The Washington times., 1905-02-23
HITCHCOCK ASKED
TO FURNISH FACTS
House Adopts Resolutions Seeking Inform
alton on Usage Oil Leases---Stephens'
tsWere Regarded as Too Strong

The pfraseology of the resolution on
tbS subject Of the Usage Indian oil
seasea introduced late yesterday after
moan by Representative Stephens or
Tex as. proved too strong for the House
Committee en- Indian Affairs. The COM
mistee this morning adopted subsu-
tute. which contains the essentials and
drops tie innuendo. The House passed
th<e substitute.
u am little bit afraid of that reso-
lution. MIR. Stephens said Chairman
Sherman. You know the Secretary as
wen ss do and the passage Of this
resolution will be just like shaking u
red rag in the face OF an angry bull.
IT expect the resolution is subject to
| q poin. OF order" admitted hfr. steph-
ems. Perhaps it would be just as well
| to change the verbfage."
There was some further discussion and
| then Mr. Sherman dictated the sub
stitute It was adopted without dissent
and reads as follows
| Resolved. That the Secretary OF the
Interior be. and Is hereby. requested 60
| furnish the House OF Representatives
with all convenient speed g copy 5I
| the lease made between James 6agheart,
principal chief Of the Usage Indian tribe
| of Indians. and Edwin B. Foster, on the
|
| the departmental approval thereof. also
copies of each form OF suitcase granted
under said lease: also a list OF all sub
leases which have been submitted to
| the Indian Department and approved
| and q list OF ai subleases which have
been submitted to the department and
have not been approved. and ali 1ocu-
uents and correspondence pertaining
| thereto"
I'he resolution originally introduced by
Mi. Stephens were laid on the table.
The resolutions introduced by Rep
resentative stephens OF Texas yesterday,
both referring to the lease OF the Usage
Indian lands, contained virtual
charge that secretars Hitchcock him i'm.
| that was ratified, and that ne had pre-
| viously refused several such appllca-
items. One resolution called on the Sec
| OF The Foster lease. with the appaca-
| tions for ssubleases under IT. and the
| action Of the department IN ratiIyihg OF
refusing ratification 10 these applicants.
The Almsda Suitcase.
| The first suitcase was made D the
Al1neda Company. and the Secretary was
asked to say whether he did not rltify
lit: he was asked to explain also what
authority OF law he had for so doing.
| The resolution asked not only for The
date OF the ratification OF the AlIneda
suitcase. but also called for a list of the
officers directors. and stockholders OF
the Almeda Company, with Information
as to whether any OF these persons are
| personally known or In any way re-
i lated to him (tf.e Secretary, and. If SO
the name of such person and how re-
/ lated.
Not long ago Secretary Hitchcock was
out in a statement TO the effect that the
original Foster lease was an unheard
of monopoly and little less than pub.
lie Scandal. He declared, however
that certain of the subieases had ac-
ouired vested rights which should be
respected The subiessees. be 1t under
stoCd are almost exclusively the imme-
date representatives OF the Standard
Oil Company.
explain his part in the ratification OF
these subieases.
Hitchcock Cannot Recall Almeda.
Secretary Hitchcock, referring to the
Alrneda Company. stated that ite eoulo
not recall any such company.
II know nobody connected with this
company" said he. land the supposf
ton that any. officer Is related to ma II
any way is absurd. There has been M
change Of opinion on my pert In regare
| ~ The Ffosier lease The original lea 81