Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-09-19
GOV. HENDRICKS IN THE LAND
OFFICE.
Are They Looking Up His Record!

SECRETARY A'PHERSON SAYS He KNOWS NOTHING OF
IT AND DOES NOT PROPOSE TO GO INTO THAT KIND OF
BUSINESS.
In relation to the statement that an employe OF
| the general land Office is engaged in looking up
Hendricks record in the old files Of the of1ce for
the purpose OF getting out matter for campaign
document for the republican campaign committee,
Secretary Mcpherson says that II such is the case
he knows nothing Of it. He says he has received a
number OF letters from various parties urging him
TO make back door investigation OF certain prac-
tees OF Gov. Hendricks when he was commissioner
OF the general land office but he has declined to do
So as he does not propose to enter into that kind OF
business he does not intend to wash any dirty
linen, he says He declined to say what the mat
ters were referred to In the letters, saying they
were OF a personal character, and such as he did
not want TO have anything to do with it.
WHAT COMMISSIONER M'FARLAND SAYS.
STAR reporter this morning asked Commissioner
Mcfarland, OF the Land office, If he mad seen the
statement In the Post relative to the employment
OF clerks in the General Land Office in looking up
the record OF Gov. Hendricks.
yes" ne replied. 81 have read It. don't know
exactly what Is alluded 10. Probably the publica-
ton refers to an examination now In prOgr, SS in
this office at my request. In the discussion and
settlement OF questions arising In this Off 1t has
frequently been stated that in the earlier railroad
grants the Commissioners Of the General Land
Office have withdrawn lands before there was any
map OF definite location flied in the Office, and in
some cases before the act was passed by Congress.
eases OI SetUleTS Claims pOlQl QdS
been raised before the office that the withdrawal Of
lands ought not to operate bar to settlers
rights because OF the irreguarity in their being
premature and without authority. In consequence
OF thls, and Tor other reasons, a few days since
ordered clerk to look over the records and see
what the facts were.''
"He has not yet reported to me-" continued the
commissioner. "That Is what suppose Is alluded
to in the newspaper. 1t is matter that will take
out short time to look up."
"Have you corps OF clerks at work on this
matterf" asked STAR reporter
II don't know whether the clerk has assistance
or not" replied the commissioner. 81 suppose that
he may be getting assistance from other clerks. 1t
Is not work involving either much time labor"
"DOeS the inquiry cover the period or Gov. Hen
dr1cks' Administrations" asked the reporter.
"The Information that l am getting" said the
commissioner, "cOverS the time OF all the earlier
land grants to railroads, by which mean those
granted before the war; Gov. Hendricks was COM
missioner from 1855 to 1859. There Is no general
ransacking OF Gov. Hendricks record now in pro-
gress In this Office that am aware of. Neither
have any intention Of publishing a campaign
document. wanted to be posted on this subject
so as TO be able to give Information II any one
wanted 1t, and for my own uSe'
"IS this examination under the direction of a por-
utlcal commttee as repOrted?" asked the listener
ut Is not" said the commissioner II have re-
ceVed no application from any one on this subject
1t was begun entirely on my own notion, and for
the reasons and with the object which have al
ready StaIed.o