The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-01-17
IKE STRONG DENIAL
Land Officials on the
Charges Of Fraud.
ER SENT TO HOkE SMITH,
Asked II the Sensational Charges
o sanctioned by Him-Inves-
tigatlon Wanted.

7-ho publication in the Post-Intellicencer
yesfer ay OF the special telegram from
Wash ston City, stating that as a result
If +ha YORK or detective a cabal has been
found 0 exist in Western Washington,
con,no I'd OF many prominent men engaged
in a j 5antc scheme 10 steal public lands
made great stir among the local land Of
fee "A Gals. Register William d. O'Toole
and ~ ceiver John Y. Terry emphatcaliy
DENY nat there is anything wrong with
Their ice. and they feel that their names
have n en- unJUstly brought into the case by
the sta ement IN the dispatch that land Of
fees N Western Washington. other than
The OH npla orflce, are involved, as there are
only 81 rec land offices in the western part
OF the ia tate, one in this city. one at Van
oouver and one at Olympia.
"Did you see the dispatch in the Post
InteIIa encer regarding the alleged frauds
in the Western Washington land offices %
was ked Register O Toole and Receiver
Tor~r, esterday.
Vs. SIR. We have"
.sTha concluding paragraph states that
II 10 d at the interior department that
otbar nd offices in Western Washington
are inn oIVeu' ana starting developments
are hin u a1. 10 you interpret TINS as De-
Ing an accusation against your office?'
9As 3ere are but two land offices, other
tba1 n Olympia Office, in Western Wash
rgIon, nc o4-ee" t-ois o. that uispatch are
,ertain open TO that Interpretation. IN
fact th Y are not susceptible of any other
i, - alton"
..Wha have you to say in reference to
the car ents of this d.spatch?"
"As as the management of the Olym-
MIA an Vancouver offices is concerned, we
"a nm Die to make any satisfactory state
nents We know nothing whatever of The
IN which they have been conduct
"a w are personally acquainted. how
,var IN the registers and receivers of
those ~ Ices, and believing them 10 De hon
,rahle en-, we are inclined to believe that
the cha &c against them IS sensational and
,nti,4a1 10 no credence.
- = as these charges relate TO the Sc
,ttIa ofiI e, we can state without qualiflca-
ION IN they are absolutely false, and if
+ bas B zen intended TO include this office
N this barge OF malfeasance, we cannot
mr. beI We that the charge is malicious
Nv rea on for stating this is that there
,oe ~ T been shadow of irregularities
n this Kind connected with this office, or
,-i+b a. s. land Official who has done bust
,ess IN his office. We are perfectly will
NJ, ~ and upon the record we have made
10 nnhIt officials. We have been inspected
,1ary. n " months by different special in
,recfors OF the general land office, and il
: y II ufication to us that the reports
made on this office and the methods Of
,on1nct & its business have been OF the
nost % lplimentary character concerning
ne IN ais and the clerks.
CRIB ople of the nine counties cOmpr.s-
no this and district especially those who
~ / business before the Office are
-,lI,, q are of the manner in which y Z
ave ID -ected their rights and looked att
- tbetr interests, while at the same time
,uar5in those of the government by
I.et an impartial enforcement of the land
avs the regulations of the department.
We 10 lot believe that Secretary Smith
- &C authorized the statement that the
,,r+bod OF this office are held in suspicion
- bir1 We feel that there must certain
- ~ me mistake with regard 70 this
,,attar Being jealous of our own rtpts-
- Well as jealous for the best in
.eraets the government, We do not feel
~ ~ Gould rest for a single day under
~ - imputauon. We feel that x is
l1,o - s. as Wei as to the secretary Of
'ba in+e or and the commissioner OF the
,e,asaI and office. that the accusation
'ontstna in that telegram should be IT
49,, 80 radicted by US in the same pub
- mana in which the charge has. BY m
49, "a been made.
~ erry. the receiver. and I. the
.se-'e.er today addressed the following
go he secretary of the Interior
:. W. have the honor TO transmit en-
1oso, excerpt from the Seattle Post
ntarI~ ,er Of this date. which purports
= ne elegram from Washington City.
"a ~ onte1ts OF which are claimed 20
.a,,r..a- the declaration of the honorable
esrs.a Of the interior. relative 10 GER
atr 60 iulent acts ~ registers and re-
si-ars Jsited States land Offices OF
vog.a- Washington.
=. Wv ouId respectfully call your espe-
lol 80 ion TO the concluding paragraph
= ~ mmunication. As there are bat
a. L. Offices in Western Washington.
- - q the land Office al Olympia. first
afa~rad ,. the inference naturally follows
b,+ ~ Office Is held under suspicion by
- -. .meut.
:. W mot believe that this telegram re-
49,. +h sent.me Of the department as
eesr5s his office. and we are Of the op.n-
~ ~, Z such sentiments had been en-
- hy the honorable secretary they
,.e,,t4 have been given publicly IN this
=. .,rt. cattle Post-Inteligencer Is jour
10, - largest circulation Of any In the
ro-.,,,, Pacific coast. ami realizing that
~, ~, rsprobate THE idea that registers
-5 ters OF land offices should be
ga =. state 81 Must suspicion by the
,,t,i,- such a condition Of affairs would
a.. 1t dIsc~ailt upon the public SER
~ rsp,cff1llv request that we be
80. ls - whether this telegram has
.-.,,--, e sanction q the honorable Sec
.. If hss. We most earnestly urge
-. IrFeE'lCat.on hy a competent
80 trs affairs OF this office. sspe-
,,. ecerfe the an cations set forth
- rrsn. IT, on The contrary. the
- f.-th I'm this communication
ratfare1 hv the honorable sacre-
rouIi respectfully ask Tor a &c.
g. g. II hiw to that effect. and 'hat
- -, rizai Is give the same publicity
a been given 10 the false accu-
~ hy thts telegram against the
g receiver Of this Office Very
espe1''I d" WILLIAM D. O.TOOLE.