Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-02-01
SEN ATOR BARD'S CHARGE
ALLEGED PROPOSITION OF DIR. E.
L. SCHARF.
The Latter Said to Have Promised
Catholic Support to Republicans
for Indian Trust Funds.

In his statement before the subcommittee
of the Senate Indian affairs committee yes
terday relative to an alleged attempt to
influence him in favor of giving Indian trust
funds to Catholic schools, Senator Bard
said that he attached great Importance
to the act of Congress of June. 1897 which
declared that it was 'the settled policy of
the government to hereafter make no ap-
preparation whateve for education in any
sectarian school," The senator stated that
he had been informed that there was no
record at the Interior Department of au-
thority for the diversion of these trust
funds to the support of Catholic missions
but had the statement that it was done
on an oral order. which agents of the In
dian Rights Association allege to have been
issued ~ the President
Alleged Offer of DR.. Scharf.
Senator Bard addressed the committee
after statements had been made by S. NJ
Brosius, agent for the Indian Rights Asso-
cation, and Francis E. Leupp, commits
sloner OF Indian affairs. The Senator said
that during the fall he was visited by Dr.
E. l.. Scharf an agent for Roman
Cathollc mission society, and asked to use
MS influence with republican members of
congress looking to forwarding the inter-
ests OF Catholics in getting a diversion of
indian trust funds for the support of
Catholic schools on the reservations He
quoted DIR. Scharf as saying that if the
republicans would agree to bring about
the desired legislation the Catholics would
see that twenty congressional districts in
which the republicans were weak were
carried for the party. DR.. Scharf was said
to have given the names of the districts,
together with the number of Catholic
voters in each and names of the priests
who would look after the agreement and
deliver the necessary votes to carry the
districts
Senator Teller questioned Senator Rard
as to his construction of the offer of DR..
Scharf and received the reply: Il thought
it purely political and at the time placed
little credence in 1t.
Senator Teller said that if II was nroven
that the statement of DR.. Scharf was made
in earnest then there was more cause. to
complain of the interference of the Catho-
lie Church than of the Mormon Church in
the political affairs of the country:
The remarks of Senator Bard attracted
attention to letters that had been put in
the record by Mr.. Brosus. Among these
were number from priests in relation to
the use of Indian trust funds and two of
them charged that the President was favor
able to the diversion of the funds for the
promotion of the Catholic schools on the
reservations.
Mr.. Brosius was questioned as to the date
VI THESE letters ana SGlQ lIldC the CORE
spondence he had been able to get hold of
indicated that the interest of the Catholic
Church developed during the recent cam
pagn.
The Presidents Order.
The views of Mr.. Leupp were substan-
TALLY that as he understood it the con-
tracts 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 doubt
less would welcome judicial definition of
the status of Indian rights in such matters.
The irrevocable settlement of the question
of the limitations of the governments
authority as trustee of the Indian funds
in the United States treasury, he said, was
in the highest degree desirable. He advo-
Gated legislation for the individualiZing of
the funds of the several tribes, still keep
ing their control in the hands of the gov
eminent, but opening a separate account
with each Indian who now is entitled to
an undivided interest in any tribal fund
A particular object to be gained by the
individualism of the trust funds is to en-
able each Indian to say for himself how
the income from his share shall be ex-
pended in the education of his children.
Sentiment of the Committee.
1t was the sentiment of those present that
at the next meeting an amendment would be
offered to the Indian appropriation bill pro-
hibiting 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 In
terested gave their consent to the applica-
ton of their funds to the support of sec
tartan schools, and that large majority
of the Indians were communicates in the
various Protestant churches located within
the various reservations
Denied by DR.. Scharf
DR.. Scharf when seen last night, is quoted
as saying: II shall issue a statement within
a few days. l wish to say that 1 made no
statements to Senator Bard which would
in any way compromise the church. l talk
ed over conditions with him, but did not
make the fat propositions to him which
he says l did"