The Washington herald., 1913-06-08
Lane ATTACKS
indian MEASURE
Oregon Senator Declares Sup
ply Bill Carries Money
Without Accounting.
FEES CAUSE DISPUTE
Committee Again Will Take Up To-
morrow the Question of INC
Murray Amendment"

Senator Lane of Oregon got of the
| reservation yesterday in the Senate
Committee on Indian Affairs and threat
ems to make war on the Indian approp-
ration bill when IL is brought into the
! Senate.
/ A few weeks ago. when the Senate COM
| mittec took up the consideration of the
! bill ia committee. Senator Lane COM
| planned that there was not available for
| the use of the members of the committee
sufficient detailed information as to the
expenditures to be authorized. He was
SO emphatic in his protests that an ad-
journment was taken for a week in order
to provide the Senator with some of thu
information he desired. The Interior De-
partment sent in some detailed estimates,
but they were not complete enough, and
yesterday Senator Lane renewed his pro-
test In the committee. but was over
ridden. and he practically served notice
that he would fight on the floor OF the
Senate, to impress his idea on that body
as to the proper way to legislate in an
Indian appropriation bill. He spread on
the records of the committee the follow
ing letter:
senator Lanes Letter.
Gentlemen: | respectfully represent to
you, as member of this committee
which at this time has under considera-
tlOn the Dlli l'i hh' 90
MANAGEMENT OF the Bureau OF Indian
Affairs for the year 1914 that | have
asked for a reasonable and plain bust
ness statement OF the facts, without
prejudice to any one. as they relate to
the many differing provisions OF the
aforesaid measure. This bill provides
for specific appropriations appointing to
between 100000 and slO,0O0O0o. and in
addition confers powers to administer
upon property and moneys amounting.
l am informed, TO hundreds OF millions
more
up until this time l have been I'M
able to secure information except what
pertained to a few agencies. which in
every instance show that the moneys
appropriated have not been applied for
the purpose for which they were asked.
In addition. such statements prove con-
clusively and beyond dispute that such
appropriations are accompanied by rights
of absolute control over millions of dol
lars worth of property, no accounting
for the management OF which anywhere
appears.
The committee is as familiar with this
condition of affairs as | am. and il is
but needless repetition for me to make
mention of IT here. and it is not my
purpose to go into the matter further
at this time.
TT is my desire to ascertain now and
at this time definitely and positively.
however. and for my own guidance,
whether or not the committee intends
longer to deny me the right OF having
the facts as they pertain to this meas
ure laid before IL for its consideration.
1t being an official body acting as agents
for the people of this country in the
of the large property rights
involved.
The Senate Committee on Indian AZ
fairs yesterday completed the considera-
ton of the bill, with the exception OF
an amendment proposed by Senator
Gore putting a limitation on the fees of
Indian attorneys. This amendment has
come to be known as the ''McMUrray
amendment" because il will mainly af-
feet contracts made by J. F. McMurray.
Of McAlester, Okla, aggregating S,5Oo.o0
for the sale of Indian lands containing
coal.
McMurray-Gorc Clash.
McMurray negotiated the contracts and !
has been trying to have them approved, !
and Senator Gore of Okla hOma has been |
fighting them. 1t was because of these |
contracts that Senator Gore raised SEN J
sation in the Senate chamber a few years !
ago by denouncing what he alleged to be |
a corrupt attempt to influence his action |
on the part of a man who claimed to be !
to secure the approval of Nc |
Murray's contracts. This matter was left |
open and the committee again will take
il up tomorrow. McMurray has been
present before the committee at hearings |
and the controversy at times has been
very sharp. Senator Gore intimated re-
Gently that the Indian bill was killed
N the Senate in the last Congress be-
cause it carried the Gore amendment
aimed at the McMurray contracts.
Senator Fall of New Mexico. who
Ought the Indian bill to its death. sharp
Y resented this as aimed at himself, and
,alled on Senator Gore and the commit
zee few days ago to make good on the
charge. Senator Falls opposition to the
In hn Los |