The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-09-04
RIGID SCRUTINY
IS The OBJECT
Indian Rights Association Will
investigate Also.
COLLECTING OF EVIDENCE
indians with Grievances Make
Them Known.
COLLECTING OF EVIDENCE

ton of the Official acts of George l. Har-
! vey. superintendent and special disburs-
| ing agent for the Pawnee Indian school
| at Pawnee, is now being made by Special
! Agent Brosius and Special Agent Chas.
! S. McNichols of the United States de-
I partment of Indian affairs, who was sent
( to Pawnee at the request of the Indian
/ Rights association.
The investigation by Mr.. Brosius has
/ been on at Pawnee for over two weeks
/ and during that time the special agent
! has been collecting evidence which Is be
/ ing submitted TO the special agent or
| the department OF Indian affairs in the
presence of Superintendent Harvey and
others Special Agent McNichols has
I been in Pawnee about ten days and the
work of making the investigation was de-
| layed on account of the absence of Su-
perintendent Harvey, who was on his va
cation in the north.
Yesterday a council of Pawnee Indians
was held at the school and those Indians
who had grievances were allowed to give
testimony in the presence of Superin-
tendent Harvey The taking of testimony
required nearly the entire day and it Is
probable that it will consume portion OF
next week to complete the investigation.
The Indians yesterday stated that they
had been abused by Mr.. Harvey, espe-
cially Indian mothers who desired TO
visit with their children at the school,
1t was stated that the superintendent
Lad used abusive language in talking TO
IL. ,J,ok s.,-fa I haxr
had been refused admission to the school
by Mr.. Harvey. The Indians were frank
in making their statements and the evil
dence submitted only corroborated what
had been written to the association at
Philadelphia.
One of the important matters being in
vestigated is that of appointing guardians
for Indians 1t is alleged in this copnec-
tion that Mr. Harvey is financially inter-
ested in bank or banks in Pawnee coun-
ty and that such institutions were favor
ed by him at all times. In the appoint
ment of eighty guardians for Indians six
men all of whom are elleged to be either
officers or stockholders in banks were
named in over sixty cases. These men
and number of cases are: Robert Chas-
National bank, guardian in sixteen cases;
w. e. Webb. interested in the Pawnee
County bank, guardian in nineteen cases;
J. D. Turner, alleged stockholder in
bank, guardian in ten cases; p. C. Jay,
alleged stockholder in bank, guardian in
seven cases; II. E. Thompson. connected
with the Ralston bank at Ralston. guar
dian in nine cases.
The guardianship matter is one of the
things being worked up by Special Agent
Brosius and his findings will be submit
ted to the special agent of the department
of Indian affairs and report made TO
the association at Philadelphia.
1t is also charged that Mr.. Harvey has
delayed lease matters For instance, if
a contract is signed with an Indian for
a lease, usually one-half of the lease
money must be deposited with the agent,
later to be placed by him in bank, while
the lease is sent to Washington. 1t is
alleged that some of such leases were
held up after being approved by the in
terror department, which approval is re-
quired before the lease is considered reg
ular, and that the bank secured the use
Of the money for the extended length of
time, and that if the In-lan desired the
money on his lease he was compelled to
pay high rate of interest for the same.
1t is said that some leases were delayed
as long as eighteen months. but whether
this was on account of Mr.. Harveys ac-
tions is TO be determined in the iuvesti-
cation.
The Guitar lands also come in as a
part of the investigation. 1t is stated to
Mr.. Brosius that Superintendent Harvey
leased three manifestations of land to
three persons in Pawnee, for which there
has been no Indian claimants for ten
years The land was originally allotted
to Henry Guitar and two daughters.
Immediately after the leases were secur-
ed, which was in 1902. the parties holding
the leases filed on the land in question,
averring that If there were no Indians
claiming II the same must he considered
as government land and subject to home
stead entry In July. 1902 Attorney John
c. Hughes, now of Oklahoma City. then
residing in Pawnee. advertised for Cult
tar or his heirs, hoping to discover them
and close up a deal for the land for
client. The advertisement was placed in
81. Louis paper and two days later Mr..
Hughes received information concerning
the heirs. During the ten years Henry
Guitar had died. but the two daughters
held the patents TO the land. They came
10 Oklahoma and Immediately set up a
claim for the land. There is a depart
mental rule which states that no agent
or superintendent is authorized to make
leases without the consent OF the Indian
holding the land In this case il Is al
legged that Mr.. Harvey Violated this rsie
in making leases when The Indians knew
nothing OF It. Mr. Harvey asserts that
he was looking after the property OF the
Indians when he I--ade the leases and
took that method to protect their inter
ests. The Guitar matter Is still in con-
troversy and one q the daughters has
employed attorneys 70 look after her case.
The Guitar contest for the land wnI BE
Incorporated IN the Brosius report
This IS the third investigation that su-
perintendent Harvey has had during his
term Of oftice al Pawree, The first ;aves-
tigaticn was made By Inspector Tinker.
and a favorable report was made Later.
Inspector Jenkins came 70 Oklahoma ard
investigated the Pawnee school L Il
said HIS report was adverse u Mr.. Ha--
vsy but thst this individual asserted that
testimony had been taken that he ku~w
nothing q ard thEt ~ Rad uof bcen
treated fairly n TIE natter . was 70
change this coHdftion Inst TIE depart
nent requested that no testimony -
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