The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-10-12
Chairmanof Dawes Com
mission Due to Ar
rive Tomorrow.
SOME POINTED QUERIES
Explanation Wanted of Con-
nection With Trust Com
pany Affairs.

Tams Bixby. chairman of the Dawes
commission; president Of the Canadian
Valley Trust Company, Of Muskogee.
Indian Territory. and also director in
the Muskogee Title and Trust of AIusko-
gee. Indian Territory. is expected to
arrive in the city tomorrow from the
Indian Territory. in response to a teIe-
gram from the Secretary OF the In
terror.
AS chairman of the Dawes sscommissio
ii is Mr.. Bixby's duty 70 superintend a
fair and impartial allotment of the lands
in the Indian Territory to the Indians
OF that Territory. and to pass on the
citizenship Of the Indians.
The trust company Of which Mr.. Blk
by is president has the right. among
other things. to loan money upon real
estate. personal property. and other Sc
curities; 70 buy, rent, sell, and lease and
mortgage real estate; to build houses
and other structures thereon and other
wise improve these properties 1t also
has the right to own stock in other
trust companies.
Every Member Concerned
Charges have been made 70 the Sec
retary Of the Interior that every mem
her of the Dawes commission holds
stock in one or more OF the companies
engaged in dealing in Indian lands and
that these companies were organized
principally TO secure leases of the lands
at ridiculously low prices. II was be-
cause of these charges. and others Of
minor importance. that Charles J. Bon
aparte was selected by the President to
investigate conditions in the Territory
and learn how the commission was do
ing its work. Among the allegations Is
one that the commission has purposely
delayed the work Of allotment in order
that its member might drItw salaries
for an indefinite sirne
Mr.. Bixby and the other members Of
the commission are said TO have writ
ten letters to the Secretary Of the In
terror in which they explicitly deny the
charges against them and ask that the
letters be published The Secretary has
declined so far to make the communica-
tions public. holding that Mr.. Bonaparte
is now in entire control Of the case in ali
of its bearings and all news must come
from him.
Leading Questions Ready.
There are a number OF questions of
great interest to those concerning the
Investigations or in the business deals
OF the commission which Mr.. Bixby will
be requested 10 answer when he comes
to the city and the answers are eagerly
awaited. Among these questions are:
How much money did the town OF
Vinita. in the Cherokee Nation, Indian
Territory, have TO put up 70 secure the
establishment Of the land Office at that
place from January l, 1903, to May l,
1892?
How much money did the town Of
Tahlequah. Cherokee Nation. Indian
Territory. put up 10 secure the estab-
lishment Of the land Office at that place
after May l. 1903?
Did the members Of the Dawes com
mission confer with the Secretary Of the
Interior as TO the advisabnity Of their
becoming interested in land and trust
companies in the Indian Territory, for
the purpose of dealing in lands and per-
sOnal property?
How many trust companies, TO your
knowledge, are at present engaged in
buying, renting, and leasing lands in the
Indian Territory?
How do the agents OF these trust com
pan.es manage to secure leases from the
Indians?
Is 1t true that agents of the trust com
panies bring the Indians 10 the land
office in large numbers and are sue
cessful in having them file on lands
without any serious delay?
What means has the Dawes commits
sion adopted for ascertaining whether
the Indians who make application 20
file on lands have any legal or rightful
claim to the improvements thereon2
How long. ia your ,opinion. will Il
take the Dawes commission to complete
the allotmcnts OF lands in the Indian
Territory?
Expenditures of the Board.
What is the average monthly expendi-
ture of the Dawes commission?
How much real estate do you own per-
sonally in the Indian Territory?
How many leases have the trust COM
panies in which you are interested In
the Indian Territory?
How many mortgages have these trust
companies in the Indian Territory?