Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1910-08-09
Congressional C ON e e
Hears Some Honest Criticism
Of Government Delay in
Carrying Out Promises,
CONTEMPORARIES OF
BRIBE SEEKING MADE
representative Creager S
Accused of Soliciting Money
to Withdraw position to
McMurray'S Schemes,
n, Morning journal srsaai Leased wlrrl

tby morning JO"rh"i sBechi Ashss" WA'Fl
McAlester okla, Aug S.-A charge
that Congressman c. Il. Creager of
the Third oklahoma district hard So
liclted sums Of money from j. f.
McMurray, holder of the Indian land
contracts which are being subjected
to congressional investigation was
made by Jake L. Hamon before the
special committee appointed by the
house Of representatives, today
The charge developed in connec-
ton With the inquiry into senator I.
r Cores declaration that he had
been offered $25,000 or S50.O00
bribe to help put through congress
the McMurray deal by winch he as
serted MeMurray and his associates
would be able to secure $3.0V0,O00 or
10 per cent MS attorneys S fees In the
sale of 10000 acres OF eeal asphalt
and timber land now belonging to the
lndtens IN this state.
Senator Gore SAID Hamon had Of
ferpd the bllbe i'm McMurrays behalf
and Congressman Crcager also had
testified thar 9amon had 'suggested"
that he (Creager) might secure an
interest" in the contracts If he
helped to remove all opposition TO
their approval by congress and Presl-
'tgfu 'r@tt.
Appearing before the committee to-
day Hamon made the counter charge
against Creager lie said the con
gressman had solicited money from
McMurray while bill that had -been
drawn up by McMurray and which
Creger introduced was pending in
congress. This bill provided for the
sale of the surface lands to private
individuals ana for the sale OF the
mineral wealth TO the government
Although the McMurray contracts
were not referred to in H. the bill.
Hamon said, was SO worded that Me-
Murray might have been enabled 10
put in claim for the attorneys fees
The measure, however, was not
passed.
Il want Mr.. Creager recalled 10
the stand to answer these charges,
said Hamon. =" want him to explain
why, Just after he introduced that
bdl he went to McMurray ana un-
der the gusc Of loans demanded from
McMurray large sums of money
mink it will throw considerable hght
on the Indian land situation AT WASH :
ington if Creagcr is recalled anu
asked about his money demands OF
money from McMurray.
ON being informed bv Congress
man Charles II Burke, chairman OF
the committee that y was doubtful II
CrcagCr would be recalled, h1amon
asked 10 be allowed to Introduce wit
nesses To substantiate his charges
HIS request was tukcn under advise
ncnt
1t was Indian day" at the hearing
Many Indians testified thcN had
signed the McMurray contracts. al
lowing 70 per Gent attorneys fees
because they had been impatient at
the government As government wards
they said, they had concluded they
had 10 employ attorneys to fight the
government in order 10 secure what
money had been promised. II was
pointed out that So per cent Of the
Chuctaws and Chickasaws had signed
the 10 ncr cent agreement This rep
resented large norton of the no.
700 Indians in this state. which con-
tans more than one-third of all the
Indians i'm the United states That
McMurray's agents had gone among
The Indians and asked tlrem to sign
the contracts and "a send telegrams
20 President Tau urging him to APP
prove the sale of the land ON 10
per cent attorneys Zee" basis was
the burden or most of the Indians
testimony
We have becn,ne used to the 10
per cent idea 4" declared Parke An
III. ,non' Choetaw Most oil the ino
per crnt an al dcbts and borrowed
money. W. ha,e hcrnn,e go depend-
ent on attnrne,-s that they have a