The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1911-03-02
NJ HARG MAY LOSE
HIS $4,000 SALARY
FORMER NORTH DAKoTAN IN
DANGER OF BEING ousTED
AS ATTORNEY OF cHoc-
TAW NATION.

Washington, March 2.-Ormsby Nc
Harg of New York, formerly of North
Dakota, who has attained more or less
notoriety during the past few years
through anti-Roosevelt interviews, will
lose salary of $4,000 a year If the
administration adopts a recommends
ton made today by the house com
mittee which made an inquiry into the
bribery charges made by Senator Gore
Of Oklahoma. This committee was
comprised Of Representatives Burke OF
South Dakota. chairman; Miller OF
Minnesota. Campbell OF Kansas, Saun-
ders Of Virginia and Stephens Of Tex
as.
Discussing the case of Mr.. McHarg
the committee points out that he has a
contract with the Choctaw nation. The
committee sets forth that for his serv-
ices in behalf of this nation he receives
a greater annual compensation than is
paid the attorney general or the chief
justice of the United States. The COM
mittee suggests the interests of In
dams would not suffer if McHarg's
arrangements with them was terminate
ed. This is what the committee has
to say about the McHarg contract:
Recites Term of Contract.
THE Choctaw nation made a con-
tract with Ormsby McHarg, an attor-
ney at law, New York City, In which
the said McHarg is required to CO.
operate and advise with the general at
torneys of the nation in all legal mat
tiers and questions touching the affairs
of said nation. The compensation pro-
vided in this contract is $4,000 per an
mum, payable monthly, and in addition
thereto the personal and travelling ex-
penses of Mr. McHarg while out of the
city of Washington engaged in the
service of the Choctaw nation. This
contract was approved by the presi-
dent as provided by section 2S of the
act of April 26, 1906.
I'm the opinion of this committee this
contract is not justified on business
principles, and the fact that the COM
pensation Is paid from funds of a
trust nature under the control OF the
United States as trustee makes II
more important that the contract
should be just and equitable than IL
would be if the government were en-
ploying an attorney on it's own be-
half to be paid from public funds
When 1t is considered that McHarg
receives salary equal to that Of the
attorney general and almost equal tc
that of the chief justice of the United
States, the excessive compensation paid
for his cooperation and advice in
Choctaw affairs is manifest. One firm
Of competent attorneys is sufficient tc
look after the litigation and other mat
tiers of interest to the nation requir-
ing the advice of counsel, and it is the
opinion of the committee that the Nc
Harg contract can be terminated with
out prejudice OF the interests of the
Choctaw nation"
McMurray ls Exonerated.
The committee made its final report
to the. house last night, the majority
finding that Jake l.. Hamon actually
did, about May 6, 1910, make an i'm
proper proposal to, Senator Gore re-
specting the McMurray contracts: and
that about June is, 1910, he approached
Rep. Charles #. Creager with an Inn
proper proposal on the same sub
ject. The committee finds no evidence
however, to show that Hamon was act
ing by authority of or with the con-
sent of knowledge of McMurray.''
on this ground the committee exon
crates McMurray of any connection
with an attempt improperly to influ-
ence members of the house or senate
1t does find, however. that he used
more than undue influence" to secure
the support of Chief Green McCurtair
and his son, d. c., McCurtain, in get
ting these contracts by transferring a
contingent interest of $25. 900 In the
contracts to ID. G. McCurtain.