Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1913-01-19
THE UNCLE SAM Leases
ATTORNEY FOR HOWARD TUCK
ER SAYS FISHER FAVORED
STANDARD OIL co.
CALLS IT PERSECUTION"
Long List of "Pitfall' Placed In the
Uncle sam Company's Path Is
Eloqucntly Rccltcd.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 1S.-The fight
between the interior department, the
Uncle Sam Oil company and members
of the triabl council of the Usage In
dans, who were deposed recently by
Secretary Fisher, 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 lands in Ok
lahoma were not approved by Secrt-
tary Fisher, and representatives OF
the deposed tribesmen spent the day
before the Indian affairs committee
OF the house, presenting charges
against Secretary Fisher and other
government officials. Early in tht
day some of the deposed members
of the Usage council secured from the
district court a mandamus against
Secretory Fisher to compel him to
show cause next Tuesday why they
should not be renstated.
Aided the Standard.
the secretary of the interior was that
he had aided the Standard OIL com
pany's interests by refusing to approve
the Uncle Sam leases. A bill is now
before congress to validate them. In
a counter statement, filed with the
committee when the hearing began,
Secretary Fisher declared that the ac-
tions Of the officials of the Uncle Sam
Oil company and the council of the
Usage tribe, in negotiating the leases,
were such that they had been re-
ferred for investigation to the depart
ment of justice. and because Of this
fact could not discuss them publicly.
Papers to Oklahoma.
The department of justice late to-
day, through Assistant Attorney Cen
eral Knaebel. transmitted to the
United States district attorney at
Guthrie, Okla, the reports and docu-
ments from Secretary Fisher, alleging
that undue influence had been used
upon the deposed members Of the
Usage tribe in the negotiation OF the
leases" II the investigation by the
district attorney warrants such action,
che cast will be laid before the grand
jury in oklahoma.
Albert l.. Wilson, attorney for the
Uncle Sam Oil company, In five
hour session before the house Indian
affairs committee, attacked the atti-
tude of the interior department, the
courts and he postoffice department
toward his company.
Terms II Persecution"
Mr.. Wilson made a lengthy argu-
ment, reviewing the career of the
Uncle Sam company, its difficulties
with the postoffce department in
connection with its transactions with
stockholders, its troubles with the
courts in bankruptcy proceedings and
finally what he termed persecution"
by the inttrior department in the
present case.
Under examination by the COM
mittee Mr.. Wilson said that Secretary
Fisher objected to the royalty on oil
offered by the Uncle Sam lease. He
said the lease offered the Indians a
royalty Of one eighth of the price re-
celved for oil while, the secretary as
serted the royalty should be one
sixth.
Argucs for Big Leases.
Mr.. Wilson declared that the rules
and regulations framed by Secretary
Fisher to cover the leasing Of the
Usage lands were formulated after the
Uncle Sam leases had been negotiated
and that under these rules no COM
pany or individual could take over a
large acreage out of the 100000 acres
open for development and be assured
of a reasonable return on the invest
mint. The committee desired to know
lust how Mr.. Wilson connected the
actions of Secretary Fisher with the
Standard OIL company.
Every attempt to keep the Uncle
Sam OIL company from securing q
supply Of crude OIL" he relied. "aids
and assists the Standard Oil COM
pany. II we cannot get n good sup
ply OF oil for our refineries they will
be able TO crush u.s."
Details the Pitfalls.
Mr.. Wilson was emphatic in his de-
tailed discussion Of the pitfalls that
had beset the path Of the Uncle Sam
company. Among those criticized in