The Washington herald., 1913-06-18
TILT IN SENATE
OVER INDIANBILL
1t Comes During Discussion
of Restricting Fees Of Red
Mems Attorneys.
ASHURST LEADS DEBATE
Determined Effort to Increase Salary
of Cato Sells Is Side
tracked.

| 81 object to the long. bony fingers Of
former Senators and lobbyists being
reached into the tribal funds of the In
dians," exclaimed Senator Ashurst OF
Arizona in the Senate yesterday after.
noon, in replying to a speech by Sem
ator Fail of New Mexico, in opposition
| to an amendment In the Indian appro-
priat;on bill. invalidating contracts for
attorneys fees with Indians.
Senator Fan had just charged that the
Senate was proposing by the amendment
Ito tie the hands Of a man while you
rob him" He had declared that the In
dians had been helpless In their efforts
to secure restitution by the government
of money to which they were entitled
until attorneys and lobbyists came to
their rescue.
The Indian appropriation bill had been
before the Senate most OF the afternoon
and the Senate was still discussing the
proposed restriction on the fees OF In
dian attorneys when an adjournment
was taken until today. The amendment
is admittedly aimed at Indian attorneys
who make contracts for large contingent
fees and is especially directed to what
has come to be known as the "McMur-
ray contracts" 1t has been estimated
that the 10 per cent contracts with In
dams. now held by the firm, OF which ].
+. McMurray. of Oklahoma is a men,
Der. aggregate s3,5000oo.
Senator Fall questioned this statement
yesterday, and called attention to the
fact that not a dollar could be paid on
account OF these contracts unless they
are approved by Congress. Senator
Ashurst admitted that this was true He
estimated that the McMurray firm had
already. received in fees on Indian con-
tracts or other work S93a S4S
Mr.. Ashurst declared that II was little
less than a scandal that former Senators
were the recipients of these large fees
from Indian funds.
Senator Stone, chairman Of the Indian
Committee, explained that he was In
favor of a proper limitation on attorney
fees in Indian matters, but did not be-
lieve that the Senate ought to pass
law the effect of which would be to
make it impossible for a distinguished
Senator now in that body (referring to
Senator OweD or to a distinguished
Representative in the other House
(meaning Mr.. Carter of Oklahoma) to
enter into contract.
Senator Gore said that he was quite
willing that the attorneys who rendered
the Indians real legal services in court
or elsewhere should be paid. He re-
cited that each of the Five Civilized
Tribes had their regular attorneys, who
draw salaries of 5000 a year. and that
in one case the tribe pays $4,000 a year
for legal services, and last year another
tribe paid $4,000 for special legal serv-
ices. Senator Gore said that his atten-
tion had first been directed to the mat
ter on learning that attorneys had gone
among the Creeks in Oklahoma and had
made contracts on a basis OF 10 per cent
contingent fee to bring about legislR-
ton to secure the distribution among the
Greeks of 5000, 600 now in the Treasury
to their credit.
The Senate voted down an amendment
proposed by Senator Fall. which would
haye modified the Gore amendment. Sub
stitutes were then offered by Senator
Sterling of South Dakota and by Senator
owen of Oklahoma. With these amend |
ments pending. the matter went over un- |
til today.
A determined effort was made by the !
friends of the administration TO raise |
the salary of Cato Sells. Commissioner |
of Indian Affairs, from $500 to $3.50. |
But a point of order was made against |
the amendment in the bill, giving the in |
crease, by Senator Chiffon OF West Vir-
ginia. and the Vice President sustained |
the point Senator Gore and other ad-
ministration Senators crowded around |
Chiffon and tried to induce him TO with :
draw his point Of order, but he declined |
to do so.