Columbia courier. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1902-1905, 1903-11-06
PUBLIC LAND FRAUDS.
Statement From Secretary Of Interior
Department,


The following statement of the con-
duct of the investigation into public
land frauds in the Pacific coast states
was prepared at the interior depart
ment and given out with Secretary
Hitchcock's approval:
Nearly year ago report reached
the secretary which indicated that
frauds of serious nature had been
and were being perpetrated against the
government under what is known as
the forest reserve land act of June 4,
1897, by a combination of land specu-
lators on the Pacific coast. The infor-
nation and indicated frauds were of SO
grave a character that the secretary
at once directed thorough investiga-
ton to be made. This was commenced
last June and has been conducted by
those in charge of the actual work
with great care and with all possible
speed consistent with thoroughness.
The investigation has proceeded with
out intermission under the secretary's
personal direction and every clue to
wrongdoing has been quietly followed
to its source. with the result that it is
the confident belief of those in charge
that the guilty parties will be appre-
hended and speedily brought to justice.
at has been the determination of
the secretary from the beginning that
the matter should be probed to the
bottom regardless of the apparent in
fluential character of some of the men
involved, and the inquiry has been
conducted throughout along these
lines. The work is now nearing COM
pletion and the whole matter at an
early date will be in shape for definite
and appropriate action against the
offenders.
"While several hundred thousand
acres of public lands are involved in
the illegal transactions brought to
light, the number of acres to which
patents have been obtained by the per-
petrators of the fraud is comparatively
small. 1t is proper to say also that
some of the statements in regard to
the matter which have appeared in
the newspapers recently, both in the
east and in the west, are more or less
exaggerated and others are mere sur.
misses.
"The statements widely circulated to
the effect that five United States sena-
tors and large number OF represen-
tatives were implicated and that the
land involved will reach in value $751;
100000, are without foundation. 1t
can be positively stated that they did
not originate in the interior depart
ment.
"The details of the investigation
are known to few. At the proper time
a full statement will be made cover
ing the results of the entire investiga-
ton and the whole matter will be
given to the public; but, lor obvious
reasons, it is not deemed eXpedient
that a detailed statement of the facts
should be given at the present time.
1.-THE work of the investigation has
been conducted by Arthur B. Hugh,
assistant attorney in the interior de-
partment, and William ]. Burns of the |
secret service of the treasury depart
ment. Mr.. Burns was called into the
case last May and since that time has
had entire charge of the secret SER
vice features of the work, while Mr..
Hugh had attended to its legal phases.
The secretary of the interior is highly
gratifed with the service rendered by
the officers in the matter"