OCR Text |
Show communication from Mr. McKennon, of the commission, in which it wss stated: The application of theae minor children does not disclose the fact that they are chil-dren by the white wife of John Skaggs; * * that no application was filed with the cornmimion in behalf of these children. * * We are lectured because of the assumption by the commission that the children of a white wife are not entitled to citizenship in the Choctaw Nation. * * * The wurta have d l held that John Skngkwaild xnd is a citizen oi the Choctaw Nation, and he has heen pnrollnl rw such, sod 80 hw rile habv born since thc judgment of the mun, the mother uf that hahv being the white wife who is the motherif the other ten children to whom this corn-rnkion refuses the right of citizenship. If Sk* and the eleventh child have the righta of citizenship in the Choctaw trihe, it dates from his marriage with the Choctaw woman, and so it was held by the courts. That woman died, and he married a white woman, and eleven children have been born to them. The father and the eleventh child are enrolled as citizens, but the remaining ten minor children living with that father and mother are denied those rights. July 24, 1899, the Department advised the commission that if this wtts a case requiring action under section 21 of the act of June 28,1898, it should make a record thereof, in order that the case might be prop-erly reviewed by the Department, if necessary, when the rolls were transmitted for approval. October 16, 1899, Messrs. Dudley & Micheuer complained to the Department that Skaggs and family had presented themselves to the' commission for enrollment; that their applications had been rejected, and that the commission had declined to receive "papers offered by them, which they claimed tended to establish their right to enrollment." October 19,1899, the complaint was referred to the commission, and October 31 the acting chairman reported that on October 12 Skaggs appeared before the commission and upon his application a record was made as follows: TEE COMM~IOTON T HE FIVE CIVILIZEDT- m, !hhhoma, Ind. T., Odober 13, 1899. In the application of John Skaggs for the enrollment of his children as Choctaws, being sworn and examined by Commissioner McKennon, he testifies as follows: Q. What i€ your name?-A. John Skaggs. Q. How old are you?-A. Fifty. Q You are a white man?-A. Yes, sir. Q. You were once mmried to a Choctaw woman?-A. Yes, sir. Q. Was she rewgnized as a Choctaw citizen?-A. Yes, sir. Q. Is she living or dead?-A. Dead. Q. Did you live with her until she died?-A. Yes, sir. Q. When did she die?-A. She died November, 1874. Q. Have you married since that time?-A. Yes, sir. Q. Did yon marry a white woman?-A. Yes, sir. Q. Is she livin A. Yea, sir. Q. Have yon c f7 ldren by her-. Yes, sir. Q. Give their names and ages.-A. Frank Skaggs, 17 years old; Made Sksggs, 16 yem old; Jease Skaggs, 15 yeam old; Clarence Skaggs, 13 years old; Jennie Skaggs, 12 yeam old; John Ska&s, jr., 7 yearsold; RuthSkaggs, 4 yearsold; Berties Skaggs, 2 pears old. 6266-10 |