The Vinita weekly chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1905, 1904-06-02
BIG REPORT TO
CHIEF ROGERS
TOwnslte Investigating Com
mIttee Finishes its Ar
duous LabOrs.

The commission which was appoint
ed to investigate the records OF I. A.
Chandler who was the last townsite
commissioner Of the Cherokee nation
under tribal laws has submitted It's
report which is now in the hands OF
the chief and II appears that thereare
70 be some sensational developments
In the case.
Under tribal laws there was town
site commissioner who had charge oil
the sale of all town lots for the nation.
He was appointed by the tribal au,
thorities and it was his duties to sell
lots for the tribe and conduct all busi-
ness relative thereto for which he re-
ceiyed 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.
7. A. Chandler was appointed town
site commissioner In 1896 and served
until 1898 when the Curtis act passed
and the tribal authority over town.
sites ceased, and the government took
charge Of the townsite business, the
proceeds still going TO the nation.
When Mr.. Chandler's term Of oiiice
expired he failed TO turn over the
books In his ofiice Chief Rogers says
that that there was general law
which required ali officials TO turn In
the records OF the nation TO the oiiice
OF the principal chief. Mr.. Chandler
did not turn the records OF sales OF
town lots In TO the Office, neither did
he file a final report showing the
amount Of money received and turned
over, Previous TO this time there had
been some scandals along the line OF
sales OF town lots, and about that time
there began 10 be rumors about MT
Chandler not making report.
Matters drifted along this way until
a year ago when the Cherokee council
passed an act appropriatlng $3.50 TO
investigate the records and make a
report on Chandler's record. No one
z would do the work for that amount
d and at the last session Of the council
$500 was appropriated and the secre
tary OF the interior was asked TO ap
y point a man. The tribe appolntee
Joe LaHay OF Claremore, and g. G
McCoIn was appointed by the govern
ment. They went 70 work. The frs
4 thing was to get hold Of the records
4 still in Chambers possession. Tn
commission demanded the books an'
they we're turned over. Chandler max
l Ing the statement that he had refuses
10 give up the books because the
might fall into the hands Of his enc
mics. one Of these books was fouu
IN possession Of d. N. Marrs, editoro
the Ninita Chieftain
IL The records involved the sales Of 9
town lots In three years IN the follow
S ing towns: Oolagah, Pryor Creel
II Adalr, Claremore, Alton, Nowata,T II
lala. Chelsea, Catoosa, Tahlequal
Z Bluejaeket, Chouteau and Vinitl
e When the government townsite con
mission went 70 work these recon-
we're absolutely necessary In makif
up the records but they could not
had until the order for investigate
, was made. II o. Bland Of the tow
site commission was here today at
~ secured the record Of Fort Gibson.
Tie report Of tie commission is
yolnmlnous one and covers ~ pages
~ type written matter Joe Laliay-
member Of the commission, stated
day that their report was a brief
%,,ss % tile records and that they had mere
aim made a statement Of facts as tn
found from the records and had 4
made any recommendation 10 [
ON chief The report was delivered to {
chief this morning and he has il
az der adyisement. lie has only go
through part Of II and will not q
out what Il contains, but Il Is evide
II. that he believes there is sufficient 9
al dence 20 cause some action 20 be tai
As he stated that he would turn
ton report over TO the national attori
isesi A once aud ask for an opinion as
lch, what 20 dc
uls e There can be 10 criminal prose
Iw ton against Chandler, even the rep
might recommend It. as the statnti
limitation has run II the chief
right and there is something VI
with the records aud the proper
Op cunt Of money has not been tur
over 70 the nation, or If lots have
been properly decided. the bond Of
Chandler will be responsible.
As lots were sold then, one-tl
vas paid IN cash and the balance
No. two equal annual payments IN
commissions that proceeded him It
freeix stated that many lots OH VI