The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-09-07
MIR. HITCHCOCK wROTH.
Secretary Thinks He Was a
DiscOurteOusly.

Hitchcock to-day made public corre-
spondence between him and Philip c. Gar
rett, of Philadelphia. president Of the In
dian Rights Association. on Aug. 2. The
secretary wrote as follows:
'Sir-I nave received yours dated Alan
dara, Mass, Aug. %, replying to mine of
the 10th inst, and quote the first paragraph
Of the same as follows:
81 am away from home, as L have been
much of the summer and do not recall ex-
actly how the copies of Mr.. Brosius's letter
were sent out
This in reply to my letter of the Goth
to you, which was as follows:
Upon my return to the city on yester-
day / find your letter of the 18th inst. in
closing a letter from your Washington
agent, S. NJ. Brosius, which last you state
seems to me (you) to Present grave irregu-
larltieS on the part of officials appointed by
the government which have a tendency to
wrong the Indians-the very wards of the
Nation whom they are appointed TO pro-
tect; and L take the liberty of submitting
a copy of it TO you in order that, if thought
proper by you, the subject may be OIL
cially investigated
Before replying more fully to your let
ter, as above acknowledged, L will thank
you to kindly inform me whether or not
the widespread publication in the press OF
the country on or about the date of your
letter to me inclosing said letter was au-
thorized by yourself or any officer of your
ALLEGED DISCOURTESY.
my purpose in thus addressing you was
to ascertain whether or not you had au-
thSrity or were aware of the fact that the
letter of Mr.. Brosius inclosed with yours
to me of the 13th., which / did not receive
until my return to the city on the 18th,
had been given widespread circulation
throughout the country, and before / had
on nnnarttrnifu 4 n anEn onxy roD1xy s.a-
much as such publication seems to me as
being most discourteous under the circum-
stances. Hence my inquiry, which, as a
matter of courtesy, / deemed due to your
self. 1 sincerely regret that you cannot
now recall exactly how the copies of Mr..
BroSiuS's letter were sent out.
Returning now, in further reply to yours
of the 18th inst, l note with pleasure your
desire not to wish to eXaggerate any of the
evils in the administration of the Indian
Bureau, and beg to state that the grave
Irregularities on the part of officials ap-
pointed by the government with which
you seem to have been impressed by the re-
port made to you by Mr.. Brosius, have for
months past had my personal attention.
thus anticipating your courteous request
that the subject may be officially investi-
gated.
This investigation was made by me while
on a visit to Indian Territory in May, as
the result of which certain removals from
office by dismissal and enforced resigna-
ton resulted, and upon my return here
iCD, dAC oia Z Il pie
pared and issue on June 10, the purpose of
which was to more fully protect the Creek
Indians in the matter of sales of their
lands by a proper notice and the require
ment of sealed bids, by which such salts
factory results have been accomplished in
the matter of the sale of inherited lands i'm
other reservations throughout the country.
none of the original deeds for the sale of
lands under the inheritance act nor of
lands in the Creek Nation having been up
to that time, nor since, approved.
INDIANS NOT NEGLECTED.
'On the contrary, in the matter of the
| sale of inherited land under the sealed bid
order, we are receiving in many cases from
Is per cent. to 15 per cent. advance over
the original price rendered by the same
parties for the same land, while the Creek
deeds under the old system have all been
disapproved, to the number of 423 deeds.
and returned, with their accompanying
checks. amounting to more than $3.50. 900,
thus showing that in the matter of official
Irregularities and the adoption OF said reg
ulations the interests of the Indians have
not been neglected by the department, as is
Indirectly charged by Mr.. Brosius, whose
| report l do not care TO further discuss. be-
| cause the accusations therein contained are
10 receive a full and rigid Investigation.
They have been promptly denied, and such
Investigation demanded by the members of
the Dawes commission and Inspector
! Wright, who are. of course, entitled to be
presumed innocent in the meantime.
This department is, and always. has
been, more than ready and willing TO ac-
cept the assistance of your association in
ascertaining and rectifying any irregu-
larities it may discover, or believe to exist,
when properly presented and substantiated,
and is always glad TO do anything toward
the betterment, in all respects, OF the In
idian wards of the government.
'"Yhere are. however, proper and improper
methods of procedure, and 1 think that it
was not justifiable, but discourteous to me,
and unfair 10 them. to publish broadcast TO
the world the material gathered by Mr..
Rrosius. without further verification. and
without his having afforded to the officials
whose reputation he attacked any oppor-
tunity to explain what seemed TO him OBJ
jectionable.
1.-The department does further maintain
hat its inspectors and other officials should
have respect and confidence until a clear
case Is made against them. and that the
present policy Of dealing with the Indians
is the result of accumulated experience.
and is being pursued intelligently and Wig
orously with a view TO the Indians best in
terests."
MIR. GARRETT'S REPLY. [,
Mr.. CARROTS reply, under date of Sept. 4,
was as follows:
-Sir-I have the honor to acknowledg
yours of the 10Th ultimo. reminding me OF
my letter OF the 18th .uitimo, which partially
replied to yours OF the 10th.
ITO enter on the question of personal
discourtesy which you raise would. / think.
involve a long discussion. l must there
fore content myself with utterly dssclaim-
ing the least intention OF discourtesy TO
you.