The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1903-09-07
GUARDING RIGHTS
Of THE RED MAN
Alleged Irregularities In
Land Sales Being
Probed.

WASHINGTON, Sept. 6.-TO-day Secre-
tary Hitchcock made public the corre-
snondence between him and Philip c. Gar
rett Of Philadelphia, president Of the Indian
Rights Association. In letter from Sec
retarv Hitchcock to Garrett, written on
the 2sth ultimo, the former charges the
president of the Indian Rights AssOcla-
ton with discourtesy to the head OF the
Interior Department In having permitted
The publication Of the Brosius letter, al
leeinR irregularities on the part OF Gov
eminent officials in the sale of Indian
lands before the Secretary had been given
time to pass upon the letter. Regarding
the alleged irregularities, Secretary
Hitchcock says:
note with pleasure your desire not to wish
20 exaRgerate any of the evils in the ADMINS
traton of the Indian Bureau ana peg t - t oS
that the grave irregularities on the par ,t ~
officials appointed by the Government Win I'm
which you seem to have been nlirs have for
months past had my personal attention. mus
anticipating your courteous request 'na' INC
subject may be officially invesugated. ,,,o -
This investigation was made by me wnle on
a visit to the Indian Territory in May, as the the
result Of Th sd enforced resignation resulted
and upon my return here amended rules ana
regulations were prepared and Issued on July
the purpose OF winch was W iiDiC IuiAJ PiD
tect the Creek Indians in the matter of sales OF
their land by a proper notice and the require
nent of sealed bids. by which such satisfac-
ter of the sale inherited lands in other reser-
vations throughout the country, none OF the
original deeds for the sale OF lands unoer the
inherited act nor lands in the Creek Nation
having been I'D TO that time. or since ap-
proved.
inherited lands under the sealed-bid order, we
receiving in many cases from 10 per cent
=. odN original nriCe
rendered by the same parties for the same land.
while the Creek deeds under the old system
have ell been disapproved. to the number OF
423 deeds. and returned with their accompany
ing checks. amounting TO more than $685.. 900.
thus showing that, in the matter Of official
Irregularities and the adoption OF said regula-
tions the interests Of the Indians have not
been neglected by the department as is indi-
rectiv charged by Mr.. Brosius, whose report
do not care to further discuss, because the ac-
cusations therein contained are to receive a full
and rigid investigation They have been
handed by the members Of the Dawes Com
mission and Inspector Wright. who are. of
course. entitled TO be presumed innocent in the
meantime.
In his reply Garrett says:
To enter upon the question of personal dis
courtesy which you raise would. think, in
volve a long discussion: must. therefore.
content myself with utterly disclaiminR the
least intention Of discourtesy to you.
The publication of the Brosius report was In
accordance with the custom of the association
q the press matters OF Importance in
which the public supposed to be interested.
That 1t created great deal of public interest
is quite evident.
I am clad TO have learned. since the letter
of Mr. Brosius called the subject TO my atten-
ton. that you had known something of the
dangers to which he refers previously; and am
eepaciaily pleased to know that you had taken
steps to investigate them and well contended
that the department should have the entire
credit OF t.: satisfied II aid in some
degree in preventing the wrong thai might
have resulted 10 the Indians from being con-
sunrneted, and especially gratifed If the in
vestfRators shall be absolutely unbiased. Too
often these officials appear to be under infu-
ences from members of Congress interested in
them and / am bound to say that inspectors
too OFTEN seem TO whitewash men utterly unfit
for their positions. You will observe that l
saw seem" / do not claim infallibility
we make no charge, up TO this time, against
any members of the Dawes Commission nor I
believe does informant, Mr.. Brosius
whose allegations, you Will observe, are gem
eral in their character.
l would like to make one comment on the
closing passage in your letter, in which YOU
say that inspectors and other officials should
have respect and confidence until clear case
shall be made against them"
The Inspector should be above suspicion. ana
where az inspector accepts the hospitality of
the man he is sent to inspect, thus taking a