Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1888-12-21

WASHINGTON, December S.-Ths resolution
adopted by the senate calls for ali the infor-
nation the secretary Of the interior has
about land leases in the Indian Territory
Senator Plumb, who offered the resolution
has said:
''Thsre was a great deal Of talk by M.
Springer, Mr.. Weaver and others at the re-
cent Wichita meeting, to the effect that the
opening of the territory was being delayed
by parties who hold leases on the lands. The
resolution is intended to show how extern
siYe the leases are, and how far the admis-
tretion has gone to approve them. If such
influence as alleged are operating to hinder
the opening Of the territory, We want TO
know Just what they are and to what extent
they have the administration Endorsement.
You recoIlect that quite early in this admint
istratiOn ar. Garland gave an opinion that
the Indian Territory leases were illegal ana
President Cleveland Issued his order giving
the Catttemen only forty days IN which %
get out, causing considerable hardship ana
loss IN certain parts OF the territory. The
supreme court decided that the Cheorkee9
had q clear title to their outlet strip, ana
therefore could lease. But there are otheE
leases. how many or of what extent am
not informed. Under the resolution the
secretary Will report what the leases are
VINO hold them ard what the admlnlstra-
lions present attitude is toward these leases.
The resolution calls for information nos
only about the grazing leases. but also about
the coal land and all other leases"
This IS all Senator Plumb says IN eLpla-
nation of his resolution. From other
sources 1t Is learned that a full reply from
the secretary Will show a surprising state OF
affairs regarding the Indian Territory priv
leges, or leases, as they are called. The ad-
mlnistratiOn has veered around and now
occupies a very different position from tha6
high moral plane occupied when the ceie-
brated forty days proclamation to the cat
tlemen was issued Leases OF great value 10
the holders, and for which the Indians get
shameIulIy inadequate compensation are on
the record at the interior department as ap-
proved by the government. Perhaps the
most notable of ali are those which relate 70
the coal lands. 1t is stated unOfhCially that
Mr.. Jay Gould and others hold under lease
ali Of the coal lands in the ChOctaW and
ChlckasaW country, and that they enjoy the
mendOus monopoly under contracts ap-
proved by the interior department, the
terms Of which are, that they pay the In
dams 80 royalty on the coal mined.
Governor BrOckmeyer of Missouri, spens
the most of last winter and the winter be-
fore IN Washington, and the story Is now
told that his business here was to Tx up the
details of these contracts. There are petrO-
leum land leases and salt land leases as Well
as ths coal and grazing land lenses, put the
entire history Of the administration reia-
tiOnship to the leases will not be drawn out
by the resolution. The secretary will hardly
tell the senate that Mr.. ADram $. HeW1tt.5
open and aVOWed antagOnlsm to President
Cleveland dates back to the forty days or
der. That is said to be fact. Mr. Hewitt
and friends of his were interested heavily In
the grazing privileges covered by the order
Of expulsion. MIR. Hewitt was then q mem
Der Of congress. He argued and protested
against the order, but in vain. Afterward,
when be saw the administration reverse its
position on the Indian Territory lease ques-
ton, his antagOnism grew rather than
abated. He never forgave Mr.. Cleveland.
The Indian Territory proclamation had
more to do with the recent democratic COM
toms result there than the public generally
knows"