The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1913-05-26
THOROUGH PROBE
OF INDIAN AFFAIRS
INVESTIGATION DEMANDED BY
REPRESENTATIVE CARTER IN
RESOLUTION TO CONGRESS.


Washington, ID. c., May %
Sweeping investigation of the affairs
of the five civilized tribes is pro-
vided for in resolution introduced
in the house Friday by Representa-
tive Carter of Oklahoma. Should the
resolution be adopted the nine mem
bers of congress to compose the in
vestigating board would be empow-
cred to probe into every phase of the
Indian question in the state and par
ticular attention would be centered
on the methods employed by the gov
ernmcnt in caring for the nations
wards.
Great dissatisfaction has arisen
within the state and among the mem
bers of the tribes, over the present
bureaucratic control of the Indians,
which has not only proven expensive,
| but has hindered greatly in the de-
velopment of the Indian. The pro-
lection of his interests has only been
partial Notwithstanding the eXpen-
diturc Of great sums.
The investigation of the following
subjects, among others, is provided
for in the resolution:
The funds of such tribes, the man
ner, mode and method of collecting
and dsbursing the same; whether
disbursed in accordance with law and
by authority OF law, the specific
amounts of such illegal disburse ments
and why division of all tribal funds
has not been made in accordance with
treaty provisions.
Accounting by Fiscal Years.
The total amounts by fiscal years
| that have been expended from either
the treasury of the United States,
the tribal funds, or any other source,
either under the supervision of the
| United States or the tribal govern
| mnt. in the so-called attempted set
| tlement of the affairs of the five civ
ilized tribes since the Dawes COM
mission was provided for in 1898.
The property of such tribes and the
administration and disposition or
same and whether same is being con-
Quoted in accordance with existing
treaties and laws.
The number Of government en-
ployes engaged in looking after the
affairs of the tribes and the indi-
vidual members thereof, the salaries,
expenses and other apputtenances
paid to and work done by each indi-
ydual and the manner in which II
is being done. The tenure and pres
| ent status of all such positions and
what relation same may bear to the
classified civil service. Any and all
frauds alleged to have been perpe-
! trated upon such tribes or individual
members thereof and cause and eff
| feet of same Any contracts or any
attempts to contract with the mem
| bers of the five civilized tribes or
| those claiming to be such members
and any and all circumstances con-
nccted with such contracts or at
tempts to contract.
suits to Set Aside Conveyances.
= The suits to set aside conveyances
Of allotted lands in the five civilized
| tribes and the cause or causes that
have prevented final settlement of
the affairs of such tribes in com
plance with treaty obligations.
The segregated mineral and
the cause for a failure to dispose Of
tn surface thereof during the time
pr scribed by law. The so-called
/ timber reserve of the Choctaw ma.
ton and the cause for failure to dis
nose of same in accordance with eX-
isting laws. All tribal and other In
dian schools patronized by members
Of the five civilized tribes, and all
school property and school funds
and the administration and manner of
conducting same.
1t is provided that the committee
shall make a full investigation Of any
phase or condition of the affairs OF
the five civilized tribes that it sees
fit.
Should Representative Carter's
measure be acted upon favorably 1t
is expected that the investigation will
lead to rapid and quick reforms in
ne governments handling of Indian
affairs and that a final settlement
of the tribal matters will be hastened
by the disclosures expected.