The Vinita weekly chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1905, 1903-08-20
AFTER THE
OFFICIALS
A Report that will
Probably Bring
DiSmiSSaIS

Washington dispatches contain
an extended summary OF the re-.
port Of S. NJ. Brosius, an agent Of
the Indian rights association Of
Philadelphia, 10 ts president,
Philip G. Garrett, Mr.. Brosius
was here some weeks ago and also
visited all sections Of the Indian
Territory, aud made a pretty thor
ough investigation of alleged ir-
regularities on the part Of govern.
ment officials. Copies OF the report
were sent to President Roosevelt
and also to Secretary Hitchcock.
That the findings OF this agent
we're regarded az important may
be inferred from the fact that Sec.
retary Hitchcock at once went to
Oyster Bay 10 confer with the
president and that an invesiiga.
ton has been determined upon.
II 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
out those who are acquainted with
existing conditions know full we'll
'he,e will.ba q number q strange
iaees seen In the several govern
1 ment offices in this territory
Recently" Washington re
port states, the secretary learned
that resolution directing an in
vestigation by a congressional
committee would be offered in the
House when congress meets,
which may have influenced him
in his decision to start an investi.
CATION. Even If the investigation
is pushed now with the utmost
dispatch Il is possible that Con.
gress may insist in taking a 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 exten.
siye tracts of valuable land, bu, that
companies have been organized In which
government officials have a direct inter-
est and Of whieh they have become Off
GERS The investigation OF the special
agent covers a period Of several weeks,
but he says tha, it was necessarily gem
efal in its character and he claims to
have secured information Of bat snal'
percentage Of actual irregularities
TRUST COMPANIES INVOLVED
Bfosius makes the direct charge that
trus, companies and ''iand sharks" have
been operating for long time In seeur-
ing lands from the Indians without Civ.
ing them adequate return He says that
the favorite method is to secure a i've.
year lease, the limit under the law, aad
then induce the Indians to sign a con.
tract for the sale Of the lands at the ter.
minatioa Of the lease at merely nominal
consideration. lie says that the prices
paid TO the Indians vary from s5 TO IS
cents an acre, aud they are Immediately
sublet By the sharks aud trust companies
at from 81 to s. SO an acre. The oppor.
tuni,ies for profit ana for taking adyan-
tsge Of the ignorant Indians are shown
BY the fact that in single reservation
there are more than 100000 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 a
payment to the company
The ageut efitieises the manner OF do.
ing business By the Dawes Commits ion,
and describes the system BY which the
Indian who vi i.hes to secure allotments
is obliged 70 travel IN some cases more
than 100 miles and wait for many weeks
bei re his turn is reached and ne can
Gle lie makes the assertion. ia connec-
lion with handling the Cherokee lands,
that taking as basis the average nnm-
bet Of daily filings for several days, II is
concluded that the wofk Of the commits.