The Vinita daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1913, 1903-08-17
AFTER THE
OFFICIALS
Report that will
Probably Bring
DiSmiSSaIS

Washington dispatches contain
al extended summary OF the re-
bort Of s. M. Brosius, an agent OF
the Indian rights association of
Philadelphia, to its president,
Philip G. Garrett Mr.. Brosius
was here some weeks ago and also
visited all sections Of the Indian
Territory, and made a pretty thor
ouQh investigation Of alleged IT.
Irregularities on the part Of govern
Ament officials. Copies of the report
were sent to President Roosevelt
md also to Secretary Hitchcock.
Tho, the findings of this agent
we're regarded as important may
be inferred from the fact that Sec.
retary Hitchcock at once went to
Oyster Bay to confer with the
pre- dent and that an investiga-
ticn has been determined upon.
It is understood at Washington
that the official conduct Of every
government official in the Terri
tory, from the chairman OF the
Dawes commission down to the
clerks and employees at the Indian
agencies, will be inquired into. If
this decision Is honestly carried.
k4ut those who are acquainted with
existing conditions know full we'll
lineie will be a number Of strange
faces seen in the several govern
ment offices IN this territory.
Recently" Washington 70
port states, the secretary learned
that resolution directing an in
vestigation by congressional
COMMITTEES would be offered in the
House when congress meets,
which may have influenced him
in his decision to start an inyesti
CATION. Even # the investigation
is pushed now with the utmost
dispatch il IL possible tnai Cou
gress may insist in taking hand
in the proposed house cleaning "
THE BRosIUs REPORT
The report deals with the manipulation
Of the holdings Of Indians and seeks TO
establish that not only is outside capital
interested In securing control Of extern
sive tracts Of valuable land, but that
companies have been organized in which
government officials have a direct inter-
est and Of which they have become off,
GERS. The investigation Of the special
agent covers a period Of several weeks,
but he says that it was necessarily gen.
eral in its character, and he claims to
have secured information Of but small
percentage Of actual Irregularities.
TRUST COMPANIES INVOLVED
Brosius makes the direct charge that
trust companies and 'land sharks" have
sen operating for long time in secur-
ing lars from the Indians without Civ
ing them adequate return He says that
the favorits method is to secure a FIVE
year lease, the limit under The law, aud
then induce the Indians to sign a con-
tract for the sale Of the lands at the ter
mination Of the lease at a merely nominal
consideration. He says that the plices
paid to the Indians vary from 3 to 15
cents an acre, and they are immediately
subiet by the sharks and trust companies
at from 81 to 81 30 an acre. The oppor-
tunities for profit and for taking advan-
tage Of the ignorant Indians are shown
BY the fact that in a single reservation
there are more than 1900. 900 acres. The
trust companies have secured control OF
most Of the land, and the legitimate
farmer who wishes to make a lease can
only secure a good holding by making
payment to the company.
The agent criticises the manner % do
ing business by the Dawes Commi. ion,
and describes the system by which the
Indian who ui-hes to SECURE alotments
is obliged to travel in some cases more
than 100 miles and wait for many weeks
before his turn is reached and he can
fle he makes the assertion. in connec-
tinn with handling the Cherokee lands,
that taking as basis the average mum
Der Of daily filings for several days. It is
concluded that the work Of the commits