The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1910-08-01
Sensational Developments Expected When the II
Gore Bribery Charges VIII Be Inquired Into
Investigation by a
Congressional
Committee WiUStQrt
at Musk0gee on
Thursday next.

(American News Service)
Washington, Aug. 1.-Sensational
developments are expected when the
house committee appointed at the
close of the congressional session 70
investigate the charges OF bribery
brought by Senator Gore OF Oklahoma
in connection with the attorneys fees
for the sale OF Indian lands In that
state, begins its sessions. The men,
bers of the committee are: RepreseI.
tatives Burke, of South Dakota, chair
man; Campbell of Kansas; Miller OF
Minnesota;' Stevens of Texas and
Saunders Of Virginia.
According to present arrangements
the investigation will open in Musko-
gee, Oklahoma. on Thursday of this
week. when the blind senator will be
summoned before the committee to
repeat his charges.
Copies OF contracts of J. +. McMur-
ray the attorney whose agent is alleg-
ed to have offered the brides with the
Choctaw and Chickasaw Indians have
been prepared by the interior depart
ment and will be in the hands of the
committee, when the sessions begins.
The committee, however will not
confine itself to the mere investiga-
ton OF the bribery charges. The reso-
luton empowers 1t to Investigate all
circumstances connected with certain
contracts now said to exist between
J. +. McMurray. an attorney or any
other. person or persons. and the
Choctaw and Chickasaw tribes of In
dams or any member thereof. or any
Of the five civilized tribes.
This to include bribery, fraud or
any undue influence that may have
been exerted on behalf of the approval
or procuring of the contracts" For
this reason all the rumors that de-
veloped shortly after the charges
were made to the effect that q senator
and member of the house are interest
ed In the contracts. will be thoroughly
sifted, and the report will be made
at the next session Of congress.
The Gore investigation as it is gen.
orally known had its inception in the
closing days Of the last congressional
session, when Senator Gore opposed a
provision in the general deficiency
and appropriation bill, charging that q
bride had been offered to him and to
an Oklahoma representative from $685..
600 to $4,000 II they would not press
legislation adverse to tho interests of
certain lawyers who were seeking
enormous fees for services in dispos-
ing Of the lands of the Choctaw In
dams In Oklahoma
He named ]. E. McMurray, a we'll
known Indian attorney and lobbyist,
as the head Of q group Of lawyers.
who would get at least 100000 in
fees II the plans went through. and
said that his agent had made the
bride offer.
Mr.. Cores exact words were: "On
proper suggestion. He was q repre-
sentative of Mr.. McMurray, a resident
Of my home town. and had been my
friend In time Of need. He assured me
1t would be to my financial interest
to call on the senator from Colorado
and advise him not report the resolu-
ton. There was suggestion that
$4,000 or $4,000 would be available
II the contracts were not prohibited"
Senator Cores charges came as
climax to long bitter war, which he
had been waging against attorneys,
who seek to enrich themselves at the
expense Of the Indians of his state.
Time and again he had addressed the
senate. urging an inquiry into con-
tracts being made with the Indians
looking to the disposal OF lands al
lotted to them In the former reserve
lions. On these lands are immensely
valuable coal and oil fields, and care
was taken to put into the law permit.
ting their sale, clauses which would
enable the interior department to safe
guard the rights Of the Indians. 1t
appears. however, that McMurray and
his colleagues, held in the neighbor.
hood Of 10000 individual contracts
with Indian claimants to the land for
10 percent Of the proceeds from the
sale of these lands. The total value of
the lands is estimated at $50.000.000
to S1O0.O0O.O0O.
these lands were incorporated in the
general deficiency appropriation bill.
and when Senator Gore failed to get
the inquiry he had repeatedly asked
for. he took another step to circum-
vent the lawyers, by offering an
amendment to the general deficiency
appropriation bill. which provided that
contracts affecting the sale Of the
lands, even II made by individual In
dams. should be null and void unless
approved by congress.
In this way the bill passed the sen
ate. but the house objected to Cores
sweeping provision. and the bill went
into conference, where it was amend
ed to provide that ALI contracts made
by nations shall be null and void until
approved by the president and secre-
tary Of the interior. but that all con-
tracts heretofore made by the indivl-
dual members Of said nations affect
ing the tribal property shall be ap-
proved by the secretary and presi-
dent Mt such rate Of commentator as