Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-02-01


CHICAGO, January 3Oth.-A Washington
special says: When X. S. Dement, received
his appointment as Surveyor General of
Utah Territory q few months ago he re-
celYed instructions to make Investigation
into the frauds which Commissioner Sparks
believed existed in the public land Offices
Of the Territory. Dement, returned to
Washington yesterday, and was closeted
until late hour last night with Commits
sioner Sparks. lie had a long interview
with Secretary Lamar, at which Senator
Logan was present. He claims that the
entire Federal system of Utah Territory is
honeycombed with fraud, and the report
which he viii make upon that subject will
contain numerous sensational features
Immediately after his arrival in Utah he
employed the services of four detectives
The result of their investigation shows, he
claims, that most of the public lands in the
Territory have been stolen by railroads
and certain private citizens that so per
cent. OF the entries made by the Mormons
are fraudulent, as are also 25 per
cent. of those made by the Gentiies
These fraudulent entries were made. il is
claimed, with the collision of a corrupt
ring OF Federal officials there and here.
Dement, also claims to have documentary
evidence IN his possession showing that
the Mormon Church has spent large sums
OF money to prevent legislation inimical
TO their interests, and to secure favorable
decisions from the Courts. This money
has been disbursed through a LOBBYIST
here. His report will show that certain
I nlted States Senator received S25,00 for
leading the opposition to the Edmmds
bill. The report will also charge that a
number of Representatives have been
similarly bribed. Dement, will have an
interview with the President on the sub
Ject to-day. Dement, is a young man from
the interior OF Illinois with great deal of
energy, but no experience. He has been
in Utah little more than two years and
has evidently put together ali the stories
he has heard during his stay there and
brought them on to Washington. Com
missioner Sparks shakes his head mysteri-
ously when asked about Dement'S dis
coveries, but will say nothing and Secre-
tary Lamar declines to talk until he has
given the matter more extended exami-
nation.
WHAT Is THOUGHT OF THE MATTER IN WASH
INGTON.
WASHINGTON, January 3lst.-The re-
markable statements made by Richard S.
Dement,, Surveyor-General of Utah, with
respect to Mormon land frauds said to have
been committed in that Territory, receive
but little credence here. Besides the ex-
tensive thefts of the public domain, that
Dement, charges have been carried on with
the conniyance of the land officers of the
Government, he alleges that large sums of
money have been spent by railroad and
land spectators TO defeat the confirmation
by the Senate of the nominees of the pres
ent Administration, who have refused TO
be seduced by the land monopolists and
a ArtAgr ntf in col, ii
comes under the class of men who have
not been confirmed, and it is understood
that one object of his visit here is
to see that his name gets through
the Senate. He has kept himself very
closely in his hotel since his arrival
here. and has surrounded himself with an
air OF mystery, as if he were in possession
OF an immense amount of valuable infor-
nation, which he could communicate if
he would. 1t Is reported that he was only
IN the Territory about two months. and if
all the facts that he alleges had really
| TRANSFERRED, he could not have obtained the
proof in that short space of time His
stories are in keeping with the reports of
immense frauds thai have been put forth
from the Land Office, but it is hardly likely
that even Commissioner Sparks would be-
lleve Dement'S statement unsupported.
lie has told people who have called upon
HIM that he has laid all the facts in regard
to these land frauds before Senator Logan.
Senator Logan, however, in conversation
with yodr correspondent to-day, denied en-
phatically that Dement, had even reported TO
him the sensational charges of extensive
land frauds in Utah that he is reported to
have made in dispatch sent to a New
York evening newspaper yesterday MIR.
Dement,, prior to his appointment, asked
ION arnl =. 4 -
office. This the Senator refused TO do. but
| authorized Alr. Dement, to tell the Presi-
dent, or any member of the Cabinet. that
| II he secured the appointment he would
tell his brother Senators that he believed
Mr.. Dement, to be a gentleman of character
and integrity. Mr. Dement, called upon
| Senator Logan last week, evidently 10 learn
something regarding his chances for con
iirmation. They talked upon variety of
/ subjects, the greater part of the conversa-
| ton being devoted to discussion of the
| merits of the Edmunds polygamy bill,
| of several features of which Mr..
Dement, did not approve. incidentally,
Senator Logan SAYS, Mr.. Dement, remarked
that he found the affairs of the office of
Suryeyor-General for Utah in bad shape
when he took the place. Beyond that.
Senator Logan says, Dement, did not allude
to a discovery of land frauds in Utah.
Mr.. Sparks Commissioner Of the General
| Land Office, attaches little importance 10
the reported discoveries of Mr.. Dement,.
and he thinks that the published report is
| an exaggeration. The impression here is
| that If Dement, made the statement attri-
| buted to him, he did so for the purpose of
| Fastening his confirmation by creating the
| impression that his services were of vital
| Importance in purging the Government OF
| q nest of land thieves.
CHICAGO, January 31st.-A dispatch from
| Salt Lake says: Surveyor General De-
| ments dispatch charging that there
was Federal ring and a honeycomb
of fraud here was bulletined promptly
on its receipt The Democrats .vied
with the Republicans in pronouncine
| ii an infamous attack, for which there could
! be but small justification. Denuncations
| loud and deep filled the air. and Dement,
was denounced on every hand.
Capital Notes.
WASHINGTON, January 31st-Represent
alive Louttit will, under the call of States
| tomorrow in the House, introduce a bill
| for the appropriation of $40, 900 for public
| building at Stockton, Cal.
Representative Louttit gave a dinner To
| the California delegation tonight.
Two Women Killed with "a Carpenters
Hammer.
CLEVELAND, January 3lst.-Alfred Smith,
a sailor. murdered his wife and her COM
| panion, Louisa Jane Wilson, some time last
night, and then attempted suicide by cut
| ting his throat. Mrs. Smith is clairvoy-
ant, and for some time past occupied rooms
| in the Croker block, on Superior street
| She and her husband came from Oswego,
New York, where they were born and
n.