New-York tribune., 1905-01-02
ANOTHER INDICTMENT,
IN LAND Fraud SCANDAL.
One More Name Nay Be added to
Those Of Mitchell and Hermann
DFsoN THr rHIsu,r HuarAu.l

Of Kansas. would be the last OF its kind.
The revelation to-day. however, that stiu an
other member OF Congress will probably be in
dicted In connection with the public land con-
miracles has caused stn further disInay
The evidence which led to the indictment of
Senator Mitchell ana Representative Hermann
has been in process Of collection for nearly two
xssrs knowledge OF its existence did not reach
the public, however. until the fall OF 1905 when
thsse dispatches OF October % contained the
news that evidence Of gigantic land frauds had
been discovered. The Tribune of that date said:
It is maintained by persons presenting those
charges that many members OF Congress have
engaged IN a system OF conspiracy by which
.bev hsve procured title 20 worthless lands, in
Suces the government 20 make reserves for
Sorsst purposes. Including their holdings and
secuyad the right under the lien land forest re-
80 sct ~ select IA lieu thereof valuable lands
ri So reserved. thus effecting the exchange OF
rrsetically worthless land for that worth from
S. 10 SO al acre
n, October p The Trih1os printed a Wash
,nrtou dispatch whicA. in the light Of subss-
oysr+ events is significant. II stated that Sec
rstarv Hitchcock lad fCari proof OF the exist
.n,a ~ grave fraSG3 t1-t he had called for the
-s.,rastion Of Binger Hermann, ex-Commis-
sioner of the General Land Office. and added
,h.. senstov Mitchell. who had just arrived in
1J-ssb,nrton characterized the reports OF land
,.ealirg as grossly exaggerated
500 that time The Tribune has. from time TO
80 nripted a number Of dispatches concern
,,q the land frauds. but many Of the most i'm
-or+snt developments were suppressed at the
rsouss. Of Secretary Hitchcock, who feared
,-srnat,Ire publicity might defeat the ENDS OK
justice.
RUMoRs ABOUT MITCHELL.
s,-,a November / reports connecting the
,r,as Of Senator Mitchell and Representative
55s-ranu have been rife in Washington but It
,ss rot supposed that evidence had been dis
o,-sre6 which would prove more serious than
,s,-alz, +o ernharrass the Senator from Oregon
who il was assumed. might have failed 10 IN
,,astigste with due caution such projects as ne
hs5 heen asked 10 indorse before the General
Land omce.
mat evidence had been procured which
would lead a federal grand jury TO indiet Mr.
Mitchell on so serious charge as accepting
5000 bribe for "expediting' fraudulent cases
IN the Land once was probably known to only
one member Of the Senate. Mr. Knox under
ubose supervision the prosecution was insti-
tuted.
The extreme reluctance Of the leaders OF the
Senate to intrust to Mr.. Mitchell the chairman
shin of The Committee on Interoceanic Canals
WAS not. as has been popularity supposed. due to
-he reports connecting the Oregon Senator with
;ne land frauds. but was because OF certain
legislative measures exploited by Mr.. Mitchell
which, Il was DelleFeG. ne NoutA Al0FC ASSN--
atsd as did the Senate ultimately, had he IN
vestigsted their purposes with greater care
Mr. Mitchell was elected chairman of that
committee in the early part of the present ses-
sion, hut only because he rejected every over
ture made TO induce him to yield his right OF
seniority right which is never violated In the
Senate An effort was made in Portland last
night 10 arres. Mr. Mitchell. but the Senator
started Immediately for' Washington. and the
law Kill not permit Interference with member
Of Congress on his way to a session Of that body
HERaiAcyN"s personal" LETTERS.
Surprise that Representative Hermann had
been indicted was not so great as in the case OF
senator Mitchell, because certain facts in con-
nection with Mr. Hermann's administration OF
the Land once had leaked out 1t was known.
for Instance that only at the earnest solicitation
Of Mr. Mitchell was Mr.. Hermann permitted to
resign instead Of being dismissed: and that
when his resignation was accepted, 70 take efect
three weeks later M Hermann caused to be de-
stroyed thirty-fve 500-page letter books. sup
posed 10 he a part Of the records Of his off1ce.
Mr Hermann subsequently explained that
these books had contained only his personal cor
:espondence. but some officials active with thelr
pencils Immediately calculated that if that were
rue Commissioner Hermann must have written
rot less than ten private letters day for each
and every DAY Of his six years administration
The assertion that personal prejudice and vim
dictiveness have resulted in the indictments re-
turned n Portland yesterday. Is regarded as
ruer.le by many members Of Congress 1t is
pointed out that no one official Of the admins
traton Is responsible for the prosecution and
z there had been any vindict!veness II must
have been shared by Secretary Hitchcock, At
torney General Knox Chief OF Secret Service
Wilde and even the President himself
The first .ntimation of the wholesale system
of FRAUD which so nearly swindled the nation out
o. millions OF dollars. came IN the form Of a
confession made by one Of the conspirators TO
agent o1 The Land Office nearly two years
aso. The confession promptly forwarded
II Commissioner Hermann. who pigeonholed Il
without action II was not until several weeks
later that sn inquiry as 20 the reason no action
hsd been taken reached Secretary Hitchcock,
Who found the confession in aIr. Hermann's pos
session and Immediately placed it in the hands
OF Mr. wilce OF the Secret Service. Mr. wilke
the Jaw officer of the Department Of the Inte-
Tior ana a chase was instituted which has in
F&ded over half the States and Territories Of
INC Onion has already resulted in several con-
Vfctonn and numerous indictments. and still
promises a nurnber Of sensational develop
msnts
As soon as evidence which seemed sufficient
70 warrant criminal proceedings was secured
a. vac submitted to Attorney General Knox.
NHo advised immediate prosecution OF some of
zee Parties 20 the frauds and who selected Mr..
6sney sc special attorney 20 conduct the prose-
eauon Since then every legal step has been
Nxen On she initiative OF Mr. Heney. usually