The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-01-01
high OFFICIALS ARE INDICTED
SENATOR UITCHELL tND con-
GRESSHiN 10 THE mar.
Presents ed b, he Federal Grand jury In
Portland ore. Tor Participating ia
the Great Land Frauds-DistriCt At
torney Han Removed From ONCE.

lOTneA nan HenONeu FROM OHVe'
PoRrIASD. Ore. Dec 81 United States
Senator Mitchell and Congressman Binger
Hermann. former Commissioner-Ge General
OF the Land Office were indicted by the
Federal Grand Jury day for conspiracy
to defrnud the United States Government
Of public lands. John II Hall. United
States Attorney Mt Portland was also 10
moved by tue direct order Of the President,
and this il taken here to indicate that the
Administration intends 10 vigorously prose-
cute the alleged offenders.
IL Is regarded as significant that Hall
was Endorsed for reappointment by Senator
Mitchell and Representative Hermann of
Oregon 1t is charged that the public
prosecutor in the land fraud cases has oh
structed justice, shlelded certain prominent
men and attempted to prevent certain
persons from giving testimony before the
Federal Grand jury
WAsHINGroN, Dec 3l.-Secre,,ry Hitch
cock OF the Interior Department expressed
no surprise when informed tonight that
the Federal Grand Jury sitting in Portland
Ore had returned indictments against
United States Senator Mitchell and Rep
resentatiye Binger Hermann. former Com
missioner Of the General Land Office. In
fact, he frankly declared that he had ex-
pected it for several days.
just before they left for Portland ten
days ago, to appear before the Grand jury
Senator Mitchell and Representative Her
mann gave out interviews in which there
were strong hints at persecution on the part
OF Secretary Hitchcock in connecting tho
names Of these two Oregon men with the
land fraud cases ON the Pacific Coast. Sec
rotary Hitchcock. however, declined TO say
anything for publication because he said
the matter was entirely in the hands OF the
Department Of Justice and the authorities
at Portland their representatives. To-
night, however after learning OF the in
dictment Of the two members Of Congress,
he said.
That is all bosh about there being any
thing personal in my actions toward these
two men, or any others who have figured
in the investigation that has been in prog
ress for two years in hunting down land
frauds. It Is tho elimination in the case OF
one, at least Of over two years work. There
will be further investigation. and no person,
man or woman. who has been guilty Of
defrauding or aiding to defraud the Gov
eminent OF the public domain will be spared
be he high or low, rich OF poor
The invest CATION and prosecutions in
the land fraud matter have been IN strict
accordance with the principle Of pure and
clean government for which President
Roosevelt stands. and the developments
are coming thick and fest IA the nature Of
q rlndlcasion Of the high principle Of honest
government represented by the President
The investlgation has been conducted all
over the West, and will be extended further
in all the public land States.
Relative 20 the removal Of District At
tornoy Hall. Secretary Hitchcock would
say little except TO acknowledge when asked
II Hall was regarded as standing in the
way of the Grand Jury Investigation that
such was not a bad guess.
Special Attorney Honey who is con
Quoting the Grand jury Investigation
will now have full charge. II was upon his
recommendation that Secretary Hitch
cock and Acknowledgement Moody acted
in recommending Halls removal. late this
afternoon the Attorney General appointed
Oliver Z. Nagin, special assistant attorney
OF the Department OF Justice at Chicago
10 assist Mr. Honey. and instructed him to
proceed at once 60 Portland.
Senator Mitchell is alleged 20 have re-
celyed money from the promoters Of the
gigantic land fraud scheme for services
rendered in the land Office here while Her
mann was ommissioner-General OF the
land Office. He IA so charged, it is said,
in the confession OF Snyder. one Of the
trio against whom indictments were found
at San Francisco.
Representative Hermann was practically
forced out of the land Office by Secretary
Hitchcock after 1t was found that Her
mann was Withholding a report from a
special inspector containing the confession
Of Snyder, which involved him. lie re-
turned 10 Oregon and was elected to the
present Congress on June /, 1903, to fill
the vacancy caused by tho death Of Thomas
II Tongue. who had succeeded Hermann
in the Fifty fifth Congress.
This was regarded by Hermann and his
friends IA a vndication. and every time
his name has been connected since with
the land frnud investigation they have
charged Secretary Hitchcock with perse-
cutting an innocent man.
CAN'T CLOSE moan.