The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-12-14
SECRETARY HITCHCOCK
ON THE LAND FRAUDS
Interior Department Head Outlines
Wrongs Against Government
and Steps to Check Them.
GREAT AREAS INVOLVED
But Little Land Actually Secured
,Fraudulently-Published Re
ports Are Exaggerated.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 13.-The report of
Secretary of the Interior E. A. Hitchcock
was submitted to the President and made
public to-day. The pension records of the
department and nearly all the other inter-
esting matters of the department have been
made public in the bureau reports, published
heretofore, but the secretary had consid-
cradle to say concerning land frauds, part
Of which is herewith appended. He says:
There were 312 cases of depredatons
upon public tmbered lands reported during
the year, involving timber to the value of
1922 099. IL, decrease of $770907.72 from last
year. In ninety-siX cases recommendation
was made for civil suit, the damages in
volved aggregating $325, 293.17. Propositions
of settlement to the number of 164 were ac-
cepted, their amounts aggregating sS7, 104. 80.
From sales of timber cut unIawfully from
public lands there were received $SS37.2S;
from compromises under Section 1869, United
imposed and judgments rendered, 64092. "a;
making total of 1874, 1910 accruing to the
government through depredatiOns upon pub
lie lands.
lon June 30, 1903, there were pending in
the United States courts 16S civil suits for
the recovery of total amount of $685.
1856, the value of timber alleged to have
been taken unlawfully from public lands,
and 80 criminal prosecutions for cutting or
removing timber in violation of law.
1.-THE decrease in the number of trespass
cases reported last year and in the amount
involved therein, compared with the pre-
viouS year, is accounted for by the fact
that during the last year the time of the
special agents has been taken up to a much
greater extent than heretofore in investi-
eating alleged fraudulent entries. An av-
erage of ffty-eight special agents of the
General Land Office were employed during
the year in investigating alleged fraudulent
land entries and otherwise In protecting the
public lands from timber trespass or illegal
appropriation Entries to the number of
7,031, in which fraud was charged, were re-
ferred to these special agents for nvesti-
CATION; 1.257 were held for cancellation or
suspended on special agents reports, and
in Ala cases hearings were ordered; 955 en-
tries were Cancelled, 663 were examined and
found free from fraud, leaving 1884 cases
pending July l, 1903.
COOP LAW NULLIFIED.
1.-THE act of Jan. 81. 1903 (s2 Stat L., 1907,
which provides a means by which the at
tendance of witnesses may be compelled in
matters requiring a hearing before regis
ters and receivers will in the opinion of
the commissioner of the General Land Of
fee, assist his Office materially in establish
ing the fraudulent character of entries
made in violation of law, proper instruc-
tons Hereunder having been issued in cir
cular approved by the department March
20, 1903. Its beneficial effects, however, are
thought to have been offset in a great meas
ure by the facilities for making entries in
violation Of law afforded by the act OF
March II. 1902 (S3 Stat. L., 1857. which per-
mits the affidavits, proofs and oaths re-
quired of applicants under the homestead.
presumption, timber-culture, desert-land
and timer and stone acts to be made before
any United States commissioner or commits
sioner of the court exercising federal juris-
diction in the Territory. or before the judge
or clerk of any court of record In the land
district in which the land is situated, In
addition to those officers who were thereto
fore authorized TO take such affidavits,
proofs and oaths. The privilege thereby
gained has been greatly abused. particu-
larry by certain United States commissions
ers. who have been parties to wholesale
! frauds In connection with entries allowed