The Vinita daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1913, 1904-05-28
BIG REPORT TO
CHIEF ROGERS
JOwnsite Investigating Com
mittee Finishes its Ar
duOus LabOrs.
TahIeauah, /. ~. May 2

The commission which was appoint
"a to Investigate the records Of T.. A..
MChandler who was the last townsite
commissioner Of the Cherokee nation
Munder tribal laws has submitted its
rep0rt which is now in the hands Of
Mthe chief and it appears that thereare
Mo be some sensational developments
n the case.
W Under tribal laws there was town
site commissioner who had charge Of
the sale Of all town lots for the nation.
He was appointed by the tribal au-
thorities and it was his duties to sell
4 lots for the tribe and conduct all busi-
Y ness relative thereto for which he re-
/ tNived 20 per cent Of the money re-
ceiYed for the lots. The lots were sold
at auction to the highest bidder and
there were two sales conducted at
each town per year.
1 4. A. Chandler was appointed town
site commissioner In 1895 and served
Iuntil 1898 when the Curtis act passed
~ and the tribal authority over town.
asites ceased, and the government took
lcharge Of the townsitc business, the
proceeds still going to the nation.
lWhen Mr.. Chambers term Of Office
Expired he failed to turn over the
Books IN his Office Chief Rogers says
tthat that there was general law
(which required ali officials to turn in
e he records Of the nation to the Office
W the principal chief. Mr. Chandler
hiid not turn the records Of sales Of
M Va lots In to the Office, neither did
ie file a final report showing the
mount OF money received and turned
yer Previous to this time there had
ZEN some scandals along the line Of
ales Of town lots, and about that time
here began to be rumors about MF.
handler not making report.
Matters drifted along this way until
year ago when the Cherokee council
sed an act appropriatlng $3.50 to
lyestigate the records and make a
eport on Chambers record. No one
gould do the work for that amount
Md at the last session Of the council
500 was appropriated and the secre-
arg Of the interior was asked to ap-
Ioint man. The tribe appointed
Sc LaHay, Of Claremore, and G. c.
IcColn was appointed by the govern
NNaent. They went To work. The first
Fhlng was TO get hold Of the records,
Wtfl in Chandlers possession. The
Mommission demanded the books and
hey we're turned over Chandler maxi
n be the statement that he had refused
Mo give up the books because they
Aght fan into the hands Of his enc
NhieS. One Of these books was found
a. possession Of ID. N. Mars, editorof
ne Vinira Chieftain
The records involved the sales OF an
1own lots IN three years in the follow
ng towns: Oolagah. Pryor Creek,
EAdair, Claremore, Alton, Nowata, Ta-
#Ala, Chelsea, Catcosa, TahleQuah,
$3luejacket, Chouteau and Vinita.
SWhen the government townsite COM
Emission went TO work these records
Iwere absolutely necessary in making
Mp the records but they could not be
Nhad until the order for investigation
was made. II. o. Bland Of the town
Nsite commission was here today and
kecnred the record Of Fort Gibson.
The report Of the commission is
solnminous one and covers 20 pages Of
ype written matter. Joe LaHay, a
nember Of the commission, stated to-
Fiay that their report was a brief Of
ae records and that they had merely
ade a statement Of facts as they
found from the records and had not
ade any recommendation to the
shief. The report was delivered TO the
Nehief this morning and he has It un-
her advisement. He has only gone
hrough a part Of it and viii not give
ut what Il contains, but it is evident
iat lie believes there is sufficient evi-
8ence TO cause some action to be taken
s he stated that he would turn the
report over to the national attorney
at once and ask for an opinion as to
shat to do.
There can be no criminal prosecu-
tlon against Chandler, even the report
might recommend it, as the statute Of
imitation has run. II the chief is
rieht and there is something wrong
with the records and the proper am
cunt Of money has not been turned