Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-04-13
PUBLIC LAND GRABBING.
Magnitude of the Campaign WaEed by
the Interior Department
Boston Transcript.

Boston Transcript.
The campaign which Secretary Hitch
cock began for the restoration to the pub
lie land Of the vast tracts stolen from It
is still far from its concluding stage. It's
magnitude may be inferred from the fact
that about 600 indictments have been pro-
cured against parties charged with fraud
ulent entries and other offenses against
the land laws The convictions secured
have included those of several men in high
places, among them one United States SEN
ator, who died while an appeal was pend
ing, and one member of the house of rep
resentatives. The trial of another indicted
representative will begin in Washington
next month, There has been no letting up
in the prosecutions, despite great political
pressure brought TO bear on the admin
istration part of it on the ground Of po-
lltcal eXpediency and part from motives
even less worthy OF consideration. The
brunt Of this pressure has naturally been
borne by Secretary Hitchcock who has
kept on his way with Spartan firmness,
with determination not to he satisfied
with anything short OF the punishment OF
the big men involved in the frauds. To
all the subtleties of the conspirators he has
successfully opposed shrewdness and grit,
feared by exploiters and plunderers Of pub
lie lands than any other secretary Of the
interior has ever been.
Public attention has been so largely con-
centrated on the prosecution OF the depre-
dators in the Pacific northwest men Of
prominence politically and financially, that
it has naturally reckoned that as almost
the sole arena for the departments ac-
tivities. But plundering the fields and for
ests has by no means so limited a scope.
Wherever, under our slack surveillance Of
the public domain. there is opportunity tie
plunderer is almost certain TO be found.
Since Secretary Hitchcock initiated his in
vestigation Of land frauds, proceedings
have been begun for violation of the laws
I'm Nebraska, Kansas, Michigan. WiscQn-
sin, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Da-
kota. Montana, Utah, Colorado New Mex
| leo, Missouri, Arkansas, Louisiana, Missis-
! sippi Alabama, Florida, Washington, Cal
/ ifornia, Idaho and Oregon
Such facts suggest that the public do
main is but loosely guarded at the best
| The department has its inspectors, who
are very valuable men. They are com
paratively few in number, and the public
lands have an enormous area A sys-
| tematic patrollng Of this area Is impossi-
/ bic with the agencies now AT the disposal
/ Of the Interior department There are
/ places. sequestered from main Travelled
/ ways forest depths. or little known min
/ eral tracts, where depredators can work
/ a long time undiscovered. Such operations
are carried on by the cruder thieves who
have not learned the arts OF fraud, and
are therefore unable TO steal 265,OOO acres
Of public land, as one gang did in Califor-
MIA, by subornation and conspiracy Still
/ the aggregate OF this rough plundering Il
/ large and 10 detect or prevent IL would
AFFORD employment for a force Of land
rangers similar TO the forest guards which
the old countries have found among the
most useful agencies for the enforcement
OF the law. Such a body under the direc-
ton OF an energetic secretary OF the in
terror would more than save its cost in
the services It could render.