| OCR Text |
Show 8. receive from the mining company, that the preceding speakers vers in ignorance on this point; and it will be noticed that others speaking after Wanrodes all agreed that the amount was ten per cent. Agent Myton in his statement, Exhibit "A," protests against my action in refusing him permission to explain to the Indians the amount they were to receive as a royalty. My reason for refusing Agent Myton this permission was to ascertain exactly what tha Indians knew in reference to the lease; and, had he been permitted to explain, he would not only have explained to the first speaker but to every other person in the room. He also says that it was with some difficulty he got me to allow him to refresh their memory as to the amount of land to be leased. I am satisfied the Indians were ignorant as to the amount they were to receive as royalty, and equally so as to the amount of land to be leased; that they knew in fact vei-y little in regard to this lease except that these men were there and wanted to lease it; that the legal appearance of the lease when completed, by showing the election of the secretary and chairman of the meeting, etc., was done entirely in the Agent's office, and that the entire transaction as it appertains to details was legal in aaaearar.ee only. I do, however, believe that the Indians were willing to make a lease owing to a belief that if they failed to dc so, their country would be thrown open to white settlement. I believe that all |
