Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-01-04
At The WHITE HOUSE
Public Land Frauds a Topic
Of Discussion.
HEYBURE'S STATEMENT
WILL AID IN FERRETING OUT
CRIMINALS IN IDAHO.
virginians Call Upon the President
Son Of Gen. cassius Clay Recon-
mended for Foreign Appointment.

Public land frauds constituted a topic
of serious consideration at the White
House today. The situation in Oregon
and the developments in the last day or
two concerning the alleged frauds in
Idaho both were discussed. Secretary
Hitchcock was an early caller remaining
with the President, however, only a short
time. While it Is known that some phases
of the land cases were discussed. the
Secretary did not care to say anything at
this time for publication.
Senator Fulton Of Oregon also had a
brief chat with the President about the
Oregon cases. He is sincerely resentful
of the action taken against his colleague,
Senator Mitchell.
Senator MITCHELL" said he, ais as in
nocent Of any base or criminal connec-
ton with the land frauds in our state as
any man in Oregon. It Is preposterous
that he should be held UP to public OPP
/ man. too. who himself has been con-
yicted Of fraud and who hopes to gain at
least partial immunity from punishment
by connecting Senator Mitchell with the
conspiracy in which he was the principal
figure. Senator Mitchell has been identi-
fed with the great interests of our state
for nearly a Quarter of a century. He has
advance those interests Today he is a
poor man, living in couple of little
rooms here on q side street. If he had
ever been dishonest he could have been
living in luxury. am quite positive that
his innocence of the charges against him
Will be demonstrated satisfactorily to all
the world.
Senator Hepburn of Idaho talked to the
President about the bill he has prepared
providing for the federal incorporation
Of companies and concerns doing an
interstate business. He said also, that
10 n try fn nh tois ,cf6
ton in the Senate for the pure food bill,
and ii possible would have it made the
unfinished business of the Senate.
Senator Heyburn's Statement.
AS Senator Hepburn left the White House
he was asked what he had to say regarding
the land fraud exposures in his own state.
Il always select my own battlefield he
replied. Those who ehali e me to COM
bat would better be pretty careful what
they do. The efforts made to connect me
with the frauds have no basis whatever. A
year ago, in the course of speech concern
ing the Northern Pacific land grants.
called the Senate's attention to the land
frauds being committed in Idaho. stood
ready then, and / stand ready now, to as
sist the officers of the government in ferret
ing out the criminals and securing their
punishment.
NO." continued the senator in response
to further inquiry, II never acted as attor-
ney for any of the people who are alleged
to be connected with the Idaho frauds. I
am no friend of theirs and they are no
friends of mine. We WIN get to the bottom
OF these frauds If can bring about such
result"
Irrigation Projects in the West.
Hayward @. Leavitt of Omaha, Neb., one
of the largest beet sugar planters in the
west, called on the President today to dis
cuss irrigation matters with the chief ex-
Of 70 Mr. Les
said: 81 discussed with the President the
| development of irrigation in the west in its
relation to the reclamation service and pri-
vate enterprises. contended that the gov
eminent service, instead of opposing work
undertaken by private capital should en-
courage 1t with view of covering as wide
a field in as short a time as possible. There
is ample room for the development of irrf-
CATION both by the government and by pri-
vate capital without a conflict Of interests
and an attempt like that of two rival rail-
roads of being first to occupy any given ter
ritory. The fund at the disposal of the re-
clamation service, while large, will presently
be exhausted, even with the constant ac-
cessons to 1t from the sale Of public lands,
while the territory capable of irrigation will
have been only In small degree covered.
IT, In the meantime, systematic diScour-
agement. to use no stronger term, of all
work undertaken by individuals or corpora
tons Is continued, irrigation in the west
will before long be brought to a standstili
unless resort be had to direct appropriations
by Congress This the terms and purposes
Of the reclamation act were designed spe-
cifically to avoid, and yet the reclamation
service has been SO conducted as to lead
directly to such final result"
Mr.. Leavitt is not asking for any favors
or grants of any kind at the hands Of the
government. His project was inaugurated
and mapped out before the consideration
and enactment of the reclamation act
which by its terms and limitations provides
for absolute non-interference with all prof.
ects under way at the time of it's passage
He drew the attention of the President to
tendency or policy of the government
service to monopolize the whole field, and
to the injurious consequences to the deyeI-
opment of the west likely to accrue there
from.