The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1910-08-05


tor Gore further, under pressure from
the committee, said that Hamon had
suggested that Vice President sherman
was also interested in the contracts.
REPRESENTATIVE CreaGer took the stand
after Senate. Gore and was asked il he
had ever mel IIauon- He replied
Yes, ] met him BY appointment at
his rooms at the Occidental HoteI in
Washington. lie invited me there, say
Ing he wanted TO tax over little
matter.
As that time efforts were being made
to have the President approve OF the
McAurray contracts / already had gone
on record as being opposed 10 their aD-
DrOvaL Well. when ] got 10 the hotel
and was sitting in q room with HamOu
he began 10 uTZe me To withdraw my
opposition He suggested I might have
an interest in the contracts.
Rcpresentative AIiler-"Were any fig
ures nsentiOugdE Did he say how much
interest you might haVey-'
Bribe Offer Shut OF.
Mr.. Crea-er-"No. I did not let if 90
as far as that made my language
pretty emphatic that was opposed To
the contracts and would not be IN
fuencsd."
Representative Stephens-'.You mean
such a character as TO arouse your in
dignation-''
Ar Creager-''Tes. that's il re-
sarded IL as an Cner 10 influence my
attitude toward the contracts Il was
even suggested that I call together all
the officials 1 could ana defeat the
measure, opposing the approval Of the
bills"
Representative Niler--'What kind OF
rooms did Mr. Hamon and NEr- lfc-
Murray nave ct the hOteIg-'
AIr- Creager---Oh. three or four front
rooms Representative McG Gire Of
Cklauoma occupied part OF The Hamon
ana MeMurray suite met Hamon
later al diIereut times When he
heard I was coming 10 testify before
this committee LG urged me not 70
He expressed the hope mat 7 would
mittee-''
MI Creager said it was last June 16
when he was invited TO meet HamOn
At the Occidental
One Of the striking parts of the teeti-
mony or senator Gore was that the
offer of H2mOD went SO far as To prom
Use that the bride money would not be
paid over IN the form Of check or
marked money, huI in clean. hard
cash
Senator Gore bean 81 explaining
what had led Up 70 his opposition 10
the MclIUrray contracts As FAR back
as -sl3 ne wrote 10 Senator la Toilette
calling his attention 10 the enormous
value or the coal and asphalt lands
owned 10y the Indians
The Geological Survey had estimated
their value at SltI. l-tl-1. In 1898, Nc
Murray had obtained contracts with the
tribes Tor the sale o. the land on a 10
per cent basis In 1905 President R00Se-
welt olSapproVed OF these The same
year, MCAurray obtained contracts in
oIvldIally with ll,GgD Indians. and This
led Senator Gore, he said 10 introduce
q resolution IL Congress that an Indian
contracts must be approved by Congress
before they became valid.
Then senator Gore recguuted how
4lE-LlEFdJ laQ visited has office. how
he had told MCAEurrav he rhoughr 10
per cent on land valued at 81 so -tHa COO
was 700 high and also 10 per cent on
S@Frvyy,tpyr which he was Informed "A
pay, he said he believed was too
IN the cours Of his testimony. sena-
Former Senator Named.
1T was notable how active were the
McNurray interests. When I called on
Secretary Of the Interior BaIffnrer 70
protest against the contracts I was
told not 10 talk so loud. as former
Senator Long OF Kansas was present.
and he was interested in the con-
tracts.
81 had introduced in the senate q
resolution requiring that al con
tracts made with Indians should be
approved by COnEress75efore they be-
came valid on Nav last the com
IUitiee having il under consideration
instructed Senator Hughes Of Colo
RADIO 20 report faTOra bIv
The very next day, Jake Ham0n- of
LaVJOn, OKLA came 10 my office and
SAID he had a telegram 10 visit me and
ne was interested in the lIcNurra-
contracts
Then he mentioned che name Of an
oTflcialr.Tery high Up in the Govern
ment- And when expressed astoufSn-
meut HamOD said Well Won know
there IS q lot OF money in this thin
u You say the word I viii arrange for
the $1,000 There VIII be no checks in
this deal and no marked money. 1t VIII
De All new clean money
HamOu said There's lot Of money
tied Up in this deal and bis fee Cor
somebody
Asked Withdrawal Of Bill.
He then explained he wanted me to
withdraw my bill or at least have il re-
ported uufavorably. Ii seems he If1
not know IL had already been reaorrc5
1avOrably. When ] told him he wanted