The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-03-09
INDIANS MAKE CHARGES
0SageS File Serious Accusations
Against Agent Pollock.
Black Dog Element on It's Way to
Washington to Oppose the Bill of
the HaIf-Brecd Delegation - The
Secretary of the Interior TO Near
the Grievances OF the Red Wen.

It is now understood that the seven Usage
Indians who came to this city Wednesday
for the ostensible purpose Of securing an
allotment Of lands, had for a real purpose
the taking Of an active and aggressive part
in the controversy concerning William J.
Pollock. the agent of the tribe. Charges
are now said to be pending against Pollock
in the Interior Department.
The Indian delegation consists Of c. y.
Prudem, Thomas Mosier, Saucy Chief, and
others, all OF whom are members OF the
mixed blood faction OF the tribe.
Another purpose Of the visit Of the dele
cation to Washing ION is to assist the
traders OF the reservation 10 get bill
through Congress giving each member Of
the tribe S7J0 out Of the trus funds Of the
Osagcs on deposit with the Government
There are at this time /, ,7S5 Osages, and il
the bill becomes a law the sum OF 81 249 .
500 viii be rursed over TO the tribe for
equal distribution. The Osages have on
deposit in the United States treasury an
aggregate Of about IS 25O 600 ana the pro-
posed measure. therefore, contemc,ates the
withdrawal Of almost one-sixth Of the total
amount TO their credit As these trust
funds draw q per cent interest per anuum
the annual per capita increase viii be ma
teriaIy reduced If the bill becomes law.
The proposed measure is being pushed
by the licensed traders OF the reservation
who claim TO have large accounts against
individual Osages for goods sold on credit.
and this payment is sought for the purpose
Of providing funds for the liquidation Of
these debts.
The delegation Is here In the interest Of
the bill their expenses being paid il Sc
said, by the traders. who will practically
get all of the million and a quarter dollars
sought 10 be appropriated Tom Mosier is
the official Interpreter Of the tribe under
Agent Pollock and is the leading factor
here in favor OF The bill.
In the meantime a rival delegation Of
Osages is on the way to Washington &c
fight the proposed bill This second dele
cation is composed Of full-blOods, headed
by the Governor Of the tribe. Black Dog,
National Secretary James H. Bigheart and
Steve Bellew, National Treasurer. The full
blood delegation IS strongly opposed TO the
appropriation OF any Of the principal fund
on deposit, and have employed counsel &c
onj0in the payment Of any OF the trust
funds by the Treasurer Of the Uni ed States
should the bin become law. 7'he Usage
Council, which is the legislative body Of
the tribe has just filed with the Secretary
Of the Interior a protest against the pass
age OF the bill. which is said 20 be now
in the hands OF the Commissioner Of In
dian Affairs. This council is composed OF
sixteen members belonging TO the full
blood, or black dog. faction.
This same council. il is said has also
on file in the Department Of the Interior
resolution recently adopted by a unani-
nous vote calling upon the Secretary 70
remove the agent, William J. Pollock. The
resolution is said 20 make numerous
charges Of a serious nature age:nst Pol
lock and 10 be supported by many eN-
hibits. II is alleged that Pollock has per
mit,ed hundreds Of thousands OF cattle to
Craze IN the reservation without requiring
the owners to pay for the privilege and
that he has permitted white men 20 fence
in upward OF 100 square miles Of territory
for which they pay nothing.
The accUsers cite the fact that suits are
pending in the United States court now
against thirty-seven white men for the IL
legal grazing Of 1S3 900 head Of cattle on
the reservation, for which a penalty Of 81
per head is prayed for by the informer II
is charged that $4,000 is cnly a part Of
the cattle illegally on the reservation. and
number 10 half million in ali probability
Agent Pollock. il is alleged. refused to
recognize the Black Dog element al
though ordered 10 do so by the Indian De-
partment. BY refusing 10 recognize the
duly elected governor, council, and other
officers the Indians were unable to en-
force their local laws against cattiemen.
whereby large SUMS OF money We're lost 10
the tribe to which it was lawfully enti-
tied.
Il is stated as an example that by Agent
Pollock's neglect and refusal f0g a year TO
carry out the orders Of the Indian Bureau
to recognize the o'5cers and council elect
ed he prevented the appointment Of a high
sheriff. whose duty it was 10 collect 60
cents per annWl tax per capita for all
cattle on the reservation not under n
! lease approved by the Secretary Of the In
terror. This loss Of 60 cents per head on
1S3 600 cattle T-1uld amount to about Sl10.-
OOO- II the number of cattle illegally on
the reservation would amour; 10 500 0CO.
as alleged. then the loss to the Osages in
this one item would be $500 COO
II is charged also that Agent Pollock has
permitted three sawmills to he operated
/ on the reservation. causing the Indian
| lands to be denuded of timber for the per
sonal profit Of the owners Of the mills.
! Recently the Senate, by resolution. call
/ ed upon the Secretary OF the Interior to
/ send all the papers on file in the depart
/ ment to the Senate. II is claimed that the
| papers have not yet been furnished.
| Indian Commissioner Jones said today
| that the charges mentioned have been
/ made by the members OF the council OF
| the tribe against Mr.. Pollock. and that
I the delegation appointed intends to push
them. The papers are now in the hands
OF the Secretary Of the Interior. who will
| receive the Indian delegation and hear
what its members have TO say