The Washington herald., 1912-02-26
INDIAN BUREAU
MAY FEEL PROBE
Resolution to Investigate
Follows Inquiry by the
House Committee.
MISCONDUCT is CHARGED

On Saturday. Representative Stephens
Of the House Committee on Indian AZ
fairs, introduced In the House Of Repre-
sentatiyes a resolution providing for al
/ investigation OF the Indian service and
| the conduct of its officials, special refer
ence being made to alleged violations Of
Federal statutes by the Commissioner oi
Indian affairs, and others.
For some months a subcommittee oi
the Indian committee has been making
a quiet Investigation into charges Of mai
administration In the Indian ONCE. and
| of misconduct on the part OF Commits.
sioner Robert G. Valentine and others
the committee desiring nrsr TO ascertain
whether the facts made necessary q
formal investigation before recommend
ing the same TO the House. and IL was
as a result OF this preliminary investi-
cation that the resolution was introduced
on Saturday.
Liquor on Reservation.
Among other matters, testimony was
heard by the subcommittee relating to
charges involving Mr.. Valentine in the
Introduction and use of Intoxicating
liquors upon an Indian reservation.
The charges and testimony are to the
effect that in November, 1909, Commis-
sioner Valentine. while on oficial busi-
ness in Oklahoma, accompanied a party
of about twenty men interested In Indian
oil leases on a camping trip on the Usage
Indian reservation. The party camped
on the allotment OF a minor child Of an
Usage Indian named Green Yeargain.
took with them a large quantity OF in
toxicating liquors. set up bar where
Intoxicating liquors Of all sorts were
dispensed, and set up two poker games.
Mr.. Valentine went with the party as its
guest. and upon taking his leave car
ried several bottles OF Intoxicating liquor
into the agency houses on the same reser-
walton.
Some OF the oil men IN this party were
and now are interested in the Foster
Blanket oil lease on the Usage reserva-
ton. the renewal OF which is now pend
ing in the Indian once.
Law I'm the Case.
The laws against the introduction Of
intoxicating liquors upon Indian reserva-
tions. and into the Indian country gener-
ally. have at all times been most vigor-
ously enforced by the Federal authori-
ties and thousands OF persons have suf-
fered terms of Imprisonment for viola
tons OF these laws.
In his last report, Mr.. Valentine. Com
missioner OF Indian Affairs, had the fol-
lowing to say concerning the liquor traf-
fic:
The use of intoxicating liquors is a
direct and incalculable injury to Indians.
in undermining health and in making
them undependable as workmen. More
over. II furnishes to designing white men
convenient means for carrying out
questionable purposes. During the year
every effort was made to enforce laws
against the liquor traffic.
Throughout the country the necessity
OF keeping Indians from securing intoxi-
cants is being appreciated"
other Charges Pending.
Numerous charges against Mr.. valen-
tine we're filed a number OF months ago
with the Secretary OF the Interior and
with the President. and so far as Is
known no action has been taken con-
cerning them. Recently a representative
Of The Washington Herald questioned
Mr.. Valentine concerning the liquor
charges and he disclaimed any knowledge
OF the same.