The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1905-12-14
HITCHCOCK BECOMES
SARCASTIC IN REPORT
Justice, as Administered to Me-
braska Cattle Barons, Does
Not Satisfy Him.
FOR PENSION REFORM
Secretary Of the Interior Says Presen
System Of Examining Old Soldiers
for Disability Should Be
Revised.

IA report TO congress-. Secretary
Hitchcock today took occasion to In
dulge I'm sarcastic comment regarding
the sentence imposed by an omaha
judge against western Nebraska cattle
men for violating the antl-fenclng laws.
His statement as to the size OF the
sentence was printed In italics with
double exclamation points following.
He suggests AT important change In the
pension laws. In part his report fol-
lows:
THE report OF the commissioned OF
pensions shows that during the fiscal
year ended June 30. 1906. the total num-
Der OF pensioners on the roll was 1906
ST. and the number remaining ON the
roll At the end of the year was s9S. ffi.
n net gain OF 1878 over the previous
year.
The pension roll Mt the close OF the
year contained the names OF TITLES sol
diers and sailors. 2s0.6so widows and
dependents. and 603 army nurses.
Pays Out $i41y5t3,76o Pensions.
The appropriation for the payment
y pensions for the fiscal year was
iitl. $1,000: rcpayments to the appro-
priatiou made the amount available DIR
payment OF pensions s11. 5i3. sG0zS. The
disbursements for army n navy pen
lions during the year, including the
amoun disburscd by treasury settle
nents. were siti. N3.ssi.3.
The present sysucm OF examining
applicants for pension IL a most I'M
certain. expensive. n unsatisfactory
method. the system being liable to cut
side control and political ~dictntfun. and
generating an enormous amount OF o
utical friction.
n substitute for the existing sys-
term tho nntnVri aainnar again GfICrnQfg
4 division OF the country into districts
Or circuits the appointment under civil
service rules OF medical experts. TO be
organized into boards TO serve outside
Of the states OF their domicilcs and TO
30 from place to place within their re-
spective circuits on fixed days. making
examinations and taking testimony re-
garding the condition OF the applicants
Tor pension.
South Dakota Prosecutions.
Proceedings are under way 10 COM
pei the removal OF unlawful Enclosures
In South Dakota embracing about 5000
acres. for which tho following persons
are under Indictment: Floyd ID. Head
Ice. II. \. Scovcl. Henry Schact. Charles
Smith. George ID. Porch. Oscar r. LssS-
renee. Fred H.. Sears. II. w. Maihicson.
Ernest w. Thodc. Cyrus II. Molyneaux.
John MceKcr. Jonu IL. White. and
George IL. Mcpherson.
"For perjury I'm connection with home
toad entries. under section 1892. United
States revised statutes. Indictments arc
pending ~ follows: Ahram ID. Cntffn.
Henry Groth. Pcarlie IL. Stiles, John
\. Hilgrndorf. and James Mcehan.
Form OF Justice" in Nebraska.
Unlawful Enclosures OF the public
domain ia the state or Nebraska have
been numerous and extensive. Many
persons In the western part cf the state
Eccm To consider that they possess an
implied license to fence public lands.
The offenders are often prominent citi-
y,us and the courts are reluctant to
punish them for an onCnse that Is 80
general.
For perjury In connection with nome
1T f. reported that parties maintain
Ing unlawful Enclosures often hire old
! soldiers. soldiers widows, n any 9TH
or persons who can be procured. for
"a money consideration ranging from 80
To $50. TO hle ou lands within their In
,ln Furrs. and by means Of such entries
dofruud the government of title To he
iuClnsed lands.
criminal proceedings against John
a..g Herman krauyc. or Nebraska, old
and persistent offenders. have resulted
iu conviction. Numerous other arrests
have been made.
After some years of effort and an
expenditure at several thousand dol
lars Bartlett Richards and William g.
Comstock. who. through the Nebraska
Land ana Feeding company. II Is al
legged maintained an nlawf Enclosure
OF moro than "A quarter ~ a million
acres OF public land, were indicted and
brought before the court recently for
trial. They pleaded guilty, and after
consideration of the matter the court
imposed "A fine In each case OF $500 and
sentenced the defendants to the custody
OF the marshal for six hours.