The Odanah star. [volume] (Odanah, Ashland Co., Wis.) 1912-1916, 1916-03-10
CHARGES MADE AGAINST
COMMISSIONER SELLS
HAS FALLEN FLAT
Usage on Leases Charges Preferred
Was Premature
Investigation Hearing Before indian Committee Shows
That Sells Was Not Guilty AS Charged


In the hearings held before the Commit
tee on! Indian Affairs in the U. S. Senate in
regard 70 charges recently made by George
AlbeFty, an Usage Indian, against Com
missioner SeIls, in which it vas claimed the
missioner attempted to dispose Of GER
tain oil leeses for less value thas was Of
fered, fell Hat and MIR. AlbeEtv copld not
substantiate his claims The following
report from Hon. Franklin, x. Lape, Secre-
tary of the4I Interior in connection with oil
and gas matters with the Usage 'Counci: a,
Washington, d., &C, will be Of great inter
EST to our people know the facts.
Report Of Ffa1kiin X. Lane.
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Washington, January
"a, 1916.
My Dear Senator: My atteition has
been directed to "a statemen, made before
your committee on January 10 by George
Alberty, member of the Usage Tribal
Council, in the course of the hearings pn
Concurrent resolution, No. Z, known as the
Oliver resolution, ,y'herein he inpugns the
good faith of the representatives Of, the De-
Epartment ofsthesImcriors and, especially the
Commissioner of Indian Affairs, in matters
affecting the leasing of Usage oil and gas
lands. !.
MIR. Aberty has SO distorted the truth
concerning the commissioner and otherwise
as to be absurd, and his allegations would
F.. be unworthy of contradiction had they not
become a matter, of public record In the
first place, he did not represent the tribal
council, as is shown by the accompanying
| statement sig ned by the chief, assistant
! clief, interpreter, and "a majority of the
members of the council. n.. 5i..y
! | have given the subject Of leasing Oaage
lands my special attention, have devotee
much time to it, and have throughout KEEP
in close touch with the entire proceedings
While the law provides thar the leases. ma,
be made, by the tribal council they: can, ionl,
be made with my approvaliapd under rule
and regulations prescribed by me. Unde
the circumstances 1 deem it proper that
confer with the COUNCIL concerning these
matters and accordingly inyited them te
Washington for conference. On their sew
,eral visits here. concesning these matters
they have always come at my request.N9.,
l herewith transmit a statement prepared
! by MIR. ]. George Wright. superintendent
OF Usage Agency, and Mr.. w. A. William
chief of the Petroleum Division, Bureau o
Mines, who were present, at my request,
all of the deliberations of the council hell
at Washington, and at the conferences ha
with the Commissioner of, Indian Affair
and myef, together with the ,lninutes Q
such proceedings. ,"%
My knowledge of the subject i', and IN
records will show, that the. entire matte
under. consideration was gone over with tn
EIndians by the representatives of the Inter
ior Department very carefully and that spe
ciaI,efTort was made to have them full
understand the, questions involved. This
apparent dromy the fact that nearly two week
i time was taken in the conference endc
Juno u, ard that when their resolution
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