Evening star., 1903-08-17

was organized February "a, 1893, and Is au-
thorized to transact general banking busi-
ness, and in addition may buy, sell ana
lease lands and buy and sell stocks ana
bonds of other corporations etc. Tams
Bixby, chairman Of the Dawes commission.
is stockholder and vice president of the
concern. ]. George Wright. Indian inspect
or in charge of the Indian territory, IS one
of the directors.
"The Canadian Valley Trust Company of
Muskogee, Indian territory, was organized
February %. 1903, and is authorized by Its
charter to buy. rent sell, lease and mort.
gage real estate and conduct a general
banking business. Tams Bixby Is stock
holder and president of this trust company.
G. w. Hopkins, chief law clerk for the
Dawes commission. resigned that post, 1t is
stated, to accept an important position with
this company. as also P. G. Reuter-. clerk
in charge Of the land Office under the COM
mission.
High officials Involved, Too
1.-THE International Bank and Trust Com
pany, organized February 4, 1903, with its
main Office at Vinita. I. T., has the same
general powers to buy sell and mortgage
real estate and personal property Thomas
B. Needles a member of the Dawes COM
mission, is vice president and director of
this company. Charles A. Davidson, clerk
of the United States court, Vinita, l. T., is
also a director. James H. Hucklebery, as
sistant United States attorney northern dis
trict Indian territory. is stated to be attor-
ney for this trust company and James H
Hdcklebery, jr, is given as one of the stock
holders in q prospectus issued by the same
company.
&c r. Breckinridge a member of the
Dawes commission, is also credited with be-
ing interested as Stockholder, either d.
rectly or indirectly, in the Eufaula Trust
Company Eufala, Indian territory.
"Tams Bixby is understood to have been
owner of real estate in various sections of
no Tpdf farritorv-EOrf Gibson Ia
quah, TishomingO and Sulphur Springs
among the others.
''P. L. Soper, United States district attor-
ney, in addition to being stockholder in
the Tribal Development Company, as al
ready shown, is stated to be a stockholder
| in and attorney for the Cherokee Oil and
Gas Company, which is operating in the
Indian territory, with original charter
rights granted in Arkansas; he is also
stated to be general counsel for the st.
Louis and San Francisco Railroad Company
for the Indian territory, whose interests
frequently conflict with those of the Indian.
..There are rumors aioat to the effect that
federal officers in the Indian territory are
financially interested in other transactions
that would seem to preclude them from re-
tanning their positions under the Indian de-
partment. With the information in pos
session Of the various officers of the gov
ernment employed in the Indian territory
It is clear that they possess a great ad-
vantage over others in pressing any busi-
ness with which they may have an interest
either through a trust company other
wise. The prestige they have with the In
dams and others. by reason of their official
relations, is very important"
Commissioner Jones' Views.
On being shown the report of Mr.. Bro
sius Mr.. William A. Jones, commissioner
in charge of the Indian bureau. stated:
'It is impossible for any government
official connected with land company
dealing in Indian lands to be entirely inn
partial in his decisions when he is deciding
questions which may affect his own well
fare. l do not think that any of the off,
cials whose names appear as stockholders
or directors in the Indian territory land
companies have any intention of acting
dishonesty, but must say that think 1t
themselves to be connected with COM
panies.''