Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1913-01-19
Secretary Of Interior Accused
Of Fayoring Standard OIL
People in Handling Usage
Land Leases,
INDIAN TRlBESMEN
COMPLAIN BITTERLY
Removal of Chief from Council
Regarded as Unauthorized
and High Handed Procedure
by Official,
In, MornIus Iaarnnl speeIaI I.rn.ra MIC

Wy VfllOloli
lH, Morning journal special leased Wire
Washington, Jan. iS-The fight bo-
tween the interior department. the
Uncle sam oil company and members
Of the tribal council OF the Usage In
dians who we're 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 Indian lands
in Oklahoma were not approved by
Secretary Fisher and Of the dcposod
tribesmen spent most Of the day be-
fore the Indian affairs committee of
the house. presenting Information be-
fore Secretary Fisher and other Of
hclalr.
Early in the dag some Of the de-
posed members 81 the Usage council
secured from the district court
mandamus against Secretary Fisher to
compel him 10 show cause next Tues
day why they should not be relnstat-
ed The basis OF the charges against
the secretary OF the interior WIS that
he had aided the Standard oil eom-
pnnys interests 10y refusing 10 approve
the tnelc Sam on company leases.
A bin now Is before congress 20 vail
date them. In a counter-statemcn tii-
ed with the committee when the hear
ing began. Secretary FISHER declared
that the actions OF the officials Of the
t'nele Sam oil company and the eoun-
ell Of the OHaae tribe. ln negotatius
the leases. were such that they had
been referred for Investigation 70 the
department Of Justice and because Of
that fact he could not discuss them
publicly.
The department OF Justice late to-
day. through Assistant Attorney Gem
eral knaebol. transmitted to the
United states district attorney at
Guthrie, Okla, the reports aud docu-
ments from Secretary Fisher. alleg-
ing that undue Influence" had been
used on The deposed members of the
Usage tribe. In the negotiations OF
the leases. II the Investigation by the
district attorney warrants such ac-
ti0n the case will be laid before the
grand jury In oklahoma.
Albert l.. Wilson. attorney for the
Uncle Sam company IN q five-hour
session before the house indian af-
fairs committee. attacked the attitude
of tho interior department. the courts
and the postofflee department. toward
his client Mr. Wilson made long
argument. reviewing the career Of the
Uncle sam company. lis difficulties
with the postoffiee department IN
connection With its transactions with
stockholders It's troubles with the
courts In bankruptcy proceedings ana
anmlv with the termed persecution
by the interior department In the
present ease.
Under examination by the commits
tee Mr. Wilson said that Secretary
Fisher objected 20 the royalty ON oil
offered by the Uncle Sam lease. He
said the lease offered the Indians n
royalty Of one-eighth Of the price re-
eeived for oil while the secretary as
serted the royalty should be one-slxth.
Mr.. Wilson declared that the rules
md regulations framed by Secretary
Fisher to cover the leasing OF the
Usage lands were formulated after
he tfnele Sam leases had been nego-
Hated and that under these rules no
company or individual could take
over large increase out OF the
500. 600 acres open for development.
md be assured Of a reasonable return
,n the investment, Tho committee de-
sircd to know lust how Mr.. Wilson
connected the actions Of Secretary
Fisher with the Standard Oil CONS
iany
Ever, attempt to keep the Uncia
'am OIL company from securing q
lpply Of crude oil" he replied, adds
md assists The Standard OH company.
f we eannot get good supply OF oil
rom our refineries. they will be able
. crush u.s."
Mr. Wilson was emphatic IN his
otailed discussion Of the pitfalls that
lad beset the path Of the Uncle Sam
vi company. Among those criticised.
u long brief he filed with the com-
littee for their attitude toward tho
were Judge John Pollock.
I the district court OF Kansas. Judge
ohm r. Phillips, OF the district court
Missouri; Samuel Adams, assistant
ecretary OF the interior; r. p. Good
in. assistant attorney general for
he postoffiee department: David W.
Iulvane. OF Kansas. and various oth-
r officials Mr.. Wilson said when the
ompany endeavored to secure petit
ons from the citizens all over the
ountry asking President Taft TO or
er Secretary Fisher 10 approve
'ncle Sam leases on July I. 1913, that
ecretary Fisher, on Inly 9rd. gave
le Associated Press the Ealse lntQs~