The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1912-12-16
ASK GOVERNOR TO
PROBE CHARGES
A Washington special says;

and probate judges OF eastern okif
homa by republicans in the mousse
NAV be answered before the present
session of congress ends, the delh,'
cratic members of Oklahoma dele
cation today conferred and drew up
resolution requesting Gov. Cruce 10
ordered a rigid investigation INTO the
activities of professional guardians
for Indian children.
Charges of gross abuses in the ad-
ministration of affairs of Indian chill
dren we're filed with the secretary
of interior and with members oi
congress by NJ l.. Mott of Musko-
gee. attorney for the Creek nation
In the consideration of the Indian
anpropriation bill these were car
ried to the floor of the house Dy
Representative Mann and Repre-
sentative Burke Of South Dakota,
who demanded why no provision had
heen made in the Appropriation
measure for dealing with the ques'
tion. During the course OF their
remarks they made bitter attacks
upon Oklahoma for permitting the
alleged practice of courts to charge
exorbitant fees for the care OF In
dian affairs while but so small
amount was charged for the care
of those Of the whites, and declared
70 the fees we're as high as had
been charged there could be no
doubt of the crookedness OF tho
courts.
The charges of the two repre-
sentatives practically amounted 10
the statement that there was con-
niyance among the courts and guar
dians. Representatives Ferris, Car
ter and Davenport took up the blud-
geon in behalf Of Oklahoma and
declared that they were much IN
terested in seeing right conditions
prevail within the state as was the
minority leader but they did no.
believe the charges made, however
they said that they were ready 10
support those attacking the courts
provided the charges could be prov
ed To be true. They maintained
they did not believe word OF wha'
had been said and created some
what of sensation when they de-
clared that the charges preferred
we're only made to create rumpus
On that sympathy might be aroused
for the hundreds of employees OF the
Indian service in Oklahoma, whose
nlaces are endangered by the In
dian affairs committees attitude III
refusing to longer tolerate eXorbi-
tant expenses in the administration
of the affairs of the Indians OF the
state. The attack of the republi'
cans was based almost wholly on
the Mott statement Mott charges
extravaganza and totally unwar'
rauted allowance for personal eX-
penses and maintenance of waras
and that in many cases others thih
the wards themselves get the beue-
fits of the excessive amounts; that
there is lack of proper supervi-
sion is shown by the fact that IN
cieht counties of the Creek nation
there are 1889 cases of guardian
ships in which the guardian mas
made no report or in which the pa
pers and court files are inaccessi-
BILE. Attorney Mott says he made
careful investigation of the admin
istration of the estates OF WhlIc
minors and found the average ad-
ministration to be less than L.
per cent of the money hahdIeo'
while the cost of administration oil
estates of Indian minors amounts
Ia more than 10 per cent, both es'
tates being administered in the
same jurisdiction and under tr
same law. With regard to this dis
crepancy, the report states;
The facts speak for themselves
and show most unjust and de-
structive discrimination against the
minor Indian"
Attorney Mott suggests as rem
edy the appointment of four at
torneys to render legal services to'
all the guardians Of minors in the
Greek nation to aid in the Selection
of proper guardians, to bring apou
the removal of incompetents and u
perform all services that might o'
required by any guardian OF an
individual minor in the proper al
ministration of the matters IN nj
charge. From the records OF tn