Gainesville daily sun. (Gainesville, Fla.) 190?-1938, 1906-12-22
LAW IS SMASHED
BY CABINET MEMBERS
Wilson and Hitchc ck Confess
to Ds sgard ofLaw.
sTATUTE We IN THElR WV
Hitchcock and Wilson Make Admission
Before COMMITTEES Of Senators, Who
Use Strong Language In Regard TO
Action OF Cabinet Members.


Use Strong Language In Rssard 70
Action Of Cabinet Members.
washington, Dec. 21.-Admitting
that they had no authority OF law for
the withdrawal from allotment OF
nearly 900 900 acres Of land be-
longing to the Ave civilized tribes in
the Indian Territory FOR tne purpose
OF creating a forest reservation, two
members OF the presidents cabinet
Secretary Hitchcock, Of the depart
ment Of the interior, and Secretary
Wilson, OF the department OF agrlcul-
ture-sndeavored 10 justify their
course by stating they had the best
interest OF the Indians at heart
The expletaion was made before a
select senate committee which is In
vestgatlng affairs In relation TO the
property rights OF the five tribes, but
the committee declined 10 accept t.,
and Senator Clark, OF Wyoming; Tel
Ter, Long and Brandegee declared
that the interior department has sus-
pended a statute Ct the United States
without authority and that q was the
duty OF Secretary Hitchcock TO imme-
diately cancel his order Withdrawing
the land from allotment.
The order withdrawing the land
from allotment was issued early In the
present month. The purpose OF the
withdrawal was not stated publicly AZ
the time, but Il developed during ear
Tier Inquiries by the committee that
the department OF agriculture planned
to create forest reservation within
the withdrawn lands which would
contain about 500 600 acres. These
lands would have to be purchased
from the Indians under some plan
yet 70 be presented, and an appro-
priation by congress would be re-
uulred. The committee was OF the
opinion that there was no authority
OF congress FOR the suspension OF the
law providing for the allotment Of the
lands involved. and II was then de-
termined 10 call for an explanation
from the heads OF the two executive
departments responsible for tho with
drawal,
Secretary Hitchcock was hrs, called
10 the stand. He said that be had
asked the forest service. division OF
the agricultural department. TO report
on q request OF Jack Gordon. Of Par
h, Tex. and associates, that they
be- permitted 10 buy 200 900 acres
for game preserve and thai In max
ing an adverse report on that propo-
sltion the forest service bad asked for
the withdrawal OF the lands for
forea, preserve. Mr. Hitchcock said
that IN granting the request he bad
only temporarily suspended the Oper.
alton OF the Law requiring that the
lands 10 question be allotted. The
tentative suspension. ne said, was Coz
the purpose % Investigation. With
view % determining what was the
best Interest % the Indian.
-You have 90 right 20 suspend the
operation az a statute ooe hour not
one nhnate'- declared senaior Teller.
III you bad the right % temporarily
hold up me application % she av, you
could suspend &c operation Tor a
montA. ytar or two Years
IN reply 81 Questions from Senator
Inng a. % TIE reasons thai aeiuatef
the secrc,ary. Mr Hitchccet sait
that TIE request % Secretary wilpon
hnd prompted him w. Was ASKED
couceznlne other sappens,oas % land
law. ana said thai az umcs ac,ioas
% that character had bfea taken a.
the request - the president where
n hAd been Necessary % inVeslgats
cltlins % ffaudR NO One has au-
lsoriy b suspeed q ltw - TIE unit-
"a States unter any circumstances
sales there a. snecite ffotttloa CO.
q. declared Nr. Teller
AR ct tAe msmhes 90 see commit-
tee taon tass part m eaa2tmninx
ere srsioe 90 the department b. sgs-
pratiur tte ise ant auaiiy seasloS
TELLER stti
Il eAailenra ass cee - tnes sEy
aaiaie uh.ct pssriiief ~ fusgs1s
sor g 49, atnFeia BE- eetg
re - saFe 1srt ea, e.