West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1903-09-03

GU III TIC Irregularities anu also the
members of the Dawes Commission,
and the acting Attorney General has
stated that a special commissioner
will be promptly sent to the Indian
Territory to investigate the alleged
connection of several officials of
the Department of Justice with con-
Germs organized for the purpose of
making profit at the expense of the
Indians.
It
An example of the condition of
affairs now existing in the Indian
Territory is shown by the situation
at Muskogee, where the Dawes
Commission has an Office. The
Canadian Valley Trust Company,
of which Tams Bixby, chairman of
the Dawes Commission, is president;
G. w. Hopkins, formerly law clerk
OF the Commission, is an employe;
and p. G.. Reuter-, clerk in charge
OF the land Office of the Commits
sion, is director, has its Offices in
the same building as the Dawes
Commission and occupies the same
apartments, on the ground floor, as
were formerly occupied by the Com
mission, the Commission having re-
moved TO the second floor. AS a
result of this happy arrangement,
the untutored savage walks limo
Gently into the Office OF the Trust
Company, to the representative of
which he explains his business. 1t
is alleged that these representatives
are not always scrupulous to explain
that they are not, at that particular
moment, representing the Dawes
Commission but are members of a
private institution, and the Indian,
who has valuable lands TO lease or
sell, completes his business accord
ing to their dictation, makes his
mark in the presence of witnesses
and goes his way, all innocent of
the fact that he has not been dealing
with the Dawes Commission, the
authorized representative of the
Government, and equally innocent
of the fact that in the lease he has
Just executed there is a contract for
the sale of his lands at the expira-
ton of the lease, at some nominal
figure, the contract to take effect as
soon as the law will permit him to
part with his patrimony.
TT
Some conception of the gravity
Of the situation and the opportuni-
ties for fraud existing, where the
very representative of the Govern
ment appointed to protect the In
dians are officers and directors OF
concerns organized TO take advan-
tage of his ignorance, may be gath
cred from the fact that the Indian
lands now being allotted in severalty
are estimated as being worth upwards
OF $3.50, 600, 900, aggregating over
20, ooo, 900 acres, some of it the
finest farm lands in the United States
and much of it excellently situated
with regard to market and railroad
facilities. Several members Of the
Dawes Commission. United States
Attorneys and Indian Agents aie
charged with being interested in
these companies, most Of which
have been organized within the past
nine months and all of which give
promise, Of paying unusually large
dividends, in their prospectuses.
at
An official announcement of the
resignation Of Secretary Of War
Root has come from Oyster Bay
together with the information tina,
| Judge Taft Governor General oil
the Philippines, will be Mr.. Roots
successor and that Wee. Governor
Luke +. Wright Of Tennessee, will
be Judge Tafts successor as head OF
the Philippine Commission. The
retirement Of Secretary Root will
prove source Of regret to many
besides the President for all who
have come in contact with the re-
firing Secretary have appreciated
that, regardless Of their attitude to-
wards the policy Of the sdministra-
ton, Mr.. Root has performed his
duties with exceptional ability and
earneslness. Ills accomplishment
Of the general staff policy in the
army and the virtual restoration Of
/