Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1903-11-07
PUBLIC LAND FRAUDS.
Statement From Secretary Of Interior
Department.

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 a report reached
the secretary which indicated that
frauds of a 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 it's 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
huential 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 ar
early date will be in shape for definite
and appropriate action against the
offenders.
"While several hundred thousand
acres of public lands are involved II
the illegal transactions brought to
light, the number of acres to which
patents have been obtained by the per
: petrators of the fraud is comparativel.
small 1t is proper to say also tina
some of the statements in regard t.
the matter which have appeared il
the newspapers recently, both in thu
east and in the west, are more or les
. exaggerated and others are mere SUI
! misses.
. "The statements widely circulated t
= the effect that five United States sena
:. tors and a large number of represer
tatives were implicated and that tn
land involved will reach in value $15
4 600 900, are without foundation.
y can be positively stated that they di
: not originate in the interior depar
" ment.
- "The details of the investigated
a are known to few. At the proper tin
~ full statement will be made cove
- ing the results of the entire investig
a tion and the whole matter will
n. given to the public; but, Tor obviol
1s reasons, it is not deemed expediel
II that a detailed statement of the fac
q should be given at the present time.
-. "The work of the investigation b;
i. been conducted by Arthur B. Hug
Ia assistant attorney in the interior d
partment, and William J. Burns of Il
in secret service of the treasury depal
,d ment. Mr.. Burns was called into Il
~. case last May and since that time h;
no had entire charge of the secret sc
ID vice features of the work, while M
ID Hugh had attended to it's legal phase
be The secretary Of the interior is high
To- gratified with the service rendered
IN the officers in the matter"