Omaha daily bee., 1910-06-26
Tells of Gigantic swindles Being
Incubated in Oklahoma.
WOULD NET PROMOTERS MILLIONS
Insists Contracts with L.Jans Be In
operative Until Congress Approves.
BRIBEs AND BRIBERY MENTIONED
Former Member of the Upper House
and Once n Resident of Ne
brnsI<a TO he ImplI-

today adopted the resolution introduced by
Mr.. Gore directing an investigation into
the sale of asphalt and coal lands. The
inquiry Is TO be made by the senate com
mittee on Indian affairs and is to deter
mine 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, IL the
employment of such counsel is necessary,
whether a fee of 10 per cent is reasonable.
Senator Cores charges in connection with
Indian affairs Ia Oklahoma are not con-
fined to those made against O. F. Nc
Murray, an Oklahoma lawyer.
When the senator made his appearance
in the senate today he said In private
conversation that another attorney had
been making efforts to have about 10000
negroes enrolled. which he said, would
net the promoters $25,O00,OO0 or $780,.
100000 IL permitted to be perfected.
oh" said the senator, there are sew
eral dens Of wolves in that state. hesl-
tate to go into the matter as It ought
to be done, but some one ought to do
it."
He had not decided whether he would
bring the new charge to the attention
of the senate.
While the senator was discussing the
matter the conferees of the two houses
were engaged in discussing the Oklahoma
senator's amendment to the general de-
fenciency appropriation bill. Soon after
Senator Hale stated that the conferees
had acce1ed to Mr.. Cores demand to in
sert a pr. vision requiring that all con-
tracts should be approved by congress.
ProvIsIOn Made stronger.
I'VE have made 1t even stronger than
M. Gore required" said Mr.. Hale, land
have put in a request that all contracts
with the Indians. either past or pres
ent or future, shall be imperative until
approved by congress. The provision
agreed upon by the conferees read as fol-
lows:
That no contract or contracts hereto
fore or hereafter made affecting the
tribal money and property of the said
Indian tribes shall be approved until
further action by congress" y b.,
Senator Gore said that the provision
was entirely satisfactory to him.
Whether there will be an investigation
by congress of allegations made by SEN
ator Gore that an effort had been made
TO bribe him in connection with tho
claims of j. f. McMurray for attorneys
fees undsr contracts McMurray has with
the Choctaw and Chickasaw nations is
question much discussed in both
DIduCncS VI SbhbbNSa hpNoS'
status of Bribery Charge.
Senator Gore was asked whether he in
tended TO follow up his allegations WITH
formal charges against the mem0ers oi
the senate and house, whom he suspected
of having direct interest in the McMurraS
contracts.
The Oklahoma senator replied that h,
had presented the facts TO the senate
and that the responsibility for any
proceedings rested upon the senate.
On the other hand. congress leaders
seem to think that Mr.. Gore should fil'
formal charges or bring a resolution de
manding an investigation. 1t was pointed
out that the Oklahoma senator had al
legged that present member of the sen
ate and present member OF the hous'
were Interested in the McMurray claims
but that he had not made public tn,
names of the men. He involved also
\ former senator from Nebraska and
formed senator from Kansas as Lobbyists
for McMurray. The names of the men re
ferred to by Mr.. Gore we're we'll know
TO his colleagues, but there is no sugges
tion that these men had performed serv
ices that would necessitate an inves.l
CATION
status of Proposed Inquiry.
The Investigation, IL one is to be had
would deal with a direct attempt to in
fluence Mr.. Gore and such other member
of either house as had been approached.
The general impression seems TO b
that the investigation cannot be denie
by the senate If it is demanded by Sen
Ator Gore or by another member.
When Senator Gore was informed tina
some OF his colleagues looked to hin
70 begin proceedings, he said:
II have given the senate the infor
nation in my possession and 1t remain
for the senate TO act IL may see III
shall do nothing more in the matte
than l have done. My object is to pro
tect the Indians and that seems to hav
been accomplished"
The general deficiency bill including
the amended provision designed to safe
guard the Indians against excessive con
tracts, was agreed to by both houses.