Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1886-02-11
THAT INVESTIGATION.

but one, at AZ 40 cents per acre.
Mr.. Wolfe, that there was an
"arbitrary" one.
Mr., Phillips, that there never
was an appraisement.
Mr.. Bushyhead comes to Phil
lips rescue with his positive "no,"
when asked by the committee il
Phillips had said at the May term
Of the council in 'S3, that the ma
tion had received 1926 per acre for
the occupied lands.
MIR. Blackstone understood the
increased price to be S1.25 per
acre. This understanding is
doubtless derived from what Phil
lips had declared in his speech
from the speakers stand in the
capitol grounds, and on sundry
occasions during the May council.
Phillips though cunningly eva
siye, and fatty denies that there
was an appraisement, virtually
acknowledges that there was, when
asked in relation to the $500, 600
having been appropriated out of
funds educ under appraisement, :"
and that the amount must be for
occupied lands. His answer was,
that 1.-THE appraisement-alluded
20 occupied lands. He is as skill
full as a thimble-rigger with his
"now you see it and now you
don't" in his methods as to the
use of appraisement. Sometimes
he quotes it, if it suits the occasion,
and then fatty denies that there
ever was such thing, if a denial is
what is needed.
Now let us see what authority
Phillips disputes when he says
there never was an appraisemcnt.
First, the law of congress author
izing the appraiscment. Next the
appraisement itself published as an
executive document. Next him
self, if authority he is, and the
delegation, when, as a matter Of
credit and glorifcation, they
boasted of having succeeded in get
ing the 6ppraisement raised from
Al to 47.49 cents per acrs, and on
account of which Col. Smoot holds
a olairh against ~aic aaiion. Next
as acknowledged by the delegation
in 1880, when the FIRST $4,000 .
was Appropriated by congress as y
relief fund for the Cherokees, and !
when Col. Phillips stoutly main
tanned that in making an appro-
priation in excess of the Appraised I
value of the occupied lands, CON
gress had obligated themsely4s to |
pay tor the whole ~ouuet' at the /
price fixed BY the presidens and /
secretary of the interior, 70 which |
opinion Mr.. Wolfe was committed |
likewise until it suited his policy |
better to change his tactics. Phil
lips, no- his friends, will deny |
this, B3ause they know it can be |
proven. Mex. as evidenced by the /
act Of congress of March 3, 1888, |
when 100000 more was appro-
priated out Of funds due under 1
for Cherokee lands /
west of the Arkansas river. /
Right here Phillips faced about and /
did some tall bucking in trying TO |
make the people believe that "due /
under appraisement" meant moth
ing in the act Of congress max |
ing the appropriation, and that the |
sum was a further payment for /
occupied tracts. This he surely /
would not have done at the sacri- |
fee of his reputation, but the |
of the s22, 500 was a |
little too much for his integrity /
and he fell a victim to his avarice. /
His injudiciously greedy disposi-
ton found encouragement in the !
simple confidence Of the people |
and in their gullibility learned by |
long experience with them during |
.he late war and as their agent and |
attorney since, and finding co-adju- |
tors just as willing as he was him
self, occupying positions most IA
vorable to the accomplishment Of
any purpose, he alone is not to be
blamed for the fraud that has so
successfully been perpetrated upon
the nation. Without accomplices
he could have done nothing, but
having them he accomplished
everything, but forgot in his inor-
dinate greediness the danger Of
discovery and consequent disgrace.
(To be eontinued.) y
-
WHY NOT WE ALLoT9
Mr.. EDITOR, DEAR SIR:-I see
that the status Of our lands. as well