Omaha daily bee., 1910-08-07

senate committee on Indian affairs and
that previously as a member of the house
he had been for fourteen years a member
of the house committee on Indian affairs
He also related that Woe President Sher-
man had been chairman OF the house COM
mittee previous to his election to the vice
presidency. That, said the senator &C
counted for their having been called to the
White House to discuss the McAdurray con-
tracts.
Some time last April was called up
on the telephone and asked to go to the
White house, testified Senator Curtis.
1.-THE president, Mr.. Sherman and myself
then began to talk about Indian affairs,
The president suggested the possibility of
reopening the question Of the Indian en-
roIlment. 1t seems there about 1900 claim
ants who assert they are Indians and who
were left off the rolls and consequently
are not enjoying the privileges accorded
to Indians sr =,
Objected to McMurray Contracts.
Il told the president It would be a SER
ious mistake to reopen that question The
president then asked about McMurray. |
told him had known McMurray for years
and as counsel for the Indians, he had
never lost a case. The president then
wanted to know what we thought about
the contracts allowing 10 per cent attorneys
! fees. The reply of both myself and Mr.
Sherman was that in this instance we did
not believe the Indians needed any attorney
on a 10 per cent basis or any other basis
/ We called attention to the fact that the
treaties between the Indians and the gov
eminent called for a sale of the land by
the government and no counsel was needed
| . Aaf.x eaA .YNN NkaN ori.,a
fees in this instance would be simply to
deprive the Indians out Of that much pro-
fit guaranteed to them by the government
That formed the substance of our talk"
I'VE further suggested to the president
that he should never take any action on
any Indian contracts until ne had referred
the matter to officials who had thoroughly
investigated the subject"
Congress B. S. Mcclure of Oklahoma,
also mentioned by Senator Gore as being
interested in the contract was ched-
uled to go on the stand today
Commission from Roth Ends.
"a few days after our conference at the
White house." said MT Curtis. "the SEN
ator asked me about the interview and l
told him that he need not worry as /
thought the president would not approve
OF the contracts.
WAS that the impression you got, that
the president would not approve OF the
contracts?" asked Mr.. Burke. ts
Yes, that was my impression. l heard
a statement by Senator Gore in commit
tee that he knew the man in Washington
who was working for the approval OF these
contracts and who was anxious 10 get a
commission from a New York syndicate.
II seems the man was to get q fee from
both ends. Mr.. Gore said the man was
Richard Adams. an attorney OF Washing
ton"
Mr.. Curtis testified that he did not know
Jake L. Hamon, who was charged by Sen.
ator Gore with having offered him (GoreJ
$4,000 or $4,000 bride to put through
,ne land deal
Chairman Burke; Ibid Senator Gore
aFer tell you that someone had mentioned
you IN being interested In the MeMurray
ccntracts7"
Mr.. Curtis He did not"
Senator Long interested,
''The first neard OF It was the day
after Mr.. Gore made the charges In tbs
} senate. He asked me X 1 knew who Sen.
ator Gore referred 10 when he said a sen.
ator was interested.
1T was then pointed out that no had re
ferred to me-"
Asked II any Animosty existed between
himself and Mr., Gore. Mr.. Curtis said.
NNever until certain Indian matter
came up and Mr.. Gore declared / was med
ding too much Ia Oklahoma affairs by faii
means and FOUL
What interest has former Senator LonI
In the Mchnrray cOntracts9"
II don't know except that Mr.. Long cam,
10 me after he was out Of the senate anS
said he was going into the Indian Ian,
business and take the interest OF the Nc
Murray contracts. / told him he could no
afford to appear as a lobyist He replies
il was not his intention to do any lobbying
but that he intended 20 act only as
lawyer. Mr.. Long never has asked me 4
see the president or anyone else In tn
, interest OF McMurray."
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