The Washington herald., 1906-12-11

Approximately $4,000 acres and more Of the publi,
domain in certain States and Territories are by IN
lawful means appropriated to the exclusive use o.
private interests for private gain.
This is the statement made in the
annual report Of Secretary Hitchcock, OF
the Interior Department. He expresses
deep regret that his efforts to release the
public domain from the grip Of its des-
poilers have been met by every
embarrassment that human ingenuity
could devise" He declares that power
ful agencies have been commanded
TO weaken the hand Of the law.
and that even local Land Office Off
cials have been subservient to such in
fUences.
He says he does not know whether Off
eial stagnatiOn has been due in any de-
gree to local political influences to which
the officials are more or less indebted for
their commissions, but he knows that
such inaction is bringing reproach upon
the public service
The report says. In part:
The unusual activity in the public-land
service, referred to in my last annual
report. has not abated. The prosecution
~ eAa LSLSVllo tOtlSplIAlS 70 utiiotuu t4tN
government of its public lands is being
continued with vigor. as is shown by the
fact that $50 persons have been indicted
In the various land States and Territories
Tor the violation of the DUblic-land laws
elghty-nine have been convicted, and in
uictnents are still pending against 40l,
Uneovering New Cases.
''The zeal with which the officers of this
RI ont Of To-
tice are looking into these matters Is con-
stanty uncovering new cases that are
startling in character, but it is the policy
OF the administration to continue these in
vestigatiOns and prosecutions until a
proper respect for the property rights of
the government, and regard for the law
are established throughout those sections
or the country in which such laws apply
The importance Of our great public do
main to the people cannot be overesti-
mated. II is the nations heritage, and
every available rod thereof should be re-
garded as sacredly dedicated to the pur-
pose Of providing homes for the homeless
The laws enacted for the protection Of
the lands should therefore be rigidiy en-
forced, and this has been the cardinal
1t is TO be regretted, however. that the
efforts made TO release it from the grip Of
its desDOileTs have been met by every
embarrassment that human ingenuity
could devise; powerful Influences have
been concerned. and have not hesitated
TO aggressively exert every agency that
could be commanded TO weaken the hand
Of the law: even local land-ofiice officials
have been subservient 10 such influences.
and the punishment imposed by the courts
has, IN many cases, been so cOnspicuously
inadequate as to encourage rather than
deter violations of the law. Whether this
official stagnatiOn IS due in any degree to
local political influences TO which these
officials arc more or less indebted for
their commissions and the retention of
their positions, is not important TO discuss
at this time, It being sufficient to state
that II is a deplOrable fact that such ac-
ton, or rather inaction, is bringing re-
proach upon the public service. besides
enhancing the difficulties which beset the
administration in any efforts that 1t may
make TO rescue the public domain from
serious peril
Treated All Alike.
In the discharge of my duty under
the law I have proceeded without the
slightest prejudice for or against any
person or persons interested. In such
efforts as have been made 20 protect the
service under my supervision from the
ravages OF inordinate greed, I have not
considered either the station or the power
Of the guilty. Apparently they are all on
the same footing; in my judgment, how
ever, the higher the offender the greater
the crime against society and law. be-
cause of the force and influence of the
higher example. 1t is not possible for
persons and corporations Of great infiu-
ence and power TO maintain Enclosures Of
the public lands in open disregard of
criminal statute without thereby encOur-
aging others to do likewise; and here il
may be properly noted that reports on file
in the department indicate that. approx
mately, 10000 acres and more Of the
public domain in certain States and Ter
Titories are by unlawful means appro-
pTtated 10 the exclusive use of private
interests for private gain.
Until, therefore, the opportunities af-
forded for the fraudulent acquisition of
public lands by the timber and stone act
are removed by the repeal or modification
of those measures. the government may
expect TO expend its money and energy
IN apprehending and cOnvicting those
seeking 10 defraud it out of its public
lands. I accordingly renew the recon-
mendations that have consistently made
for the past five years. that the above
mentioned laws be repealed or modified.
My official influence in this matter
will soon terminate, but I shall have the
comfort in retiring from the public serv-
ice of a well-founded conviction that the
action of the President relative to this
class of Iawlessness viii be so rigorous
as 10 enable my successor TO successfully
administer the law"