The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1913-01-24
BIG INDIAN SCANDAL
CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEE RE.
PORTS LAND INTERESTS
NOT PROTECTED.
CONDITION is P1TIFUL
Declared That Reds Are Being Treat
ed In Shameful Manner-Major
Mclaughlin Criticised
For Conduct.

gross frauds against the Indians on
the White Earth Indian reservation in
Minnesota, that their physical and ma
terial condition is pitiful, and that
Major James Mclaughlin, Indian in
spector, did not properly guard the
Indians interests in the allotment of
lands, were made to the house yester-
day in d report by the committee on
expenditures in the interior depart
ment.
Recommends Remedy.
1t recommended that congress seek
some remedy for the present anomal
Gus situation" by which the commits
sioner of Indian affairs has complete
control over property worth $1,000
100000 belonging to Indians of the
various tribes in the United States.
The report declares that the Chip
pewa and other Indians were defraud-
ed of large sums in the sale of lands
and standing timber on the White
Earth reservation. sale in 1900
the committee finds from undisputed
authority was fraudulent in the de-
tails of its accomplishment" The
committee further charges that
fraudulent partially" was shown by
Simon Michelet, Indian allotting
agent, in allotting the Indian timber
under the law of 1905.
All Pre-arransed.
'"The best and most valuable pine
.allotments fell into the hands of those
who were intended in advance to re-
ceive Them" says the report
Investigations following these acts,
the committee says, resulted in the
sending out of an Indian agent,
Thomas Downs. who found the pro-
ceedings partial, unfair and unjust.
Thereupon the paid agents of the lum-
Der companies who claimed rights
be beneiciaries of the allotment fraud
demonstrated to the interior depart
ment for the setting aside of the pro-
ceedings."
Mclaughlin Accused.
The report declares that Major
James Mclaughlin, the second agent
sent out, refused to allow the fullblood
" SSiu Jul W DTluS
in the people, made false reports as
to the number of fullbloods present
and gave no adequate notice to the
Indians of the mass meeting, at which
the question came up, which lin effect
was council of lumber companies"
The action of former Commissioner
Francis E. Leupp was condemned on
the ground that he prevented full
statement of the Indian complaints to
President Roosevelt
Indians to Seek Money.
Nett Lake.--At council meeting
of the Bots Fort band of Indians here
it was decided to send Chiefs Dab
Bway-Wam-Dung and Mahjishkung
and Interpreter Frank H. Pequette to
Washington Feb. II to see President
elect Wilson. The trip is for the pur-
pose of presenting a petition to the
president-elect involving money al
legged by the Indians to have been
withheld. improvements also will be
urged by the red men.
The Indians claim that they never
received the benefits of $4,000 that
the government claims to have dis
tributed to them in money and clothes
in the early agency work in this Sec
ton. Thirty thousand dollars also
was appropriated to put the young In
dians on their allotments in that early
stage and the Indians claim that not
cent of it ever was turned over. Six
teen thousand dollars also was set
apart for tools and the Indians allege
that not tool was purchased-at
least they say the tools were not given
to them.