Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-03-07
Report on Indian Territory
Land Speculation.
UNDESIRABLE ACTS
IT WAS NOT FOUND THAT ANY
FRAUD WAS PERPETRATED.
Messers. Bonaparte and Woodruff Be-
ieve That Commissioners Showed
Error Of Judgment.

the public service in Indian territory was
made public by the Secretary of the In
terior this afternoon. The two gentlemen
were appointed a special commission to
investigate the charges of official misdoings
made by Mr. 8. M. Brosit,s. an agent Of
the Indian Rights Association. with the
approval of Mr. Phillip C. Garrett, presi-
dent of the association, and involved a
number, of officials Of the government.
among whom were the members Of the
Dawes commission.
The report of Messrs. Bonaparte and
Woodruff which has been under prepara-
ton for several months past gives COM
plete summary of the conditions that exist
in the territory at the present time and the
conditions which led to the filing OF
charges against the public officials there.
The commission found: .
The allegations of Mr.. Brosius respecting
the ownership of stock in corporations doing
business in Indian territory by three mem
bers of the commission of the five civilized
tribes (the Dawes commission and other
federal officers were shown to be accurate.
None of the corporations mentioned Dy
him were shown to deal in lands to which
the Indian title has not been extingulShed,
with the exception of the Canadian valley
Trust Company. which is admitted to De
the holder of small number of leases as
collaterals for loans. This corporation oc-
cupies offices formerly rented by the COM
mission and was connected with the present
0n1ceS OF the COMMISSION ny d spiral
case. which has since been done away with.
officials Held Stock.
Mr. Tams Bixby. one Of the commission
ers was identified strongly with this cor
poration. Messrs. Bonaparte and Wood
ruff hold that he should sever his connec-
ton either with the trust company or the
government, although they have found
nothing that will in any way reflect on the
integrity of Mr.. Bixby as commissioner.
Commissioner Needles and Indian In
spector George Wright, who were charged
with being interested in the trust COM
panies, were found to have held small
portion of stock each in these corpora
tons and to have disposed of the holdings
prior to the investigation. The 1nvesti-
gators found nothing wrong in these facts
except that they believe it was an error
of judgment on the part of both of the gen.
tlemen to become identified with the COM
panies in any way.
Commissioner Needles is said to be pos
sessed of some of the stock at present, and
the investigators suggest that he be given
an intimation of the propriety of disposing
of the same.
Commissioner Breckenridge held a consid-
cradle quantity of the stock of the trust
that much of 1t had been purchased by
money belonging to his wife or his w1fe's
relatives at their suggestion.
1.-THE Investigators cheerfully acquit Com
Walton from official propriety, but find that
his considerable investments in the stock
of the corporations such those described
has seriously impaired his public useful
ness.
Eminently Undesirable.
Mr.. A. L. Aylesworth. chief clerk of the
commission, and Mr.. H. V. v. Smith, dis
bursting agent. were identified in the public
mind with supposed speculations in real
estate to an extent out of proportion to
their apparent means. and which has led
to conjectures that they were acting in
some measure at least, as agents for other
person or persons. and 1t has been sug-
gested that Mr.. Bixby may have been in
terested in their investments.
1t is fair, the Investigators state, to call
attention to the explicit testimony Of all
three on this subject. entering general de-
Eials of wrongdoing, and that no other
proof was discovered establishing the con-
nection intimated 1t is found, neverthe-
less, that investments for purposes of
speculation within Indian territory by fed
eral officials are eminently undesirable
under existing circumstances.
The Conclusions.
The more important conclusions and
recommendations contained in the report
may be summarized as follows:
Il. The report of Mr.. Brosius contains a
number Of limitations and suggestions
not justified by the facts 1t in no wise
exaggerates. however Con the contrary,
1t rather understates), the Objectionable
features of the administration of public
affairs in the territory. and its specific
allegations respecting federal officials are
substantially true.
z. The various charges of misconduct or
dereliction in duty preferred against diff
ferent federal officers in the territory other
wise than in the report of Mr.. Brosus are
for the most part, unfOunded, and these