The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-01-04
GREAT IDAHO LAND FRAUDS.
DUBOIS MAKES CHARGES TNTOLF-
ING mon OFFICIALS.
Charges Bankers ami Others with Get
ting a Million Dollars worth Of Pine
Forests Bribery said TO Have Been
ised-Iikc the Oregon Land Cases.


Forests bribery said TO Have Been
tsed-Iikc the Oregon Land Cases.
WAsHNdroE. Jan. Announcement was
officially made here to-day that information
had been submitted to President Roosevelt
and Secretary Hitchcock OF the Interior
Department tending to show that extensive
land frauds had been porpetrated on the
public domain in Idaho for several years.
Tho matter received a sensational turn
from the presentation by Senator Dubois
Of evidence bearing on tho matter and a
hint that before tho investigation was con-
Guided In Idaho another United states
Senator might become involved in the land
scandal
Disclosures have been made which those
responsible for them say will show the ex-
istence in Idaho OF gigantic land frauds
and timber depredations more startling in
their nature, more extensive in their scope
and involving more men of prominence
than those recently made in Oregon and
California
The evidence brought 20 the attention
of the Administration by Senator Dubois
is in the form Of aflidavits. four in number
Inaddition, verbal charges have been made,
which later will be reduced TO writing and
sworn to-, involving men who hold places
of trust under the Federal Government.
State officials in Idaho and men prominent
IN social and business circles Of that State.
This. briefly, il the information that has
been placed in the hands Of the Administra-
ton.
A full investigation has been authorized
by Secretary Hitchcock The officials say
that It may take weeks TO conclude the in
qhry set on foot
The afiidayits presented by Senator
Dubois were sest to him by Frederick
u. Culver OF Lewiston. Idaho who was the
Democratic candidate for Attorney Gen
eral Of his State two years ago. They
charge frauds against ". I. kettenbdch,
president Of a trust company; George II.
Kestcr. cashier of a Nank. and Clarence
RoLnett, ali OF Lewiston in connection
with Che entry OF moi tnan million doll
lara worth Of white pno land through
Registrar +. West Of the Lewiston land
Office
This is understood to he the only specific
case cited, bst the existence OF a syndicate
for1ned for tho purpose Of stealing valuable
timber lands from the Government is
alleged in the anidavits, which also con-
tain many sensational charges az to the
methods Of q ring and tho wide extent Of
its operations.
The statement ia made by those familiar
with the situation in Idaho that the opera
tons Of the Idaho ring were along the line
Of the methods employed 10y land grafters
in Oregon. The Idaho syndicate devoted
it's time to acquiring timber lands. Bribery
cut a big figure in the far Western land
frauds and such extreme methods. Il is
alleged, will be found to have prevailed in
Idaho.
Thee charges relative 70 the frauds Do
not come as yet from Official sources and
for that reason Secretary Hitchcock ana
Land Commissioner Richards will not dis
cus4 them except in general terms. The
officials express the belief, however. that
the picture Of frauds and corruption in
Idaho has not boon overdrawn.
An interesting phase II the Idaho case
is the part taken by Senator Dubois IN
bringing II 20 public notice He is under
stood TO entertain a very hostile feeling
toward his colleague, Senator Hepburn.
but what connection Mr. Hepburn has with
the matter is not made clear
II was developed to-day mat in the last
three weeks moro than i50O land patents
for timber and homestead entries in Orr
z IN, cnianatiag from the Rosoburg district,
where all the trouble began, hive been held
out by the Secretary o. the Interior About
$50 ocO acres of valuable agricultural and
tirnber sections AFRO involved The dis
covcry Of the frauds IN tho Roscburc dis
trict were made about a month ago and
they we're promptly reported to Secretary
Hitchcock