The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-08-18
Officials Accused Of SxiGdIing
Indians Must Look Out.
SECY HITCHCOCK AROUSED
Agent Froslus' Charges Of Advantages
taken Of ignorant Redskins viii
he Si,ted to Bottom

Washington. Aug is-with scandal in
vestigatons going on in three depart
ments. President Roosevelt and his cabi-
net members are having very little va
cation.
The Indian land scandals, just brought
10 the attention of the department OF the
interior, promise to prove almost as SEN
| sational as the glove contract scandal in
The war department. in, which Represen-
tative Littauer of New York is involved,
and the scandals i'm the postoffice depart
ment, which have resulted in many indict-
ments and removals
The charge that government officials in
Indian territory have conspired TO de-
fraud Indians by leasing and buying their
lands at rdiculousy low prices is now
entirely I'm the hands OF Secretary Hitch
cock. The case has been taken from the
indian bureau of the department Of the
Interior and will probably be invesu-
gated under the direction OF the president.
such as was done in the postoffice scan
dals
II is believed that upon his return to
Washington today. after his conference
with President Roosevelt at Oyster Bay,
Secretary Hitchcock Will designate "A spe-
cial inspector. who will immedia tely go 10
investigation OF the charges, which in
volve Tams Bixby, chairman OF the
Dawes commission. Indian Inspector
George Wright and many other prominent
government officials.
PROTECTOR OF TRIBES.
Astonshment is expressed here at the
charges against Indian Inspector George
Wright He Is Secretary Hitchcock's
right hand man and was sent TO the
indian Territory as the secretary's spe-
cial representative. He is not under or
ders from the Indian bureau. and was
supposed to be the chief protector OF the
five tribes in theiy land rights
II shall be much surprised II the charges
against Mr.. Wright, the Indian inspector
are sustained" A Clark Tonner. assist
ant Indian commissioner. said last night
He and many of the other men men
-tnned-in the report of Mr-Rrosius hear
regulations which have always been
above reproach. Charges are so frequent
I'm the Indian bureau that one must be
slow TO accept them when they are not
sustained by affdavits.
Mr.. Brosius has done much good work
In defending the Indians and Of course
there may he foundation for all the
charges he has brought. At this time II Is
impossible to tell what the outcome OF
the investigation will be.
Although the charges which Samuel NJ.
Rights association, brought against gov
ernment officials are for the most part
general In nature. some OF them are suf-
ficiently specific to form a basis for In
vestigation without delay. He is said TO
have cited several specific cases I'm which
Indians were forced by government offi-
cials TO sign contracts which provided for
the long lease and sale OF valuable lands
at a nominal price.
10 ma Ha m
he sale of land before the Indians acquire
title are said to be void but real estate
companies have relied on the honor OF
Indians 10 live up TO such contracts, and
in many cases this has been done.
WILL QUIET RUMoRs.
Ignorance on the part OF the Indians OF
the laws regulating the lands In the five
tribes has been taken advantage or in
every possible manner by real estate men,
among whom there are said TO be many
government officials The scramble for
valuable mineral and oil lands has been
so exciting that the government agents
were not able to keep out of the rush.
and have been as INSCRIPTIONS as other
Sharpers In dealing with the Indians. II
the charges made by Mr.. Brosius be true.
IL Is assured that the investigation now
started will be far reaching and will re
suit IN the quieting OF bad rumors which
have been circulated for several years
concerning the methods Of allotting In
dian lands and the treatment which gov
ernment agents are reported to have ac-
corded TO the Cherokees. Chickasaws and
other tribes In the territory. The depart
ment of justice will cooperate with Sec
retary Hitchcock i'm looking into the Bros.
ius charges.
Secretary Hitchcock is known 10 se
thoroughly aroused by the recent charges.
which are said TO afford him an oppor-
tunity for making an investiRat tion which
the administration has desired for some
time. Indian Commissioner Jones and
other officials who deal with the Indians
are emphatic in their statement that no
official who has To do with the handling
of Indian lands should be associated With
companies which deal In such lands