The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1904-04-15
Indian Commissioners Ir,
Aroused at Secretary of In
terior's Action.
TROUBLE ABOUT MITscHER.
Latter Was Removed, and Jones
Wants to Know the Meaning
of Insinuations About
Himself.
The Republic Bureau.

Washington. April IA situation in
the Interior Department has arisen in
volvfng the relations Of Secretary Hitch
cock and William A. Jones. Indian Com
missioner. the upshot of which may be a
congressional Investigation. The trouble
arises out OF charges against o. A. Nit.
scher. Indian Agent OF the Osages. who
was suspended two weeks ago by order OF
Secretary Hitchcock.
1t Is known. from sources conversant
with Indian matters. that the informat ton
which caused Mitschers suspension also
involved Mr.. Jones. This fact has now
come to the latter, and his intention, ac-
cording to the report current here to-
night. is to make an issue Of the matter
with the Secretary. to ask the meaning of
the fnsinuations which have reached him,
and II that does not end the matter, to
ask an Investigation direct Of Congress.
1t Is well understood that the first IN
tfmatfon received by Mr.. Jones concerning
the use OF his name in the Mitscher case
came through letters from the Usage
country. Sam OFallon of Missouri is the
inspector who worked up the original case
at the personal direction Of Mr.. Hitch
ington from Oklahoma quoted OFallon as
declaring that he was instructed to 20
into the matter from the bottom to the
top. and that Mr.. Jones was meant by the
top"
MITSCHER THE AGENT
The case t9 question has attracted much
attention. Mitscher, as Government agent
has general charge Of leasing large tracts
OF Indian lands to cattlemen. Under him
was a stbagent. Walter Field, formerly
OF Wisconsin. now Of Oklahoma CITY.
Field. 1t Is alleged. induced Indians to
aliot a homestead in the middle Of some
cattIeman's tract, and then mulcted the
latter OF large sums. This system, II Is
charged. was worked extensively, and to
the great profit of Mitscher and Field.
The added insinuation, as 1t has come nm.
omciaily to Washington. and as 1t is un-
oefstood 70 have reached Mr.. Jones, i'm
phes that the Indian Commissioner was
associated with the agent and subaEent
In these transactions
Mr.. Jones and Mitscher and F1eb all
are originally from Wisconsin. though the
Commissioner Is understood to have no
acquaintance with either Of the others
until he came into contact with them as
their superior in the Government sery.
ice.
HITCHCOCK SATISFIED.
oFsllon has recently been appointed tc
ms position as Inspector It is known
that he rendered first and preliminary
report upon the Mitscher case, which did
not warrant action. This report was re.
ferred, according to the facts as they are
known here. to Mr.. Jones' But q second
report was rendered. which did not 70 to
tne Commissioner Of Indian Affairs. and
the full purport OF which has not become
public. save that. In the estimation Of Mr.,
hItcncock. It warranted the suspension OF
Mitscher.
herein was the first fact which ..,...
'hs inference that more than surf.c. -
nincancs attached to the matter sirc.
charges involving Mitscher or Field would
De expected to be referred to their nj.
perior. who is Mr. Jones.
IL was stated at the department after
the suspension Of Mftscher that the facts
would be taken into the courts. But this.
was subsequently said. would remain
IN abeyance until after a reply was re-
cefved in answer to the charges from
Mitscher. Such reply has not reached
the Secretary. and 1t was stated by the
Secretary to-day that the answ... is not
expected for several days.
At any rate. the manner in which the
circumstances have reached Mr. Jones has
reused his ire. The inference is that il
OFallon was Instructed to ..go to the
top he was told to go after Jones. The
latter has many friends powerful in Con-
gress. and IL it comes to an investigation
by Congress committee. And to a def
mite issue between the Secretary and the
Commissioner. the result certainly will
mean an ultimate shake-up in the depart.
ment.