The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1903-08-22
HITCHCOCK FORCED TO ACT ON
LAND FRAUDS.
Alleged Crookedness of High Gov
eminent Officials.

The special Washington correspondent OF
the Philadelphia Ledger, says:
Secretary Hitchcock is preparing to InVes-
tigate the charges that President BlXby, OF
the Dawes Commission, and other high ON.
cials in the Indian Territory were interested
in land companies which bought Indian lands,
and that many of the companies fraudulently
obtained the lands at prices far below their
real value.
Mr.. Brosius, agent of the Indian Rights
Association. made the charges, and will insist
on thorough investigation. Mr.. Broslus has
gone to Indian Territory to make further IN
quiry on his own account.
Scott Smith, private secretary to Secretary
Hitchcock. said that the charges were made
bv Mr. BrOsius several months ago.
1t is believed that Secretary Hitchcock has
only awakened to the necessity of doing some
thing hy the fact that the truth as to the
frauds IN the Indian Territory has been taken
directly to the President by outsiders, and the
President has called the Secretary 5 at ention
to the force of the charges and the imperative
duty of sitting them to the bottom. \ year
ago the President employed DIR. George Bird
Grinuei &c make Investigations IN Indian
matters independently and report directly to
the President. Dr. GrinnelI spent several
months in Indian Territory investigating the
frauds which have just come 10 light and others
as bad, but he seems not to have been able To
get al the real state of affairs there.
There IS apprehension in the Indian Ofhce
aud the Interior Department that the STIR that
has been aroused over the Indian Territory
land frauds will lead TO general investigation.
MIR. smith said the Department had received
similar complaints tor mouths and knew ot
the specific instances Of alleged traud cited
by Mr. Brosius. No public statements were
made, but the Indian Office and the Interior
Department went to work 70 aud cut the facts,
and had been working ln-su,inousiy ou the
charges ever since.
Mr. smith also sajd that from time 20 time,
a. the disclosures y-sse made known 20 Secre-
tarv Hitchcock he facts "a each case we're
turned over 20 the Department ot Justice aud
the criminal Prosecution ui the accused per.
son, recommended. ThIs far uu suits bave
been b-ullai, and the facts ia the particular
cases nave been kept from the public.
This seems TO be accounted for by the fact
that certain officials Of the Departmel of jus
tfce are implicated IN the charges, aud. indeed,
ale AT Que and the same time the persons 90
prosecute and to be prosecuted. Secretary
smith stated that the Interior Department ~as
making reasonable progress with the matter
There b, grave doubt of the precise accuracy
oi this view &c the matter. Mr.. Brs>lJs Who
is "a conscientious and faithful yrpr->s staiige
uf thr phi.autbr0pical society WHICH employs
him. j. nos persona EratA either 81. -Ac Indian
Ofiics or With Secretary HHghgysk He has
too often discovered cr.nkrGl.ss % iEdiau
aHairs. aad done his be>i 20 protect the Ia
dJals aud prevent their hEiug robbed by Gov
eminent officials la5nH COMMISSIONS Jones
sHi Secretary Htougerk haye sn' iuri 60
J.ug-a their ishkss! BrlsiB,, ard b. u8.r4sa
rp th, public and 90 lhr President a.s si..-
iu.nrs ru g.Esg.i Geo what hs- ra-H Ev.nz a..