The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1906-11-28
WHOLESALE LAND
FRAUDS ALLEGED
Allegations of Discrimination in
Oil Rates by the Karri-
man Lines.
GRAVE AVERMENTS AGAINST
NUMBER FEDERAL OFFICIALS
Hearing Before Interstate COM
merce Commission BristIes
With Sensations.

Charges of wholesale land frauds
against the Union Pacific Coal and
Eallroad companies, the Utah Fuel
company and Pleasant Valley Coal COM
pany, allegations of discrimination in
oil rates by the Hartman lines;
grave averments regarding dilatorious-
ness and prosecution on the part Of
former Land Commissioner ". A.
Richards, former Governor of WYocl-
ing, and insinuations with regard %
Senator Warren s influence in favor OF
the corporations were the prominent
developments at the first session of the
investigation conducted by Interstate
Commerce Commissioner T.. L. Clark in
the Federal courtroom, Salt Lake CITY,
Tuesday. The entire proceedings
bristled with sensational disclosures
and encounters between the various
counsel. and time and again Commits
sioner Clark referred the mooted points
between the forensic champions.
The most important feature of the
proceedings was the specific charges
against the Union Pacific Coal and
the Union Pacific Railroad company,
and which were recently filed with
the Secretary of the Interior. The
charges arc specific and detailed. impli.
cate prominent officials. and, if true.
disclose a frightful condition of affairs.
There is no lack of legal talent at
renment are NJ c, Burch, Assistant At.
torney General of the United States;
Assistant United States Attorney Fred
a. MAYNARD. Attorneys j. T. Marchand
and r, E, Thomas Of Washington,
the latter two being actively en-.
gagged in the work of the investigation,
Z. l.. Williams represented the Harri.
man and E. NJ. Allison, Jr., the Gould
people,
Spence the First Witness.
The first witness called was Robert
s. Spence, the Evanston attorney, ''the
only one in the Wyoming town he
Pacific - He testified that be is at.
torney for A. j. Smith of Denver, and
Smith, he said, had filed in December,
1903, protest against the issuance of
patents by the General Land Office for
certain tracts of coal land in Sweet.
water county, Wyo., known as Horse.
thief canyon. He had, however, heard
nothing OF the protest. The matter was
then taken up with the Secretary Of the
Interior, with the result that the local
Land Office was called upon 20 furnish
the Government with evidence re.
ferring TO the protest. and the protest.
mt. Smith. was asked to make specific
charges, which he did
The witness continued that while he
was absent in Omaha a tar-chamber
investigation was held in the office of
the Union Pacific ATTORNEYS nj
Evanston. and the protests were dis.
missed by the commissioner because
they were not corroborated and tho
patents had been issued. Witness knew
nothing of the investigation. hence
there could be no other decision. He
also told of protest that had been
filed by Mr.. Bott against an entry
plovee of the Union Pacific. in which
n {, ciSion was rendered in favor Of Mr..
Boz, and he was paid Sl3,200 for his
claim.
At this point Mr. Marchand read the
specific charges filed by A. j. Smith
at Washington, which are as follows:
Here Are Specific Charges.
United States Land Office. Evanston wyo,
STATE OF COLORADO.
County of Denver SIS
Artimus ]. Smith, being first duly sworu
Of the United States over she age OF ii
years, and a resident of Denver, Colorado.
That / am tho identical Artmus ]. Smith
who made application through the Honorable
luiring the Honorable Commissioner Of the
General Land ONCE appertnining TO my eff
Ior'S 10 optnln nearing on certain charges
.heroin specifically stated
Tha, 1 fled the said application in .hs
month OF July, 1906. and on rhe o9th o. the
same month the snid application was duly
ran smitted to the Office OF the Honorable
Secretary Of 1hc Interior. On August Sih
1906. the Honorable Secretary granted thd
said order and further instructed tine Hon,
,rablc Commissioner as follows;
You viii furnish the petitioner with
'opy OF his letter advising that he will be
llowcd thirty days from the receipt thereof
n which 10 dc with the Department other
harecs and evidence in support thereof al
le may deem necessary
! received n copy o{ the said letter from
he local office Evanston, Wyoming on
october 2ond, 200. the same being accom-,
'aued ny Honorable Commissioner letter
y; October lTrh. 1906.
Upon receipt OF The said copy and acting
pon the advice herein contained attach
cvcto (copy) which fled by me in tho
neal Office at Evanston, Wyoming, and
70 the General Land of!ico
iav @5 1906. bu1 which has not yo, been
ctod upon by tho Honorable Comm ssioncr
The protcs, sets out n detail all the mat
crs complained OF up TO :he date Of its 6l'
NJ. and matters tr9nspir'ng since then are
eiailod in tho record ordered transmitted
, the Iionorahl" Secretary.
aIy Nyifh rtatN,I ,IO,IS sol