East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1906-12-12
SECRETARY HITCHCOCK REVIEWS
THE OREGON LAND FRAUDS

To the people of Oregon the report
of Secretary Hitchcock, of the interior
department, for 1905, is the most im-
portant ever issued.
In that report the secretary reviews
the land frauds at length, gives list
OF over l4O persons indicted in the
state for completely in the gigantic
frauds and covers the entire field of
the land frauds investigation in a
most capable and entertaining man.
ner
A list Of people indicted and con-
victed for Illegal fencing and other
crimes on the public domain is also
given, making the report intensely in
teresting to Oregon people.
That portion of the report treating
OF the land frauds is as follows:
The unusual activity in the public
land service referred in to my last an
nual report has not abated. The
prosecution of all persons conspiring
to defraud the government of its pub
lie lands is being continued with vigor
as is shown by the fact that 400 per-
sons have been indicted in the vari-
Gus land states and territories for the
violation of the public land laws, SO
have been convicted, and indictments
are still pending against 4o1.
The zeal with which the officers of
this department and the department
of justice are looking into these mat
ters is constantly uncovering new
cases that are startling IN character,
but It Is the policy of the administra-
ton TO continue these Investigations
and prosecutions until a proper re-
spect for the property rights OF the
government and a regard for the law
are established throughout those sec
tons of the country in which such
laws apply.
The Importance of our great pub
lie domain to the people can not be
overestimated. It is the nations her
itage. and every available rod thereof
should be regarded as sacredly dedi-
Gated to the purpose Of providing
homes for the homeless. The laws
enacted for the protection of the lands
should therefore be rigidly enforced,
and this has been the cardinal princi-
pie Of my administration.
II is to be regretted, however, that
the efforts made to release 1t from
the grip of its despoilers have been
met by every embarrassment that hu-
man ingenuity could devise; power
full influences have been concerned,
and have not hes 'tated to aggressively
exert every agency that could be
commanded to weaken the hand of the
law: even local land office officials
have been subservient to such influ-
ences. and the punishment imposed
by the courts has. in many cases. been
so conspicuously inadequate as to en-
courage rather than deter violations
of the law. Whether this official
stagnation is due in any degree to To-
cal political influences to which these
officials are more or less indebted for
their commissions and the retention
of their positions. is not important to
discuss at this time. 1t being sufficient
to state that 1t is a deplorable fact
that such action, or rather inaction,
is bringing reproach upon the public
service. besides enhancing the diff
culties which beset the administration
in any efforts that it may make to
rescue the public domain from seri-
Gus peril.
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 to protect
the service under my supervision from
the ravages of inordinate greed,
have not considered either the station
or the power of the guilty Appar-
emily they are all on the same foot
ing; in my judgment. however, the
higher the offender the greater the
crime against society and law, be-