The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-06-25
Sensation Is Created In the
Senate By Charge Of
the Ok|ahoman
INVESTIGATION WILL Be
MADE BY CONGRESS LATER
senator From Oklahoma Says Thai
$4,000 to 100000 Is omered Him
to Put Throush Bill Relating
to Indian Contracts

washington, June 24.-Senator Gore OF
Oklahoma disclosed in the Senate today
what he interpret as an EFFORT to bride
him in connection with legislation az
fecting the fortune in fees for attorneys
claimed by J. F. McMurray Of Oklahoma
for services rendered to the Choctaw and
Chickasaw nations in land and townsite
cases
The charge created a sensation in the
Senate, which later extended to the
House The latter body in consequence
sent back to conference the general de-
sciency bill, which carried an item relat-
inx to contracts between the Indians ano
their attorneys.
A. the result of the announcement
Senator Gore finally involved member
OF the Senate COMMITTEES on Indian az
fairs. a member of the House committee
on, Indian AFFAIRS and two former SEN
ators. ono from Nebraska and the otnei
from Kansas, but whose names we're moi
made public In debate.
In response to Z suggestion Wy Senator
Bailey that he should name the Senate
member OF the Indian affairs committee
Mr.. Gore demurred, but declared ne
would welcome an investigation OF tne
charges so that the whole matter might
be brought out before body Wnicn
would be authorized to deal with his al
legations. :.
II in not improbable that such an IN
vertieation will be ordered Mr.. Gore was
connelled to address the Senate three
times befors that body was fully aroused
to the seriousness Of the charges he made
His first effort was in connection win
the adoption Of resolution for the aoop-
lion OF the conference report on the de-
ncdency bill which had been presented oy
Senator Hale. As passed by the Senate
the MEASURE contained an amendment
which would nullify contracts made py
the Choctaw and Chickasaw nations ano
by Individual members OF these tribes
with their attorneys, unless the contracts
were approved by Congress
De~aess os Resolution
ThA provisior, WAS In accordance witt
= yesoiution introduced by Mr.. Gore OF
NAV I last. II was designed to preven'
Mr.. McMurray from obtaining fees, which
| 1t Is stated would aggregate $S.oDsUo anf
which Mr. Gore complained had not Deer
earned by the attorney.
The conference report was adopted os
the Senate when, Mr.. Gore entered tne
chamber He announced nat ne nae
been informed the Senate had recedec
yrrn, the amendment recurring the ZAP
nroval tv Congress OF tribal agreements
but Mr.. Hale explained the matter had
been properly safeguarded.
Mr.. Gore accepted the explanation bu
said II the contracts were to be recog-
nixed Mr.. McMurray would receive 1900
o00 1t was in this connection that ne mrs
declared that improper influence had peei
exerted by representative. of Mr.. Nc
Murray in any wise In an effort 70 oe1ea
the provision requiring congressional ac
ton on the contracts.
Characterizing the McMurray claims a
having been conceived in corruption ant
brought forth in corruption. Mr.. Cor
satd he had been approached by an out
alder Who desired to interest him In tn
McMuFray claims
Later Mr. Gore examined the provision
az agreed upon In conference. He lost NJ
time in returning to the Senate cnamper
where he moved to reconsider the vot
| by which the conference report nao Dee'
adopted.
MotioA IL Tabled
The presiding officer informed him tha
~. rar,ort had passed out of the posses
sion Of the Senate. Mr. Gore then move
10 recall the report. but Mr.. Gallinge
moved to lay the motion upon the tapic
which was done.
AddressinR the Senate on question o
personal privilege. the Oklahoma senate
amulffied his charges that corrupt metn
DDS had been attempted to dereat tne oen
ate proyision concerning the Indian con
tracts. ,.s+ h.
M Gore explained on May last NJ
Cerad.a resolution similar in term
~ the amendment he had placed IN tn
SsAcisncy hill In the Senate, and addet
snst A. had been referred to the commit
tee on Indian AFFAIRS. On the loliowin'
dav senator Hughes had been directed =
make a favorable report on the resoiut'on
he said. -. Gore. q,
~. came to me with an improper sus
restton. He was a representative OF NC
Ss,rrav a resident Of my town, ana nas
haan NV friend in time OF need. II
sss,,red me It would be to my nnancia
interest II I would call on the senate
from Colorado and advise hip not 70 re
port the resolution. There was susssr
tton that $4,000 or $4,000 would be avai.
shIa r. the contracts were not prohibited
xrd Tsm informed that similar propo
sifion was made yesterday to mempe
81 the House Of Representatives.
Many Are Interested
ur core also charged that IAN ex
senator from Nebraska and an ex-senato
from Kansas'' were interested IN the con
tracts. He also declared that lare
liohhv was maintained In washington II
thrt tnterest. He said he felt IN mono
hcund 10 continue these EFFORTS 10 pre-
venf this steal from those defenseiess IN
dians in Oklahoma !. 49,,
Mr. Gore declared that II the con
trsct. we're ever carried lrto effec
- rr,,.t he dome with the full knowl
adrs that whether or not there has
ect,ar1v been corruption 1t had beeI
Iattempted long ago
Tearntng that the House 81 REPRE-
senYatives had not acted upon the con
fsrnce report, Mr.. Gore hastened Z
~ other chamber where he toll
friends OF the alleged efforts making ~
ncrr,,y,t the members. When the con
Ssrence report was brought up In th'
Ho,so Representative Murphy Of Mis-
sc,,ri called attention to the situation
r. declared that an attorney had beer
iobbvine in the capitol for lont
time in the interest Of Legislation
which would validate his cont-act'
with Indians.
g"Name the attorney" demanded sew
leral members.
"a. +. McMurray,' replied Mr.. Muir
The attorney was said to be seatc,
In the gallery 1t the time.
The body almost unanimously reject
1 = = II