New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-08-16
ROBBING THE RED MAN.
OFFICIALS IRE ACCUSED.
Land Leases Secured for Small
Sums, Nth Contracts for Purchase.
[FnoN ZEE rRIpUNB RrREAU. ]

washington Aug 15-Scandals said to in
volve greater frauds than those in the Post
office Department are under Investigation by an
agent appointed by President Roosevelt several
months ago High officials are accused of rob
bling the red wards of the nation. under the pro-
visions Of the law designed 10 afford protec
ton to them. The Indian Bureau of the In
terror Department does not seem to be par
ticipant in the proceedings, nor able TO apply
remedy, owing to the fact that the Dawes Com
mission reports to and is responsible to Con-
gress, which created it, but this anomalous
condition has not deferred the President from
sending to the Indian Territory trusted friend,
experienced in Indian affairs, with authority to
probe the ulcer to it's core.
The gravity of a single feature of the scan
dals is disclosed in a report submitted to the
Secretary of the Interior by Special Agent Bro
sius of the Indian Rights Association, of Phila-
delphia. presenting findings which if unim-
peachabIy corroborated, render insignificant the
amounts of money and the Importance of the
officials connected with the postal grating.
Mr.. Brosius was sent to the Indian Territory
by the association to investigate the runors that
white men were obtaining land for ridicuously
small sums The scheme carried out was to
lease the lands from the Indians for term OF
five years. the longest term for which an lndlah
can lease his new allotment These leases are
the real value of the land. In addition to this
it is charged that the companies then secured
contracts for the sale of the land at the end
of the leases and named extremely small sums
in these contracts. The report accuses num-
Der of prominent men Of having interests in the
land companies and of allowing their names to
be used on the companies literature.
Perhaps the name which will create the most
surprise is that of S Tams BiXby, chairman of
49, Ill.,,
Of the Indian lands. He was yice-president of
the Muscogee Title and Trust Company, which
deals in lands He was also president of the
Canadian Valley Trust Company, Of Muskogee,
which was organized to buy, rent. sell, lease
and mortgage real estate"
The Tribal Development Company of Tisho-
mingo, Ind. T.. was authorized March 20, with
a capital stock of 100000. and bad $4,000 paid
in capital Guy P. Cobb, who then Internal
Revenue Inspector for the Territory, is the
largest stockholder.
Mr.. Brosius further says: Governor Mosely
of the Chickasaw Nation is also stockholder.
J. George Wright Indian inspector, ir absolute
charge of Indian Territory, is Of the direc-
tors of the Muskogee Title and Trust Company.
The International Bank and Trust Company
has Thomas B. Needles a member of the Dawes
Commission, vice-president and director.
Charles A. Davidson, clerk of the United States
Court at Vineta, is director. James A. Huckle-
berry, Assistant United States Attorney, is at
torney for the company"
Commenting on this matter to-day, W. A
Jones, Commissioner of Indian Affairs, said;
It is impossible for any government official
connected with a land company dealing in Ind
ian lands to be entirely impartial in his de-
cisions when he is deciding questions which may
affect his own welfare. I do not think that any
of the officials whose names appear as stock
holders or directors in the Indian Territory land
companies have any intention of acting dishon-
estly. but I must say that I think il was ex-
tremey bad taste for them to allow themselves
to be connected with companies.
I believe that the Indian Office should at once
undertake a thorough investigation of the con-
ditions in the Indian Territory and prepare a re-
port, and then. If Congress considers a further
investigation desirable there will be material
upon which to work. The investigation will be
long and tedious, and will have most extensive
ramifcations, but it should be begun immediate
ly by a force Of competent men, and should con-
tinue until 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 four hundred thousand
Indians.