The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1903-10-30
FIVE SENATORS HAVE
HAND IN HUGE FRAUD
Millions Of Acres Of Valuable
Land Stolen From the
Government.
LIKE STAR y a
Many Arrests Of influential and
Wealthy People Are Looked For
Members of Both Houses of
Congress Are Involved.

Washington, Oct. 26.-Trouble rival
Ing anything known In washington
since the days or the star route"
plunder have been discovered i'll the
government lana office by secretary
Hitchcock. Five United states SEN
alors, several MEMBERS OF the lower
house and u nunlper OF othciais in the
department are declared TO be inn
pllcated in frauds that have resulted
In the loss to the government OF mll-
lions OF acres of pubic omai in Cali
lorna, washington, oregon, montana
and oIher western states.
tior several months tue investigation
has been going on under the personal
supervision OF secretary dltcncock, but
such secrecy mas ne observed that even
Commissioner Richards OF tire land OF
flee has been kept iii utter ignorance
OF it's progress. 1t is not said that the
commissioned hlnselr is under sus-
picion, but many MINOR officials will pe
caught in the net.
Senators Involved in Conspiracy.
The part OF the United states sen
ators and congressman in the gigantic
conspiracy a been to secure the APP
pofnrnenL OF men In the ring as
registers and receivers OF 1and offices
and to shield them when their rascaiity
was unearthed.
The investigation has been in charge
of A. =. Pugn, attorney for the interior
department. Pugh has been on the
Pacific coast for several months, being
assisted by secret service detectives
from the treasury department. He has
made preliminary reports to his super
'ior showing that certain federal land
Offices in the western states are COM
pleteIy under the control OF the timber
~grabberS," who max false entries for
millions of acres n grant immense
tracts to stool pigeons of lumber com-
panies.
Pugh and Secret Service Detective
Burns are on the way to Washington
to report to Secretary Hitchcock. They
have sent word hat evidence in their
possession will justify the arrest Of at
least a score of men in California, Ore
gon, Minnesota and this city.
Minneapolis Man Furnishes Money.
The full extent of the conspiracy has
not been revealed, but from present in
formation it appears that most OF the
stealings have been done by one gang,
operating in half a dozen states and
with accomplices in the interior depart
men One nan living in Minneapolis,
who is said to be one of the largest
owners of timber land, is supposed to
nave furnished the none to carry on
the fraud.
Several months ago., when Secretary
Hitchcock became aware Of the organ
ization of the timber land conspiracy,
he gave orders for the wholesale with
drawal of public lands on the Pacific
coast, ostensibly for the. creation Of
forest reserves. Millions of acres We're
withdrawn, and thus kept from the
clutches of the thieves pending the in
vestigation. As soon as the evidence
Is in his hands Secretary Hitchcock
will begin criminal prosecutions.
Whether the position and political
influence Of the senators and repre-
sentatives involved will be sufficient
to protect them from prosecution re-
mains to be seen. Some of them, 1t is
alleged. actually profited by the land
frauds and are actively Interested in
the ring, which had ramifications in
the states of California, Oregon, Wash
,lngton and ether western states. Sec
rotary Hitchcock hopes not only to
send the r~ingleaders of the ring to
prison, but to restore to the govern
ment millions Of acres of valuable TIM
Der land which have been secured by
4 fraud 4E &AA@Af rF 4fN .5 H5S .sHs@A4Ts