Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-02-05
DEMENT, DEMOLISHED.
NewsPsp per Correspondents Go fsr Hins-other
Nsies from the National Capital
[By telegraph 70 the D.spatcn.l


Senate Committee on Public Lands to-
day gave a hearing, at their request, to
those newspaper correspondents who
last week telegrsphed TO their papers
interviews with Surveyor-GenerAl De-
ment, Of Utah. which interviews De-
ment, at his recent examination before
this committee, repudisted, and the
statements contained 10 which he
declared to be without founda-
ton. J. A. Corwin and G. G.
Balm. correspondents, respectively. Of
the Chicago TINES and New York
World. testified that they. separately.
had long confidential interviews with
Dement,, and that every material state
ment in their dispatches was made
upon Dement'S authority. Among
them were statements to the effect that
senators and members o. Congress had
been bribed By Mormons, and that high
Federal officials were implicated in
extensive land frauds. Balm took the
notes from Dement'S dictatiOn, a por-
ton OF which. covering in general
terms, allegations Of large land frauds,
be was authorized to publish as coming
from Dement,. The remainder he was
to publish but was not TO attribute TO
Dement,. F. p. Powers and I. c.
Crawl ford. chief correspondents re-
spectiyely Of the Chicago Tunes aui
New York World. corrobOrated the
statements Of Corwin and Balm. so far
a. to the incidents before and after the
interviews coming to their knowledge.
Jules Guthridge. correspondent Of
the Chicago Daily NerS. testified TO an
interview with Dement, subsequent to
the publication Of the others, during
which Dement, had repudiated the pub
lished interviews. The impression left
on Guthridge's mind was that Dement,
was chiefly anxious about the matter
because it imperilled his confirmation
By the Senate
William +. Curtis. correspondent
Of the Chicago Inter Ocean. told the
committee that be had received the ma.
teIial for his article upon the subject
from Corwin. who had told him. more
over. that the prominent western sena-
tor who Dement, was reported to have
said received 2j 900 from the Mormons
was Teller.
Mr.. Corwin. in answer 10 az inquiry
by the committee upon this point, con
frmed Curtis's statement and declared
that Dement, had referred to Teller b.
name. dement, was not present at the
hearing, but It was made a matter Of
record that he had been formally noti-
fed by the clerk Of the committee that
the hearing was to take place aud had
replied that be did not care to
be present. Mr.. Teller. who Is
a member OF the committee. was
present. and by inquiries purpoSeiy
drew out the ayowal, with respect 10
the use Of bis own name. Dement,
when before the committee day before
yesterday, declared with emphasis not
Only that he had not made the state
ments attributed to him. but that he
had no information leading to 4 belief
or suspicion that the things alleged
were true. either a. regards senators.
members Of the House or officials OF
the Territory and Genera Land Office
Mr.. Dement'S nomination as Sur
yeyor- General Of Utah is still pending
before the Senate.
The House committee on eXpendi-
lures in the Department Of Justice to-
day agreed upon resolution calling
upon the Secretaries Of the Treasury
and Interior and the Attorney General
for information a. to the amount Of
money. if any, which had been ex-
pended by the Government in the tele-
phone cases recently before the Interior
Department! Chairman Gibson said
the Hanback, resolution limited the
scope Of the investigation to the ex-
pendltures Of the Government. and
while the committee did not want TO
shirk any responsibility It had no au-
thority 10 open up the telephone con-
tIoyersy. lie said that as one member
Of the committee he did not think 1t
should be made court Of appeals to
decide whether Secretary Lamar's de-
c.siOn was carried OF not.
1t is believed at the War Department
that the killing Of Captain Crawford by
the Mexican troops was the result Of al
accident, and tina; the MeXicans fred on
his command under the impression that
they were hostiles. The statement that
the [ nited states troops bad stock in
their possession at the time Of the at
tack which had been stolen in the Vi
cinity. is explained by Lieutenant Man
report that they had just captured 1t
from hostile Indians Ii IS also ex-
planned that Captain Crawford was IN
able to show the locality Of his CON-
mand at the outset Of the firing BIZ the
Mexicans because Of his ignorance Of
the nature Of the attack and the general
decentralization which il caused.
In the Senate to-day the Chair laid
before the Senate letter from the Sec
Rotary Of the Treasury in reply to the
recent resolution Of the Senate relating
10 the conscience fund. The term
" conscience fund.- the Secretary says.
had its origin in the popular belief that
the donations of money, received from
persons unknown. were because OF
money wrongfully withheld from the
Government. The first item TO the
credit Of the fund was made in ls27,
and the fund now amounts 10 1920, ~,
Among the memorials presented and
appropriately referred was one By Mr..
Sewell. consisting OF the concurrent |
resolution of the Legislature Of New
Jersey protesting against the granting
by Congress Of any right to build a
bridge from the shores OF New jersey
10 those Of Staten Island, Y. Y. and |
asserting the doctrine Of States right in
denial OF the power Of Congress TO grant |
such authority.
Several petitions were presented from
the organization Of the Knights Of La
Dor urging Congress to open up 10 set
Element the Territory Of Oklahoma.
4 ne Gov ernment's Policy on the sill
Yer Question.
by Telegraph 10 the Dispatchsl
WASHINGTON, February 4.-The !
Cabinet meeting to-day was attended |
by all the members except Secretary |