Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-01-10
DR.. WORK EXPLAINS
BURKE PROBE PLEA
Asked Sargent to Stay Grand
Jury Action to Permit
Review.
BY the Associated Press,

oy bHc ASSOCldteQ FTeSS,
Hubert Work, former Secretary of
Interior, told the Senate Indian affairs
committee today that he asked Attor-
ney General Sargent to stay" a grand
jury investigation of Commissioner
Burke of the Indian Bureau in Okla
homa last Summer to permit review
of the case by disinterested parties.
The investigation was directed at
Burke's administration of the case of
Jackson Barnett, wealthy Indian. and
Mr.. Work told the committee that he
appealed to Attorney General Sargent
after Commissioner Burke had charged
to him that the inquiry was the out
growth of political feud. Work, who
was summoned to explain his connec-
ton with the hating of the grand jury
investigation, read over his correspond
ence to Mr.. Sargent It included a tele-
gram sent to the Attorney General last
June, which read:
indictment of Commissioner Burke
IN Oklahoma threatened. Please have
1t stayed. Mrs. Burke critically ill.,
Had Written Attorney General.
Two days prior to that Secretary Work
mad written the Attorney General ask
ing that he name a disinterested party
TO review the case against Mr.. Burke
before 1t was presented to a grand jury.
Mr.. Work forwarded to Attorney Cen
eral Sargent letter received by him
tom Mr.. Burke at the time in which
the Indian commissioner charged that
the grand jury inquiry was the result of
opposition to him by B. NJ Parmenter
and c. K. Selby, special assistants to
the Attorney General.
Appointment Under Fire.
Mr.. Burke charged that Parmenter
and Selby, who are from Oklahoma,
were opposed to him because Of the fail
ure Of the administration to appoint
Jesse Hepburn as superintendent of the
five civilized tribes of Indians
why didn't you make Mr.. Hep
burn?" asked Senator Pine, Republican,
of Oklahoma.
Probably because he was not con-
sidered to be adapted to that particular
work." replied Work.
Were any objections voiced to him?"
II think there were"
do you know" asked Senator Pine
that the two Republican Senators of
Oklahoma, the Democratic governor,
three Democratic members of the Cir
cult Court, the Republican national
committeeman and national committee
woman, the chairman of the Repub-
lican State committee and almost all of
Oklahoma asked the appointment of
Mr.. Hepburn"
Senator Wheeler, Democrat, Montana.
asked Or. Work If he had any knowl-
edge of a conspiracy against Commits
sioner Burke, who had made such a
charge against Senator Pine. DR.. Work
said he had no knowledge of that sort
Parmenter denied yesterday before the
committee that had requested him to
prosecute Burke on criminal charges In
connection with the case.
HAS Senator Pine ever suggested
prosecution of Burke" Senator Wheeler
asked.
Never in his life," Parmenter replied.
Probe Commission Urged.
Creation of a Joint congressional COM
mission to investigate Indian affairs was
proposed in bill introduced yesterday
by Representative Leavitt, Republican
of Montana, chairman of the House
Indian affairs committee. A sum of
$4,000 would be authorized to carry
on the work of the commission. which
would be composed of four Senators
and four Representatives.
The commission would be empowered
to examine into the conduct and man.
agement of the Bureau of Indian AZ
fairs" and to make complete study of
the Indian situation.