The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-08-28
Expert from Private Life to Investi.
gate the Charges of Corruption
and Land Frauds.
7 OFFICIAL STATEMENT
THAT THROWS LIGHT ON THE METH
DDS OF DESIGNING MEN.
Message from the Dawes Com ion
Asking for an lmm ediate and
Searching Inquiry.

WASHINGTON, Aug. q. - Secretary
Hitchcock, of the Interior Department, to-
day announced his intention of having a
thorough investigation made into irregular
tiles in Indian Territory by some one not
connected with the department. This an
nouncement was made in response to a
request from the Dawes commission at
Muskogee, as follows:
widespread and continued newspaper
criticism of most serious character involv-
ing integrity of our work and our fidelity
to duty, impels us to request that an i'm
mediate and searching investigation be in
stituted and that the President be informed
of this desire. A work unparalleled in the
history of civilization, the result of years
of unremitting toll, is threatened by fanat-
ical reports and questionable Journalism
We urge that there be assigned to the work
of investigation one whose reputation for
honesty, ability and fearlessness is well
established and whose findings will be uni
versally accepted.
This was signed by Tams Bixby and T. B.
Needles, commissioners.
The determipation of the secretary to
send to Indian Territory a man not con-
nected with the Department of the In
terror to investigate conditions there is un-
derstood to be for the purpose of supple
menting the work of the secretary him.
self and of other representatives of the de-
partment in that Territory Since early last
spring the secretary has been giving large
share of his personal attention to the situa-
ton in the Territory and number of the
inspectors and other officials of the de-
partment have been engaged in the effort
to ferret out frauds and protect the inter-
ests of the Indians.
AUTHORIZED STATEMENT.
The following is authorized statement
of the departments attitude toward the
situation in Indian Territory as we'll as an
outline OF what is doing there for the pro-
lection OF the Indians:
1.-The secretary made tour of the Terri
tory i'm May largely for the purpose of
making inquiry regarding reports that had
come TO him of efforts to deprive the In
dians of their rich landed Inheritance and
the result of this personal investigation
was to confirm the report that there was
a persistent effort to secure the Indian
lands at prices far below their real value.
LAS a consequence of this inquiry he
made a radical revision of the regulations
for the sale of the allotted lands and the
DEVELOPMENTS since that change was made
indicate that he has saved the Indians a
large percentage over what would have
been paid them If the original regulations
had stood. The new rules require that all
Indian lands which are for sale shall be
advertised and appraised by a competent
official. The secretary has Cancelled all
regulations took effect. There were 429 OF
| these deeds. calling for an aggregate pay
nent of 1868. COO All these deeds, with the
| checks have been returned TO the pur-
| chasers and the prices received on inherit
| ed lands indicate that under the rev reg
ulations the prices paid will exceed the old
| prices by from Is TO 125 per cent.
| Under the law the secretary has control
| of the land sales and is able to throw many
| safeguards around them for the protection
of the Indian owners. most of whom he sp-
preciates are entirely ignorant OF business