The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-04-30
C0VETING INDIAN LANDS.
THE SCHEME TO REORGANIzE INDIAN
TERRITORY RETIVED.
Railroad Companies Interested In the BnI-
senator Patterson's Junketing Trip 60 tho
Territory aud what II Cost the Country

Railroad Companies Interested in the HtlI-
Senator Pattsrson's Junketinw Trip TO the
Territory aud what Il Cost the Country.
WASHINGTON, April pa bill has been
introduced in the House by Congressman
Frost OF Missouri to reorganize the Indian
Territory. This bill is counterpart OF the bill
introduced by Mr. Franklin OF Missouri in the
House in November. 1877. to provide for the
organization Of the Territory OF Oklahoma.
The effect Of the bill II passed. will be to rob
the Indians Of their lands. A bill to accomplish
similar purpose will soon be presented In the
Senate. and a determined effort will be made to
reorRanlze tho Indian Territory. For several
years past repeated attempts have been made
TO throw open the lands In the Indian Territory
to settlement The railroad companies having
lines through the Indian Territory are espo-
cially Interested In It's reorganization.
In February 1878. Mr.. Voorhees, introduced
In tho Senate a resolution directing the Com
mttee on Territories to ascertain whether GER
tain railroads had issued bonds on conditional
land grants OF the lands OF the Indians OF the
Indian Territory. The railroads referred to
were the Missouri. Kansas and Texas and the
Atlantic and Pacific. The resolution also d.
rected the Committee TO ascertain what money
has been expended by tho tribes OF Indians In
the Territory from tho school funds for the
the organization OF a civil form OF government
for the Territory. and whether civil form OF
government would be good thing for the In
dams. The Committee reported very briefly on
the main points OF inquiry ordered In the reso-
luton. Tho railroad companies we're white
washed, and as the subcommittee which Wis
tied the Indian Territory did not take the
trouble TO look over the school fund accounts OF
the Indians. II Is not known how the Wash
ington lobbyists Of the various tribes manage
Last summer the Senate Committee on Terri
tories appointed sub b-committee to prosecute
the investiRation In the Indian Territory. Pat
terson was Chairman Of this sub-committee
Garland and Hereford we're appointed to assist
him, Unluckily for the interests OF the Govern
ment. the two Democratic Senators were unable
TO serve. Patterson started for the West alone
accompanied by disbursing officer OF the SEN
st a,e a sergeant arms. a clerk. who is son
OF the ex-South Carolina Senator, and messen-
gers. At 81. Louis Patterson teiegraphed for
senator Grover. member OF the Committee on
dian country. Mr.. Grover agreed to spend
hEe his wnry DAYS a the TeTrItory. and he kept
aSSp @ R%5' AR ST. aSas ssh m
souri,, Congressman Frost. who yesterday
Introduced the bill to reorganize the Indian
were in the party. A Pullman car, which was
placed at the disposal OF the Committee. aud
Interested IN securing a report adverse TO the
80. ..,. " the Indians, composed the special
train which Uo.a Paterson IN sisi, .-"'" 81
Lou. 10 Dennison. Texas. and return. Scven-
teen days we're consumed In this trip. The In
dams thoroughly understood the character of
the excursion and its object. and some mem.
nersi who were known TO be in favor OF gougng
the Indians out OF their homes. dared not leave
the hotels In the Territory at which the party
stopped, Tor fear OF the vengeance OF the In
diAns. Senator Grover was treated with mArked
courtesy during the brief time he was in the
Territory. and on several occasions he was
called upon 10 address meetings OF the Indians
Nhen Patterson returned to Washington he
drew up report which recommended the very
legislation which the railroad comp lnies were
10 forego the conditional land grants Ii Conf
gress would take action looking toward the
Htnote setlfmebt q. tA@ tbT rrsaiIrond com: m
pRnies which are Interested in providing n
civil form OF government for the. Territory
tention 10 pass a bill embodYing the salient
points Of Patterson's report nj tho first regular
session Of the present Congress.
II now appears that the thrifty instincts ac-
quired by Patterson when he was the leader Of
the Carpet Bag Ring which plundered South
Carolina did not tail him in his trip to the In
dian Territory The total expenses Of the
Of the Secretary Of the Senate We're
ii7 O397l. Among the items is u voucher.
recriptcd by the Treasurer OF the Missouri,
Kansas and Texas Railroad. Tor transportation
and subsistence OF Patterson and his body
guard for seventeen days Of t3O6l II was un-
drrstoOd by some members Of the party that the
railroad company furnished free transporta-
tion. There are a number Of other items OF eN-
pense equally eXtravagant. Tho names OIL some
not appear in the printed testimony taken by
IA a M nj