The sun., 1904-05-30
$4,000 FOR LEGAL SERVICES.
EX-CONGRESSMAN OGRADY ONE
or THE BENEFICIARIES.

The Item Slipped Into the Indian Appro-
priation BiIl When II Was In Conference
The services Alleged TO Have Been
Rendered to the Turtle Indians.
WASHINGTON, May 29.--On July I next :,
when the funds under the last Appropria-
tion bill become available, there will be
placed to the credit of James NJ. f. O'Grady
of Rochester and Charles j. Maddux,
jointly, the sum of $4,000 in connection
with some alleged services rendered by
them on behalf of the Turtle Mountain
band Of Chippewa Indians. just how his
amount came to be donated to O'Grady
and Maddux might be an interesting story
il the truth of it could be learned, but off,
cials at the Indian Bureau profess to know
little or nothing about it,
When the Indian Appropriation bill was
presented In the House by Representative
Sherman of New York it contained no pro-
vision relating to the treaty with the Turtle
Mountain band, and no amendment relat-
ing to their treaty was added to the measure
as it passed the House. The Senate added
provisions amending in certain respects
the agreement with the Turtle Indians,
and providing that the same should become
effective only when formally accepted by
the Indians. The amendment provided
for an appropriation of $1,OO0,00 to carry
out the provisions Of the agreement. The
House disagreed to the amendment when
the bill was returned, and this amend
ment, along with others, went TO conference.
In conference an entirely new proviso was
added to the Senate amendment. II reads
THAT the Secretary Of the Treasury
be and he is hereby authorized and d
rected to withhold from the amount herein
appropriated. and pay TO the attorneys
who have represented said Indians, he fol-
lowing amounts, namely: James NJ. +.
O'Grady and Charles j. Maddux, jointly,
the sum of 81. 900. and to william W. Ander-
son the sum Of 3s.OOO, which sums shall he
accepted by them respectively in full pay
ment for all services rendered TO said
Indians by them or by those claiming under
them"
Who offered the provso it is not possible
to ascertain now, but it is said that it was
offered by Representative Sherman, There
were several hearings upon the matter,
at which ex-Representative O'Grady was
present, and another attorney whose
name is not of record. alleged that he had
also rendered services in behalf of the
Turtles and that he had done so prior to
the appearance of OCrady and Maddux.
1t is said that an agreement was reached
whereby O'Grady and Maddux consented
to make a certain payment to the other
attorney in the event that the proviso to
pay them S42 900 for their services became
a law.
When the conference report was taken
up in the House the proviso seemed formal
and regular enough, and no one having
raised any question concerning it, it went |
through along with the Senate amend !
ment. Practically the same occurred in |
the Senate.
Mr. O'Grady is a former member Of the !
House and was also Speaker of the New York |
Assembly. During his services here he |
was a warm personal friend of Representa-
tive Sherman Representative Littauer. Rep !
resentative vreeland and Judge Hooker. !
He finally had falling out with George W. |,
Aldridge of Rochester end was turned |
down for the denomination. and Repre-
sentative Perkins was chosen for his place.
Since that time O'Grady Is said to have
found it profitable to look after certain
matters. He succeeded in
permission from the Interior
Department to negotiate with the Turtle
Indians to represent them. and the con-
tract which he made with them was ar
proved by the Indian Office and the Secrc-
tary of the Interior, as provided under
the statute. The definite amount which
he was to receive is not stated in the con-
tract, but under the Indian Appropriation
bill it is to be $42, ,OOO.
The matter Of negotiating the agree
ment with the Indians was simple one,
begun about two years ago, and ore re-
quiring little service or attention: yet
OGrady and Maddux are to receive s42, 900
for it. They have not as yet submitted TO
the department their itemized statement,
as the law requires in such cases