The Vinita weekly chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1905, 1904-03-10
bONAPARTE
| FINALLY REPORTS
Wants the Dawes Commission
Abolished Right Now.
PROMPT AND DRASTIC
Remedies. by Congress Needed
Says Conditions Here
Are Unfortunate and
Threaten Ruin to
All Interests.
PROMPT AND DRASTIC

In his report on the conditions in
The Indian Territory Charles J. Bona
parte recommends that the Dawes
commission be abolished and that the
remaining work Of allotment be in
trusted to an Indian Inspector and
the enrolment work to the citizen
ship court.
Mr. Bonaparte's report was sent TO
the house Monday by Secretary Hitch
rock. The investigation was made at
the direction OF President Roosevelt,
chiefly on account OF charges fled by
the Indian Rights association, that
members OF the Dawes commission and
other government officials Ia the In
N dian Territory were cooperating with
land aud trust companies IN which
they we're stockholders in defauding
the Indians Of their lands.
Mr.. Bonaparte holds that the owner
ship Of stock IN land companies i'm
pains the usefulness Of government
- eials and That If they are to retain
4 their connection with these compa-
4 nies they should not continue Ia Tie
. government service. Mr.. Bonaparte
found however that the charges Of
the IniIan Rights association con
tained many lntimatlons and sugges-
tions not justified by tile facts.
The report does not directly ccneure
|-any OF the members Of the Dawes
eommlssion for Irregularities In con-
nection with their Official conduct,
the chief criticism Of Mr. Bonaparte
bslRg directed al their ownership Of
stock IN trust companies, which, he
says, should not be permitted,
Mr Bonaparte was assisted IN the
investigation OF these charges BY
Clinton II. Woodruff, OF Philadelphia.
ltrhe report states that the allegations
OF the Indian Rights association IN no
wise exagerates the features Of the
administration Of public affairs in the
Indian Territory, and that many OF
It's specific allegations respecting fed.
eral officials are true. The report SAYS.
First The report Of Air. Broslus
contains a number Of lntimations and
suggestions not Justified by the facts
Il IN 10 wise exagerates, however on
the contrary, ii rather undertatesl !
the Objectionable features of the ad-
ministratlon of public Affairs IN the
territory, and is specific allegations
respecting federal officials are substan
TALLY true.
second. The various CHI IS Jf mis-
htonduet or derellction III duty pre-
1erred against different federal Officers
In the territory, otherwise than IN the
report Of Mr.. Brosious, are, for the
most part, unfounded, and these
charges. By whoms0eyer made, call for
no action on the part Of the depart
ment, except IN the cases Of Commits.
slouem -Bixby Breckenridge and
Needles and Mr. Aylesworth and Mr..
II. V. Y. Smith. The case Of one other
officer Is considered In our separate
report.
Third. The conditionsexistIng III The
Indian Territory are exceedingly unfor-
tunate They involve Imminent dan
ger Of ruin Of the genuine population
and profound dlscredlt to the United
States: excite reasonable discomfort
On the part Of all classes Of the popu-
latlon and demand prompt and drastic
remedies by congress- The commits
sion ID The i've civilized tribes can bc
abolished toadyantagea and the remain
illg work Of allotment lntrusted 10 tho
Indian Inspector and that Of the en-
FUllment committee 10 the citizenship |
court.
Fourth. The commission 70 the i've
civilized tribes can be abolished with |
advantage. the remaining work OF al
lutment intrusled to the Indian IL.
sEIeelor aud that Of enrolment com.
'mlttcd 70 the citizenship court,
Fifth The present system Of sales
hT sealed bids altar appralaement, IN.
'tfednced with respect 70 TIE Greek