The Washington times., 1906-12-28
Fallen Officials Attempt
to Get Back Into the
Department.
REORGANlZATIONCOMING
Retirement of Commissioner
Richards Causes Much
Speculation.

Secretary Hitchcock and his sup
purters at the Interior Department are
confident that me Secretary viii cUme
cut with flying cOlOrs from the contest
now taking shape, for control OF the de-
partment after Mr.. HitchcocKs retire
HeuL
There is no doubt that determined
contest is right now in progress. which
has as its purpose the general domlna-
tion of the department after Secretary
Hitchcock small have retired IT is by
uo means proposed that there shall be
amy nominal change OF policy. Secre-
IaIy Garfield VIII not be asked OF infiu-
enced To discontinue the war on graft
and grafters. But he Will be subjected
to every possible influence calculated TO
prejudice am against 5ae policies ana
The methods of his predecessor
Chance for Fallen.
There viii ue, indeed, there is now on
foot, a vigorous movement 10 rehahlli-
tate some officials who have been on
bad terms w!Jh Secretary Hitchcock
-uort IS making To convince the in
coming authorizes of the department
IuaU secretary Hitchcock has mauc some
great mistakes that he is naturally
suspicious oi everybody around him, "A
Lao organizer, a poor executive. and
... .. --.ttE % landing men.
Not only is there effort 10 restore 10
Eu,.. ..-..,.4.- so-.e OF the men who
u.t, laden uuuer Jne dlspIeasure of Mr..
HitChCoCh, puJ there Is equally deter
I4-...-- ,-. pose 10 euecJ the undOng Of
the --eu upon whom Secretary HItch-
CucN nas TeueI. and IN whom lac has
Itpusuu mas confidence.
Reorganization Coming.
IvoIas,...4....ou OF things at the depart
u-c-- IS cuuccued on ali hands Com
l--.=z-Ja-r -.-.i4-ras. OF the General Land
Ol--t ,.4.. !y..rv on lAe same DAY Inat
----~~-.ly ---J--cJe-- goes cut Ihe sec
-o.. ~.-4 ,i.- -o..-l...as.Ouer have not
.a.. -....... ..-.az-y .ol a lUug llme,
H --, .-.... ----- =-PpUTIeTs o. the
-l---..s-.J---- ---ty a,uu very active in
r-v t4-Ll...-- 80 --t---Isn Impression
t-at ,l4, sDt-u,aTs $ sci, ICES as a graft
-i-ite. t--Np --CA oVc.es tlm4Led.
-t Ids uUe-. charged JAs.,. Iar from
"yl.- ,-Lllvl 90 credit lUr DegInaiuE
L--e-4 prose, .uous, The secretary. in
Litlt -4--s J-Sygpeu "a AIC8I Luu1 of credit
L-@t lls sntleA. selolsss 20 h.s COmmis-
sl9-vr u- tAs land OlhCe.
Claims Tor Nj. Richards.
lrr friends % Mr.. Richards, in fact,
declare taaJ when the whole tangled
situation at the department is struiEht-
ened out II Will be known thai the
Commissioner hrst discovered the evil
deuce OF systematic fraud. that he did
the work which resulted in getting a
start toward effective prosecutions, and
that he has unremituagly pressed the
advantage ever since.
IL is declared further that Secretary
IiIehcock has demoraliZed the service
by reason of his suspicious of Com
missioner Richards, tual he has for
instance. written letters TO special
"avhls, over The head of the Commits
sluueI, ordering them 10 look I'D GER
tain matters, and 10 report direct To
tHe secretary without notifying the
land office. This method is said 10 have
caused much embarrassment TO the
Commlssioner In his effort TO keep his
force ln hand Men would get Lhe i'm
press on that they uid not need 10 pay
attention 10 orders from lhe Commits
al--rT Naeu iney were working under
special instructions from higher up
All these and many others allegations
ere made against Secretary HltchCOck' =
conduct of his department. There is
not very much noise about them at pre-
sent. Apparently chCy will De held back
until the Secretary is out OF Office and
sibIe @
The friends of Secretary Hitchcock.
Tor example. are much interested in the
.tc-on OF the senate special committee
htadrd uy Senator Clark of Wyoming
Hi'n investigated conditions in Indian
Territory during the Congressional re-
cess This committee. "a few days be-
lore congress adjourned for the re-
cess. administered q severe rebu.a TO
the Secretaries OF the Interior and Agrl-
culture on account Of the withdrawal OF
great area of land in Indian Territory
from entry