The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1920-05-27
Congressmen After First
Hand Information of
Conditions in Tribe.
SNYDER IS PEEVED
Inclined to Believe That In
dian Needs Supervision in
Use of His Money.

indian 4litlfH t'iUulll '' Itf I'N
au opportunity TO- digest the maze ~
f,rgt. hand information o. obtained
during lt. recent visit 90 Oklahoma.
10 was The first time au organized
party of congressman uds visited th"
'stompiuc grounds 81 th" Indians
20 conduct "a rigid Investigation to
learn exactly how poor Lo' lives
and how hc spends his easily gained
fortune.
whilc the congressional party trav-
aAed through practically every state
IN which there are Indian r'aorvt-
lions. most Of MS attention was dl-
rectcd to oklahoma, where 100000 ~
the 300. 900 Indians iu America make
their homes.
II rs surmiscd that tho visit was
occasloncd principally by agitation
started 10y ONtEpg themselves ana
The oil men Of this territory regarding
an extension of the present govern
nent control period over tho Dsngcs
and the OsaEo nation for a period ~
20 years after 1891. when the trust
period expires
Summarized briefly. the govern
ment supcrviscs all public traneac-
tons Of tho Osagos Leases on
Osagee oil lands are sold at public
auction at quarterly periods each
Usage nation. approximately 500. 200
acres are now under lease for oil,
leaving 100000 acres yet to be
leased.
There are approximately $500
Oeagcs living of the original 2,229,
entered on the rolls ~ subject 10 al
lotmcnts and annuitics For the pc
riod ending June 80 1920. each one
OF these Osagcs win have received
II 4 al 4.
rived from lease sales royalties and
grazing leases principally. For the
fiscal year beginning July !, l9lH,
and ending June 30 1920 each Usage
will have received approximately
$1,000 according TO l. George
Wright superintendent Of She Usage
agency ht Pawhuska, wh6 testified
before the subcommittee during it's
hearing at the Usage capital.
Not only are the Oeages the richest
nation of people in the world at the
present time, hut the future devcl =
opment OF the 900. 90 acres OF po-
tential oil land owned by them means
an enormously enlarged income for
every member Of the tribe.
There are several Usage families
of six to eight members. Each mem
ber, providing ne was born before the
tribal rolls closed several years ago,
shares in the annuity payment each
quarter. For instance. this year, up
to June 80, IA family OF eight will
have received $4,000.
While the hearing In Pawhuska
was in progress "A few days ago, the
nine congressman composing the sub
committee took occasion to ascertain
as near as possible how the average
Usage spends his money They in
quired about the Osage educational
system. and whether tho Indians
lived in comfortable homes They
found that tho educational systom
Is splendid and that members OF tho
tribe live I'm comfortable homes.
But they found that the individual
Osages had no regard for the value
of money-that they had no con
ception of thrift or economy and
that they had little use for an un.
spent dollar which might have beer
overlooked in their pockets.
The congressman saw tho numCr.
Gus attractively- painted and high.
powered automobiles driven around
tho streets OF Pawhuska by fun.
bloods, or. in some cases. by white
private chauffours who were RiveT
excellent wages. They found tha
the full-bloods, deluctant to adop
the formal clothing of the whit,
man, paid large sums for Eaud'
blankets, elkskin moCcaans, ant
shiny beads or earrings
Witnessing these signs Of eNtrava
gance, the subcommittee began Z,
wonder IL the Osagcs' money is no
coming too easily and In chunks TO,
large to encourage thrift. Durni
the hearing II was asked of Mr.
Wright IL he did not believe tn
Osages would he better off II tn
government paid S2OO a month o
$500 a quarter. and invested the re
mainder OF the annuity under super
vision, than TO deal out 81. 900 eacl
quarter.
II have always advocated
change In the payment system.
Wright declared. The Osages hav
no more conception of the value O
money than four-year-old child
They should he given say $500 or $
month. Any sums greater tina
that should be given 10 them unde
supervision. The remainder OF thei
money should he invested IN cattl
which can Craze on their grass
lands. Then, they should be force
TO see that those cattle are care
for"
Apparently the congressman ar
convinced that change is needle
in the method of payment, The
are trying to work out, a solution
that will allow the Osages to lly
comfortably, and yet discourage IN
era of extravaganza which appear
TO have struck Tho tribal members
more forceful blow than il has IN
white population Of America, whicl
IS just now accused OF running int
an "orgy Of eXtrayagance.'
The Osages as a tribe, look upo
money only az means OF gratifying
their desires for pleasure. They d
not want TO have any money lci
from a former payment when tim
comes for n new payment.
The Osarcs themselves appear I
be unanimously IN favor OF the gov
ernment trust period, The reason
not apparent unless IL he that the
intend 20 cooperate closely
share and share alike in their wealt
as long as the tribe is in existence.
Cessation Of government contrc
would automatically return complet
control TO the Usage Each one hold
a homestead and allotment compris
ing Approximately ESQ acres
Uncle Sam should discharge nj
wards in 1891 each member OF m
tribe would be free to DO with III
land as he saw fit, The allotmer
under which there are now, or migf
be, vast quantities Of oil, would Pre-
vide incomes TO the allottee wh
owned it. The land under which n