The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1903-07-18
Leupp Begins Okla
hOma Investigation

Il
Francis E Leupp the Washington
correspondent, detailed by President
Roosevelt and Secretary Hitchcock to
lex into alleged Irregularities con
C ming the lands of the Kiowa. Co
n nche and Apache Indians is believ-
c to be IN the territory having left
Washington several days ago Mr..
Leupp will attempt to ferret out any
] and all alleged Irregularities and his
report to the Washington officials will
be looked forward to with consider
able interest A recent Washington
dispatch SAYS;
The order OF this investigation by
the president was prompted by de-
mand made by these three tribes of
Indians in a memorial to congress,
dated March 1903.
Congress passed law, which was
approved June 6, 1900, by which the
lands formerly belonging 70 and occu-
pied by the Kiowa, Comanche and
| Apache Indians was opea for settle
ment. BY the terms of the treaty
each individ a. Indian was given, and
the same was to be allotted to him out
fof the lands SO opened for settlement
166 acres 70 be selected by him and
held as his own.
Congress. by this act. also set aside
for the use and benefit OF these In
dams 4SO.0cO acres, to be held and
owned in con mon by them. The In
dians were to be paid by the Gnited
States the sum of s2.o0O,00O for the
land formerly occupied by them. $780,
600 of which was to be paid to them at
such times an6 in such sums as the
secretary O. tie interior might direct.
and the remainder Of the sum due
them was placed to their credit in
the treasury.
The petitioners said that certain
other sums had been placed TO their
credit. received for rents due for the
use Of lands which they hold in com
mon, aud, az they were Informed, the
United States, by the terms of the
act, must ray them 5 per cent inter
est annualy on the money so long
as It so remains to their credit in
the treasury and pay them the money
collected as rents from the said 4S0,-
900 acres of land That these pay
ments We're made to them at the time
and had been for the past few years
by James r. Randlett, acting IN the
capacity of Iudian agent under the in
strucaons Of Secretary Hitchcock
That somo payments had been made
to most an OF the Indians of these
tribes by persons acting in the capac-
ity OF Indian agent but whether the
payments were interest due on the de
posits or a part Of the deposits, or
from money collected as rents from
the lands held in common for the
tribes. were unknown TO them. at the
time OF such payments no information
being given them concerning the same
They said that they are wholly with
out representation in all their dealings
with the interior department. and are
left at the mercy of the department
officers, should they be inclined e
practice fraud upon them. That the
officers OF the department will not
allow them to have anyone present
to represent them when the payments
are made, except the chiefs of the re
spective tribes, neither OF whom car
read or write. and each Of whom is ar
old man and wholly uneducated.
The Indians claimed that In making
these payments and in other business
transactions between them and the
officers Of the interior department
several large sums OF money belong
ing to them passed through the hands
of Officers. and that under the rules
of the department, as applied by nj
lofficers, they had no way OF ascertain
ing whether such sums of money ha'
been rightly and justly peoportione'
and applied. They asked for them
selves and the members Of thei
tribes that an act be passed requiring
the agent az the time that payments
are made. and at such otner times al
they may desire in the transaction
Of business with the agent, TO ALLOW
them 10 be represented by counsel o
|, their own selection, and that a specia
commissioner be appointed by con
gress TO inquire into the application
OF the money that has been reports
as having been paid to them.
The Indifns, in their petition, furth
r.