The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-01-17
CHARGE THAT FRAUD
IS BEING PRACT|CED
AGAINST INDIANS
Indians on the White Reser-
vatiOn Are Claimed
to Be i'm Pitiful
Condition

Washington, January Discharges of
gross frauds against the Indians In Min
resota OF the White reservation, that
their condition is pitiful and that Maj
James Mclaughlin, Indian inspector, did
not properly guard the Indians requests
in the allotments of lands, were preferred
te6ay to the House in report by the
committee on expenditures in the interior
department.
The report recommended some remedy
be found by Congress for The present
anomalous situation by which the commits
sioner of Indian affairs has complete CON
trel over property worth $1,000 100000 be-
longing to Indians of the various tribes
in the country.
The report declares that the Chippewa
and other Indians were defrauded of large
sums in the sale of lands and standing
timber on the reservation The 1900 sales
is cited. In it the committee finds from
undisputed authority frauds committed
in the details of its Accomplishment. The
committee further charges that fraudu-
lert partialty was patronized on the In
dams by Simeon Michalet, Indian allotting
agent, In apportioning the Indian timber
forests under the law of 1906.
The best and most valuable pine allot-
ments fell into the hands of those who
were intended in advance to receive
them" says the brief.
Send Out Indian Agent
Investigations after the acts the COM
lniltee says in it's brief resulted in the
sending out of an Indian agent. Thomas
Downs, who found the anomalous pro-
ceedings alleged partially without founda-
lumber companies who claimed rights
themselves as Indians and who would be
benefieiaries of the allotment fraud in
to the department for the set
tirs aside of the contracts. The report
says Major Mclaughlin, the second agent
sent out, refused to allow the full blood
Indians to send out runners to bring in
the people made false reports as to the
number of full bloods present and gave
no adequate notice to the Indians of the
public meetings at which the questions
came up which In effect was a council OF
lumber companies. THE action of for
mer Commissioner Francis f.. Laupp was
Condemned on the ground that he prevent
Ell "a run SidltHitit VI the lHuldHS COM
plants to President Roosevelt during his
inc eumbency
ExaggeratiOn Charged
IN presenting their report to the House.
minority members of the committee de-
clare the majority report Shows on it's
face evidence of extreme exaggeration
on statement and reckless charges of the
most serious character against the In
dian service as a whole and against pub
lie officials in particular, who have a rec
ord of faithful service which entities
them to, and has heretofore secured for
them regulations for enlightened and
faithful devotion to the interests of the
Indians and the public service"
The report refers to former Indian Com
missioner Leupp and Indian Inspector
James Mclaughlin, who are criticised in
the majority report. and says:
''Sweeping and serious charges against
men of such established record and repu-
tation for faithful, honest and sympa-
thctic service for the Indians and the
Public are not justified by hurried and
superficial examination of some isolated
official act
Most of the procedure. acts and prsc-
tices criticised and complained orr the
report concludes, occurred under the
operation of the so-called Clapp amend
utent to Indian appropriation bill. IL the
carrying out of the acts Of Congress re-
suited In loss to the Indians the blame
would seem to lie with Congress and not
with the Indian office, which, from the
record. seems to have been opposed to the
legislation