The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-08-16
Believed That Secretary Hitchcock
Discussed Matter at Oyster Bay
With View to Taking Action.
GENERALLY KNOWN THAT
OFFICIALS ARE INVOLVED
Interior Department Therefore
Finds 1t Necessary to Make a
Thorough Investigation.

OAOASh hNNOliSaliOIi.
President Roosevelt is said to have
been so exercised over the reports that
vast frauds have been unearthed in con-
nection with the allotment OF Indian
lands in Indian Territory that he called
Secretary of the Interior Hitchcock to
Oyster Bay for a special discussion of
the subject with a view to immediate
action. This is said to be the real
explanation of the visit OF Mr.. Hitch
cock to Oyster Bay on Friday
1t is stated that the Interior De-
partment has for a long time been ac-
quainted with the fact that numerous
land companies. in which public officials
are interested, have been engaged in
obtaining the rights to valuable lands
from the Indians, for nominal sums
merely, and that the department desired
to make a preliminary examination with
out newspaper notoriety. But the
charges have been so insistent and the
subject has attracted so much attention.
that the President has decided the only
thing to do under the circumstances is
to order an immediate and rigid inves-
tigation.
Involves High Officials.
On the surface the charges presage
revelations which will make the pecu-
lations in the Postofhce Department
fade into insignifcance, and will in
volve men who were supposed to be even
farther above reproach than those who
have been indicted for Postofice frauds
The most startling charge is that high
Government officials connected with the
conduct of Indian affairs, and supposed
to devote their time to the protection
OF the Indians rights and property
have taken an active part in the forma-
ton and management of companies
which have for their sole purpose the
procuring of Indian lands at figures far
below the real worth of the property.
This charge is made by Special Agent
Brosious, of the Indian Rights Asso-
citation. of Philadelphia, and is so
strongly supported by the prima facie
evidence which he offers, that the Presi-
dent. the Interior Department, and the
General Indian ONCE are a unit In think
ing that active steps should be taken
at once TO correct the alleged wrongs
and bring the offending parties to JUS
tice.
Impartiality Impossible.
W. A. Jones. Indian Commissioner, in
speaking Of the alleged revelations of
REr. Brosious, said yesterday:
ut is impossible for any Government
official, connected with land company
dealing in Indian lands to be entirely
impartial in his decisions when be is
deciding questions which may affect his
own welfare. do not think that any
of the officials whose names appear as
stockholders or directors in the Indian
Territory land companies has any in
tention Of acting dishonesty, but
must say that I think it was extremely
bad taste for them TO allow themselves
TO be connected with companies.
Il believe that the Indian ONCE should
at once undertake a thorough investi-
cation of the conditions in the Indian
Territory and prepare report, and
vestigation desirable there Will be ma
terlal upon which to work The inves-
tigation VIII be long and tedious. and
Will have most extensive ramifcations,
but 1t should be begun Immediately by
force of competent men. and should
continue until We have reached the very
bottom. Twenty million acres of land
are involved. and millions of dollars in
money, to say nothing of the interests
OF some four hundred thousand In
dams"
Methods Employed.
The alleged plan was TO lease the
lands from the Indians for term Of five
years. the longest term for which an
Indian can lease his new allotment.
These leases are alleged TO have been
made for rentals far below the real
value OF the land. In addition TO this
the companies are alleged to have then
secured a contract for the sale Of the
land at the end OF the lease and named
extremely small sums in these contracts.
Mr.. Brosious investigated the charges
as thoroughly as he could and prepared
q written report which has been SUBJ
nitted 10 the Secretary OF the Interior.
The Indian Office was aware OF the
work undertaken by Mr.. Brosious, who
was acting for an association OF pri-
vRte individuals. and has quietly pre-
pared TO undertake an investigation on
Its own account. Now that the Bro
sious report has been made public. and
Commissioner Jones is so emphatic in
bis statements that the matter will
probably be looked into most thoroughly. |
startling developments may be expected !
Men Who Are Accused.