Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-02-01
HAGERMAN DENIES
FRAZIER CHARGES
Vigorously Defends Record
as Special Indian Commits
sioner Since 1923.
By the Associated Press.

\ BY the Associated Press
Herbert j. Hagerman, former Terri
torial Governor of New Mexico. testified
for more than four hours before the
Senate Indian Committee yesterday in
refutation of charges that led the Sen
ate to eliminate his salary as special
Indian commissioner from the Interior
Department appropriation bill.
Hagerman vigorously defended his
record from the time he was appointed
commissioner for the Navajos in 1928,
reiterating his emphatic denial of ac-
cusations made by Senator Frazier, Re-
publican, of North Dakota in the Sen
ate. and by John Collier, secretary Of
the American Indian Defense Associ-
alton, in connection with Indian oil
leases.
Hagerman was closely questioned by
Senators Wheeler, Democrat. Montana:
Pine. Republican. Oklahoma, and
Frazier There were several sharp
verbal clashes between Hagerman and
Wheeler, who did most of the ques-
tioning. Senator Brattan. Democrat,
New Mexico, occasionally interpoSed
Herbert J. Spinden, curator of eth
nology Of the Brooklyn Museum and
president of the Eastern Association on
Indian Affairs, and Mrs. Joseph l..
Smith. field worker for the associa-
ton, testified in behalf Of Hagerman.
Hearing Resumes Tuesday.
The hearing was adjourned until
Tuesday. Oliver La Fargo, novelist and
director Of the Eastern Association on
Indian Affairs. is expected to speak in
Hagerman'S defense.
Senator Frazier indicated at the
close of Yesterdays session that he
would postpone until after the hearing
any action on a resolution passed by
the New Mexico State Senate request
ing public retraction Of his charges
against Hagerman.
Replying to a question from Indian
Commissioner Rhoads during the hear
ing, Frazier said he moved that Hager-
man be dropped from the pay roll. be-
cause he felt at was IN the interest Of
the Indians of the whole Southwest. "
Frazier added he still held that opinion.
Its hardly fair to say attacked his
character" Frazier said. He said his
statement In the Senate concerning
Hagerrnan was made late in the evening
and very hurriedly."
Sought Highest Royalties.
Hagerman took up one by one the
statements made by Frazier and by
Collier at the hearing Friday.
"In reply to Mr.. Golfers innuendo
that I have not properly looked after
the interests of the Indians" he said,
IT want to state that for years I have
made every effort to get for them the
highest possible royalties.
up to January /, 1881. the leases
have produced in bonuses and ROYALTIES
for the Navajo Indians $3.50, 400 SO. No
one has ever questioned the regularity
or honesty or advantage following my
handling of these operations, least of
all the Navajos themselves"
Hagerman added that contrary to
statements" made by Collier the Nava-
Jos did not object to his efforts to form
tribal council, but on the other hand
aided him in doing so.
Dwelling at length on the case of the
Rattlesnake oil lease which Frazier and
Hagerman for the Navajos for $1,000
and later re-sold for more than 81 ,000,-
900, Hagerman said the property at the
time was not considered valuable, as
biologists had rendered an adverse re-
port. Hagerman repeated his positive
denial of Golfers allegation yesterday
that the Rattlesnake lease was sold by
Hagerman ito interests intimately con-
nected with" himself.
Challenges Duplication" Charge.
He said purchasers Of several of the
leases, including the Rattlesnake, were
known to him, but declared the very
fact that on many properties leased to
his acquaintance no oil was found in
dicated that they had not been favored,
AS to Golfers statement that the
leases were thrown on the market at
a time of extreme depression" Hager-
man declared that "the Indians got as
high a bonus and as high royalties as
they would have at any similar time"
Hagerman challenged Frazier's state
ment in the Senate that his position, as
supervisor of Indian affairs in Arizona,
New Mexico, Colorado and Utah. is a
duplication" Commissioner Rhoads
corroborated Hagerman.
Questioning Of Hagerman was con-
cerned largely with his activity in con-
nection with the Indian oil bill in 1926
and other legislation in which Senator
Wheeler contended Hagerman should
have stood on the side Of the Indian
and did not"
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