The weekly chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Craig County, Okla.) 1905-1913, 1910-08-26
COMMITTEE WILL
VISIT OSAGES
Preparations Made by superintendent
Pitzer for Congressional Investigate
ina COMMITTEES TO Hear Complaints.

pawhuska, okla, Aug. 24.-Capt.
Hugh Pitzer, superintendent OF the
Usage Indian agency here has made
preparation for the investigation to
be held here during the week by the
congressional committee, which has
been at Sulphur finishing up the probe
of Senator Cores bribery charges.
The committee is now at Pawhuska
and states any complaints that the
Indians and other may have against
the Happier q Merllat contract viii
be considered. This firm Of Washing
ton attorneys has had a contract with
the Usage Indian council since April,
1908. to represent the tribe in Wash
ington, as general attorneys, for
So 1000 per annum. Charles L. Happier
visited the Usage with the consent Of
Secretary Garfield and sat In council
with them, when the firm was first
employed. From the agency comes the
announcement that the congressional
committee will probably be In Paw
huska but a short time.
United States Attorney John Embry
of Guthrie has been notified from
Washington to cooperate with the
tribal attorneys and with those Of
the Indian Territory Illuminating Oil
and Gas company of New Jersey to
protect the interests OF the tribe in
litigation over the blanket lease, which
the company holds In Usage oil and
gas lands. This lease proposition will
be presented TO the Burke committee
as will also undoubtedly the matter OF
leasing the Indians grazing lands to
southern cattlemen. White settlers In
the osage and many Indians are op'
posing further teasing to cattlemen.
For several weeks, s. f. O'Fallon, a
United States Indian inspector has
been here investigating leasing mat
ters, both grazing and mineral. He viii
appear before the committee.
The committee will also investigate
the sale of Osage land under the act
of congress, approved March 3, 1909
which provides for the issuance OF
certificates of competency TO qualified
and competent members OF the tribe
and for the sale of the surplus lands
of incompetent Osages through the in
terror department During the inter
venlng year, 33s certificates of com
potency have been issued to Indians
each of whom can dispose of ~
acres of land, a total of 1886,
large per cent of which has been sole
and in addition 10000 acres belonging
to incompetents have been solt
through the interior department Alst
numerous townsites have been opene'
by sale of minors lands through tht
county court here. The land has solC
for So to $40 per acre.
The last approved citizenship rol
for the osages in 1907 contained th'
names of 2,230 menlbers-925 full
bloods and 1906 mixed-bloods Sine
then III full.bloods and "a mixed
bloods have died. Death among full
bloods have exceeded the births ant
the contrary is true among the mixed
bloods while among both the death
total the births At the annual trlha
election last June, the mixed-blood
for the first time IN Usage history dc
feated the full-blood ticket for chic
and members of the council The pros
ent chief Is Alfred Brown, who will b
an important witness before the Burk
committee.
At che time Keppler and Merilla
were employed by the Osages tn
council turned down a similar oite
from Judge Thomas Ryan Of Kansas
former commissioner Of Indian al
fairs.