The Boise citizen. (Boise, Idaho) 1906-1910, 1907-08-30
TRAPPING THE L0OTERS
HOW SECRETARY HITCHCOCK FOUND THE TRAIL
OF timber Thieves


articles on he Tanning the West and in the September issue
tells Of the discovery of the land fraud system
Mr. Steen gives great praise former Secretary Of the Interior
Ethan Hitchcock He the secretary did expect
near the system by which the great captains who had cleared
Michigan Wisconsin and Minnesota had perfected methods by which
they were stripping fencing themselves Wyoming Mon
tana, Idaho Washington, Oregon and California.
The secretary had expected find few minor officials corrupt
shady transactions but he would back when
county and officials legislators and
became involved and the frauds took astounding proper
ons
interesting sdeght the situation the statement that the
gigantic character through the fact that there
were two ciques in the general land office.
INTERIOR DEPARTMENT CLIQUEs
e secreays for the about him. and stiffneced
obstinate those who him have long wondered how hap
pened of all the secretaries of the interior be the
Gcoveer of the ancient graft of the general land Office
The explanation simple In the land office there two
ciques Bnger Hermann the commissioner the head of
socaed Oregon bunch W. A. Richards the assistant
missioner was other Wyoming push Richards
wanted Heranns place his stronger He had with
clerk James T. Macy the assistant attorney general
signed the interior department. Willis Van Devaner and best of
ALL cretarys private secretary W. Scott Smith Back of the
Wyoming clique Warren and Clark back of Oregon
Senators Mitchell Fulton Not all the side
after the thing, but all united against Bnger Hermann
the sly
Macy watched the commissioner They knew what
he doing They did expose him publicly They only
Hermann to the worked MI
Hitchcock quietly They poisoned his mind with doubts concerning
his unctuos till 1902 when the opportunity of
fered for bold play Mr. Hitchcock ripe with suspicion
Richards opportunity when letter received from R.
Schneider former confidential clerk of Benson and Hyde well
millionaire California timber grabbe the former just having
the petenay for fraud Scned
revenge stated told of gng frauds by these operators
Macy shown the letter and copied and he and Richards
watched Hermann pgeonhole it. Schneider and his attorney A.
Zab again and their letters also plgeonhoed by
Hermann Finally letter when Hermann absent and
Richards acting commissioner ordered S Holsnger special
agent Arizona where Schneider investigate Hermann
lis return the agent could receive Richards letter. wired
Honge to go Montana other business which detained him
months but he later followed out Richards Instructions
Honges report Sctneides story of how Benson and
HYDE located state school by dummy ocato and
fogeries and then included in reserves thus
getting land scrip with which to locate the most valuable compact
bodies of lands belonging to the government
Gas to these operations the good of
ing the forests report says Schneider alleges that about three
fourts school entries in the Cascade forest in Oregon
bogus All the school entries in the Lake Tahoe forest
bogus of those in Zaca Lake Pine Mountain and
the addition to the San Jacinto forest reserve
This report Richards and Macy also Hermann pgeonhoe
and reported to Devanter who reported Hitchcock and this
led dismissal and the elevation of Richards who
NOTED Macy.
But the secretary from satisfied Hard start he
hard to STOP and there crooks his land Of
fice his obstnacy fierce virtue He called his altered cab
met and deciding that he must turn Honger report into
evidence he proceeded to act.
The remainder article which should be read in full deals
with the employment Detective w Burns and his exposure of
the employees Washington the employ of the Bensonyde
company and fraudulent actions of that in Cal
iforna The next months will deal with Francis Heneys
prosecution of the land thieves in Oregon
The advertising patronage crowdng columns in manner
which shows live weekly commentary which
THE CITIZEN be- recognized the very best pos
sible medium for reaching the people.
Governor Hughes larger every day the possible Repubi
can presidential nominee j