Evening journal., 1903-08-28
WILL PROTECT
THE INDIANS
Secretary Hitchcock Orders
an Investigation in In
dian Territory
INSPECTION BEGUN LAST SPRING

Washington. Aug. 2S.-The determi-
nation of Secretary Hitchcock to send
to Indian territory a man not connect
ed with the department OF interior to
investigate conditions there is under
stood to be for the purpose Of supple
menting the work of the secretary
himself and of other representatives
of the department in that territory.
Since early last spring the secretary
has been giving a large share of his
personal attention to the situation in
the territory, and a number Of the in
spectors and other officials of the de-
partment have been engaged in the
effort to ferret out frauds and protect
the interests of the Indians.
The secretary made a tour of the
territory in May largely for the pur-
pose of making inquiry regarding re-
ports that Md come to him of efforts
to deprive the Indians Of their rich
landed inheritances, and the result
of this personal investigation was to
confirm the report that there was
persistent effort TO seizure the Indian
lands at prices far below their real
value.
AS a consequence of this inquiry he
made a radical revision of the regula-
tlons 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
II the original regulations had stood.
The new rules require that all Indian
lands which are for sale shall be ad-
vertised and appraised by a cOmpe-
tent official. The secretary has can.
celled all sales made prior to the time
that the new regulations took effect.
There were 429 of these deeds, calling
for an aggregate payment of $4,000
All these deeds, with the checks, have
been returned to the purchasers, and
the prices received on inherited lands
indicate that under the new regula-
tions the prices paid will exceed the
old prices by from IS to 125 per cent.
Under the law the secretary has con-
AlAA Vi AAt Aunu 0alAtnf anu 10 1BAI ~
throw many safeguards around them
for the protection Of the Indian own
ers, most of who he appreciates are
entirely ignorant of business methods
and easily made the tools of designing
men, whether leaders of their own
race or white men. In one case the
secretary found during his stay in
Indian territory that clerks in the
office of an Indian agent had taken on
themselves the responsibility for de-
nying a hearing to their national at
torney, who represented some $4,000
Indians. A favorite method for Sc
curing the leases is to have the In
dians approached by merchants. who,
by offering their wares in exchange,
can secure the most favorable terms
for them. and the understanding is
quite general that when control of
a piece of land is once secured by
means Of leasing it will be held by
some means until II can be purchased
at the lessee's own figures.
The secretary realizes that while
there may be shortcomings on the
part of some of the government Off
cials. there are. on the other hand.
many men not employed by the gov
ernment who have grievances against
these same officials and are disposed
to make all the trouble for them they
can. These men he designates as
"grafters," and the feeling in the de-
partment is that any officials who may
oppose their designs is certain to be
made the subject cf the harshest cen
sure by them. to gecretary announces
his determination to protect officials
who are doing their duty against the
schemes of all such people.
Several officials, who already have
been detected in questionable trans
actions. have been summarily dismiss
ed, while the designations Of others
have been requested. The secretary
takes the position that II does not
promote the public interest to pub
..sa the names of dismissed officials.