The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-08-13
Lawyers Expense Accounts
Running Into Hundreds of
Thousands Shown Up.
PROBING GORE CHARGES
is NOT AN EASY TASK
Evidence That Reds We're Not
Behind Whites in Some
Forms of Graft.

SULPHUR, Okla, Aug. 12.-Lawyers'
expense accounts running as high as
5000. 900. single fee already paid amount
Ing to S750.o00, and contingent fees still
pending that would in tho aggregate
amount to $4,000. 900. figured in the in-
vcstigation OF the Indian land affairs by
tho special committee appointed by the
house OF representatives today.
IL was pointed out that the Indians
never had secured large amounts OF
money due them without having TO "come
across" in the shape Of fees, but although
they employed regular lawyers on yearly
salaries. extra fees were constantly paid
for the employ OF special counsel. The
special fee Of s750000 was paid several
years ago to j. f. McMurray and his law
partner after they had prosecuted what
are known as Tho citizenship cases."
which, IL was stated. kept of the rolls
$4,000 claimants who wanted to partici-
ment.
BY the winning OF this suit Il was ex-
planned that the value of the property to
the Indians who remained on the rolls
was enhanced S16,000,000. on a basis Of
kept Off
The sale Of the property and the di-
vision OF the proceeds Is still being fought
by the Indians.
SCoCI SCern Witness.
This testimony developed In the exam-
Scott was active in securing signatures
for the McMurray contracts to promote
the approval OF which by congress Sena-
tor Gore charges that, on May g. he was
offered bribe OF s25. 900 or $50, 900.
>. McMurray's contracts Scott testified.
II carried out IN their entirety. would
property. which. on 10 per cent "attor-
ney,s fee" basis. would result In a net
profit to McMurray and his associates OF
Senator Gore and members of the COM
mittee, who interrogated the Witnesses
would be paid for services that the gov
ernment already had promised TO give the
Indians without cost Scott also showed
In his testimony that the cost OF employ
ing Ing McMurray would be In addition to
torneys. Scott's contention was that the
attorneys on the regular salary were not
as active as contingent fee attorneys.
SCOTT appeared after his name fire.
quently had been mentioned by previous
witnesses.
Disobeyed His Chief.
II was he who testified that he had
sent kilograms 10 Washington urging the
approval of the contracts He had been
working for McMurray without any writ
ten or verbal agreement, he said. as to
sharing In the fee. and had Induced many
Indians TO sign. He worked In this re-
speot among the Indians despite tho
opposition Of Green McCurtain. chief OF
$4,000 Choctaws. Va
In one telegram to Richard A. Adams.
to Vice President Sherman and Senator
Curtis OF Kansas as understanding bet
ter than any one else what the Indians
wanted"
Questioned as to what lie meant by
that. Scott said he understood Mr.. Sher-
man and Senator Curtis long had been
,amiliar with Indian affairs. and he
pealed 10. Notwithstanding 1t had been
shown that both Mr., Sherman and Mr.,
curtis had protested against the 10 per
cent Zee. They thought 1t too high and
unnecessary.
Before becoming connected with Nc
Murray, Scott had been treasurer OF the
Choctaw nation.
Like Some White Men.
On cross examination, the witness said
the department of the interior sometimes
had complained concerning his method OF
cashing warrants for money due against
favored friends in making payments when
his authority for doing so was in dispute
did YOU ever make any payments
department that you were not 10 do SO
until the act authorizing You to make
such payments had been approved by tho
Miller.
"Yes. 7 believe did. but it was when
the act itself was In dispute
Then you admit that YOU delibera tely
violated the order from the departments"
'T understand It was the opinion OF
some OF the lawyers that I had the right
to make the payments
Did you ever consult lawyer as
to your right7"
'fI may have"
What lawyer did you consuit?"
''Is 1t probable that you consulted Nc
Murray's law firm. who at that time was
acting, as special counsel for the In
"If I consulted any lawyer l may have
McMurray's firm"
In a political campaign among the
Choctaw tribe, Scott said McMurray once
had made contribution OF $1,000.
Did McMurray ever give you money
for the work YOU were doing for him."
Was We'll Paid.
"IIe gave me $4,000 once for expenses,
and some money had corrected as fees,
about 81 a head, believe, for each OF the
1000 tax case contracts, which had
secured
"McMurray would reimburse me for
my time and trouble after he had gotten
mis- foe. but there was no agreement rs
In the 5000 tax cases that formed
ecting taxes on allotted lands Scott
'ald McMurrsly was to get $40 for win
hing oach case. or $4,000 for winning the
,ases collectively,
'Do you moan to say tho Indians were
;oing 10 pay $4,000 for agreeing TO that
which was virtually one tax case?" asked
+. W. Saunders.
Yes, $40 a case. $50 600 for the
ot.'
Cross -Examiu alton.
On cross examination by Dennis FLYNN.
attorney for McMurray. Scott snld there
vas nothing dscreditable to him In the
rder OF the secretary of the interior pro-
ilbiting him from paying warrants. He
aid his successor as Choctaw treasure:
las never paid warrant. a change hav-
ng been made In the manner OF pay
nent.
Scott said he was undor bond al the
ime he was the treasurer and had never