The Vinita weekly chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1905, 1903-08-27
7STINGING
COMMENT
~
Territory Scandals
are Astounding
! to the Outside
! World

The Eastern press has taken up
the matter OF territorial scandals.
The comment OF the Public Led
ger, of Philadelphia, is as follows:
"The Brosius report Is sufiie.
iently explicit and condemnatory
TO demand the most searching In
vestigation by congress, redress
for the Indians who have been
over-reached aud robbed, and such
modification Of the laws as will
protect the Indian titles. The
present allotment system, IL ap.
pears, is too costly aud technical,
and delays and discourages the Sc
curing of titles by the Indians in
many instances. Flagrant wrongs
with respect to excessive land
holdings, now unlawful, are de.
scribed.
,tUnited States officials, 1t is
charged, are interested, directly
or indirectly, in the developing
companies, and some OF them are
commissioned as the special
guardians OF Indian interests. Mr..
Brosius says that with the infor-
nation in possession OF these of.
ficials, it is clear that they possess
decided advantage over others
10 pressing amy business in which
they may have an interest, either
through trust company or other
wise.
The New York Daily News has
this TO say:
SEAS though to fill in long
wait in the poslollice aud Littauer
Investigations, the Roosevelt ad.
ministration, ii is announced, will
present sensational land fcan-
dial involving members Of the
Dawes Indian comission, officials
of the department of justice and
other branches Of the government
service.
Especial Agent Brosius, Of tha
Indian Rights Association, who
has conducted the inquiry and
prepared bic report, finds thai
trust companies aud lsnd sharks
have been operating for long
time in the Indian Territory and
securing the lands of the indiana
by sharp practice.
"The array Of names Of officials
involved in Special Agent Brosius
charges Is mosl imposing. On
trust company has as its larges
stockholder. the internal revenue
inspector for the territory, and tol
vice president the United stalel
district attorney for the northern
district Of the territory. Another
has for slookholder and vice presi
dent Tams Bixby, chairman Of th'
Dawes commission; for direeto
AN Indian inspector who Is In ab
solule charge Of the territory
Chairman Bixby Is president o
another company, and Thomas B
Needles, another member OF th
commission, Is vice president an'
director. 4 clerk OF the Unite'
States court aud an assistan
United States attorney are aleI
connected with the company.
"Even Machen, with all his In
dustrious and persuasive ways
was never able to gather abou
him such a distinguished compan'
of government officials in his var
ious schemes for turning his posi-
tion into hard cash. PRACTICALLY
all The officials exposed by Spec
lei Agent Brosius are charge
with the special duty Of defendln
The Indians 10 their property an
privileges against unscrupulou
white men,
The Boston Herald speaks 9
follows: THE report made By !
NJ. Brosius Ia one that seems |
require prompt action by the as
ministration, for II indicates thl
an aggravated form Of graft
being operated in the territory
II eeeme 10 be another case sim