New-York tribune., 1910-08-17
INDIANS POOR MEMORY |
Asked About Depositing SIS, 900
After McMurray Got $3.50, 900.
SAYS HE CANNOT REMEMBER
Gov. Haskell Expresses Willing
ness TO Testify-Mr. sher-
man Against Large Fees.

Sulphur Okla, Aug. 16.-Douglas II. John-
son, chief of eighty thousand members or
the Chickasaw tribe, did not remember
when asked before the special Congression-
al investigating committee to-day how 1t
was that he was able to deposit $4,000 to
his personal credit a few days after j. T.
NcMurray had received $4,000 as attorney
fees
johnson previously testified that he al
ways had approved of what are known as
the McMurray contracts, which provide for
the sale of s30Oo0,coo worth of land be-
longing to the Indians. giving McMurray
1G per cent, or $3. 100000, In fees.
Chief Johnson has also urged other
Indians TO sign the contracts He testified
that he was a particular friend of McMur
raw. He testified in what are known as the
citizenship cases several years ago that he
annroyed of a contract in which McMurray
got a salary of 5000 a year and s2.7o0 a
year expenses A short time afterward he
approved of another contract, on which
NcNurrav obtained for doing the same
work. a contingent fee of $4,000 The lat
ter. fee was to have been 81, ,5O0,O but was
cut down one-half by the government.
WHY is it you were willing to give Nc
Murray $4,000 for doing that for which he
already was paid a salary?" asked Repre-
sentative G. 3. Miller, of Minnesota.
Because we thought he earned it." re-
piled Chief Johnson. He kept off the rolls
5000 claimants to property, and thus
saved US s5G00 for each person kept off, or
q total of S16.o oo0ooa. / would have been
willing to have paids him 50 per cent, or
SIS 00,eo0.''
You were willing to give a little graft
money ir order to save that much iand-is
that it? Now tell US why it is that few
davs after that s750,ooO was paid to Nc
Murray you were able to deposit to your
personal account in a bank at Denison,
Tex, s75.aoa Where did you get that
s75.Ge0?"
Il do not remember I was dealing in
cattle, and my account varied, SO I do not
remember
The depositing of $4,000 to your personal
account produced so little impression on
your mind that You don't remember? When
you became chief of your tribe isn't ii
fact that your bank account was only $500?
How, then, were you bile 10 deposit $4,000
Just short time after McMurray got his
$50, eco fee?"
Chief Johnson insisted that he did not
remember.
Johnson occupied almost the entire day
on the stand Governor c. n. Haskell to-
day telegraphed his willingness to testify
but he probably will not be called. 1t was
stated to the committee that other Indian
witnesses. who had said they waived the
contracts. had asked to be recalled to the
stand in consequence of Chief Johnson s
testimony to-day.
Representative c. D. Carter, Of Oklahoma,
was recalled to-day. and was asked, What
is your opinion of Vice-President Sherman
in matters pertaining to Indian affairs?
He has always shown deep interest IN
the Indians Carter replied.
fees?"
He was opposed to them
1t had been asserted in previous tesu-
nonv that Mr. Sherman had expressed en-
phatically his dtsapproval Of the 10 per cent
fee