New-York tribune., 1910-06-26
GORE GETS AN INQUIRY |
Congress Will Investigate Okla
homa Senator's Charges.
BOTH HOUSES TAKE ACTION
Representative Mcclure Denies
Interest in Contracts-Rights
of Indians Guarded.

Washington, June 25.-Congress in its clos
ing hour tonight voted for an investigation
Of Senator Cores charges in connection
with the McMurray Indian contracts. In
stead of the usual scene of comparatively
undignified relaxation from the business OF
legislation, both houses devoted exceedingly
serious attention to the charges of at
tempted bribery and other forms OF I'M
proper influence made in the Senate yester-
day by Mr.. Gore and in the House by Rep
resentative Murphy. of Missouri.
Two separate Investigations are provided
for-one In each house. Each body passed
a resolution creating a select committee OF
five members to pursue the inquiry to the
bottom in the recess Of Congress ana 10
report whether any Of its members are OF
have been interested in any of these con-
tracts
Until a late hour in the day 1t looked DIS
If the matter would go by default. But as
soon as the two houses reconvened at
o'clock tonight, after a recess since after
noon, the case came up with rush, ana
crowded galleries listened with intense in
terest to the proceedings which ended IN
the vote to investigate the charges. During
the proceedings in the Senate, in the Marble
Room, adjoining the chamber, We're ex-
Senators Long, of Kansas, and Thurston,
of Nebraska, who have been mentioned IN
connection with the contracts, as well as
J. F. McMurray, of McAlester, Okla, wnom
Senator Gore named as the principal owner
of the contracts in question.
Speaker Cannon appointed as the commit
tee to conduct the House investigation
Messrs. Burke, of South Dakota, chairman;
Campbell of Kansas; Miller, of Mime
sofa; Stephens, of Texas, and Saunders, OF
Virginia.
Vfce-President Sherman appointed Sena-
tors Jones, Of Washington; Burton, OF
Ohio; Crawford, of South Dakota; Hughes.
of Colorado, and Percy. of Mississippi.
At Senator Carter's instance a letter was
read from ex-senator John M. Thurston.
of Nebraska. demanding an investigation.
Proceeding on the theory that Mr.. Gore
had made a charge against him, he said
he was entirely innocent He said, how
ever. that in connection with ex-senator
Long of Kansas, he had acted as counsel
for McAIurray.
Representative Mcclure, of Oklahoma, IN
the House tonight denied any interest in
the McMurray contracts, and asked sus-
pension of the rules to provide a thorough
investigation
The Senate early In the day adopted 4
resolution introduced by Mr.. Gore, directing
an investigation into the sale Of asphalt and
coal lands. The inquiry is to be conducted
by the Committee on Indian Affairs. and is
to determine whether there is any necessity
for the employment Of private counsel or
agents IN connection with lands belonging
to the Choctaw and Chickasaw tribes, and,
if the employment of such counsel is neces-
sary, whether a fee Of 10 per cent Is rea-
sonable.
Senator Cores charges in connection
with Indian affairs in Oklahoma are not
confined to those made against J. f. Nc
Murray.
When Mr. Gore appeared in the Senate
to-day he said in private conversation that
another attorney had been making an ef-
fort to have about ten thousand negroes
enrolled, which, he said, would net the pro-
moter s25, 900 or 100000. If permitted
to be perfected.
s'Oh," said the Senator. there are sew
eral dens of wolves In that state. I hesi-
tate to go into the matter as it ought to be
done, but some one ought to do it,
While the Senator was discussing the
case the conferrees OF the two houses were
considering his amendment to the general
deficiency bill. Soon afterward Senator
Hale said that the conferrees had granted
Mr.. Cores demand to insert a provision
recurring that all contracts should be ap-
proved by Congress.
I'VE have made it even stronger than Mr.
Gore requested,' said Mr.. Hale, "and have
put in a requirement that all contracts
with the Indians, either past, present OF
| future, shall be imperative until approved
| by Congress-
The provision agreed on by the conferrees
| reads as follows: THAT no contract OF
contracts heretofore or hereafter made af-
| fecting the tribal money and property OF
the said Indian tribes shall be approved
until further action by Congress"
| Senator Gore said the provision was en-
| tirelY satisfactory to him.