New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-09-07
INDIAN LANDS CHARGES.
Secretary Hitchcock Began InUcsti-
cation Before Bro1Hs Reported.
TrroN Tnr TnIBCNE BUREAu.l

Indian Rights Association. August -. The
,etter refers 10 what have come to be known as
'the Brosus charges" which were printed IN
Tho Tribune on August 16 Explaining the de-
lay en- Cts publication. Secretary Hitchcock said
to-day that be had postponed furnishing copy
10 the press Until he WAS certain that NJ. Gar
rett had had time TO receive the communication
and an opportunity 20 reply. had he 80 desired.
Secretary Hitchcocl's letter is ss follows:
sir: have received yours dated Alandar.
Mass, August - replying 70 mine Of the 20tn
inst and quote me FIRST paragraph OF the same
as follows.
Il am away from home as have been much
az the summer. and do not recall exactly how
The copies ~ Ar. Brosus's letter were sent out
This is an reply 90 my letter Of The 10Th 10
sou which was as follows:
Upon my return 10 the city yesterday. find
your letter OF the 18Th inst inclosing a letter
from your Washington agent, = n Brosius.
which last YOU state seems TO me soul 10 pre-
sent grave irregularities on the part OF officials
appointed By the government which have
tendency TO wrong the lndians-the very wards
of the nation whom they are appointed 10 pro-
tect: and 7 take the liberty Of submitting
copy 81 IL 10 you IN order that IL thought proper
gated
Before replying more fully to your letter. as
above acknowledged. Z will thank you 10 kindly
inform me whether or not The widespread pub
Ucat-on "a the press 81 the country. on or about
the date Of your letter 10 me inc,osing said
letter. was authorized by yourself OF any officer
OF your ASSOCIATION"
Ny purpose in thus addressing you was to
ascertain whether or not you had authorized.
or we've aware OF the fact. that The letter Of Mr..
BrOsius inciOsed with yours 10 me OF the 1871,
WIlch d cid not receive uitll my return 70 1l9
city on the 19th. had been given widespread cir
culaIion throughout the country. and before /
had an opportunity 10 make any reply. inas-
much as such publication seems TO me as being
most discourteous under the circumstances.
Hence my inquiry. which. as a matter OF couf-
tesy. I deemed due 10 yourself.
] sincerely regret that YOU cannot now recall
exactly how the copies Of Mr.. Brosius's letter
were sent out.
Returning now. in further reply 10 yours OF the
18th instant, note, with pleasure your desire
not 10 wish TO eEaggerate any OF the evils IN
the administration OF the Indian Bureau. and
beg state that the grave Irregularities on the
part OF ofncials appointed by the govern
Tnent" with which you seem TO have been i'm
pressed by the report made 10 you by Mr. Bro
Eius have for months past had my personal at
tention, thus anticipating your courteous re-
quest that the subject may be officially investi-
gated.
This Investigation was made by me while
q visit 10 Indian Territory in May, as the result
OF which certain removals from Office. by dis
rnissal and enforced resignation resulted. and
upon my return here amended rules and regu-
lations were prepared and issued on July 10,
the purpose OF which was 10 more fully protect
the Creek Indians in the matter OF sales OF
their land by a proper notice and the require
rneut Of sealed bids by which such satisfac-
rory results have been accomplished in the mat
ter % the sale Of inh rited lands IN other reser-
vations throughout The country, none Of the
original deeds for the sale OF lands under the
Inherited act. nor Of lands I'm the Creek Nation.
on the contrary. IN the matter OF the sale OF
inherited land under the sealed bid order, we are
receiving ia many cases from - TO 10 per
cent advance over the original price rendered
H. the same parties for the same land. while the
Greek deeds under the old system have all been
disauprOved 20 the number Of 4Z3 deeds ana re
turned, with their accompanying checks amount
sing to more than $500 000 thus showing that IN
the matter OF official irregularities and the adop-
zion OF said regulations the interests Of the In
daus have not been neglected by the department,
Is IS indirectly charged by Mr.. Brosius whose re-
port j DO not care 10 further discuss, because
thu accusations therein contained are to receive
q ful and rigid investigation
They have been promptly denied and such 81
Nost igution demanded by the members y the
Dawes Commission aud Inspector Wright. who
gre. OF course. entitled 10 be presumed Innocent
iu fhe mean time
This department IS. snd avs has been. more
shan ready and willing 20 accept the assistance
~ your association in ascertaining and rectify-
3ug any Irregularities IL may discover. or believe
10 exist. when properly presented and suhstan-
1iate5. and IS always glad 10 do anything
toward The retirement in all respects of the
Indian wards Of tho Government.
There arc. however. proper and improper
Iue, rods of procedure and I think that it was
sof .ustihahle. but discourieous 10 me, ana un-
1a.r 20 them. 20 publish broadcast 10 the world
Tho material gathered by eir. Brosius, without
further vprfCation. and without his having al
Sordo6 20 The officials whose reputation he at
rscked. any opportunity 20 explain what seemed
20 him Objectionable
The department does further maintain that
SIS inspectors and other officials should have
respect and confidence until clear case is
~ dealing with the Indians is the result of &C
cumulated experience. and is being pursued I'm
telligeu0y and vigorously with "a view 20 the
Indians best Interests Your obeGieut servant.
J.. a. HITCHCOCK. Secretary
IN connection with President CARROTS sug-
Eestion that inspectors have accepted the hos
pitalitv Of the agents they have been called
WON 10 investigate. attention is called by the
Interior Department 70 tho fact that IN the
quarters assigned TO Indian agents, room il
provided Tor the special Of inspectors.
fhough there is a regulation, which is rigidly
enforced. providing that On every instance the
inspector must pay for all board he receives
from an agent. II is further stated that the
room referred 10 is used only when inspectors
ere making routine inspections. and in every
instance whore a special investigation is or
dcred tho inspector is required to find accom-
snodatous elsewhere. Attention is further
called 10 the fact that Special Agent Brosius il,
The Indian Rights Association. himself accepted
The hospitality OF Indian Inspector J. George
Wright against whom he prefers charges when
making the investigation on which his special
report based.
Secretary Hitchcock to-day received word that
fhrec 81 che commissioners FOR kiowa County
Okla. have been indicted by the federal grand
5ury for fraud In connection with the public
Improvements. Tor the payment Of which the
FUNDS acC~uing from the sale - town lots In
hobart have Been designated. one Of the con-
tractors Tor bridges. stokes has also been in
olctec. and held ia default of bail I'm 81 800
The commissioners have fed. The evidence
presented TO the jury showed shat certificates
were issued showing the construction of twen-
tv-three bridges. while only twenty-one were
actually built. and that numerous frauds were
practised "a this connection
Secretary Hitchcock regards these indict-
-nents IS evidence Of the necessity Of proceed
sng with the utmost caution in endeavorfng 10
procure The public improvements which he is
charged by Congress with providing for Law
ton hobart and AuarGarko.