Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-02-23
Secretary Hitchcock's Statement.


Secretary Hitchcock in referring to the
Almeda Company concerning which Repre-
sentative Stephens of Texas introduced
resolution in the House, said that he could
not recall any such company
Il know nobody connected with this COM
pany," said he land the suppositon that
any officer is related to me in any way is
absurd. There has been no change of opin-
ion on my part in regard to the Foster
lease. The original lease of 1,500. 900 acres,
or the entire Usage reservation, was a
monopoly. Under this lease, however, GER
tain subleases were granted, and vested
rights obtained during the administration
of Mr.. Hoke Smith as the Secretary of the
Interior. 1t was necessary that the rights
of the subeaseS under the original Foster
lease should be recognized by the depart
ment, for these .SubleaSeS were taken in
good faith. l have. therefore. recommend
ed an extension of the lease for ten years
on $4,000 acres. This acreage represents
only the subleases taken in good faith I'M
der the original lease. The Foster lease of
100000 acres constituted monopoly, but
1t is only just that the smaller subleases
should be protected
Just exactly what action will be taken by
the Secretary and what reply he will make
to the resolution of Congress cannot be
forecast. 1t had not been received by him
up to this afternoon and he declined to dis
cuss his probable action.
Wealth of the Usage Tribe.
Department officials state that the mat
ter of the Usage reservation lease is one
of the most complicated and one of the
hardest to settle the department has had
for number of years. The Osages are
one of the Indian tribes that are known
as civilized. The tribe is the wealthiest of
all, the lands being of great value and
their men of more than ordinary business
ability. In addition to their tribal property
interests and their private business the In
dams tribe have a fund of more than
100000 in the treasury. which they
cannot touch 1t is said that the Osages
are the wealthiest people per capita in the
world. Their men are conservative citizens
who compare very favorably with the as
tute business men of the east. They are
not the kind of Indians who are caught
mapping or who are buncoed out of their
money. On the contrary. their wealth is
increasing, and to increase 1t still more
they want the oil company which holds
leases on their territory to pay them more
money for the same, or the equivalent In
oil.
Attitude of the Indians.
From private inquiry Star reporter has
found that several of the sub-lessees under
the original lease are Indians. and that
they are working wells in the territory and
are paying 16 2-3 per cent of their product
to the oil company for this lease.
Two of these Indians were n the delega-
ton which came to Washington recently to
look after their interests ard these two are
among those who have been protesting
against the renewal of the lease under its
present terms. No Indians are opposed to
leasing the land, 1t is stated most distinctly
by the members of the delegation here. but
they do not want the lease to be granted
under the original terms. as the revenue
therefore they believe Is not commensurate
with the value of the franchise. Mr.. WILL
lam T. Leahy, whose statement was pub
lished Tuesday, stated that the Indians did