The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-03-08

WASHINGTON, D. c., March T.
The president today transmitted to
congress report of Charles j. Bona
parte and Clinton Woodruff in the
matter of Irregularities in Indian Ter
ritory. The president says:
'I call special attention to the con-
dition of affairs in Indian territory
as therein set forth. 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 business
operations of any kind in the territory
where it is possible that their official
positions could be of any effect 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-
noticed that the secretary of the interior
interior 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 possi-
BILE, in accordance with the suggestions
of Messrs. Bonaparte and Woodruff,
to close up the work of the commits
sion this year and discontinue 1t ac-
cordingly If it should be found to
be spossible L should regard this as
desirable and call the attention of
the congress to the matter. I also en-
close memorandum of the work of
the commission to the Five Civilized
Tribes"
Situation Pronounced Bad.
The report stigmatizes the condi :
tions in the territory as involving "in-
mediate danger of ruin to the genuine
Indian population and profound dis
credit to the United States, exciting
reasonable discomfort on the part Of
all classes of the population and de-
manding prompt and drastic remedies
on the part of congress"
The report reviews the report of
S. M. Brosius, agent of the Indian
Rights association on conditions in the
territory and says that while the
Brosius report contains a number of
intimations and suggestions not JUS
titled by the facts it understates the
Objectionable features of the admins
tration of public affairs there and Its
specific allegations respecting 1edefal
officials are substantially true.
1t says the connection of Tams Blk
by, chairman of the. commission to the
Five Civilized Tribes, with the Cana
dian Valley Trust company impairs
his usefulness as a public official and
should terminate Immediately. If he is
to retain his commissionership. His
investments in what are known as
"possessory rights" in townsite lands
are stamped as yet more Objectionable.
Indian Agent Shoenfelt is exonerate ted
from all the charges made against him.
The report also says that Indian In
spector ]. George Wright's temporary
ownership of stock, which he has since
sold, is no occasion for censure. Com
missioner Thomas B. Needles, of the
Five Civilized Tribes commission, adj
mits owning small interest in COR
poration at Vineta and the report says
the propriety of disposing of it should
be officially suggested to him.
His Usefulness Impaired.
The investments of Commissioner
Breckinridge, of the same body, are
stated to be of much graver impor-
tance and his considera BILE investments