The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1913-01-19
OSAGE TRIBE CHARGES CABINET
MEMBER WITH PLAYING TO
STANDARD OIL.
WILL NOT ALLOW LEASES
Man Under Fire Alleged to Be With
holding Lands From Uncle Sam Oil
Company, Which Is Fighting the
Trust and Needs the Crude Material
Statement Meets Denial.

Washington, JAM 1S.--The fight be-
tween the interior department, the
Uncle Sam Oil company and members
of the tribal council of the Usage In
dams, who were deposed recently by
Secretary Fisher, and whose actions
have been referred to the department
of justice for investigation, was thrust
upon the attention of congress and
the courts here today.
Representatives of the Oil company,
whose leases upon Usage Oil lands in
Oklahoma We're not approved by Sec
retary Fisher, and representatives OF
the deposed tribesmen spent the day
before the Indian affairs committee of
the house, presenting charges against
Secretary Fisher and other govern
ment officials. Early in the day some
of the deposed members of the Usage
council secured from the district court
mandamus against Secretary Flsher
to compel him to show cause next
Tuesday why they should not be rein
stated.
Basis Of Charges.
secretary of the interior was that he
had aided the standard OILS com
pany's interests by refusing to APP
prove the Uncle Sam leases. A bill
is now before congress to validate
them.
In counter statement, filed with
the committee, Secretary Fisher de-
clared that the action of the officials
of the Uncle Sam Oil company ana
the council Of the Usage tribe. in ne
gotiating the leases, was such that
they had been referred for inVestlga-
tion to the department of justice, ana
because of that fact, he could not dis
cuss them publicly.
The department Of justice late today,
through Assistant Attorney General
Knaebel, transmitted to the United
States district attorney at Guthrie,
Okla, the reports and documents
from Secretary Fisher, alleging that
"undue influence had been used up
on the deposed members of the Usage
tribe, in the negotiation of the leases
If the investigation by the district at
torney warrants such action, the case
will be laid over before the grand jury
in Oklahoma.
Albert L. Wilson, attorney for the
Uncle Sam company, before the mouse
Indian affairs committee, attacked the
attitude of the interior department
the courts and the postoffice depart
ment toward his company.
Persecution.
Mr.. Wilson made an argument re
viewing the career Of the Uncle San
company, its difficulties with the
postoffice department in connection
with its transactions with stockhold
ers, it's troubles with the courts il
bankruptcy proceedings and final,
what he termed the persecution by tn
interior department in the presen
case.
Under examination by the commit
tee, Mr.. Wilson said that Secretar
Fisher objected to the royalty on OF
offered by the Uncle Sam lease. II
said the lease offered the Indians
royalty of one-eighth of the price re
ceived for oil, while the secretary as
serted the royalty should be one -sixtl
Mr.. Wilson declared that the rule
and regulations framed by Secretar
Fisher to cover the leasing of tn
Usage lands We're formulated afte
the Uncle Sam leases had been ne
gotiated and that under these rules n
company or individual could take owe
a large acreage out of the SOo,o'
acres open for development and be a:
(Continued on Page Six)