The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-08-03
Probe Into Indian Contracts
Will Be Sensational
BR|BE OFFERED SENATOR
VIII Take Up the Investigation
and Examine Into Matters
Very Thoroughly
BY WATTERsoN sTEALEY

BY WATTERSON STEALEY
Washington August 2.-(Special.)- y
Sensational developments are expected
when the House committee, appointed at
the close of the congressional session TO
investigate the charges of bribery brought
by Senator Gore of Oklahoma in con-
nection with the attorneys fees for the
sale of Indian lands in that state, begins
its sessions. The members of the COM
mittee are: Representative Burke of
South Dakota, chairman; Compbell of
Kansas, Hitler of Minnesota, Stevens of
Texas and Saunders of Virginia
According to present arrangements the
investigation will open in Muskogee, Okla.
on Thursday of this week, when the blind
senator will be summoned before the COM
mittee to repeat his charges. Copies OF
contracts of j. F. McMurray, the at
torney whose agent is alleged to have
offered the bribes to the Choctaw and
Chickasaw Indians, have been prepared
by the interior department, and will be
In the hands of the committee when the
session begin.
The committee, however, will not con-
fine itself to the mere investigation of the
bribery charges. The resolution empow-
ers 1t to investigate all circumstances
connected with certain contracts now said
to exist between ]. f. McMurray, an
attorney, OF any Olici PCiSOh VI PtA
sons, and the Choctaw and Chickasaw
tribes of Indians or any member there
Of or any of the five civilized tribes.
All the rumors that developed shortly
after the charges were made to the ef-
feet that a senator and member of
the House are interested in the contracts
will be thoroughly sifted.
The Gore investigation, as 1t is gen
orally known, had it's inception In the
closing days of the last Congress, when
Senator Gore in opposing a provision of
the general deficiency appropriation bill,
charged that a bribe of $4,000 to $4,000
had been offered to him and to an Okla
homa representative II they would not
press legislation adverse to the interests
of several lawyers who we're seeking
enormous fees for services in disposing of
the lands of the Choctaw Indians in Okla
homa.
What the result of the inquiry will be
is problematical. McMurray and Others
whose names have been mentioned in con-
nection with the charges have all re-
ouested a prompt investigation. Whatever
the result, there can be no question but
that these Indian contracts are very prof
table, for, according to the records in
the interior department. McMurray and
his associates received fee of $75O0OO
as attorneys before the Choctaw citizen
ship court. During Roosevelt's admins
tration they held contract with the
five civilized tribes on a similar basis,
but the President declined to accept or
acknowledge 1t as a valid contract Then
they got the individual contracts.
Senator Delivers Chance
A strange situation will be caused il
Senator Jonathan p. Dolliver Of Iowa
becomes the new head of the Senate
committee on postoffices
Senator Dolliver is likely to be given
that Craftsmanship in the course of the
changes which are expected to come
about at the reorganization of the SEN
ate committees In the next Congress.
Senator Penrose is now the head of the
nostoffice committee. But there is a
prospect that he may be the next head
of the committee on finance, Senator Al
drich will go out of the Senate at the
end of this Congress. II he carries out
his announced intention. Senator Bur-
rows stands next on finance, but his
chances of being reelected are slim.
Even n he is reelected, his age units
him to serve as head of so arduous a
committee as finance. To the selection
of Senator Penrose there would be
many objections, but the Senate rule OF
seniority Is strong, and the Pennsylva-
MIA boss would have 1t on his side II
would be difficult to overcome It, with
Penrose heading finance. he would give
up tn6 Va
on postoffices.
senator Dolliver is next in line He is
chairman of the committee on agricul-
ture. but would be likely to give up
agriculture for the purpose OF heading
the postoffices committee. which is grow
ing rapidly in Importance. Now, II nap
mems that the administration is pun
ishinp Senator Doliver for being an in
sursent by Withholding postoffice pat
ronage from him. 1t is doing the same
thing with other insurgents.
Rut once Dolliver becomes head of the
senate committee on postoffices, 1t is an
interesting question what will happen
The postoffice department VIII have
then TO go to Dolliver for favors. and
r,,Ii not be in position to be arbitrary
about Dolliver postoffice recommenda-
t,ons More than that, Dolliver, being
In sympathy with the other Iowa In
survents. as we'll as with the insurgents
generally, might be expected to make
more or less embarrassment. If head of
the postoffices committee. for the post
office nominations which were made to
,,,,rish ,nsurgent House members or sen.
ators
Survey of Alabama Lands
The geological survey has published
the Topographic map OF the Montevallo
quadrangle, the third completed in the
Ressemer atlas, and has 1t ready for dis
tribution at cents the copy.
The map shows the waters, including
lakes, ponds, swamps and streams; re-
lief of mountains. valleys and cliffs. and
couture of works of man." comprising
towns, railroads, wagon roads, Individual
residences and boundaries. The Monte
yallo quadrangle Is shown on the largest
scale of Topographic maps. l to @,ooo
and is exactly accurate as to distance
and elevation.
The territory covered is between ap-
,,roximatelv Saginaw on the northeast,
Ocampo on the southeast a point sew
eral miles northeast of Centreville on the
southwest, and Shades mountain on the
northwest.
The entire country is being mapped
topographically. the geological mapping
being made afterwards All of northeast
Alabama has been topographicaliy map
ned. but only Gadsden and Stevenson
districts have been geologically mapped.
American Resigns Place