Columbia courier. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1902-1905, 1903-10-30
PUBLIC TIMBER LAND FRAUDS
NORTHWEST STATES At MERCY
OF TIMBER LAND GRAFTERs.
The Graft a Good one-lnvestlqation
10 Under Way by the Government
Binger Hermann's Administration to
Be Examined-Fortunes Were Made
Agents Report to Grand Jury.

NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. to admis-
sions of the officials of the department
of the interior, investigation of the
public land scandal now going on on
the Pacific coast involves the most ire
mendous of all the government
gratis" and causes the hot air" af-
fair in the postotfice department to
pale into absolute insigniticance. 1t is
not denied in the department that some
western republicans have already been
found to be suspiciously connected
with these land scandals, and when the
inquiry is finished some railroads and
their connections with the great forest
reserves may receive unpleasant men,
ton.
The present land investigation on
| the Pacific slope covers the admins
tration Of Binger Hermann, former
commissioner OIL the general land Of
fee, and now a member of the house
from Oregon.
The states in which reserves are To-
Gated and where investigations are
now going on are California, Washing
ton, Colorado, Idaho. Montana, Me-
braska, Oregon, South Dakota, Wyom-
ing, Utah and the territories of Ari-
iona, New Mexico and oklahoma.
The graft methods consist mainly in
getting advance information through
collision with authorities and securing
forest reserve holdings, which land
is worth slips per acre. When the re-
serve Is proclaimed the holder of re-
serve land is allowed to exchange his
land, acre for acre, for land outside
which is worth IS an acre.
Reports SO far received lead to the
belief that a regular organization is at
work making fortunes this way. Po-
litical influence and congressional pres
sure is brought to lear 10 have certain
reserves reclaimed.
United States senators whom rumors
connect with the present land frauds
are said to have used such pressure,
while at the same time lending their
political power to the protection of
land officials who have been accused
of connection with the scandal.
1t is officially acknowledged at the
interior department for the first time
that an investigation is on foot look
ing to the punishment of timber
thieves in Washington, California and
Oregon. The investigation is practi
cally completed, and the facts are
now in the hands of Secretary Hitch
cock, who will wait, however, to con-
fer with Attorney A. B. Pugh and Sc
cret Service Agent Burns before plac-
ing the evidence before the federal
grand jury. 1t was acknowledged at
the department that several United
States senators and representatives
are involved in the scandal, though it
was denied that all were financially
benefited by the frauds.
The extent Of timber frauds reaches
into millions of acres. According to
admissions by officials of the depart
ment, several kinds of frauds were
practiced, involving violations of home
stead, timber and stone laws, the des-
ert land act and laws relative to for
est reservations. One common method
employed by the big timber men of
Minnesota was to hire poor people to
make homestead entries on rich tim
Der lands in California and Washing
ton and after a short time commute
their entries and pay for them at the
rate Of $3.50 per acre, the money being
supplied by the timber shark to whom
title was given by his dummy.
One big timber man boosted some
time ago that he had invested $6,000,-
900 in Pacific coast timber lands and
that he had secured more timber for
the money than could be secured any.
where on the earths surface. This
man is a member of company that
owns vast properties in the state Of
Washington.
Secretary Hitchcock is proceeding in
this matter with memorable firmness,
and there is state of panic in the gen
oral land pffirn