The Salt Lake herald-Republican. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1909-1918, 1910-08-13
One Single Fee Amounted to
$4,000 and Expense Ac-
counts as High as $500, 900
Unearthed by Committee.
REGULAR ATTORNEYS
TOOK LITTLE INTEREST
Drew Their Salaries but Did
Nothing in the Way of Pro-
noting the Welfare of In
dams Who Employed Them.
CHOCTAW TELLS HIS TALE

Q ULPHUR, Okla, Aug. I2.-La,y-
- yers' expense accounts running
as high S3OO,OOOj a single fee,
already paid, amounting 10 e75O,OOO,
and contingent fees still pending that
would aggregate S5yOOOs0O0 figured In
the estigatiOn Of the Iadian land az
fairs by the special committee an
pointed by the House OF Representa-
lives today.
Ii was pointed out that the Indians
never had secured large amounts OF
money due them without having 20
"eOme across" in the shape OF fees but
although they employed regular law
were constantly paid for the employ Of
special counsel. The special Zee Of
s750,O00 was paid several years ago 10
,. +. MeMurray and his law partners
Hfter they had prosecuted what are
known "the citizenship cases.
which, il was stated kept off the rolls
deipate in the claims against the gov
eminent.
BY the winning OF this suit it was
explained that tho value OF the prom
erty to the Indians who remained on
the rolls was enhanced SIC, 600 600. on a
basis OF $1,000 for each OF the 80 600
claimants kept off
The sale OF the property ana the divi-
slou OF the proceeds IS still being
fought for by the Indians
This testimony developed in the ex-
animation OF George +. Scott a ChDo-
/ taw Scott was active in securing sig
natures Tor the McMurray contracts 10
promote the approval OF which by Com
gress Senator T. 2. Gore charges that
On May ne was offered a bribe OF
Sz0gvgO or 10000.
McMurray's contracts, Scott testified.
IL carried out IN their entirety, would
dispose or about $50 100000 worth 81
pIOperty' while, on 10 per cent "at-
ret proIlt 20 McAurray and his assoc
clates OF almost 100000. This fee,
Sseeoratng 70 Senator Gore and mem
Defs OF the committee. who interrOgat-
ed the witnesses, would be paid for
services that the government already
hau promised 10 give the Indians With
GUY cost. scott also showed in his tes-
Iimony that the cost OF employing No
Murray would be in addition to 100000
now paid annually 10 regular attor-
Regular Attorneys NOT Active.
SCOTS contention was that the at
tOrneys on the regular salary vvere rCt
a. actlVe as contingent fee attOrnevs
ocolt appeared after his name ire
Sushllg had been mentioned by previ-
It was he who testified he had sent
tSI9eIails 70 washington urging the
approval Of the contracts. Vs bs6
been working for McAIurrav vTftboHt
any written or verbal agreement hs
saids as 10 sharing in the fee and had
Indgceq many Indians TO sign. He
worked IN this respect among the In
qlans despite the opposition OF Green
MoCurtain, chief OF is 900 ChoctaWs
IN one telegram 20 Richard A. Adams
an attorney az Washington, he referred
70 wee President Sherman and Senator
Curtis OF Kansas, as MISUNDERSTANDING
better than anyone else what the IN
dams wanted"
Questioned as TO what he meant bv
mat, Scott said he understood Mr
sherman and Senator Curtis long mai
been familiar with Indian affairs ana
he thought they were the ones to h.
appealed 10, Notwithstanding Il had
been shown that both Mr.. Sherman ana
MT. Curtis had protested against the
CONTINUED On PHse arvvO.)