The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1905-12-27
YOU
A HAPPY NEW YEAR
ON TRAIL or LAND GKABBERS.

on TRAIL OF LAND GRABBERS.
Recent advices from Washington in-
dictate that Secretary Hitchcock. Of
the interior department., is still on the
trail of land grabbers. He has Sc.
cured the conviction of members Of
congress and other prominent men
implicated in thefts Of public lands,
and proposes to continue the campaign
against offenders, no matter what po.
litical or other "pull' may be exer-
cised in their behalf. Mr.. Hitchcock,
it is reported, has sent to congress
the draft Of q bill, in which is fixed q
maximum penalty of 10000 fine, or
ten years. imprisonment, for those
convicted Of land frauds-a punish
ment far more severe than that pro.
vided bv existing law.
In his recent annual report Secre-
tary Hitchcock expressed qualification
over the outcome of land fraud prose-
cutions during the past year., remark
ing upon that point:
''Siuce my last annual report the
land service has been the scene of un-
usual activity. The prosecution of
the ring of conspirators on the Pacific
coast has been vigorously pushed, a
number have been convicted and many
more indicted and apprehended and
brought before the courts for trial.
"Other Investigations of alleged vio-
lations OF the public land laws ia that
section and elsewhere are being rap.
idly and energetically prosecuted, sew.
eral old and persistent offenders have
been indicted and their trials will oc.
cur in the near future. Other cases
will soon be In shape for presentation
to the federal grand ~juries having
Jurisdiction of the otfenses alleged,
and it 10 believed that the offenders
will be speedily brought to justice.
"The vigorous manner in which
trespasses upon the public timber and
unlawful Enclosures Of the public do.
main are being investigated and the
offenders punished is creating
healthy public sentiment in the locali.
ties involved and throughout the coun-
try that the law must be complied
with.
"An average Of about seventy.five
special agents of the general land Of.
fee were employed during the year in
investigating alleged fraudulent land
entries and otherwise In protecting the
public lands from timber trespass or
illegal appropriation. On July l,
1904. there were pending IL, 457 entries
and 6lings awa rating reports from spe.
cial agents or action upon reports al
ready received OF hearings had under
such reports. During the last fiscal
year there were received $500 entries
and filings requiring investigation.
OF the total number. 93l entries were
held for cancellation or suspended on
special agents. reports.
1.-The plan adopted by the general
land Office OF having q special agent
present whenever possible, in cases
where final proof is taken before OIL.
GERS other than the registers and re.
ceivers OF local land Offices, appears
to have resulted in q material reduc.
ton in the number of fraudulent
proofs.
with respect to unlawful inclo.
sures Ill reports of special agents
were received duringl the year, show.
ing an rea of 363,377 acres OF public
land unlawfully enclosed. Through
the efforts of the special agents, 80 OF
such Enclosures, embracing 227, $50
acres of public land, have been re.
moved and proceedings are pending
to compel the removal in the remain.
ing cases reported. embracing l36, l91
acres. Specific instructions have beer
given the special agents to secure the
removal of all the unlawful fence.
upon the public lands.
I'm my last annual report it wa,
shown that proceedings we're pendini
to compel the removal of unlawful In
closures embracing 636 ,O62 acres
Complete reports from the department
of justice have not been received show,
ing the cases that have been disposed
OF with the acreage involved, and
have not the figures at hand that viii
show accurately the acreage embraced
in the cases DOW pending"