The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-11-29
LAND OFFICE AIDED HARTMAN
RiLkED INQUIRY INTO UNION
PiCIFIC COAL LAND FRAUDS.
Agent Halted by Men Higher Up in Govern
ment service-wyOming senators IN
,oINed-U. 3. Has Three Departments
Pushing PrObe-CrimInaI Suit Expected

Pushing PROBE criminal suit Expected
SALT LAKE. Utah. Nov. 2s.--The Union
Pacifc's alleged domination Of the United
States Land Once in Washington was
brought out to-day in the hearing before
Interstate Commerce Commissions e. E.
Clark.
The principal allegations were made by
Michael Meyendorf, special agent for the
Land Offce. He told how he had run hard
against the Wyoming bunch a. soon as
hc undertook to collect evidence OF al
lcSod coal land frauds committed by the
Umon Pacific in Wyoming.
One Of the most active in f%orbidding him
to probe the alleged frauds was United
States senator Francis +. Warren. Sena-
tor c. D. Clark was a candidate for re-
election at the time. and Warren informed
Ne endorf that he should not continue
the work at the time because il would incur
III, crmity Of the Union Pacific and jeopar-
Isza tho chances Of Senate or Clark for re-
election.
Meyendorf charged that II. J. O'Brien,
n Wyoming man and intimate friend Of
Land COMMISSIONS W. A. Richards. was
the chief representative OF Richards and
Warren. He was nominally special agent
for the General Land Office, stationed at
Denver.
As soon as Mey endorf began work on the
coal land Investigations in Wyoming O'Brien
tried to stop him. According TO the tes-
timonv. when Meyendorf persisted O'Brien
appealed to Commissioners Richards and
Chief Clerk Macy Of the General and Office,
and 70 Senator Warren.
Warren himself took a a and told
Meyendorf to stop it. When he still kept
ON collecting evidence he was removed
from that territory and sent to southern
California.
G.. F. Pollock. chief Of Division p Of the
Land Office, ordered Meyendorf to send in
all The ahidavits discriminating the Union
Pacific Coal Company or 20 destroy them.
Pollock is the man who in an interview
recently expressed great indignation that
the Interstate Commerce Commission
should butt in on something which was
none of their affair, and said that the In
crior Department had investigated the va
rious charges of coal land frauds and found
there was nothing in them.
Meyendorf related how unpleasant his
work was made by Mr.. Richards and his
other superiors in the land Office after his
transfer TO Los Angeles.
In December, 1904. he was a witness
before the United States Court in Denver
and learned then that more trouble was
brew ing for him because Of his so-called
interference" in the Wyoming coal land
frauds cases.
Senator Warren was in Denver at tibet
tjwe and Meyendorf sought him out. War
ron denied that he was behind the move
mcnt to make it hot " for the special agent.
senator Warren then told me-. said
Meycndorf on the stand, that the General
Land Office would not hurry the Wyoming
cases, and that, OF course, l would not have
10 concern myself about it,"
Percy y. Sewers. another special agent,
stationed nj Salt Lake, told about his send
ing on TO Washington evidence against the
Utah Fuel Company and Pleasant Valley
cal Company in connection with land
frauds in Utah.
He recommended at that time the indict-
mcnt Of Robert Forester, geologist for
two coal Companies and other men con-
nPCted with the alleged conspiracy.
He was promptly squelched by the Depart
mcnt. He said further activity in ferreting
out alleged coal land frauds was rewarded
by suspension without pay.
Several witnesses were heard in connec-
ton with the land fraud charges against the
two Utah coal companies mentioned. Most
Of the witnesses were dummies" who old
how they were induced by officials Of the
companies to file on lands in a manner oOn-
trary to law.
Actions like this form the basis of the
accusations of conspiracy and fraud made
by the Government attorneys against the
itlh Fuel Company, the Pleasant V~ley
coal Company and their officials.
Robert Forester, geologist for the COM
ranies, who was active In procuring the
lands, was present. and Attorney T.. NJ.
Iison for the companies asked that he be
allowed to testify.
Commissioner Clark refused to grant him
immunity and he was not heard. The same
action was taken with H. q. Williams,
general manager for the companies.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 2s.-Three branches
of the Government are now conducting in
ouiries that may result in a criminal prose-
cution Of officers Of the Union Pacific Rail-
way Company and eventually in a suit to
dissolve the sO-called system OF Hartman
lines, which is believed to be operating in
restraint Of trade.
The Department OF Justice has under
Consideration evidence furnished by the
Secretary Of the Interior which is under
stood TO show evasion or violation Of the
land laws on the part Of the Union Pacific
hy which the company came into possession
NJ valuable coal tracts in Wyoming and
other States.
There are limitations that two United
States legislators and a prominent Govern
ment official are involved. The Secretary
NJ the Interior, on representations OF favor
itiEm in the General Land Once, through
which the Union Pacific Is said to have
acquired the coal lands, has started an in
veStigation.
Under the terms Of the Tillman-G Gillespie
RESOLUTION passed by CONGRESS last winter
the Interstate Com merce Commission Is
now endeavoring TO discover the relations
that exist between the mon Pacific and
The coal companies along its lines.