The Vinita daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1913, 1910-08-24
COMMITTEE WILL
VISIT OSAGES
Preparations Made by Superintendent
Pitzer for Congressional Investigat-
ing Committee to Hear Complaints.

Pawhuska, Okla. Aug 24.-Capt.
Hugh Pitzer, superintendent of the
Usage indian agency here, has made
preparation for the investigation to
be held here during the week by the
congressional committee, which has
been at Sulphur finishing up the probe
of Senator Cores bribery charges.
The committee is now at Pawhuska
and states any complaints that the
Indians and other may have against
the Happier & Merillat contract win
be considered. This firm Of Washing
ton attorneys has had a contract with
the Usage Indian council since April,
1908, to represent the tribe in Wash
ington, as general attorneys, for
$4,000 per annum Charles L. Happier
visited the Usage with the consent of
Secretary Garfield and sat in council
with them, when the firm was first
employed. From the agency comes the
announcement that the congressional
committee will probably be in Paw
huska but a short time
United States Attorney John Embry
of Guthrie has been notified from
Washington to cooperate with the
tribal attorneys and with those of
the Indian Territory Illuminating Oil
and Gas company of New Jersey, to
protect the interests of the tribe. in
litigation over the blanket lease. which
the company holds in Usage oil and
gas lands. This lease proposition will
be presented to the Burke committee
as will also undoubtedly the matter Of
leasing the Indians grazing lands to
southern cattlemen. White settlers in
the Usage and many Indians are OPP
posing further leasing to cattIemen.
For several weeks, S. F. O'Fallon, a
United States Indian inspector, has
been here investigating leasing mat
ters, both grazing and mineral He will
WRPNiA QNAOAG IIGa NOillllAlbtCGt
The committee will also investigate
the sale of Usage land under the act
of congress, approved March 8, 1909,
which provides for the issuance of
certificates of competency to qualified
and competent members of the tribe
and for the sale of the surplus lands
of incompetent 0sages through the in
terror department. During the inter-
vening year, 1898 certificates of com
potency have been issued to Indians,
each Of whom can dispose of 497
acres Of land, total Of 167 1886,
large per cent of which has been sold
and in addition 10000 acres belonging
to incompetents have been sold
through the interior department. Also
numerous townsites have been opened
by sale of minors lands through the
county court here. The land has sold
for SO to $40 per acre.
The last approved citizenship roll
for the Osages in 1907 contained the
names OF 1920 members 925 full
bloods and 1906 mixed-bloods. Since
then 141 full-bloods and "a mixed
bloods have died. Death among full
bIoods have exceeded the births. and
the contrary is true among the mixed
bloods. while among both the deaths
total the births. At the annual tribal
election last June. the mixed-bloods
for the first time in Usage history. de-
feated the full-blood ticket for chief
and members Of the council. The pres
ent chief Is Alfred Brown, who will be
an important witness before the Burke
committee.
At the time Keppler and MerilIat
We're employed by the osages. the
council turned down similar offer
from Judge Thomas Ryan of Kansas.
former commissioner of Indian af-
fairs