The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1907-01-17
SEC. HITCHCOCK
IS CEMSUREO
BY COMMITTEE

Washington, Jan. 1.-THE select COM
mittee OF the senate, which has been
sharply Questioning Ethan Allen Hitch
cock, secretary OF the interior, and
James Wilson, secretary OF agriculture.
as to their authority for Withdrawing
100000 acres OF land from allotment in
the Indian territory for forest reserve.
reported TO the senate yesterday that the
order OF withdrawal ms without au-
thorty OF law"
The report is signed by the five MEM
bers or the committee-Senators Clark OF
Wyoming. Long OF Kansas and Branda-
gee OF Connecticut, Republicans, and
Teller of Colorado and Clark of Mon
tana, Democrats. In explanation OF the
reason which impelled the committee TO
condemn Secretary Hitchcock's order the
report says:
"The agreement with the tribes and the
act Of congress approved July ], 1902,
authorized and directed the allotments
to be made as soon as practicable. and
that law the committee believes cannot
be set aside. impeded or modified except
by act of congress repeating or changing
the original statute.
''The secretary OF the interior advised
your committee that he had made this
order OF withdrawal upon the request of
the secretary Of agriculture. who con-
templated establishing a forest reserva-
ton therein. III congress should author
lze the purchase by the government OF
the land from the Indians for that pur-
pose; but we believe that whatever may
have been the purpose or object OF the
secretary OF the interior. that he had
no authority under the law TO make the
order OF Withdrawal"
The committee asks for further time In
which to submit supplemental report
and the inference is that the committee
will deal with Secretary Hitchcocks
alleged offence more fully in that report.
Ii was intimated yesterday. however.
that impeachment proceedings would
hardly be recommended, inasmuch as Mr..
Hitchcock's term will expire March 4,
and the feeling obtains that his successor
Will meet the Views of the committee.
= The committee recommends that the
surface OF the segregated coal and
asphalt lands, amounting to fH.9S3 acres.
be sold Immediately at the highest price
possible. but that the mineral therein be
retained for the present, 10 be disposed
of later by act of congress The com
mittee discovered that the value OF the
lands was much less than had been re-
ported
4 recommendation Is made also for the
immediate removal of restrictio upon
alienation on all surplus lands except
the homesteads OF those OF Indian blood.
As TO the question OF the oil and gas
leases, concerning which there has been
50 much complaint against Secretary
Hitchcock's ruling, the committee says
There vas universal complaint as TO
the requirement OF the department for
a deposit OF 5000 I'm bank as a guarantee
for each lease, and IL is the opinion of
your committee that this regulation
should be modified or dispensed with
where the parties obtaining leases would
make showing OF ability 10 carry out
their contracts.
There was also general demand that
leases should be transferable without the
necessity of securing the consent OF the
secretary of the interior. and this would
seem to be reasonable demand, pro-
vided always that in no instance should
the maximum limit of 1890 acres 60
single holder be exceeded"