The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-01-06
PRODDING At PAYNE
Alleged Connection With Florence
Mining Company.
PRESIDENT STARTS AN INQUIRY
Newly Appointed POstmaster Gener'
nj Says He Has Given the Prop
erty No Thought for 2 Years.
New York &ss, SuecsaI Service

New York, Jan. GA Washington spe-
cial to the World says that Presloent
Roosevelt has referred to Secretal! !
Hitchcock, OF the interior department, lhe
allegation that Henry c. Payne, 5ne re-
Gently appointed postmaster general %
stockhclder and official Of the florehce
Mining company, which seeks 10 optaln
prospecting leases in the Uintah lndlan
reservation in Utah. The secretary mas
been instructed to make a thorough ~
yestigation before rattfying or lahins
other action on the lease.
The presidents action Is based on rep
reservations made to him by CERTAIN
prominent public men, who SAID II nau
been declared under oath that Mr.. fayne
Is president of the Florence Mining com
pany. 1t was pointed out to'the presluene
that if Mr.. Payne still held this posltloh
after assuming the duties of postmaster
general or had a financial interest IN me
company it would constitute menl1es.
improperly Senators Rawllns ana
Kearns and Representative Sutherland OF
Utah have made a determined hgh'
against the granting of lease TO the
Florence company. The chief objections
to the lease are that it Will defer lor
many years the opening OF the reserFa-
ton to settlement; that the cltlZens
should have an opportunity to secure
lease il one is to be granted, and that II
the Indians are to be given proper pro-
- s "a, a large 00DOS '0D'O 'S SSS''@N ~
The only information here relative to
the connection Of Henry G. Payne with
the Florence Mining company was brought
out in the testimony Of Indian Agent
Mynot, who said he had seen a letter
bearing the name Of Mr.. Payne as presl-
dent OF the company. He subsequently
changed this testimony and said ne
might have been mistaken.
Netc YorI, Sun Special Service
milwaukee,, Jan. 6.-Henry C. Payne
laughed when his attention was called to
the Utah story that he, with others, was
trying to break into the Uintah reserva-
t1on to look for lost mine. He said:
1 have not thought of that venture for over
two years. Several years ago the question or
lneral lands in Utah was called to my at
kntion, and / thought of going in with other
persons to see if they could be developed,
with view Of mining for gold and copper
We asked for permit from the secretary OF
the interior to go upon the Uintah reservation,
were refused, and there the matter ended.
l dissolved all connection with the venture
I cannot take notice Of all the nonsensical
stories which being circulated about me.
I see, according to a Washington dispatch,
that the friends of the oleomargarine bill are
to endeavor to postpone action on my ap-
pointment in the senate because | was active
in opposition to an oleomargarlne tax and
that I am classified with the oleomargarine
forces. Why, l have no interest for or against
the oleomargarine bills and have not had
for the last sixteen years. | have not spoken
to member of congress on the subject for
the last fifteen years and have no interest
whatever in the industry. 60. n.y..