The Rathdrum tribune. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1903-1963, 1903-09-11
Washington Letter.
From Our Regular Correspondent.

FROM Our Regular Correspondent.
WASHINGTON. ID. c., Sept. 3, 1903.
Attorney General Knox has ina,
gurated drastic investigation 81
every official in his Department with
in the Indian Territory jurisdiction.
There are four United States attor-
neys, four United States marshals
and considerable number Of assist
ant attorneys and deputy marshals IN
the territory, all Of whom are respon-
sible to the Attorney General and the
Official conduct Of each OF these will
be rigidly scanned by the officials
charged with the investigation. A
rumor reached the Department OF
Justice, the middle OF July, to the
effect that United States officials were
implicated IN scandals IN connection
with the liquor traffic and with feed
ing prisoners. Subsequent charges
In connection with the allotment Of
Indian lands have already been told
In these letters. All Of these will be
faithfully Investigated by the Depart
nent's representatives and The re-
suits OF their Investigation will go to
the President. The name uf United
States Attorney Pliny Soper has al.
ready been mentioned, as has that Of
assistant attorney Huckleberry, and
United States marshal Colbert. In
addition to these 1t is understood that
charges have been preferred against
Dr.. Leo Z. Bennett, United States
marshal for the western district, and
several others.
Sec. Hitchcock has not yet been
able to ind a man to undertake the
Investigation of the subordinates OF
the Department Of the Interior
charged with violation of trust in
connection with the Indian lands,
Francis +. Luepp, who has just COM
pleted an investigation of an Indian
agent in the Kiowa country, has de-
clined to undertake the task and an
other individual on whom the respon-
sibility was urged has declined the
offer. There are numerous applicants
for the position but they are wasting
their time as the simple fact that
man asks for the work will be regard
ed as disqualification. Meanwhile
the Secretary is making every effort
to locate man with the proper quail
ihcations, which include knowledge
of Indian affairs, known integrity and
great trmness Of purpose.
Advices received by DR.. Herran,
the Colombian charge'd'affairs, are to
the effect that United States Minis
ter Beaupre has, by his lack OF tact,
contributed largely to the failure of
the Panama canal treaty. 1t is
claimed that Beaupre has been en-
tirely too arbitrary 10 his communi-
cations to the Colombian government
and that bis uncompromising posi-
tion has offended the sensitive pride
Of the Colombians. Sec Hay, to
whom DR.. Herran submitted his dis
patches, pronounced the report with
out foundation. He said that Beau.
pre- had conducted the negotiations
entirely under the direction OF the
State Department and had represent
ed the facts as they were but that ip
every instance he had done SO tact
fully. The administration will make
no further effort to secure the ratia-
cation " the treaty, other than to ex-
tend the time for ratification IL so re.
quested. Nevertheless, it is obvious
that the State Department officials
still believe that the Colombians will
eventually come to their senses and
ratify the treaty as negotiated.
The latest development In the Post
ONCE investigation is the discovery
that the superintendent of the regis.
try system, LOUIS Kempner, has been
conducting system OF smuggling Of