The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1893-01-20
The Present Administration Accused.

1t seems probable that the present
administration is not doomed to es-
cape another scandal which, if not so
widespread and malodorous as the
pension stencil, is, perhaps. of gra-
yer character In that it goes directly
to the door of member Of Mr.. Har-
rison's Cabinet Steven b. Elkins, the
Secretary of War The story of the
affair was concealed beneath an in
nocent sort Of resolution which the
House adopted last Friday afternoon.
1t was as follows:
RESOLVED, That the Secretary of
the Interior be directed to inform the
House whether an executive order
has been issued restoring to the pub
lie domain any portion Of the Navajo
Indian Reservation lying in the Ter
ritoty of Utah, and if SO that he fur
nish the House with a copy of said
order and report what action has been
taken regarding the same.
The resolution refers to the report
ed finding of rich placiers of gold mines
on these lands. These alleged dis
coveries have only been made public
within short period. 1t is said that
the discoveries were made known to
Secretary Elkns ahead of the public
and that he proceeded, in company
with others, to get in on the ground
floor by locating the choice finds.
OF course these mines could not be
located or worked legally SO long as
they remained within the limits of an
Indian reservation. Lands are set
apart for Indian reservations by Con-
gress and can only be restored to the
public domain by the same authority
or by an executive order from the
President. 1t was claimed that an
order has been issued by Presiden,
Harrison to restore them, thus placing
them in the catalogue of lands which
may be entered, or, if containing pre-
cious metals, staked out as mining
claims.
Representative Stout, Of Michigan,
went to the Interior Department to
see the order, but could get no salts
faction regarding it, hence the resolu-
ton. 1t developed Friday night that
the controversy was made last Novem-
Der and has been for some inexplica-
BILE reason withheld The order,
which is now printed for the first
time, is signed by President Harrison
and rescinds an order of President
Arthur's. 1t is dated Novembe 70,
1892, and is as follows:
1t is hereby ordered that the execu-
tive order of May II. 1884, by Presi-
dent Chester A Arthur, withdrawing
from sale and settlement and setting
apart as a reservation forsIndian pur-
poses certain lands in the Territories
of Utah and Arizona, be and the same
is modified SO that all of the lands des-
cribed in said order which lie west Of
the 10th degree of west longitude
and within the Territory of Utah, be
and the same arc hereby restored to
the public domain freed from the re-
servation made by such order
BENJAMIN HARRISON.
Meantime. while the order vas being
withheld, it is claimed that the Elkins
syndicate was quietly slipping around
entering all the rich mineral lands.
The excitement in the West attending
the discovery Of this new gold field
and the rush for it are, in the first in
stance, responsible for the charges of
foul play against Elkins.
Elkins has always been considered
a very thrifty individual, but he has
been keen enough in past enterprises
to eaectually cover up his tracks.
Representative Stout claims that he
has enough data to force an investi-
cation unless this matter can be very
satisfactorily explained Should an
investigation be had, it will 60 to the
bottom of things and whatever shrewd
practice has been indulged in by any
one, high or low, in or out of office,
will be ferreted out and made known
to the public. If the case is as frag-
rant as it is said to be somebody may
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