The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1881-01-31

| Allen, oil the f0nca Commission;
WASHINGTON, January 80,
To HE Public:
The report telegraphed hence last night
and widely published this morning, oI
what occurred at the meeting OF the Sen
ate committee having under consideration
the PonCa Indians, which report is un'
dsrstood to have been furnished to the
Associated Press by the Secretary Of the
Interior, Is, so far as 1t purports to
represent the testimony given by
the undersigned, not only incom'
plete, but grossly inaccurate unfair
and misleading, Rs will clearly appear
whenever the Committee publish o full
and true report. What motive a high Off
Cial OF the administration may have for
thus assuming the role OF a Senatorial
journalist and artfully attempting to
prejudice public opinion in advance Of
the official reports with regard to matters
in which the dignity, wisdom and honor
Of the Government arc involved, by his
acts the public must judge.
lSgned.) WALTER ALLEN,
Member of the PonCa Commission.
WASHINGTON, January 80.
Asa member Of the Senate Select Com
mlttee charged with inquiry concerning
the removal Of the PonCa Indians TO In.
dian territory was present at the meet
ing held yesterday during the examina-
tion OF Mr.. stiCkney and other men,
bers Of the PonCa Commission ap.
pointed by the President. The report oi
the proceeding published this morning
does not accurately represent either the
substance or Significance oi the testimony
given on that occasion, according to my
remembrance oil what occurred, and Ia
published without the authority oil the
committee. These gentlemen were called
before the committee, as | understand,
at tho suggestion OF the Secretary OF the
Interior, who WAS present with his private
secretary, and was allowed to examine
them as II himself q member OF the Com.
mittee. The Secretary brought with him
manuscript copies OF the report made by
the Committee TO the President, and OF
evidence taken by the Commission, OF
what he represented TO be such,
which reports and evidence are
not In possession OF the Senate
Committee. When the members Of the
Committee requested to he allowed 10 see
these papers IRON which he read and
asked questions, he refused to allow them
to pass from his hands. While Allen was
being examined, but two members lof the
Committe being present, he repeatedly
protested against the unfairness ol
being submitted TO such an ex'
animation, and against having his
answers as to the authenticity and signiG.
ca nee OF certain selected portions OF the
report and testimony presented out ol
their relation to the whole, taken az a con
tradiCtion or impeachment OF his Judge.
ment In view OF all the information OBJ
tained by him as member Of the Com
mission. Allen was not understood by
me to Criticise any portion OF the report
as unfortunately worded," but when the
Secretary OF the Interior read certain
portion Of the report, giving 1t his own
gloss, and questioned Allen about itA
meaning, he said II The had written that
portion OF the report he might have
worded II differently, but did not himself
understand 1t as written 10 have the sig'
nihCanCe which the Secretary attached To
It. Subsequently when the newspaper
copy Of the report was handed to Allen
he discovered and pointed out what the
Secretary had in his questions omitted
portion oil the paragraph which was
essential to a right understanding OF the
remainder and plainly Justified MI. Allen't
apprehension Of It's Significance.
All desire to add iB that the whole
proceeding was something entirely outside
Of all my previous experience Of the con-
duct Of Congressional Committees on
Investigations, or Of the tolerated treat
ment ot witnesses.
[slgned II. L. DAWES.