The Washington times., 1902-12-30
HERMANN ADMITS He HAD
TROUBLE WITH HITCHCOCK
Said to Have Resigned Un-
der Pressure of Secretary.
DENIES THIS ALLEGATION
Insists 1t Is Solely to Crafty Personal
Wish 10 Return TO Practice
of Law.

/ General Land Office will tender his res
ignation TO Secretary Of the Interior
Hitchcock before February I. It is
semi officially announced that ex-Gov.
W. A. Richards. OF Wyoming. at present
Assistant Commissioner Of the General
Land Office. will succeed Mr.. Hermann.
and his nomination Will be sent to the
Senate for confirmation Immediately af-
ter the Commissioner resignation is
received
Mr.. Hermann's resignation is the cul-
minatOn Of determined efforts on the
part Of the Secretary OF the Interior for
more than "a year, and the result Of re-
peated requests from that Official Tor the
retirement Of the present commissioner.
The cause OF the removal is the outcome
of the Secretary's careful consideration
Of many incidents OF the Commissioners
course, and particularly his alleged diIa-
tory action In the transaction OF Govern
ment business.
The particular incident which caused
final action in the matter came to the
secretary's attention two weeks ago.
when charges we're preferred against
Harry King. chief clerk of the drafts
mems division of the General Land Of
flee. and against Fred p. Metzger. for
mer chief clerk and confidential clerk 10
the Commissioner. but who is now an as
sistant chier clerk in the Land Office
Their alleged Onenses are moi directly
connected with the resignation. but
served as the straw to break the cam
els back"
Resignation Asked For.
While Commissioner Hermann insists
bis intended resignation is the result OF
his own contemplated action OF more
than year. it appears that year ago
Secretary Hitchcock told him he would
consider favorably mis- resignation. but
Mr.. Hermann asked that he be permit
ted TO remain in the Office until July Of
this year In support OF his request
he told the Secretary ne Is a candidate
for ;he United States Senate from his
State tOreson). and desired to stay until
he opened his campaign. The request
was granted
When July came. the resignation did
not come with IL. The matter remained
unnoticed for a month. when the Secre-
tary again talked 70 the Commissioner
about IT, A little more time was asked
by Mr. Hermann and this was granted.
In the meantime Assistant Commission
er Richards was being pushed for the
place by friends throughout the country
and at the same time incidents OF the
Commissioners alleged incompetency
continued to be. brought to the attention
Of the Secretary.
Among the more fragrant incidents
was a bill Of $1,000 for meat furnished
a small corps Of men engaged in the
San Gabriel forest district. This was
considered beyond all reason and one
more mark OF alleged :neficiency was
made against the Commissioner, al
though fl is not claimed ne was impli-
Gated in the padded bill
Relatives in Office.
The number Of relatives ne had placed
in Office was called 10 the Commis-
sioner's attention, but suI none was
removed. Another incident OF alleged
incompetency cited is the sect ,hat
survey made Of public lands In Oregon
the Commissioners native state. was
conducted irregularly ana was practi-
cally worthless TO the Government. !
which paid large sum OF money Tor
the work. He is not directly charged
with this
When the charges were filed against /
King and Metzger. the Secretary sent for /
the Commissioner and told him he must
act at once in regard TO the resignation, /
as no further time could be allowed So F.
positive and plain was the Secretary in ]
his remarks. it is claimed. the Commits
sioner broke down and cried begging to /
be allowed until February to act This /
the Secretary did. Now the Commission /
er himself says he will resign. but denies F.
positively he was asked for his resi- gna-
tion, adding he is doing so for the sole .
reason he desires to resume his practice .
Of law.
When asked by a Time reporter IL he I
had had any difficulty with the Secretary |
OF the Interior. the Commissioner said. |
Yes; l have had some but none Of any 4
moment. 1t has been my object TO con- /
duct my Office honestly and leave feel /
ing ! have done my duty" He implied |
however. that his action in the prosecu- /
tion Of the Western land frauds had pre-
the resignation.
The charges against King and Metz
ger were made on the ground that they I
have sold maps to outside parties and F.
did not return the money received /
through the proper channel II is also .
charged that King asked one OF the .
young women clerks in his Office qucs- /
tlons not in the line Of his official du |
ties The two men are cited to ap- /
pear before the personnel committee /
this afternoon
Secretary Hitchcock declines to dis I
cuss any Of the Land Office troubles un- /
I'll after the resignation is received. aud /
he does not say he viii do so then /
Commissioner Hermann was a member /
Of Congress for ten years. and secured /
mis- appointment through President Nc /
Knley with whom he was associated /
in the House. He is said 10 be inhuen- /
tial in Oregon. and it is said will enter /
the Senatorial race.