Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1910-06-26
CORE OFFERED BIG BRIBE
Statement in Senate by Member from
Oklahoma Causes Sensation,
RELATES TO M'MURRAY CONTRACT
Fifty Thousand Dollars Price for Not
OpposinE Their Approval
Names Are Not Mem
toned.

WASHINGTON. June Ex-senator Gore
OF Oklahoma disclosed in the senate yester-
day what ne Interpreted as an effort to BRIDE
him in connection with legislation affecting
the fortune in attorneys fees claimed by
J. F. MeMurry of Oklahoma, for services
rendered to the Choctaw and Chickasaw
nations Ia land and townsite cases.
The charge cret ted sensation In the
senate, which later extended to the house
The latter body in consequence sent back
TO conference the general deficiency bill,
which CARED an item relating to contracts
between the Ind ans and their attorneys
AS the result VI the denOuement Senator
Gore finally involved a member Of the
senate committee on Indian affairs,
member Of the house committee on Indian
affairs, two former senators-one from Ne
braska and the other from Kansas, whose
names were not maze public In debate.
In response TO a suggestion Wy Senator
Bailey that he should name the senate
member of the Indian affairs committee,
Mr.. Gore demurred, but declared that he
would welcome investigation OF the
charges so that the whole matter might
be brought out before a body which would
be authorized TO deal with his allegations.
It is not improbable that such an Investi-
kdlAOu VIII 10 OlOtlOOs
Senate Slow to Comprehend.
Mr. Gore was compelled to address. the
senate three times before that body was
fully aroused to the seriousness of the
charges he made. His first effort was in
connection to the conference report on
the deficiency bill, which had been pre-
scented by Senator Hale. As passed by the
senate, that measure contained an amend
,aYI,ta h n..lIg -
by the ChoctaW and Chlckasaw nations
and by individual members of these tribes
with their attorneys unless the contracts
were approved by congress.
This provision was in accordance with a
resolution introduced by Mr.. Gore on May
4, last. 1t was designed to prevent Mr..
McMurry from obtaining fees which, 1t is
said, would aggregate 100000, and which
Mr.. Gore complained had not been earned
by the attorney.
The conference report had been adopted
by the senate when Mr.. Gore entered the
chamber. He announced that lie had been
Informed that the senate had receded from
the amendment requiring the approval by
congress of tribal agreements, but Mr..
Hale explained that the matter had been
properly safeguarded.
Mr. Gore accepted the explanation, but
said If the contracts were to be recog-
nized Mr.. McMurry would receive $500, 900
1t was in this connection that he first
declared that improper influence had been
exerted by a representative of Mr.. Nc
hurry In an effort to defeat the provision
requiring congressional action on the con-
tracts.
"COnceived in Corruption"
Characterizing the McMurry claims as
having been conceived in corruption" Mr..
Gore said he had been approached by an
outsider who desired to interest him in the
McMurry claims
Later Mr.. Gore examined the provision
as agreed upon in conference. He lost no
Etime in returning to the senate chamber
Where he moved to reconsider the vote by
Z which the conference report had been
4 adopted. The presiding officer informed
! him that the report had passed out of the
\ possession of the senate. Mr.. Gore then
!, moved to recall the report, but Mr. Gal
: Finger moved to lay this motion upon the
table which was done.
I Addressing the senate on a question of
personal privilege, the Oklahoma senator
Rmplified his charges that corrupt methods
had been attempted to defeat the senate
provision concerning the Indian contracts.
{ Mr.. Gore explained that on May 4 last
he had offered a resolution similar in
terms to the amendment he had placed in
the deficiency bill in the senate, and that
at had been referred to the committee OH
Indian affairs
& On the following day Senator Hughes
had been directed to make favorable re-
port on the resolution, he said.
; Improper Offer Made.
ION May 6th" exclaimed Mr.. Gore "a
imam came to me with an improper sugges-
jtipn. He was a representative of Mr. Nc
Murry, a resident of my home town, and
had, been my friend in time of need. He
assured me 1t would be to my financial
interest II l could call on the senator from
Colorado and advise him not to report the
resolution. There was suggestion that
s26, 900 or $4,000 would be available If the
contracts were not prohibited. And am
informed that a similar proposition was
made yesterday to a member of the housa
aof representatives,"
Mr. Gore also charged that IAN ex-sena-
TOR from Nebraska and an ex-senator from,
Kansas are interested in these large con-
tracts" and declared that a large lobby
was maintained in Washington in that in
Jterest He. said he felt in honor bound to
continue these efforts ito prevent this
Bteal ITOh bhSS0 uSASHScleSS Indians I'm
iOklahoma-"
He declared that IL the contracts uera
ever carried into effect it must be done
with the full knowledge that whether or
not there had actually been corruption. n
had been attempted"
Learning that the house had not YER
acted upon the conference report. Mr.
Gore FASTENED TO the other chamber. where
he told friends of the efforts alleged 70
have been made to corrupt members, When
the conference report was brought I'M In
the house, Representative Murphy of Mis-
souri, called attention to the situation. IJa
declared that an attorney mad been '.lobbv-
ing" in the capitol for a long time In the
Interest OF legislation which would vail
date his contracts with Indians
li'Name the attorney" demanded severs,
members.
tJ f. McMurry," replied Mr. MURINE
hrhe attorney was said to be seated in tba
gallery at the time.
Agreement Rejected.
The house almost unanimously rejected
the conference agreement
When the action OF the house was 70.
ported to the senate. Mr. Hale moved that
the senate further insist upon it's amend
fnents TO the bill and asked for a further
conference.