The Corvallis times. (Corvallis, Or.) 1888-1909, 1905-01-21
!. coRYALLIs, OREGON. s5ANUARY q. 1905.

" tttE LtdiIus vi tne court. B0bs i
trust and believe that the time will
come When I can with propriety de-
manH OF this senate thorough in
yestss alton. .
eriieising public officers sswho
Knowingly niscoastrue the public
actsSaf afpublic men, and thus seek
to distort and convert them into
badsss Of dishonesty" Mitchell
conclusion, permit me to de-
clare that the representatives. Of any
who will tolerate this
arHsup pWorthy Of the exalted posi-.
tion shey occupy. S
& n for 20 self, I defy them here
andIoW to produce any evidence
Wofsh moments consideration
which will connect me in any
wrongful manner whatever In any.
of tia land frauds ia Oregon or else.
where" . sl - - 3ss.7s3
Its was during consideration ofS
the eonference report on the Philip
pinesf franchise bill IN the senate to-.
day that Senator Mitchell entered
the Chamber and took q seat in the
rear, near the main doorway. tt
was bis first appearance since the
indittment for alleged conspiracy
in the land fraud cases in Oregon
found against him. In q moment
be was surrounded by senators, who
assured him of their faith in his
ability to demonstrate. his inno-
cencs s3i5 4
was atgthe conclusion of the.
routine business, when nearly eve
ry member had paid his personal
respects to the Oregon senator, that
Mitchell arose. His call, ssMr.
Presid dent" brought profound still:
ness throughout the chamber.
The scene throughout his speech
was intensely dramatic. Nearly
every member of the senate was
present and the public and press
galleries were crowded. Mitchell
was given the closest attention, ev-
|ery senator turn-ng toward him
and listening intently.
Mitchell began the statement in
a Low, broken tone, and at times
Ibis motion was SO intense that be
eozs6 not proceed At the conefus
sion of that part of his speech his
emotions again overcome him and
words were almost inaudible whis-
pers. When he concluded the gall
leries applauded until suppressed
by presiding officer of the senate,
Foraker of Ohio.
At the conclusion of his speech a
number of senators shook hands
with Mitchell and assured him of
their beliefin his innocence. Among
them were Teller, Patterson, Stew
art, Newlands, Kearns, Dubois,
Fulton. McComas, Scott, Mecum-
Der and Daniel. "
Mitchell could continue on the
floor without objection from any
one. 1t is not Mitche1Ps intention
to do this, however, and it is be:
lieved he will take no further part
in the proceedings this session.
P0rtland, Jan. 17.-Alarm is
spreading among homesteaders in
Southern Oregon as the federal in.
vestigation into timber frauds pro-
crosses In that direction. The work
of the governments secret agents is
much more far-reaching than had
been expected. 1t is now apparent
that there is to be a searching, in.
vestigation into the condition OF
lands aud timber taken up by sup
posed homesteaders. who have not
complied with provisions of the law
garding the making of improve.
Is: nts and residence on the land.
Is said thousands will lose lands
by cancellation Of their filings, and
il many cases indictments will re-
suit from perjury committed in
making final proof. In many in.
stances, it is said, perjury has beer
committed IN making homestead
filings on valuable timber claims
lin order to secure the timber with
out paying the $3.50 per acre re
quired by law. A large number
of citizens who have thus secured
timber claims by swearing that th,
land was more valuable for agricul
ture than for the timber are nov
being listed by the agents Of the in
terror department. In every cas-
where valuable timber claim ha
been taken as a homestead the fl
Ing will be cancelled. If final proc