The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1905-02-22
HITCHCOCK IN A
VERY BAD LIGHT
Usage Indians After the Secretary of
the Interior.
ARE OPPOSED TO LEASE
ASK THE PRESIDENT FOR AN
INVESTIGATION.

lklASHINGTON. Feb. 21.-wiIliam II.
w Leahy. a member of the council
of the Usage Indian tribe, in a
statement given out today. says the In
dians are opposed to the renewal of the
oil lease on their lands upon the exist
ing terms and are protesting against a
renewal The original lease, given to
3 b. Foster for a period of ten years,
the statement says, was approved con-
trary TO the wishes of the Indians The
statement asks that the president have
an investigation made to disclose all of
the Facts: that those for whom it speaks
haYe been obliged to fight their battle
alone, and that they have been unable
to secure consent to employ assistance.
which can be done only with the APP
prevail of the department.
Turned Down BY Senate.
Mr.. Leahy is one of ten Indians who
came to Washington and, according to
the statement of Mr.. Leahy. thew came
as delegation 70 secure. among Other
Things. adequate royalty for leases on
their IN oil lands They were fairly treat
dian affairs. the statement recites but
When the senate committee on Indian at
luton they expressed desire to be
heard, it is recited. but the senate com
hearing, saying they could make their
statement to the secretary of the in
terror. The statement, continuing, says:
What Hitchcock Did.
The secretary of the interior assumed
70 represent us before that committee
at that hearing. and stated that he would
pc IN favor OF renewing the lease on $50
900 acres of the territory on terms similar
10 those of the original lease, that is
WITH royalty of 10 per cent TO the In
1t is then added that $4,000 acres COW
ers the entire oil district of the terri
tory owned by the tribe. and is all the
oil company desires The statement takes
issue with a statement. attributed to the
consened 10 s=ch compromise. The
( original lease, it is stated covered ], 500 900
acres.
Relied on Congress.
we relied. on the support of the de-
says because we have been led to be-
lieve that the entire administra ton was
the lease. and we feel that the Usage
Indians have been unfairly and unjustiy
lease in our oil lands without our con-
sent or a provision for a greater royalty
than No nov receive.
we have understood that the Ipdian
territory Illuminating company was wiz
, ing TO pay US a greater royalty if We
but the statement Of the secretary of
the interior before the committee on IN
dian affairs vas to the effect that the
royalty now paid. that is one of
that produced, was enough
Sure Enough Scandal Now.
The statement then says what was said
by the secretar- before the committee
cannot be recoucilcd with -the tatemcnt
in which he spoke Ct the original lease
, an ''unheard-of monopoly" and a pub
lie scandal" continuing. the I.eahy
/ sta tement seys:
ment he sanctions TIE renewa. of the
lease on $50 Gao afres. o. practically the
entire oil district of the Usage nation
under exactl. the same terms of the
original lease.
IL is claimed in the statement that the
parent capital is enabled TO pay the In
dams 10 per cent royalty provided for
in thcir blanket lease and have - mar
gin of 81 per cent in addition from the
bonus which, IT, Is stated. is required Of
sub-lessees before they commence drill
ing.
Consent Refused.
Complaint is made that the delegation
was not able TO secure the consent OF
the department. to employ assistance.
which consent is necessary The efforts
now being made to secure extension OF
the lease under the same conditions It
is said are protested against by all the
members of the tribe. The statement
closes by saying.
Let the president have an investiga-
ton made and some facts wiki be brought
to light which viii show that we have
been unjustly treated"