New-York tribune., 1910-08-18
Mr.. TAFT INTERESTED
Report of Indian Fees Sent to
Him by Gore Inquiry.
PERIOD OF TWENTY YEARS
Washington Is Also Preparing a.
Statement To Be Forwarded
to Beverly.

Sulphur, Okla Aug. FIN response to
a request from the Commissioner of Indian
Affairs. Mr. Valentine, the committee In
vestigating Indian land affairs forwarded to
Beverly. Mass, to-day statement cover
ing the amount of attorneys fees paid by
the Indians. The statement was SAID to
be for the use of President Taft.
The statement covers period of twenty
years. and embraces money paid out as
contingent fees. It shows the total money
so paid was $685., ,304 81 Among the larger
fees was s7s9.000 paid by the Chickasaw
Indians to recover s., ,S58. 79S. The New York
Indians paid $24084S to recover less than
s2,OoO,0OO. The Eastern Cherokees paid
fee of $4,000. In some instances the fees
paid were as high as 20 per cent or the
property involved. The contracts now held
by J. F. McMurray call for 10 per cent
fee for the sale of s3O.0000oo worth Of land
in this state.
Indians have so much legal business that
they have to employ lawyers by the halr
dozen. according to Douglass H. johnson,
governor of the Chickasaw tribe. who test-
fed before the committee to-day. Johnson
who was called as one of the chief wit
nesses in the investigation of the McMurray
contracts. to promote which IN Congress
Senator T P. Gore charged a $4,000 bribe
was offered him. testified he was upable
to state what service some of the lawyers
were paid for.
The lawyers were employed previous to
the existence of the present contracts.
which provide for the sale of s30 100000
worth of land with a 10 per cent fee to
McMurrav Here are some of the expedt-
lures which. according to johnson, were
made by the Indians for legal services,
most of the lawyers being employed stimuli
taneous1y.
Paid j F McMurray's law firm 5000 a.
year with s7,200 expenses: paid McMurray's S
firm another S.. 900 a year at the same time
on another contract; paid McMurray $7500O0
as a special fee in the citizenship cases,
with an expense account of 100000; paid
four other attorneys an aggregate of $4,000
year.
It was the belief. Johnston testified. that
without the employment of so many attor-
news the Indians would have lost millions
of dollars He asserted that in the sale of
Indian property in Mississippi II had cost
the government $6,0o0G0C to sell S2,000,oOo
worth of land.
In reply TO repetition of the question
nut to him yesterday. when he was asked
to explain how he came TO deposit stoUo 10
his personal account after McMurray had
received the $4,000 fee, Johnston declared
he never possessed $4,000
Senator Gore told the committee he would
have no more evidence relating to his
charge that J. Hamon had offered him a
81, 900 bribe to promote the McMurray con-
tracts.
Washington. Aug. 1.-THE Interior De-
partnent is preparing data for President
Taft in regard to the Five Civilized Tribes
in Oklahoma. The information will erl-
brace all the facts in the departments pos
session relating to the lands and funds OF
the Indians and the amounts that nave
been paid by the red men in counsel fees
The statement will cover a number OF
wears It probably will be completed at an
early date and forwarded TO the PRESIDENT
at Beverly It is not known for what spe-
cifc purpose the President is seeking the
data. but it indicates to officials here thaI
he is evinCing a lively interest In the al
fairs of the Indians as a. result OF the near
ing of the Gore charges.