The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-09-07
RIGHTS Of INDIANS
.orcuT FROM HITCHCOCK BIZ
PRESIDENT GARRETT.
ANSWER OF THE SECRETARY.
~.xs HE HAD ALREADY STARTED
THE INVESTIGATION.

c.oeIxs-He Considers That Dis
courtesy Was shown in PubIicn-
ton of Charges.
washington, Sept 6.-Secretary
hitchcock to-day made public corre-
laondence between himself and Philip
= Garrett president of the Indian
rights Association, relative to charges
made by Mr.. Brosius, Washington
AGENT of the association, against Off
.,als and inspectors in the Indian Ter
ritorv. alleging that grave irregulari-
ties existed. which tended to the in
+urv of the Indians.
Secretary Hitchcock, in his letter,
which is dated Aug. 20, says that he
thinks the publication throughout the
country of the Brosius letter before
he the Secretary had an opportunity
n reply was discourteous. He then
adds: -
81 note with pleasure your desire
NOT to wish to exaggerate any of the
evils in the administration of the In
dian bureau, and beg to state that the
grave Irregularities on the part of Of
6oials appointed by the government
with which you seem to have been i'm
messed by the report made to you by
Mr. Brosius, have, for months past
had my personal attention, thus antici-
pating your courteous request that the
subject may be officially investigated.
This investigation was made. by me
while on a visit to Indian Territory in
Nav. as the result of which certain
removals from Office BY dismissal and
enforced resignation were made, and
upon my return here, amended rules
and regulations We're prepared and is
sued on July 49, the purpose of which
was to more fully protect the Greek
Indians in the matter of sales of their
land by a proper notice and the re-
duirement of sealed bids by which such
satisfactory results have been accom-
pished in the matter of the sale of in
herited lands in other. reservations
throughout the country, none of the
original deeds for the sale of lands I'M
der the inherited act nor of lands in
the Creek nation having been, up to
that time, nor since, approved.
Really Helping Them.
on the contrary, in the matter of
the sale of inherited lands, under the
sealed bid orders, we are receiving in
many cases from Is per cent. to 125
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 accom-
panyings checks, amounting to over
aNao nan -l,- tAa@ hA
matter. of official Irregularities and the
adoption of said regulation, the in
terests of the Indians have not been
neglected by the department, as is in
directly charged by Mr.. Brosius, whose
report l do not care to further discuss,
because the accusations therein con-
taned are to receive a full and rigid
Investigation.
They have been promptly denied,
and such investigation demanded by
the members of the Dawes Commits.
sion and Inspector Wright. who are.
of course, entitled to be presumed in
nocent in the meantime.
This department is, and always has
been, more than ready and willing to
accept the assistance of your associa-
ton in ascertaining and rectifying any
Irregularities it may discover or be-
lieNe to exist, when properly presented
and substantiated, and is always glad
TO Go anything toward the betterment,
in all respects, of tho Indian wards
Of the government.
Says 1t Was DiscOurteOus.
There are, however, proper and i'm
proper methods of procedure, and 1
think that it was not justitiable, but
dlscourteous to me, and unfair to them
to publish broadcast to the world the
material gathered by Mr.. BrosiuS,
Without further Verification, and with
out his having afforded to the officials,
whose reputation he attacked, any op-
portunity to explain what seemed to
him Objectionable.
The department does further main
tain that its inspectors and other Of
Meals should have respect and conf
dence until a clear case is made against
theln, and that the present policy of
dealing with the Indians is the result
OF accumulated experience, and is be-
ing pursued iDtelligently and vigorously
with view to the Indians best inter-
ests'
Mr.. Garrett, in his reply, which is
uated Sept. 4, declines to enter on the
question of personal discourtesy, saying
none was intended and that the publi-
Vdllon OF Mr.. BroSius' report was in
deeordance with the associations Gus
TOM to give to the press all matters in
adds
have not had the honor of much
personal acquaintance with you, but
my profound regard for the President,
NY knowledge that he esteems you
llsLly and my deep conviction of your
vWn integrity and faithfulness to your
sish trust, would forbid intentional
dscourtesy."
i"'eStiSatOrs Should Be Unbiased.
Mr. Garrett then dwells on the i'm
portance of having absolutely unbiased
Investigators, saying:
100 often these officials appear to
" w. under influences from members of
SonsIess interested in them, and am
s oounu TO say that inspectors too often
Seem 10 whitewash men utterly unfit
~ tnelr position. You will observe
, snut l say some. I do not claim in
we make no charge. up to this time,
sdIIlst any members OF the Dawes
ftoo I'M nor, / believe, does our in
,tIlInaht' Mr.. Brosius, whose allega-
,TSons' you will observe. are general in
LII character. and invite attention to
sIeItain class of institutions with
"HiCh some OF them are connected,
rs ,they ought not to be II they wish
4. Aeep above suspicion, because there
20 much reason to believe the COM
panies are. some of them at least, or
sehlzed In part for the express purpose
- Preylng upon the Indians
would like 20 make one comment
4, ne closing passage In your letter,
~ WHleh you say that inspectors and
NisI oHlclals should haV0 RESPECT and