The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-12-11
VALUABLE PAPERS
ARE IN DANGER
Secretary Hitchcock, in Annual
Report, Urges Erection OF
Fircproof Building.
AFTER PUBLIC LAND GRAFT
Nearly Twenty Million Acres Of
Public Lands Were Disposed
OF Last Year.

Secretary of the Interior. Ethan Alien
Hitchcock. on yesterday issued his am
nual report for the year ending June sofa
last te recommends the erection of q
nroprooi building for the accommodation
OF the valuable papers connected with
The Patent Office, which are now stored
So, h0.
After calling attention TO the fact that
the pay of the chiefs Of divisions i'm the
department is Inadequate. hc touches upon
the prosecution of those who have COM
eplie0 To dctfaud the government. lie
Tho unusual activity in the public
mi service referred TO i'm mN last annual
report has not abated. De- prosecution
OF Hl persons consplrinE 20 dcfraud the
government OF it's public lands lis being
~'hunNcd Win Nleor, as is shown hy ths
TACT that $50 persons have been indicted
i'm tho various land States and Terri
tories for the violation of the public
lald laws. so have been convicted and
indictments are still pending against 4Oi.
The zeal with which the officers OF
TINS department and the department of
Justice are looking into these matters is
constantly uncOverlng new cases that are
startling in character. but H. is the policy
OF the administration To continue these
Investigations ANA prosecutions until "a
proper respect FOR the property rights of
the government. and a. regard fo~ the
law are established throughout those
sections Of the country 500 which such
laws amply
The Importance Of our great public do
Hidln 20 the people cannot Dee 0vcresti-
mated. 1t is the nations heritage. and
every available rod thereof should be re-
sarded as sacredly dedicated TO the pur-
pose oi providing homes for the homeless.
the lands should fhore for, d.. -f,fsf,
forced. and this has becn the cardinal
principle of my administration
Hold on Like Death.
Tt is to ho regretted. however. that the
efforts made To release In from fhr r-,f,
OF its ~despoi1crs have been mot NV every
embarrassment that human inr.r,ttv
could devise, powerful influences have
been concerned. ANA have NOT besitatad
t. agcressivclv exert ever are~cv gt,t
could Doe commanded 70 weaken the hand
OF tlc law; even local land-omce officials
have been suhscrvient to such Influences
and tho punishment Imposed by tho corrte
has. in many cases. been SO consni~uonefv
inadcquate as 10 e~ncouraee rather fhan
deter violations ~ tie law. Whether fhfs
official ~siaenetion Is due in any degree
onr.,is srn "a'yes 10 which these
troir nositioTe Is r~U" Ut. .rLehlion ot
oa-s al this timc. nf e. b a%po[ r.. 5.i to dis s.
state tn9t II fe % 6.~ro~~rr. -. 80.
such action or rathar i,.@,fo, a., t-L1
ing ranroach upon tho nublio service 10
sides cuharcinr the dfficu1tfos vrfch he
the administration On any efforts that
u may make To- rescue the public domain
from serious peril.
ln Lhe DISCHARGE ~ my duty under tile
law D nave proceeded without the light
~ H.. or a~rninst any person
~ 1870. m s3cn 'n"F
r., m 5lcn "Uorts as
rD5a~ .r. s,-.-.ts l' service
81 frorgfr,r. --..5 '-'
either dix station or the Doy,.r nS ,Io
-uflty. ADoarentiy tho, o,. ,1 E
same footing. In mv Judgment bor..,,o~
tho higher The 0rcrder the $500 ~
crime against society and law. because