The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1908-05-07

week In our Washington letter.
The Washington correspondent OF
The News and Observer, comment
Ing upon the Introduction OF this
says:
There was much doing in Con-
gTess today with refernce to the
charge Of improper conduct on the
part Of members OF the Citizenship |
Court of which Ex-Judge Spencer b.
Adams was chief Judge. Over In the
House Judge Stephens. of Texas. who /
was a member of Indian Affairs |
Committee, introduced a resolution |
calling for an investigation OF the |
acts OF the members OF the court, |
corrupt. Following the introduction |
of the resolution in the House. the |
Senate took cognizance OF the same |
matter, though in a different way.
The upper branch of Congress passed
a resolution introduced by JEFF Davis.
Senator from Arkansas. calling on
the Secretary of the Interior to in
us OF those Indians. who have been
unlawfully denied enrolment AZ citf-
zens of Indiana, and thereby de-
MED allotments of lands, as such
through the negligence, mistake or
fraud committed by administrative
officers charged by law with the duty
OF making said rolls.
In support of his resolution Sen
ator Davis made a speech assailing
the Citizenship Court. The sub-com-
mittee of the House Committee on
Indian Affairs, which has been inves-
| tigating certain matters connected
with these Indian cases will make it's
report this week. Judge Stephens,
who Is a me mber of the sub-commit-
tee, said this report will be of such
a character that 1t will absolutely
make necessary an investigation of
acts and conduct of the members of
the Citizenship Court"
| The Washington correspondent of
the Charlotte Observer, in transmit
ting the resolutions to his paper,
said:
THE Chocktaw-C hickaEaw Indian
Court talk will not cease. Certain
men in Congress seem determined to
lprobe to the bottom the charges of
fraud and bribery. Judge Stephens,
of Texas, introduced in the House to-
day the following resolution, which
will be considered at the proper
time:
! Judge Spencer B. Adams, who
will preside over the Republican con-
vention at Greensboro tomorrow, was
chief justice of this court. His
friends claim that he is guiltless and
: that he is being prosecuted by enc
mics.
!, Judge Stephens said the sub-com-
mittee Of which he was a member
would report soon if it had an op
portunity and the report, If adopted
would bring on an investiga tion."
So many facts have come to light
with reference to the conduct anG
: surroundings of that court in Okla
homa, and the ugly rumors that con
= tinue to come so persistently from
: that. quarter with reference to tn,
/ court being improperly influen need il
/ its actions, that it seems certain tina
Congress will order an investigation
with the facts already before tn,
committees.
Of course, bribery is thing tina
t can rarely ever be proven wher'
d there were only two parties to tn
d Transaction, unless one of the partie
should confess. If one party take
n tanother into room and there hand
: him money in the nature of bride
e and there is no other record of tn
O transaction, in such a case the trans
s action may never be proven unles
:" one should confess; but if there
IAN investigation, the surroundin
" circumstances and circumstantial e,
= idence, it seems, will be very strong
Il The Greensboro correspondent c
~ the Charlotte Observer Intervene
q Mr.. Adams with reference to tn
O resolutions for an investigation, an
+ Isends to his paper the following:
when interviewed tonight cor
: corning the resolution of Congress:
e man Stephens for an investigation {
n the observation-disclosures Citizenshi
Court, Republican State Chairma
Adams, who was chief justice of tn
n court, said:
Stephens is considered the rel
IL resentative in Congress of these coul
p claimants, composed of white me
.e without a drop of Indian blood |
their veins and who had got On til
roll by perjury, and were participa
L ing in the distribution of the Il
Is dians' property. My informatio
ii is that one Marion Butler
IN now representative of those thieve
:. who are seeking to rob the defens
u less Indians. Of course, the obje
ID of the resolution at this time is al
parent to every one. The public wi
remember that l have demanded q
investigation of this matter, and
shall continue to do so. I assul
a lyou the matter will not stop here
d Mr.. Adams will hardly helm h