New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-08-07

Nuskogee. Okla. Aug es-Not Only
Take" L Eaulon but 7 F. McMUrray
1as named as z would-be briber in the
Investigation Of the $4,000 600 Oklahoma
Indian land deal before the special Con
sressioral committee to-day
NcMurray IS the holder Of the con
tracts with the Choctaw and Chickssaw
Indians 70 promote which in Congress
Senator Thomas =. Gore charged ne 7as
offered bribe.
Z. c McCurtatn. : Chccten' Indian
end : delegate 70 Washington for his
tribe. charged that efcATur-eys IN 1905.
offered him 2 bribe Of $4,000 10 with
draw opposition 70 the cid tribal McAIur-
~ contracts which subsequently 7-e-s
disapproved by President Roosevelt
Green 1fcCurtain, chief Of eighteen
thousand Choctaws and z venerable Ind
ian Of sixtv-rvro Years With gray hair
an6 plump brown cheeks. then took the
sterd and told the committee that enc
George u. Scott wtor2a he believed acted
N the interest Of McNurray. had offered
ht-- ore-fcu-th OF The profits" 70 be
-salized from, the land deal provided he
induced the tribe 10 withdraw all oppo-
=iLion 70 the deal. This offer referred to
neT contracts held by McAturray. which
are the cause Of The present investiga-
ton
The amount Of the bribe mentioned b.
Z Q. NcCUrtain, who is 2 son Of the
Ctiets IS the same as that which Sena-
tor Gore alleges was offered him on Nav
s ,est by Jake Harnon TO nut through
the pending contracts. which, according
- Senator Gore, would result in the sell
ing Of 10000 acres Of coal, asphalt and
timber lands owned by the Indians 10
Kew York syndicate on 2 basis that
-Frould give McAlurrey and his associates
at attorneys fee" Of 10 per cent. or
100000
The presentation of the charges
against McMurray followed another day
Of sensational testimony, during which
Senator Charles Curtis, Of Kansas, and
Congressman 3. s. MCGUIRE, OF Okla
bona appeared on the stand to refute
statements that they were interested"
N the deal
The name Of Nice-President Sherman
again was mentioned, and conferences
held by President Taft over the McMur-
~sy contracts were referred to.
Both President Taft and Vice-Presi-
dent Sherman according to Senator
Curtis had declared thar the 10 per cent
ztuorey's fee asked for was excessive.
The opinion was unanimous at the
RESIDENTS conference. he said, that in
The sale OF the land no attorneys as
sistsnce was needed. and the govern
r2ent by treaty already had stipulated
q sell the land on its own responsi
bility
Indian War Council.
Something OF z spray OF an Indian
war council vas presented when Chief
NcCurtain- known as the Governor
squatrsd himself in & chair before the
oo-nlItttee. and, brushing the flies off
hts head with large handkerchief. gave
his testimony.
a long time ago he said. many OF
the ChoctaWs protested against the big
fees that would be allowed under the
McMurray contracts I myself sent
protest 70 the Secretary Of the Interior
Just before the adjournment Of the last
congress. George W Scott came to my
home and asked ne 20 sign z letter. 7
reSuseo 70 DO So
Then he came again and told me he
wanted me 20 write z letter 10 the Score
tsry OF the Interior withdrawing my pro-
test against the McMu-ray contracts.
When ] said ] would not do that, then
he said he was authorized 10 agree TO
give me one-toUrh Of the profits Il I
o-d- Yes he said, we are going to get
10 per cent fee out OF II, and YOU will
get one-tou-th Of the tenth. Now. YOU
sign tne letter. and II will be z. great
bargain absolutely refused TO do il.
and hs vert away"
Premises Not Kent.
4 good many CT your tribe did sign
he contracts with McMurray. didn't
-EeyT asked Congressman G. & Miller.
Yes, they did that because they are
losing I'll faith in the government They
AYE lost Ell faith in the government Of
seals and IN their tribal officials. TOO.
us because they have been given so
rsny promises and the promises have
not been kept Ire government PROM
ised II would sell the land and distribute
tbs profits in 1906 II hasn't done SO
vet
The Indians are becoming dishesrt-
s,eo over the governments promises,
enc tnats Why they signed the contracts.