Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1885-11-26
THE CHEROKEE NATIONAL
COUNCIL.

matters connected with his steward
ship as special agent and sttorney
for the nation. II was introduced
by Mr.. Stephen Teehee, of Sc
quoyah district, at the request,
doubtless, of somo one. Mr.. John
Gunter of the same district offered
an amendment that, instead Of an
invitation to speak, he be required
70 make his report in writing. The
amendment was adopted, Mr.. Tee
hee voting for it. The council
confirmed the resolution.
THE INVESTIGATING COMMITTEE.
The committee, appointed under
a joint resolution TO determine on
what account the s300,0OO was APP
propriated by congress, March 3,
1888, whether for other than the oc-
cupied lands, is composed Of sena-
tors s H. .Mayes, NV. .Lipe, ,Connell
Rogers and Sarkee-ah. Up to the
present date only documentary ev-
idence has been secured-such as
letters, reports and authenticated
statements. Enough doubtless has
been obtained to put the question
beyond controversy as for what
the appropriation was made, and as
held by the authorities in Wash
ington. If the committees report
does not settle the question, and
satisfy the people that Phillips and
his ring have lied about it, Secre-
taries Teller and Lamar will prove,
in comparison with the broken
down Kansas politician, of much
less authority in matters of their
official business than he. There
will doubtless be the old
squirming and twisting, aud
cudgeling Of brains and explo-
rations in search of expedi-
ents to counteract the effect OF
the committees report when pub
lished.
THE 100000 INVESTIGATION.
The committee is warming up
to its work and pushing the inves-
tigation vigorously. Every wit
ness examined adds new interest
to the matter If not information, as
the testimony rendered by those
who were engaged in the fraud 90
to prove that they had no excuse
for publishing and maintaining
what they did. The committee
will so thoroughly sift the
transaction that they will
probably discover to the as
tonishment of themselves and
the people generally, that the s22,-
800 swindle was not the ultimate
object they had in view, but merely
an incidental sum picked up by the
way that led up to more astonish-
ing purposes.
Senator S. II. Mayes, chairman
of the committee, is Of the canute
order in more than one respect, and |
is n man, every inch Of him-frm,
faithful and not the least shaky or
uncertain. The same can be said
of the entire committee.
BEFORE THE COMMITTEE.
This was an expected event
should he remain near, and curios-
ity has teen on the alert TO know
what he had to say and upon what
he had declared that the
$780, 600 were for occupied lands.
That he was skillfully evasive and
non-committal is hardly descrip-
live of the gentieman's antics be-
fore the committee. Like an old
thoroughly skilled in
lodging the moose Of lasso did he
show himself, as every attempt to
him to some positive dec
Iaration was go adroitly evaded
hat all he said added nothing to
he investigation. So dexterously
did he dodge the questions in
,ended TO hem him in and COM
pei him to give direct answers
hat the committee gave up in
despair. One Of the committee,
IS parting salute, fred this ques-
ion at him; Did you say when the
lct was pending to accept the $780,
100, and to execute conveyances Of
he occupied tracts, that it would
be an insult to the secretary of the
Interior, if a provision was insert
ID, that the oonveyances should
lot be made unless il was distinct
y understood that the sum was a
'urther payment for the occupied
ands2 "No, said no such thing"
Il can prove that you did" said
Mr.. Rogers, "and wen send for
he witness"
1UsHYHEAD BEFoRElgE COMMITTEE.
With that respect every one
should have for the chief executive
If a nation while he is such, be his
aults and Weaknesses what they