Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1910-08-06
Says He Objected to Ten Per
Cent Fee in the Sale OF
Indian Lands.
SHERMAN SAT DOWN ON FEE
Further Evidence Taken In Inycstiga-
ton OF Redskins Lands In
State of Oklahoma.

Muskogee. Okla, Aug. 6.-"Not only
| United states Senator Charles curtis
of Kansas but also Vice President sher-
! man. dlsapproved OF the contracts
whereby an attorneys fee OF $3,O0j.O 600
was to be allowed in the sale OF $50. 900. =
| 00o worth Of Indian lands in Oklaho.
ma"
This assertion formed tho substance
OF the testimony given by Senator Cur
It's today before the committee appoint
ed by the mouse OF Representatives TO
investigate what are known as the Nc
Murray contracts.
Senator Curtis came here to testify
following the testimony given by Senn-
tor X. T.. Gore, who declared he ma
been informed that Mr. sherman and
Senator Curtis each were interested" in
the contracts, the approval OF witch
by Congress and President Taft was
sought by j. y. McMurray. Senator
Gore charged that a New York synd-
cate stood ready to purchase the land
for $50 900 and the contracts held by
McMurray called for 10 per cent at
torney's fee whereas the Indian treat
les with the government provided for
the disposal OF the land without any
expense to the Indians. ON the noo.
OF the senate and In his testimony here
Senator Gore charged that the proposed
sale was an attempt to rob and plum
der the Indians.
TELLS OF MEETING
Taking the stand before the commit
tee Senator Curtis related the details
OF conversation which took place at
the White House between President
Haft. Vice President sherman and him
self last April. The senator explained
that he was a member OF the senate
committee on Indian affairs, and that
previously as a member OF the house
he had been IL years "A member of tn
house committee on Indian affairs. He
also related that Vice President Sher-
man had been chairman OF the house
committee previous to his election q
the vice presidency. That, said tn
senator accounted for their having
been called to the White House to dis
cuss the McMurray contracts.
Some time last April | was called
upon on the telephone and asked TO
go to the White house" testified
Senator Curtis. "The president, MIR
sherman and myself then began To
talk about Indian affairs. The prcsi-
dent suggested the possibility Of re-
opening the question OF the Indian en-
rollment. 1t seems there are about
1,40O claimants who assert they arc
Indians and who were left of tho
rolls and consequently arc not now
enjoying the privileges accorded to In
dians.
WOULD BE MISTAKE.
"I told the president Il would be a
serious mistake to reopen that Qucs-
ton The president then asked about
McMurray. 1 told him 1 had known
McNurrny for years and a. counsel for
the Indians he had never lost case
The president then wanted TO know
what we thought about the contract
allowing 10 per cent attorneys fees
The reply OF both myself and Mr.,
Sherman was that In this Instance that
we did not believe the Indians needed
any attorneys on a ten per cent basis
or any other basis. We called atten-
ton TO the fact that the treaties be-
tween tho Indians and the govern
ment called for sale OF tho land by
the government, and no counsel was
needed. 1t was pointed out that TO give
attorneys fees In this instance would
be simply 10 deprive the Indians out
of that much profit guaranteed TO
them by the government. That form
cd the substance OF our talk.
1--WE further suggested to the presi-
dent that he should never take any
such action on any Indian contracts
until he had referred the matter 10
who had thoroughly investi- |
gated the subject"
Congressman u. S. Mcclure OF |
Oklahoma, also mentioned by Senator |
Gore as being interested in the con- |
tracts. was scheduled to go on the |
stand today.