Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1910-08-13
COMMITTEE REPORT
ON GORE CHARGES
Chief Feature viii be Recon-
mendation for Legislation to
Prevent Similar Conditions.
WILL TAKE MORE EVIDENCE
National Committccman CcciI \. Lyon
Tells of His Connection with
McMurray Contracts.

sulphur, Okla. Aug. t3It ls prob
able that the select committee Of the
house ~ representatives which is con
Quoting tho Investigation into the
charges made by Senator Gore will re-
quirc another week to complete the
gathering Of evidence The report
10 Congress will then be formulated.
This report will deal with two subjects.
The first OF these will be the charges
Of Senator 7. =. Gore that he was Of
fered $4,000 bride to withdraw his
opposition to the McMurray contracts
which provided for the sales Of tho
$50. 100000 to $4,000, 900 worth OF Indian
lands on 10 per cent contingent
fee basis to private attorneys.
The feature of the report will be in
the form of recommendation to Con
gress for legislation To prevent any fu-
ture conditions similar TO those which
brought about the present investiga-
tion.
II is believed here that the govern
ment hereafter viii take more ar
bitrary hand in enforcing its treaty
with the Indians.
COMMITTEEMAN LYONS EVI-
DENCE.
The part which Cecil a. Lyon, ma
tional committeeman Of Texas, took ~
the activity at Washington for the APP
proval OF the old tribal McMurray CON
tracts for the sale OF Indian lands was
described by Mr. Lyon In the hearing
before the congressional investigating
committee today. These contracts were
disappioved by President Roosevelt IN
1908 The now contracts which are the
cause OF the present inVesugatoh' MI
Lyon said he had no interest IN
Asked IL he was requested 20 JOIN
In The old contracts because OF his polit-
zeal influence and acquaintance with
President Roosevelt. Mr.. Lyon SAID
III was entirely possible
n, 1905. said Mr.. Lyon, he Joined Win
J. r. MoMurray's law Arm in the con
tracts BY which a e'per cert h,"rne, r
fee was 10 be obtained In the sale OF inc
lands.
Mr. Lyon went 10 Washington and IN
cornpany with Francis A Leupp, com
missioner Of Indian AFFAIRS, discussed
the subject with President Roosevelt
There was some discussion OF making
the Indians stockholders In the land
hut this plan was not gone INTO.
was IL possible that your connec-
ton with the president and your poliu-
cal influence Induced McMurray 20 get
you to join him. asked Chairman
Burke
III is possible. but natter myself
that II was partly my business ability.
WELCOME VISITOR AT WHITE
HOUSE.
"But It was known that you were
welcome visitor at the White House =
Yes. | believe 30"
1T was known then that you were |
a good friend OF the president ana that |
you called on him often? That was
publicly known. wasn't it?'
Yes. I suppose so
DO you think this prompted McMur- !
ray 20 ask you TO join him. That is. 1
because OF your political influence and |
your friendship with the PRESIDENT"
As ! said. II may have been partly |
this. but natter myself It was be
cause Of my business experience"
Mr. Lyon continued:
Il told Secy Garfield that my en-
ployment In the matter was to be open |
and above board and II there was any
thing not proper about the contracts
would have nothing TO do with them
Mr. Lyon testified he made an EFFORT
10 have investigated certain indict-
ments against the McMurray law firm
The indictments had been returned In
with Indian affairs IL was |
10 him. Mr. Lyon said
that the indictments were unjust
Tho attorney general later recon-
mended to the president that the in
iictments be dismissed and the indict-
nents subsequently were dismissed.
What was your idea I'm bringing the
matter TO the attention Of the authori-
lies at Washington
well. we had n president then as
we have now, who believed in a square
Zeal. and II these indictments were not
fair they ought 20 have been investi-
gated"
DEALING WITH MMURRAY.
Did YOU enter into the Indian land
,ontract deal with McMIrray prior TO
~ after the Indictments were dis
Missed"
Il think afterward took up the
,icMurray contracts purely as "A bust
ness deal" said Lyon.
AFTER they we're disapproved I had
nothing further TO do with the matter.
have had nothing TO do with the pres
mt contracts that McMurray had
"On the floor OF the house OF repre-
,entatives In the last session, Repre-
sentative A p Murphy OF Missouri un-
Justly attacked me by saying McMur-
ay IN lobbying for the present CON
tracts was ably assisted by myself
rhat statement by Mr. Murphy was
made either In ignorance or through a
ieslre 20 misreprcsent. I have done
lothing for the contracts now under
ion |