The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1905-02-01
SENATOR BARD
CAUSED A STIR
Sensational Statement to Senate Com.
mittee on Indian Affairs.
TRUST FUNDS DIVERTED
ALLEGED ORAL ORDER OF THE
PRESIDENT.

PRESIDENT.
lkI AsHINGTON, Jan. 3L-sensa-
w tionaI disclosures in relation to
the alleged use of Indian trust
FUNDS Tor the support of sectarian
-ChoolS were made today by Senator
bafd IN "A statement to the senate
committee on Indian affairs In addi-
ton to the charge that Roman Cathn-
nc schools have received IS per cent Of
the money expended under contracts
niade by the Indian commissioner. Sen
SIor Bard said that he had been ap-
IIoached by a representative of a
Nalnoilc association with promise of
carrying a certain stated number of
districts in California for him i'm re-
turn for his influence in bringing about
20 ""ntinuance of such favorable con-
Tracts
Created a Sensation.
The statement of Senator Bard Gre
Sted stir in the committee and he
was asked to give a detailed account
Of the transaction as well as any other
matters relating to the use OF trust
funds for sectarian school purposes on
which he was informed. He filed with
the committee a statement covering
the conversation and also a list of the
districts the Catholic association pro-
AOSSu 10 carry Tor MN. lie then dis
cuSSed the statement of S NJ. Bro
sius, agent of the Indian rights assoc
citation. and also quoted from a circu-
lar issued by NJ. X. Shiffen, secretary
OF the association, charging that the
discrimination in favor if the Roman
Catholics was by direction of the
president
Gave Name of Alleged Tempter.
Senator Bard addressed the commit
tee after statements had been made by
$ NJ Brosius, agent of the Indian
rights association and Francis Z.
Ieupp, commissioner of Indian affairs
The senator said that he had been
visited by Dr. e L. Scharf an agent
Tor Roman Catholic mission society
and asked 10 use his influence with
Republican members of congress look
ing TO forwarding the interest of Cath
ciics i'm getting a diversion Of Indian
trust funds for the support of Catholic
schools on the reservation. He quoted
Dr. Scharf as saying that if the Re
Eublicans would agree to throng about
the desired legislation the Catholics
would see that twenty congressional
districts in which the Republicans were
weak We're carried for the party. Dr.
Scharf was said TO have given the
lanes OF the districts together with
The number of Catholic voters in each
and names of the priests who would
tie necessary votes 70 carry the dis
JTict.
Questioned by Teller.
Senator Teller questioned senator
Bard as to mis- construction Of the Of
fer of DR.. Scharf and received the re-
PLY.
IT thought it purely political and at
The same time placed little credence in
IL"
Sa,afor ToI1er sid TINT if = 1,-oe
proven that the statement of DR..
Scharf was made in earnest there was
more cause to complain of the inter
ference of the Catholic church than Of
9he Mormon church in the political af-
fairs of the country.
Letters in Evidence.
The remarks of Senator Bard at
fracted attention to letters 1T had
1ecn put in the record by Mr.. Bro
sIus. Among these were a number
from priests in relation to the use of
Indian trust fumes. Two of them al
1csed that the president was favorable
10 the diversion of the funds for the
promotion of the Catholic schools on
the reservation.
Mr.. Brosius was questioned as to the
date of those letters and said that the
correspondence he had been able to get
hold of indicated that the interest Of
the Catholic church developed during
the recent campaign.
Views of Mr.. Leupp.
The views of Mr.. Leupp were sub
etantfaIly, that as he understood it the
contracts with the sectarian schools
were made pursuant TO an order of the
president based on an opinion from
the attorney general. He said that the
president doubtless would welcome a
judicial definition of the status of In
dian rights in such matters. The ir-
Jevocable settlement of the question OF
tie limitations of the governments au-
1hority as trustee of the Indian funds
in the United States treasury, ne said.
was in the highest degree desira bic.
lie advocated Legislation for the indi-
vidualizing of the funds of the several
tribes still keeping their control in the
lands of the government, but opening
n separate account with each Indian
who now is entitled to an undivided
interest in any tribal fund. A particu-
lar object to be gained by the individ-
uslism of the trust funds, he said, is
TO enable each Indian to say for him
self how the income rom his share
shall be expended in the education Of
his children.
Done on oral Order.
Senator Bard said that he attached
great importance to the act of congress
OF June z, 1897, which declareN hat il
was the settled pOllcy OF the govern
ment 10 hereafter make no appropria-
ton whatever for education in any
sectarian school"
The senator stated that he had been
Informed that there was no record at
the interior department of authority
for the diversion of these trust funds
20 the support Of Catholic missions,
but he had the statement that il was
done on an oral order, which agents
of the Indian rights association allege
TO have been issued by the president.
Practice Will Be Stopped.
Tho committee took the statement
seriously and it was the sentiment that
Al the next meeting an amendment
7xouId be offered TO the Indian appro-
ririation bill prohibiting in the future
! The use Of the Indian trust funds in
the manner charged senator Bard
said that he had been Informed that a
very small percentage of the Indians
interested gave their consent to the
ennlication of their funds to the sup
mort of sectarian schools and that a
large majority Of the Indians were
-.-,,,,f,apfa in the various Protest