New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-01-19
INDIAN TROUBLES IN
TRIANGULAR INQUIRY
0SageS and Uncle Sam Oil CON-
pany Accuse Fisher of Aid
ing the Trust.
CALLS ATTACK AN HONOR
Secretary Hints at Important
Development-Calls Affairs
Too Serious To Be
Disclosed.
From The Tribune Bureau. J

Washington, Jan. ia three-cornercd
investigation of charges and counter
charges. affecting the Secretary Of the
Interior. the Uncle Sam OIL Company ana
the tribal council of the Usage Indians
/ and Ringing on the controversy over me
! leasing OF the Indians oil lands. was
! begun to-day. The Department OF JUS
tice, the Interior Department ana I've
| Committee on Indian Affairs are ca'h
concerned with some phase OF the mo
| ians' charges that Secretary Fisher seeks
to force the Osages TO lease lands 10 CUB
salaries Of the Standard oil Company
and the reply of Secretary Fisher that
the leases which the Uncle Sam Company
a so-called Independent concern, atieml T.
! ed 10 make with the Indians warranted
/ investigation by the courts.
! The entire controversy is an aftermath
of the removal by Secretary Fisher lie"
! days ago. OF seven members of the Usage
: Council These members went to the Dis
! trlct Supreme Court to-day and asked
| for mandamus directing the Secretary
to show cause why they should not be
| reinstated.
| Attorneys for the Indians and the Uncle
| Sam oil Company testified this afternoon
| before the House Indian Affairs Commit
| tee They declared that the lease pro-
posed by the Uncle sam company would
/ be of advantage TO the Indians and Sec
rotary Fisher takes the opposite view 30
| strongly that the Department Of Justice
| has becun an investigation, which is IN
! der the personal supervision of the At
| torney General
Declaring that he regarded an attack
| by the Uncle Sam company as badge OF
honor, Mr.. Fisher to-day made written
reply to the charges FLED with the Su-
preme Court. and probably will appear in
person 10 testify. He hints at important
developments when the Department OF
Justice concludes its inquiry, and says
that meanwhile the preliminary report OF
the Interior Department shows such a
serious condition OF affairs that it should
not be made public now.
Question Of Royalty.
II appears from Mr.. Fishers partial
reply 10 the charges that ne believes that
the Osages should have as royalty one
sixth of the oil and gas found on their
lands The Uncle Sam lease, of which
Mr.. Fisher disapproved. only gave the
Indians one-eighth. and Mr.. Fisher fur
Their declined to approve a lease for the
entire tract of 10000 acres controlled o.!
the Osages in Oklahoma. representa-
tives OF the oil company insist that II
will be of benefit to the Osages TO lease
b'te king certain oil
having their land developed IN the near
future"
The Department OF Justice late to-day
through Assistant Attorney General
Knaehel. transmitted 10 the United States
District Attorney at Guthrie. Okla. the
reports and documents from secretary
Fisher. alleging that undue influence
had been used upon the deposed members
of the Usage tribe in the negotiation OIL
the leases II the investigation by the
District Attorney warrants such action
the case viii be laid before the grand jury
in Oklahoma.
Albert l.. Wilson, attorney for the Uncle
Sam company made long argument
reviewing the career Of the Uncle Sam
comp4nv. it's difficulties with the Post
Office Department in connection Win
ifs transactions with stockholders, It's
troubles with the courts in bankruptcy
proceedings and, finally, what he termed
the persecution by the Interior De-
partment in the present case.
Mr.. Wilson declared that the rules and
regulations framed by Secretary Fisher
10 cover the leasing of the Usage lands
were formulated after the Uncle sam
leases had been negotiated, and that UNI
der these rules no company or individual
could take over a large acreage out OF
the $4,000 acres open for development and
be assured OF a reasonable return on the
investment. The committee desired 10
| know lust how Mr.. Wilson connected the
actions OF Secretary Fisher with the
Standard OIL Company