The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1906-06-22
RIDICULOUS PRICES ARE
PAID FOR RICH MIN
ERAL LANDS.
SENATE TO INVESTIGATE
Western Politicians are De.
cIared to be Involved.

Washington, June 22.-Tha Utah coal
land scandals ae TO become q subject
OF consideration by the senate. Many
prominent Western politicians. at least
one senator ana several railroads are
said to be involved II ia believed that
sums aggregatine millions have been di-
vcrtee to corporations.
Agitation over the sale Of coal lands
secured by Utah from the general gov
cinment when admitted as state has
been ~ progrcss for hfteen YEARS. The
lands. about 100000 acres IN all were
supposed az thotimc 10 be valuable only
for grazing and farming purposes. They
were found later TO contain rich coal
deposits Nevertheless the state sold
them for S1.5o an acts. the price chsrg-
cd by the government for such land
ranges from $40 to $50 an acre.
Tho nomination by President Roose-
volt OF Hiram f. Booth 10 be uaitod
states attorney FOR the dlstfict OF Utah
has brought this scandal % the direct
attention Of the senate lIis nomination
Is now pending before the Judiciary COM
mittoe. Charges have b.an preferred
akhlNlNA WAlils - ~ hAt'h'N AttNN AffFNt'
was once removed from office because
Of conduct diso2nroved 10y the govern
meut II IS declared that he is presi-
dent Of the Carbon County Land COM
pany. concern that the government
seeks to rrosecutc IN connection with
the coal land FRAUDS Carbon county is
the centre Of tho best coal fields n Utah
! II Is also charged that Booth appeared
] suft
organized the Carbon county Land com
papy The chief Justice or the Utah
/ supreme court is among those protest
/ ing against Booths confirmation
Conclusive Evidence.
/ The Judiciary committee has not yet
taken mp the charges. and full IN
| duiry may not be completed at this ses-
sion. but Il ia expected that resou-
tion win bc introduced this week CALI
/ ling upon the interior department and
/ the department of Justice FOR an the
reports submitted by special agents vito
, have Investigated the coal l5rss scan-
dat II IS said tha, these reports will
show that conclusive evidence has becn
secured by the department OF justice.
and preparations are being made to
Z prosecute All connected with the Ai-
legged frauds
1 Mr. Booth cam. ,rc and testified be.
fore the senate committee n Fic Smoot
= ease, and his testimony WAS favorable
| not only 80 Smoot but 10 LAe Mormon
church, although hc is not "a member OF
/ the church senator Smoot and suth-
orlnnd both strongly endorsed Booth for
( the district attorncyship.
/ Il rs not believed that the president
]
/ ee sont his nomination an about ten
/ DAYS ago although d Is asserted ne
was warned by an official 81 the de-
/ partment of Justice that prosecutions
were about to De Instituted
About four yeats ago reports were
acnt out from Salt Lake city thai ver-
ious corporations and railroads were
seeking 10 sccur, control or vamabl,
coal lands by improper methods. tn,
work was being doac u was alleged. III
the interest OF the Denver ana ri,
Grnnde Gould line or ~ Rio Grlnds
Western, N1dch is q part q the Goul,
system operating in portions Of Ctah.
one pcfson may under the nw sc
cure but 100 acres Of coal lands Ageau
Of the railroads ere accused OF obtain
ing lagc tracts By misrepresentation
Only Drop in the Bucket
But this Is only 81 drop 30 the bucke
49, compared with the greater frau
dating back to tho admission Of utah a
state special Agent Sewers OF the gen
! eiul land once made tha urst lnyesii
cation. ana hiH report condemns tt
sale ~ the nnds but no atieption va
paid TO H. The department ~ lnsuc
y subsequently sent ont us own eSeut
r a1d found evidence on which 20 bas
q prosecutions These Wcro eerlH,d b