The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-08-24
MAY ABOLISH
COMMISSION
Secy. Hitchcock, It Is Said, Will
Make a Recommendation
to That Effect. -.
He Doesn't Like Dawes Commission
ers' Attitude Regarding Sale
of Indian Lands.
New York Sun Special Service.

New York Sun Special Service.
washington, Aug. 24.-The fight which
Secretary Hitchcock announced last week
he would make on the Indian land grafters
is to begin with an attack on the Dawes
commission. It is known that the secre-
tary. at his recent conference with Presi-
dent Roosevelt, discussed the ACCESSIBILITY
Of having that commission abolished by
congress-. The abolition can be accom-
plished by merely failing to make any
further appropriations for the work the
commission is supposed to be doing for
the Indians.
Before a recommendation is made, how
ever, the work of the commission will be
thoroly investigated by a close personal
friend Of the president. One such agent
of the president, man interested in In
dian affairs, is now in Oklahoma and the
Indian Territory, looking into the opera
lions Of the land companies which are said
to have been making strenuous efforts to
get Indian lands worth from $36 to $40 an
acre for prices ranging from $3.50 to ST..
The last-named figure is as high as the
companies intended paying for the very
best land.
Their operations are at a standstiu, be-
cause the rules promulgated by the secre-
tary makes it impossible for an Indian to
dispose Of the land he is at liberty to
ALLEVIATE without the approval of the Sec
rotary. AS already published, the secre-
tary is rejecting offers for the land be-
cause the prices bid by the bidders are
not considered high enough.
Commissioners Interested.
The great majority of the bids rejected
are those made by or for the land COM
pany in which members of the Dawes
commission and officers of the United
States and their friends are interested as
stockholders. It Is the determination of
the secretary that none Of these compa-
MES shall get any of the lands Of the five
civilized tribes unless they pay well for
what they acquire. If there are two or
more offers for the same land at practi-
calIy the same price and one of them Is
made by a land company, the bid Of the
company will be disregarded. The deter
mination to pursue such course has not
| been openly announced, but it will not be
gainsaid.
Secretary Hitchcock knows that the at
| tacks upon him proceeded from men inter
ested In the companies, and he will not be
| tender with what may look like rights ac-
| CURED by the companies. The companies
| have bought thousands Of options from
! the Indians, but they will not be regarded.
| They will be treated as If the agreements
| had been made with minors, which, Of
course, may be disregarded by the guard
| ians.
1t is estimated that there are Is, O00, 900
acres Of land in the territory occupied by
the five civilized tribes that the Indians
are at liberty to sell under the rules pre-
scribed by the secretary Of the interior
Before the PRONUNCIATION Of the rules re-
quiring each Indian to invite tenders for
| the lands he desired to sell, the regula
| lions were easy and the prospects for
immense profits by the officials interested
| in the land companies were fine. This
| land is worth an on average at least S. an
acre. and perhaps more.