The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1903-08-27
DAWES COMMISSION EXPENSES

Editorially. the Kansas City Jour
nal which is taking much stock in
indian Territory affairs Of late. says:
The grand jury. when it takes up
the investigation at MuskOgee Of In.
dian Territory scandals. might begin
with the expense account Of the
Dawes commission. This IS a little
matter which amounted only to S27s.-
s22.4s last year and is therefore tri-
vial in comparison with the gigantic
land and loan operations In the ter
rltory, which are now passing under
the condemnation OF the people Of
the United States But this Insight
acancy affords an excellent oppOrtun-
ity. which. through district attorneys
like soper and Mccoy. on account Of
engrossment IN private busi-
ness. might not be able 10 use.
yet an energetic and impartial Grim
lnal prosecutor Of the Folk type
would employ to the complete discom.
hture Of all guilty parties. Mr. Folk.
when he has been unable to convict
upon more serious charges, has SINE
times found Il easy to bring a rascal
70 justice by trying him for some
minor offense- the reason being TAT
defendant occupisd with a big
graft or fraud, invariably neglects 40
cover his tracks in little matters
II would, Of course. be rank libel
70 accuse any member Of the Dawes
commission who is involved in lsni
deals, amounting TO hundreds Of
thousands Of dollars. with palting
his expense account or stealing a
2-cent stamp from the government:
yet nevertheless there may be censur.
able inadyertences on the part Of
some subaltern in confounding pri
vate and public expenditures. To s.
lusirate: The entire Dawes com
mission. Il Il alleged. spends more
time and thought on affairs Of loan
companies than upon its Official du-
ties As business men the members
are charged with trying 10 ge' hands
on the land and moneys whica as on
cials Of the government they are
sworn 20 protect from the greed Of
private individuals. These compan-
les and the commission therefore
deal with the same subject matters
although, II is true, for absolutely
differently purposes The headquar-
ters Of all concerns are in the same
cities. and often in the same buili
ings. SO these allied though conflict
ing businesses might possibly confuse
their separate accounts.
Mr. BIxby and his associates. as
commissioners report the item Of sal
aries for clerks and employees last
year al s1S2.s75.42 Are they sure
that some clerk out Of gratitude for
appointment has not rendered free
services 70 their land grabbing com
panies? They report also Sl1.645.73
for purchases Of typewriters and feath-
er busters. etc. Can they snow that
none Of these supplies have been used
in the rooms which these land-grab-
bing companies occupy. Freight and
express charges were Si,73S13;
printing. binding and stationery, 81
705.57: telegraphipg and telephoning.
s54s.ss; livery hire and ferryage.
s553.33. typewriter repaira, etc, a.
0s309; Office expenses, ice. soap fuel,
oil. axle grease. ETC. s1,315.61. and
miscellaneous expenses, n,O53.3O.
Are the four members OF the Dawes
commission quite sure that not a dol
lar Of this money has been diverted
by some careless clerk 10 illegitimate
uses? A master who cannot distin-
guish between his private interests
and public duties sets a bad example
to his book-keeper and other en-
ployes.
There also is an item in last years
account OF s1O.791.27 for mileage and
travelling expenses. No commission,
OF course. who rides on a railroad
pass would draw money from the
government for transportation, but
some careless clerk either of the com.
mission or the companies might. So
ii would be well for the investigators
and prosecutors 70 get TO work before
everybody resigns from Office in In
dian Territory.