The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-09-07

Washington, Sept. 6.-Secretary Hltch-
cock to-day made public the following
correspondence between him and Philip
c. Garrett president OF the Indian Rights
Association:
Department Of the Interior, Washing
ton. Aug. 29.-Honorable Philip o. Garrett.
President of Indian Rights Association,
1855 Arch Street, Philadelphia: Sir-I have
received yours dated Alandar, Mass. Au-
gust %, replying to mine Of the 10th inst,
and quote the first paragraph of the same
as follows:
I am away from home as 1 have
been much OF the summer. and do not re-
call exactly how the copies Of Mr. Bro
sius's letter were sent out
This in reply to my letter Of the 10Th
to you, which was as follows:
Upon my return TO the city on yes
terday find your letter OF the 18th inst
inclosing a letter from your Washington
agent. g. NJ. Brosius. which last you state
seems to me (you) 10 present grave irreg-
ularities on the part of officials appointed
by the Government. which have tenden-
cy to wrong the InGnans-the very wards
of the nation whom they are appointed
to protect-and l take the liberty of sub
mitting e copy of it to you in order that,
If thought proper by you, the subject may
be officially investigated"
PUBLICATION OF LETTER.
Before replying more fully to your let
ter. as above acknowledged. I will thank
you TO kindly inform me whether or not
the widespread publication in the press
OF the country on or about the date of
your letter to me inclosing said letter was
hxr or officer
your association
my purpose in thus addressing you was
to ascertain whether or not you had au-
thorized or were aware Of the fact that
the letter of Mr.. Brosius inclosed with
yours to me of the 18th (which l old not
receive until my return to the city on the
18th. had been given widespread circula-
ton throughout the country, and betore L
had an opportunity to make any reply.
irasruch as such publication seems 10
me as being most discourteous undeI tne
circumstances. Hence my inquiry, which.
as a matter Of courtesy. deemed due 10
Il sincerely regret that you cannot now
recall exactly how the copies OF MIR. Bro
sius's letter were sent out.
"Returning now, in further reply to
yours of the 18th inst. / not with
pleasure your desire not to wish to eIag-
gerate any OF the evils in the admins
tration of the Indian Bureau, and beg to
state that the grave Irregularities on the
part of officials appointed by the Govern
ment.' with which you seem to nave been
impressed by the report made to you by
Mr. Brosius, have for months past had
my personal attention. thus anticipating
your courteous request that the subject
may be officially investigated.
INVESTIGATION UNDER WAY.
This investigation was made by me
while on a visit to the Indian Territory in
May, as the result of which certain re-
novals from office by dismissal and en-
forced resignation resulted, and upon my
return here amended rules and regula.
tions were prepared and issued on July 10
the purpose of which was to more fully
protect the Creek Indians in the matter OF
sales of their land by a proper notice ana
the requirement of sealed bids. by which
such satisfactory results have been accom-
plished in the matter of the sale Of inner
tied lands in other reservations through
out the country, none of the original deeds
for the sale of the lands under the ff1her-
tied act nor of lands in the Creek Nation:
having been up to that time, nor since, ap-
proved.
"On the contrary. In the matter of sale
OF inherited land under the seaied-bid or
der 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 accompanying
checks. amounting to more than S36S.0OO,
thus showing th't in the matter OF on
cial irregularities and the adoption OF said
regulations. the interests of the Indians
have not been neglected by the depart
ment, as Is indirectly charged by Mr..
Brosius. whose report l do not care to
further discuss. because the accusations
therein contained are to receive full and
rigid investigation.
They have been promptly denied and
such investigation demanded by the MEM
bers of the Dawes Commission and In
spector Wright. who are. OF course. en-
titled TO be presumed innocent in the
meantime.
WILLING TO ACT.
This department is. and always has
been. more than ready and willing to ac-
cept the assistance of your association in
ascertaining and rectifying any irregu
larities 1t may discover and believe to ex-
iSt, when properly presented and sub
stantiated, and Is always glad to do any
thing toward the betterment. in all re-
spects OF the Indian wards Of the Gov
erIenent.
proper methods OF procedure. and think
that 1t was not justiflable. but discourte-
Gus to me and unfair TO them. to publish