Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-08-11
Indians Thought McMurray
Contracts a ''Good Thing"
0RMSBY McHARG'S SALARY
Admits Drawing $4,000 a Year a.
Attorney for Indians.
MCGUIRE UNDER ACCUSATION
Witness Says He Was Informed
Oklahoma Member Of House Had
Interest in Claims.

M'CALESTER. Okla. August lit
was brought out in the congressional in
vestigation OF the Gore bribery charges
today that baby Indians as well as adult
ones had signed the McMurray con-
tracts providing for the sale Of 10000, 900
worth of land on a 10 per cent "attor-
neys fee basis
The names of the little papooses were
signed by the parents or guardians, wit
nesses testified II was incidentally de-
veloped that race suicide is far from
threatening among the Indians as fam
lilies OF six to nine children are common.
j. M. Perkins, a Choctaw testified he
had nine children, all OF whom had
signed the contracts
Lad Faith in McMurray.
I'VE were led to believe that the ron.
tracts were good thing" said Perkins
we considered that McMurray knew
better than our representatives and sem
ators how TO go about selling the land
we believed that by signing the con-
tracts We would realize quicker on our
claim against the government That's
why 1 and the children signed up"
Or. j. II. Miller. Choctaw by inter-
marriage, testified that he and his eigh,
children had signed the contract.
The present great wealth of the Okla
homa Indians was brought out in the tes-
timony.
Although the Choctaw and Chickasaw
trioes OF Indians are lighting for their
individual share Of the land now held by
the government for them, they are at
present accounted among the richest peo-
pie in the world.
Already Rich in Lands.
1t was said their per capita interest In
the claim against the government is So
900, besides which they are already rich
in lands
Indian Witnesses took the stand and
told Of measuring their land by the thou
sand acres.
One Indian testified his family owned
1 ,2OO acres. OF which 1000 acres were
under cultivation with cotton, corn and
potatoes. The land is rented out. he said.
giving him one-Quarter of the cotton crop
| and one-third Of the corn without labor
to him.
Ormsby McHarg, an attorney for the
Choctaw tribe, testified that some as
pensions" had been cast upon him be-
cause he had been employed as the In
dians' counsel in Washington, while he
lived in New York. He said he received
a salary of $4,000 a year.
Acting under the Secretary OF the In
terror. McHarg said, he had invesueat-
ed the Indian land situation in Okla
homa.
McHarg Has a Plan.
II found the situation as confusing a.
ingenious men could make It," testified the
witness. II was instructed by the De-
partment of the Interior to blaze away and
clear up the confusion. 1 am now en-
gagged in formulating a plan"
What his plan was McHarg did not
say. He declared his contract specifically
provided for his residing in New York.
If the McMurray contracts were ap-
proved. Mr.. McHarg said he would re-
sign at once, as he would regard II as
4 duplication of service. He said the
Choctaw tribe already paid out $4,000 .
year for attorneys.
DR.. E. n. Wright, a delegate for the
Choctaws at Washington, took the stand
and refuted charges made against him
in the testimony Of Representative c. u.
Carter.
Carter testified that Richard C. Adams
of Washington had said Wright was in
terested' in the McMurray contracts.
Wright declared he had always opposed
the contracts.
Wright said he never had received any
assistance from McMurray except that
last winter in Washington McMurray had
Five Per Cent for Adams.
Representative C. d. Carter, OF the
fourth Oklahoma district testified at yes
terday's hearing that at an interview at
the home OF Richard c. Adams, an at
torney at Washington. Adams had said
he had an arrangement by which he
was to secure per cent OF the profits
to be derived from the McMurray con-
tracts. and involved Representative B. g.
Mcclure Of Oklahoma.
Representative Carter related meet
ing Jake L.. Hamon May Z. Hamon 10
accused by Senator Gore Of having
offered him $4,000 or $4,000 bribe In
tracts May last
"It was the day after Senator Gore
says the bribe was offered him." said
Carter. IL met Hamon at the Capitol.
Hamon said: You go to that old man
Gore and get him to withdraw thar
fool bill Of his against the McMurray
contracts
.If I should mix UP in those Me.
Murray contracts 1 replied, the people
would think / got part Of the fee. or
they would think I did not have sense
enough to get part Of 1T. which would
be disastrous to me politically in either
case / asked Hamon why he didn't
go to Gore himself. He replied he
wasn't interested in the contracts"
Seeing Senator Gore afterward, the
witness said, he told him what Hamon
had said about not having any interest
in the contracts. That was not what
he told me-" Senator Gore replied. ac-
cording to Carter. The senator then
told Carter about the attempted bribery.
II was last January or February that
Carter and Adams met. the witness said.
Invited to Adams Home.
Adams invited me to his home in
Washington, and went to see him." sad
Representative Carter. During the con-.
versation he spoke of his per cent
rangement with McMurray. He said he
would get per cent Of whatever Nc
Murray made out of the land deal He
then told me he had lots OF people back
OF him. Who have you got?' / asked
Well he replied. we've got Representa-
tive Mcclure for one rs Mcclure in on
1t? 1 asked. Yes he said; Mcclure is
in on 1t. and he will get his share. too
Who else have you got" We've got DR..
Wright, the Choctaw delegate. He's in
on IT. too. Oh, we've got some more.
Then he wanted me to go to Senator
Gore and get him to withdraw his oppo-
sition to the contracts. He said IL they
could stop Cores opposition there would
not be any trouble to get the thing
through. / asked him IL he was sure he
would get his share from McMurray. He
answered he was sure Of It. or that he
would make sure OF II, for McGurray
had double-crossed him before. lad r.