Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1910-08-05

to urge the approval of the contracts.
but that the president had said, ut
would take n good deal of argument
to convince him that the amount of
fee asked by McMurray was justi-
fed
gram to the committee denying that
he was in any way interested in the
contracts, and offering TO appear be-
fore the committee. Chairman Burke
said Senator Curtis would be sub
poenaed to testify
An account of that part of Sen
ator Cores testimony referring 10
Nice-President Sherman follows
MIR. Burke: In your conversation
with Mr.. Hamon, you stated he named
a very high official that he said was
interested in these contracts. You
omitted his name
Mr.. Gore ! say again that I should
very much prefer not to name it. |
am, however, subject to the will Of
the committee.
Mr.. Burke: The committee is here
to get the facts and we must have all
of this conversation.
Mr.. Gore: He suggested that Vice
President Sherman was interested in
the contracts.
Thomas H. owen. counsel for Mr.
NHOlt. III tildl GOllntClfOHt NOu SIuht
Of an article appearing in Kansas
city newspaper that two gentlemen
had called on the president. | wish
you would say who was mentioned in
thu article
MI Gore IN tha newspaper OF
Apri VS. Pre- sident Sherman
and curtis were named as
having called TO discuss the segrega-
ton of coal and asphalt lands.
think before the senate met the next
day. the information came to me.
Senator Gore explained he believed
Vice President sherman was favor
able to the contracts and short time
later he introduced q resolution in the
senate that would require further ac-
ton of congress before the contracts
could be approved
Congressman Creager did not take
the stand until late in the day.
Asked if he had ever met Hamon,
he replied:
Eyes. met him by appointment
in his rooms at the Occidental hotel
in Washington. He invited mesthere.
saving he wanted TO talk over little
matter AT that time efforts were be-
ing made to have the president ap-
prove OF the McMurray contracts u
already had gone on record as being
opposed to their approval Wen, /
when | got to the hotel and was sit
llhE III u lpOIl WIN itNhi'iif 'hN ~ /
gan to urge me to withdraw my oppo-
sition. He suggested / might have an
interest in the contract"
Congressman Miller: Were any |
figures mentioned? Did he say how
much interest you might haveY'
Mr.. Creager; mo, i did not let IL
20 as far as that. ] made my laneu- |
age pretty emphatic that | was oppos- |
ed to the contracts and would not be |
Congressman stephens: you mean |
TO say that you regarded the offer OF
such a character as to arouse your
Mr.. Creager: "Yes, that's It. I re- |
garded it as an offer to Influence my |
attitude toward the contracts 1t was
even suggested that | call together all |
The officials | could and defeat the
opposing the approvals of
The bills"
IF rooms did Mr.. Hamon and Me-
Murray have at the hotel?'
Mr.. Creager: ooh, three or four
front rooms. Representative Mcclure
Of Oklahoma occupied part or the
1amon and McMurray s"ite. | met
Ifamon later at different times. When
he heard | was coming to testify be-
fore this committee he urged me not
10. He expressed the hope that
would make no statement before thls
Recalled to the stand. Senator Gore
was asked to mention the name OF the
amplONe of the department OF justice
who had told him thav another em-
Dlove of an official in that department
vas interested in the contracts
'FThat / could not do replied SEN
ltor Gore. THE matter was impart- |
ID to me in confidence and ] regret
hat it was mentioned here at all"
Now, senator" interposed Con-
gressman Campbell Don't you think
t unfair to go so far before TINS
committee and yet not tell all You
xnow?"
NO, would rather not. 1t is well
Known that heretofore employees OF |
hat department have lost their posi-
ions for giving information and,
would rather that this feature of the
investigation be dropped"
T.. p. HILL an attorney for the Choc-
aw tribe Of Indians. then questioned
he senator what he knew of Presi'
lent Taft's attitude toward the Nc
Murray contracts.
Il think some people interested in
he contracts went to see the presi-
lent on April 49," said the witness
The president stated that former
senator Long already had submitted
he matter to him and that Mr.. Longs
.lients, (meaning the McMurray inter-
.sts) might have their day in court.
think the president said everybody
night have his day i'm court. but that
I would take a good deal of argument
n convince him that the amount of
ees asked for in the contracts 49,
100 OOOl was just. In fact. | think
he president made II plain he was op-
,osed to the contracts.
senator Gore testified he and lia-
non had been friends and had been
Interested together in business trans
'ctious at Lawton, Okla, in when
money loans were involved. Mr- Ha- ,
NON is an attorney of Lawton. which
! Senator Cores home town. Hamon .
~ Years old and married. Aside
rom republican chairmanship. ne
~. been oitv attorney of Lawton and
las practiced law in Kansas, oklaho-
ma and Texas. ..,,,.
l,a anuroval \ Of the contracts with the ,
indians. Senator Gore in his testimony
sserted that as far back as lsVe ne
rrote letter 20 Senator Lafoilet'e Z
alling attention o the grea wealth of s
he coal and asphalt lands owned by I
he Indians. He said the United states
Geological survey had estimated the Z
mineral deposits 10 be worth Slbe,-
90 600. In 1905. he said, Murray {
ad obtained contracts with the tribes
T indians for the sade Of lands on
ten per cent basis In 1908 Presi- q
ent Roosevelt had registered his dis
pproval Of the contracts. In the
,me year Mr.. McMurray obtained .
a..Ff..f4ats.II.- s.rifr. 400 In / a