The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-11-02
Commissioner Richards SayS
Investigations Haze Dis
closed 10, 900 Fraudulent
Entries.
GOVERNMENT OFFICERS
MADE SWINDLES POSSIBLE
PosHlUe Statement Made
That Positions Were Used
10 Help Those Who We're
Cheating The Uuted STATES.

'~f~ - ffift-Nf ASFNeaGos
Ex-Gov. William A. Richards. Com
missioner OF the General Land ONCE.
sas submitted his report to the Secre-
tary of the Interior. The report this
year is especially important because OF
the recent revelations concerning land
frauds In the Western States. and it
gives an interesting account Of the work
OF the would-be .'grafters"
In speaking Of the frauds Governor
Richards states that United States
commissioners and others nave grossly
abuses their positions tc help those
who were trying to cheat the Govern
ment lie says in part
''Tfe increase in the total number Of
alleged fraudulent entries pending from
that reported during the previous year
Is due largely to departmental instruc-
tons OF November Is. 1902. directing the
investigation Of all entries made under
the tiIaber and stone act in the States
of Oregon, California. and Washington
with a view of determining their bona
fides- Under this order alone nearly
l0.oNJ Of such entries have been sus-
pended. and fifteen special agents are
now engaged in this investigation. to
the exclusion Of other work.
Laws at Fault.
''1'lle act Of January 81. 1908 CD stat,
7e0a, which provides a means by which
The attendance of witnesses may be
compelled In matters requiring a hearing
before registers and receivers, win il
is believCd. assist this Office nateris Iy
in establishing the fraudulent character
OF entries made in violation Of law.
Appropriate instructions under this law
We're issued IN circular approved by the
department. March %. 1908
The beneficial effects Of the act OF
January 81, 1903, in enabling the Office
10 secure proof OF the fraudulent char
acter Of entries has been Offset in a
cHcat measure BIZ the facilities for max
MS entries in violation OF law afforded
D the act OF March H. 1902 Cs2 Stat.
81.
Privileges Abused
Tits act perraits the afidavits.
proofs, and oaths required Of applicants
under the homestead. pre-emption. tim
ber-culture. desert-land. and timber and
stone acts to be made before any United
states commissioner or commissioner of
The courS exercising Federal 5urisdic-
ton in the Territory, or before the
judge or clerk of any court Of record
81 The land district in which the land
IS situated IA addition 10 those officers
who were heretofore authorized TO take
such afidavits. proofs. and oaths-
The privileges gained By the act
have i>srn greatly abused. particularly
D mt
have often been parties 70 wholesale
frauds IN C innectIon with entries made
before them Afhdavits and en.ry pa
pe-s have been prepared in the names
OF fictitious entrymen. and a variety Of
other ways have been devised ~ these
officers 10 assist parties to eva[> com
piianee with the requirement. of the
lav.
Indictments Found.
so far as Ills omce has had sum-
c.ent'y 6eduite reports on whicls to base
recommendation for proceedings
agais-st there officers. 81 has reported
them TO the department for reference
10 the Department OF Justice to- proper
proceedings against the guilty parties
As a result Of the investga tons re-
ferreo 10 there have already been
number OF indictments OF Government
officials and land spectators. besides
which there have been extensive
changes in the land Offices In several
States.
Millions Stolen.
During the year ended June 30. 1903.
there We're reported I55 Illegal inclos-
ures Of public land. involving 2.605, go
acre. Seventy-nine OF the Enclosures
have been removed. There were 30
cases of trespass on public land. In
volving timber valued at S622. 099.11, Il
decrease OF S51090T.l2 over the year be-
fore. Reports from United States at
torneys IN the public lands States
showed that s54.o92.74 was received dur
Ing tire year in fines. At the end o.
the year there Were pending le8 civil
suits for the collection Of = 81. 23S G5 for
the vaiue OF timber alleged 20 have
been unlawlully taken from public
lands
There were also pending so criminal
prosecutions Tor unlawfully cutting tim
beF.
Ire report contains number Of rec
concentrations for the protection Of pub
lie Iafds aud the rights Of settlers.
Recommendation Made.
The most important or the recon-
naendations IS ths-t the control Of the
millions or acres OF Forest reserve De
transferred from the Interior Depart
ment tc the Bureau Of Forestry OF the
Department Of Agriculture Growing
necessity FOR press ewing the f)rests ac-
cording to the most approve modern
scientific principles has led Commission
er Richards 70 s-elieve that the work
could best be done If the for ssts were
entirely In the hands Of the experts Of
the Bureau OF Forestry.
The need Of a law authorizing forest
officials 20 arrest violators OF forest
laws is emphasized. and the Secretary
s. asl ed 70 urge the passage Of a btll TO
that end.
Experience has shown that hardship
has followed the efforts to enforce the
law which declares that timber taken
from forest reserves must rs used IN
the state where cut. Il S pointed out
that several Of the reserves are near
State lines. and are the soG-cs OF wood
for large treeiess prairie districts. just
across the Iilzs, and it is reco. amended
that The law be amended 10 meet such
cases
II IA rFcornfDenued thai The reeIon in