Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-08-28
Commissioner Stanley Anx-
ious for Investigation
IN INDIAN TERRITORY
EVERY ONE READY TO FACE
THEIR ACCUSERS
Breckenridge is in Canada-Hitchcock
Looking for Right Man to
Ascertain Truth.

the Dawes commission In returning to M US
kogec /. T., In compliance with the order
of Secretary Hitchcock recalling them from
their leaves of absence in order TO have
them answer the charges that have been
made against them and to assist in the In
vestigation of the land scandals.
Commissioners Bixby and Needles cum
municated with the Secretary yesterday,
and Commissioner Stanley. former governor
of Kansas. and the newest member of the
commission. notified the Secretary of his
arrival in Muskogee this morning. In his
dispatch to the department Governor Stan
ley states:
"MUSKOGEE, l. T. August 81.
Have just arrived from Tishomngo to
attend meeting of the commission L join
in the request of Commissioners Bxby and
Needles for a thorough investigation.
STANLEY"
Specific charges have been made against
GCv. Stanley, against other members of
the commission, and the dispatch received
from him indicates that he will fight the
charges. Commissioner Breckenridge. the
other member of the commission. is in Can
ada. and could not be reached easily
the other commissioners. who were spend
ing their leaves of absence near the scene
of their labors. He has been notified to
pair Immediately to Muskogee. however.
and II is possible that he will be heard
eight hours.
Opportunity to Clear Themselves.
Secretary Hitchcock intends to give the
members of the commission and the other
officials of the territory against whom
charges have been made every opportunity
to clear themselves of any faint. At the
same time the investigation IF the scandal
that has been uncovered will be pushed
fearlessly by the department.. and whoever
is found to be guilty or tainted with the
least suspicion will be summarily dealt
with Secretary Hitchcock will tolerate
halfway measures in the investigation, and
intends that there shall not be the slightest
stain on any person who is continued in the
service of the department..
He was very indignant this morning be-
cause of statement attributed to him in
which was explained the condition of af-
fairs in the territory and the extent of the
frauds that have been uncovered For sew
eral days past Secretary Hitchcock has
been considering the ACCESSIBILITY of max
ing a statement of this character, but has
RETAINED from giving ii out until ne hears
from President Philip C. Garrett of the
Indian Rights Association.
As the statement is in measure, reply
o. the Secretary to the charges brought by
Agent Brosius of this organization in a re-
port to President Garrett, Mr. Hitchcock
states that he would consider 1t dscourte-
Gus of him to make any statement until he
has given Mr.. Garrett an opportunity to
state whether or not he authorized the pub
LEGATION of the charges. In fact the Sec
retary's action In sending to MIR. Garrett at
all would preclude his making any state
ment until he had received some sort of
a reply. for, while the letter to Mr. Car
rett was not made public. 1t is learned.
nevertheless, that Secretary Hitchcock
wrote 1t for the purpose of drawing Mr.
Garretts attention to the seeming slight
mat mad been put upon the department by
the publication of the charges before the
no
consider them In the formal manner that
is the practice in every government depart
ment. Consequently 1t would not be proper
Tor the Secretary to do the same thing
himself which he would do if he author
lied any statement whatever
Has Freely Discussed Situation.
During the past two or three days Secre-
tary Hitchcock has freely discussed the
situation with such of the newspaper writ
ers as have visited him. and he has ex-
planned the condition of things at length.
1t was from information gained at such
conversation. 1t is said that the statement
of the scandal which appeared in the NOM
ing papers was compiled and it was never
intended to be given as an official and tor
NAL statement from Secretary Hitchcock
Not the slightest intimation can be
CLEANED at the department TO the prob
able identity Of the person to be selected
by the Secretary to finish up the investiga-
ton that was commenced by him in The
spring and to make such other inquiries as
might he found advisable under the condi-
tions that exist. The Secretary believes
that the inquiry he made al the time of lbs
visit was of a searching character, but re
has not the time to devote to this matter
personally nor does he believe that all that
lies under the surface can be bought ont
by department official
1t Is his desire to select a person who
can be depended upon to report things as
they are and his object in sending such a
Al c<irfa tod frNy,
quire into conditions is to make the in
NeStisatiOn still more searching still more
diSintereSted. and to give the finding more
complete credence with the public at large.
The Secretary's Instructions
The Secretary instructions to this agent,
when secured, will be to go into all phases
OF the question without favoritism on the
one hand or fear of public clamor on the
other. He takes the position that while it
Us necessary and right to protect the In
dams il is neither necessary nor right to
punish innocent officials.
In this spirit until very recently he has
refrained from any especial inquiry into the
Charges made against the members of the
sDdweS commission. Two of them were alb
lnual leaves when charges were maue by the
INDIAN Rights Association and they were
allowed to remain away for time. They,
iowever. now have been recalled to their
posts for the purpose of meeting the criti-
cisms published against them. The Score
tary also speaks of Indian Inspector
fAFright. who has been placed in especial au-
,thority in the territory, as man who las
pbeen trusted employe of the government
for the past twenty years. but he like all
Others. will be expected to give his atten-
tonsto the inquiry
Comment on "Grafters.
The Secretary realizes that while there
may be shortcomings on the part of some
tof the government officials. there are on
tthe other hand many men not employed
fby the government who have grievances
kagainst these same officials and are dis
posed to make all the trouble for them
They can. These men he designates as
k'grafters." and the feeling in the depart
ment is that any official who may oppose
5dheir designs Is certain to be made the
subject of the harshest censure by them.
The Secretary announces his determination
/ TO protect officials who doing the r duty
sRgainst the schemes of all such people.
Several officials who already have been
, detected In questionable transactions have
been summarily dismissed. while the resig-
nations of others have been requested.
THE Secretary takes the position that 1t
does not promote the public interest to
publish the names OF smissed officials.
These dismissals and others occurred be-
fore the Indian Rights Association had
called attention to Irregularities In the ter
and nf thnrx, he