I am of the opinion that they should have the legal right to sell the land to whomsoever they please, for the best price obtainable, under roles and restrictions to be prescribed by the Seore-tary of the Interior, and not be restricted to purchasers "of Indian blood lawfully residing in Oklahoma Territory." With a view to the relief of these Indians, I respectfully recommend that Congress be asked to amend the act of 1872 so as to anthorize these Indians to sell their land npon the same terms as are provided in the act of August 16,1894 (28 Stabs., 295). I OSAGE ANNUITY ROLL CONTESTED CASES. A8 a matter of record, it is thought best to give the following brief history of these contested cases: February 6,1895, the acting agent of the Osage Agency transmitted a resolution of the Osage national cooncil, which charged that "many persons by meaus of false testimony have sncceeded in obtaining from their national council * * citizenship in the Osage Nation;" and which appointed a delegation to visit Washington and asked that the Department appoint a competent person to investigate the Osage rolls, to the end that all persons found to be illegally thereon should be stricken oE The council further appropriated $2,000 to defray the expenses of the desired investightion. In forwarding this resolution, with- his favorable recommendation, the acting agent stated: "The relations existing between the full-bloods and half-breed Indians are of such a nature as to require a final and authoritative settlement of the rights of the haE.breeds. In my opinion the full-bloods will not listen to any proposition for allotment until this is done?' This duly authorized Osage-delegation visited Washington about the 1st of March;1894 and personally laid the matter before the Depart-ment. March 11,1895, this office, in a report to the Secretary of the . Interior, recommended that a person of ability and legal training be appointed to make the desired investigation. The Secretary replied, March 13,1895, that it would first be necessary to have the Osage Indians, through their counsel, present a list of those persons charged with being unlawfully npon their rolls, "together with thereasons upon whieh the council expected to sustain the charges," and he added: <'When the examination takes place, no evidence will be allowed to sustain an attack npon the citizenship of one already upon the rolls which is not covered by the written specifications." The Osage dele-gation was, ou March 16, 1896, notified of the Secretary's action. March 20, 1895, this offioe submitted to the Department a further oommunication from the Osage council asking early action in this matter and that an inspector be sent to make an investigation. The Seoretary, however, in his reply, April 12, 1895, adliered to his former decision requiring that a list of names be submitted with the reasons e charges made, since it was made by law the duty of the Depart- |