Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1907-01-30
SEVERE CRITICISM
OF SECY. HITCHCOCK
Based on His Order Prohibiting
Issuance of Patent to Land
Until After Examination.
is MADE BY SENATOR CARTER.
Says il Expresses Sccretary's Estimate
OF Truth and Good Faith OF All Set
tiers on Public Domain.


Washington, d. G., Jan 50.--Severe
criticism OF Secy. Hitchcock was made
In the senate today by Senator Carter,
of Montana The criticism was based
on the order of the secretary OF last
December which prohibits the issu-
ance of a patent to land under any OF
the land laws until after examination
ON the ground by special agent. Sem
ator Carter some time ago presented
a resolution which denies the right of
any executive officer TO prevent the
granting of patent when the law un-
der which 1t is claimed has been car
ried out.
SECY's ESTIMATE OF SETTLERS.
Mr.. Carter began by asserting that
the order referred to expressed the
final estimate of the secretary as to
the truth and veracity, the honor and in
tgrity and the good faith of all settlers
or the public domain in the United
States. TT likewise arraigns," he add
ed, AL other persons seeking title to
public land under existing laws.
The order is without precedent in
the history of the government. 1t Ia
without parallel in the history of any
government save as applied to prov
inces, classes or individuals suspected
of reasonable designs. 1t is the cul-
mination of n policy unwsrranted in
fact and founded only on baseless sus-
picion. The public records demonstrate
that the order is not only needless but
harsh. cruel and oppressive.
INTERIOR DEPARTMENT REPORT
For the last six years sensational
A.n-tc Sc n.st lAtsN IL, ,a,,hl n
lands states have been emanating from
the interior department from day 10
day, SO sweeping in their scope as to
create the impression in other sec
tons that the entire western popula-
ton is and has been engaged in ver-
table saturnalta of criminal conspiracy,
fraud, and perjury, over the whole
Since 1901 insiduous interviews and
boisterous proclamatjons have rassed
from the interior department TO the
public press, rejecting on all those
seeking title to public lands. The
words ''grafters." land grabbers.
domain" and like terms have become
part of the vernacular OF the secrc-
tary's Office In referring to public land
entrymen of all kinds The routine
work of the land service has been pill
LACED in quest of items for publication.
rejecting on individuals and communi-
ties. The slightest irregularity SAVIOR
ing of scandal or possible sensation has
been diligently exploited before. dur
ing and after Investigation. Every one
was indicted, and no acqulttals were
ever recorded in these soandalous re-
ports. The exploitation OF evil reports
has been a conspicuous feature OF the
present secretary's administration.
FRAUD voCIFERoUsLY SHOUTED.
Fraud has been constantly and voci-
ferously shouted from the house tops.
Every item or Incident colorado by sus-
picion Or sensational appearances
has been given wings. Ordinary oc-
currenees have been magnified into the
semblance of great events. On the as
sumption that our settlers are land
thieves I'm the main the most odious,
oppressive and exasperating treatment
has been meted out to them IN numer-
Gus cases for the last five or six years.
Residents of the public land states no
longer enjoy the presumption OF inno-
cence, but rather face the presumption
OF guilt. They are charged with con-
spiracy 10 despoil their own state, TO
limit their future possibilities by OPP
pressing themselves and with cheating
their government In the interest OF
graspins spectators. No exceptions
are made by the order of Dec. is.
quent pay nightly visits TO the dens
Of vice and make morning calls at the
police COURTS in all our splendid cities
and then announce 10 the world from
day TO day with loud acclaim that
crime and moral lsprosy overwhelmed
you ALL he would at his pitiable best,
play in your field the part the secretary
OF the interior has been played as re-
CARDS tho people OF the public land
states. Unchecked by contradiction,
emboldened by non-resIstance from the
west and unmerited applause from 9TH
er quarters, the secretary finally Vio-
lated tho legal rights and assailed the
veracity and integrity or hundreds of
thousands of entrymen on the public
domain by and through the brief order
complained of.
CHARGES UNFoUNDED.
"Excluding the timDered area of the
northwest. the people OF every locality
in the country concerned woll knew
that as TO their locality the official oft
repeated charges OF the secretary were
unfoundod to any Justinable extent. but
they supposed being IN possession OF