The Vinita daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1913, 1904-02-13

Scissoreo ano Otherwise
ATTORNEY GENERAL KNox's REPORT

In giving out his statement regarding the department
Of justice inspector resports Attorney General Knox pre-
faced it with considerable information which is not new
to our people That it took House resolution to bring
forth the evidence sought to be regretted but it
brought it, as the South McAester court people have
so learned to their sorrow The communication from
which the following is an extract report to the
president, and states:
"The charges prepared by Mr. Brosius taken up
by the newspapers and great stir created about the
heads Of the district attorneys assistant district attor-
neys and marshals whose behavior called into ques
ton The impression sought to be created that the
Indians we're robbed right and left of their lands by land
companies, and that several officials were prominent
among the promoters and stockholders Of said companies
The inspector who Investigated these assertions state
that several Of the companies organized for banking and
dealing in lands exist Indian Territory and it seems
clear that the practices of Of these companies are
at least unfair to the ignorant Indians with whom they
deal 1t is also clear that Of the officials Of this
department above referred to had given occasion for the
suspicion that they connected with land companies
1t was not enough however, to find that some OF the
companies taking advantage OF the Indians, but
that the officials connected with such companies had
knowledge of such details Of the business During the
progress Of the investigation Deputy Marshal j. c. Rog
ers and Constable H. L. Rogers of the Northern district
were removed from office, and Deputy Clerk r. D. Owen
was requested to resign
Taking Mr. Sopers statement to be true in my judg-
ment he ought not to have lent his to and have
become personally interested he admits he did in the
organization and conduct of the Tishomngo Tribal De-
yelopment Company the obvious purpose of which he
must have know to be make money out Of Indian lands
by leasing from the Indians at low rate and subettng
at higher rate He ought to have known that if % per
cent profit was expected no limitation was placed upon
the profit.
As vice president and legal adviser Of the company he
can be presumed to have known that the supposed reason
able rent to the Indians was calculated upon the
bitrary valuation made for convenience by the Dawes
Commission showing less than onefh Of the value Of
the lands Again Mr. sopers conduct when this matter
was first inquired into by the newspapers and when
he says an investigation by the Interior Department
was anticipated not in his favor However the con
nection of this questionable business with his Office
duties in another district is vague and remote and
therefore copfne myself saying that the investigations
developed no new facts contradictory the principal
admitted by him. think Mr.. Soper is clearly censur-
able for urging public reasons upon the Dawes Commis
sion to accomplish questionable end for client, Mr.
Ross In view Of these facts am not prepared to recon-
mend the removal Of MI soper from Office nor can
recommend any action adverse Assistant District At
torney Hucldeberry