The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1893-03-20
TWO TELEGRAMS DID IT
Iiysr Higgins sad y. L Clark Sent
fltn b Washington.
SECRETARY SMITH SPEAKS
The Hlggios-ciark rsiegrams Al
legged Fraud but Furnished No
Evidence - The Department
Not In q Hurry. "

papsrs throughout the East published last
week the announcement that Secretary
Hoke Smith Of the interior department
bad cancelled the timber culling permits
Of the Big Blackfoos Milling company and
Of the Bitter Root Devslopment company.
on the ground that thore wero fraudulent
transactions incident to the securing Of
the permits. The decision Of tho secre-
tAry In this matter was brought about very
largely through the testimony Of Mayor
Higgins OF Missoula, who was supported
In his testimony by w. A. Clark Of the
city Of Butte.
Montana men In this city and in New
York have been discussing the situation
very freely. They all recognise In the con.
duct Of Messrs. Chrk and Higgins the 10.
suit Of petty spite work which, IL Il were
ultimately sustained In the department
here, would contribute largely TO the pa
ralysis Of business In ct least two counties
OF Montana.
Almost as soon as he entered upon the
duties OF his Office Secretary Smith re-
ceived from Mayor Higgins. the following
telegram which was dated March II.
1.-TWO permits 10 cut timber granted 10 she
Big Blackfoot Milling company and the Bitter
Root Development company Of Missouls county.
Montana. were returned to Washington on the
seventh instant by the local land once to have
clerical errors corrected. These permits arc
dated February i3, isoa. and signed by the late
Secretary Noble and give the right to cut timber
on i%.0oo snd 1900 acres respectively. This is
one OF the greatest frauds ever perpetrated In
this country. Permits were obtained by fraud.
No application WAS ever made at the local land
once or any publication in any newspaper In
this vicinity. One q. V. n. Ogden Is probably
at the head OF division ''P." under whose super
viSian fhasa r,oFmtfs will emma saa that thu
permits are at once referred TO you and not to
Ogden. because he Is In league with PARTIES here.
As soon as receive word from you can forward
a monster protest Persons 10 whom the per.
mits are granted are mostly the same who were
indicted under President Cleveland's former nd.
ministration for stealing timber. and against
whom suits for over f600o.O00. for timber cut,
were suspended. probably through the influence
Of Thomas II. Carter.
tsigned) FRAME HIGGISs."
II is learned that the testimony fur.
nished by Higgins is backed by . message
/ sent by w. A. Clark. Tho Clark dispatch,
however. is not on file. II is not Tho prop
crty Of the department OF tho interior. Its
contents were made known 10 the depart
ment by Mr.. Clark's brothesin-law. who
holds senate clerkship, and he showed II
to officers Of the department, but retained
possession Of the dispatch. soAhat there 10
no official record of Mr.. Clark's relation
to the affairs which can be quoted from
the docunents OF the department itself.
Secretary Smith said to-day that no knew
personally about the allegations Of fraudu-
lent transactions, but that on March he
wired to Higgins dispatch which sAiL:
Forward your proofs and charges ut once
and they win have due consideration.
On the same day the secretary addressed
to the commissioner Of the general land
Office In this city o letter which aays:
my attention has been called to two timber
permits granted 10 the Big Blackfoot Milling
company and the Bitter Root Development
company Of Montana, dated Feb. H. issi. which
Il Is charged are now In transit from Missoula
TO your Office for correction. On account OF the
grave charges which are alleged against these
permits, upon their receipt. you will make no
changes or alterations therein. but detain the
same and report to me their receipt, and hold
the same until further orders"
Two days later, Secretary Smith sent to
| the land Office communication formally
revoking the permits. Tho secretary re-
marked that the department self makes
no charge of fraud. ~ did find, on in
quiry, that there wero certain irreRulari-
| ties In the papers and IL there arc any
charges of fraud which can be sustained
I suspect that they will be brought TO my
| attention. desire to make some changes
In the matters relating to these timber
cutting contracts, but II will not be the
policy Of the department TO handicap
legitimate operations In tho timber cut
ting business. presume that papers will
| bs filed pretty soon showing both sides of
the case and I shall give the subject
prompt attention. The clerical errors re-
ferred to In the Higgins dispatch are mat
R..nu