The Corvallis times. (Corvallis, Or.) 1888-1909, 1903-04-11
MORE LAND FRAUDS
JUDGE BELLINGER GUSTS
NUMBER OF PETTY LAND
OFFICIALS.

AAiuSuSoSh oO6Ad Aooe OOoOo0A
Laws Disregarded and
Scandalous Irregulari-
ties Practiced.
Portland, April 8.-No great sur
prise is expressed today over the re-
moyal of the United States Com
missioners FL. w. Reed of Bend,
Crook county; J. 0. Haymaker of
Bonanza, klamath county, and j.
w. Haymaker of BLY,, Klamath
county, says the Journal. Persons
more or less acquainted with the
operations of land agents say that
their shady transactions are old
stories not alone in Oregon, but in
every timbered state in the Union.
The removal of the three eommis-
sioners, however, sets the machine
ry of justice moving, aud it is ex-
pected that before many weeks,
fraudulently inclined persons en-
ioying government positions will be
severely dealt with by the Federal
courts.
The three men removed by Judge
Bellinger VI sterday are creatures of
his own appointing, and it is said
today that no more than sugges
ton on the part Of the inspectors
now working under the direction of
the department of the interior was
necessary to cause the Federal
Judge to oust these men whom he
appointed from theil jobs.
1t cannot be ascertained the ma
ture of the charges filed against the
three commissioners, butat the dis
trict attorneys Office it is suggested
that serious complaints have been
made.
Last October Secretary of the In
terror Hitchcock determined to have
investigated the many complaints
made by citizens of Oregon, Wash
ington, Idaho and California to the
effect that outrageous frauds were
again being practiced by land COM
missioners in their respective states.
It was openly charged at that time
that gross fraud in taking acknowl-
Pedgements was being practicsd.
Several pertinent cases were point
ed out where persons desiring to To-
cate were not required to prove up,
but by paying certain sums into
the hands of commissioners delay
and trouble were eliminated. One
instance is cited where q resident
of an Eastern city gained land in
Curry county, Oregon, without ev-
en- the formality of visiting its To-
cation. Another practice of fraud
particularly lucrative to the gov
eminent schemers was to accempa-
ny a person on certain piece of
land on which he desired to locate
and then tell him.by paying $50 or
$50 further trouble In the matter
would be unnecessary. That is, the
prospective locator would not be
required to make another visit to
his possession as blanks already
filled in would be furnished him.
These and many more violations of
the law were reported to the gener-
al land Office and it is said that
Binger Hermann was called into
council and suggested that an in
vestigation was unnecessary, as
charges of similar character had
been made for years. Mr.. Her
mann's. dilatory proceedings after
the matter was brought to his no.
tice were not approved by the ad-
ministration and it is said that
without regard to him or his advice
an investigation was begun by
sending special agents into Oregon,
California and Washington. Since
last fall these agents have devoted
all their time to inspecting the va
rious land offices in the various
states, with the result that some
very startling transactions of a
fraudulent nature have been
brought to light.
Bringing the subject home to Or
egon and Portland, it has been as
certained beyond question of doubt
that so brazen have become some
commissioners that they have tax
en- acknowledgements of posses
sions to Portland in person. The
law states that all who have taken
up public land must appear in per-
son before the land commissioners
and show their right to the proper
ty desired.
Eugene, Oregon April THAT