The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1904-03-09
USEFULNESS IMPAIRED.
Report on Irregularities of In
dian Commission.
Report Says That Chairman Of the
Commission, Chief Clerk and Dis
bursting Officer Have Been Engaged
In Speculations Dlscreditable to
the Officials.

bursting Officer Have Been Engaged
In speculations Discreditable to
the Officials.
Washington, March s. = The presi.
dent has transmitted to congress re-
port Of Charles ]. Bonaparte and Clin-
ton Rogers Woodruff in the matter Of
Irregularities in Indian Territory.
The president says: "In accordance
with the recommendation of Messrs.
Bonaparte and Woodruff, the members
of the commission to the five civilized
tribes have been informed that if they
are to continue in the service they
must cease all connection with bust
ness operations of any kind in the ter.
ritory where it is possible that their
official positions could be of any eff
feet upon their private business, even
though no such effect be in fact
shown.
What further action, if any, is to be
taken in regard to the commission or
any of its members by the executive
will be determined upon after full con
sultation with the secretary of the in
terror and careful consideration of all
the facts in the case.
1T will be noticed that the secretary
of the interior does not believe that it
would be possible, in accordance with
the suggestions Of Messrs. Bonaparte
and Woodruff. to close up the work of
the commission this year and discon-
tinue it accordingly. If it should be
found to be possible | would regard
this as desirable and call the attention
Of congress to the matter"
The report OF Mcssrs. Bonaparte and
Woodruff stigmatiZes the conditions in
the territory as involving Immediate
danger of ruin to the genuine Indian
population and profound discredit to
the United States, exciting reasonable
discomfort on the part of all classes Of
the population and demanding prompt
and drastic remedies on the part of
congress"
1t says that the connection of Tamas
Bixby chairman of the commission to
the five civilized tribes, with the Can
adian Valley Trust company impairs
his usefulness and his investments in
what arc known as "possessory rights
in town site lands are stamped as yet
more Objectionable.
The investments of Commissioner
Breckenridge of the same body are
stated to be of much graver import
ance and his considerable investments
in corporation stock, the report says,
have seriously impaired his public use
fulness.
A. T. Wylesworth, chief clerk of the
commission, and H. V. V. Smith, its
disbursing officer, the report says, are
identified in public opinion (but not
proved) with supposed real estate
speculations disproportionate to their
means, and the report says such spec
ulations should be strictly forbidden
and all officials engaged in them should
be separated from the service.
The report says the five tribes com
mission can be abolished with ad-
vantage, the remaining work to be
done by the Indian inspector and the
citizenship court.
The report is accompanied by let
ter from Secretary Hitchcock to the
president concurring as to the refer
ences to the federal officers and asking
for a conference with the president
regarding them at the earliest practic-
able moment and saying he will later
consider the proposed sweeping
changes in the organization and ad'
ministrative methods, which require
much new legislation and possibly the
negotiation of supplemental agree
ments with the Indians.