The Cairo bulletin., 1907-01-31
CARTER IS CAUST|
N ATTACK ON
HITCHCOCK
CHARGES SECRETARY OF INTER
IOR WITH VIOLATING LEGAL
RIGHTS.
CREATED CRY OF FRAUD
And Deceived People Says Senator
Denies Right of Official to
Prevent Land
Patent.

Washington, Jan. 30.-~Bcsides fix
ing February 20 as the day to vote
on declaration that Smoot of Utah Is
not entitled 10 senatorial seat; pass
ing bill appropiating 81 100000 to
confine Colorado river to its banks
and another placing the management
ef the Panama railway under the con
troll OF the Isthmian Canal Commits
sion, the senate today listened TO an
extended speech by Carter, Of Mon
tnna. in criticism of the secretary of
ihe interior. and another by Hepburn,
to the same end The recent order
Il the secretary, preventing an issu-
ance of patents TO public lands until
after the examination Of the ground
by special agents, was the subject of
the criticism. and many senators from
western states by casual Interruptions
showed their approval Of the senti.
ments expressed.
Mr.. Carter began by asserting that
Secretary Hitchcock's order, express
cd the final estimate of the secretary
rs TO the truth and veracity, the honor
and integrity and the good faith of
all settlers on the public domain of the
United States. TT likewise arraigns.
he added "all other persons seeking
title TO public land under existing
laws.
Tire order is without precedent in
the history OF the government. It is
without parallel IN the history of any
government, save as to applied to pro.
nces, classes. or individuals suspect
Cd OF reasonable designs. II is the
elimination Of policy unwarranted
IN fact and founded only on baseless
uspicion. The public records demon
strate that the order Is not only need
less but harsh cruel and oppressive
Land Seekers Anathamzed.
For the last six years sensational
reports of EVIL dciugs in the public
lands states have been emanating
from the interior department from day
10 day so sweeping in their scope as
10 create the impression in other sec
lions that the entire western popu.
lation is, and has been engaged in
veritable saturnalia of criminal con
spiracy. fraud and perjury. over the
whole broad surface CT the public do,
main. Since 1901, insidious inter
Views and boisterous proclamations
have passed from the interior depart
nent to the public press, rejecting
upon all those seeking title to public
lands. The words. "grafters " "land
grabbers. "conspirators. "looters Of
the public domain" and like terms
have become a part of the vernacular
Of the secretarys office in referring TO
public land entrymen of all kinds.
The routine work of the land ser.
vice has be pillaged in quest of
items for publication. rejecting on in.
dividuals aud communities The slight.
est irregularity, savoriug of scandal
or possible sensations has been dill
gently exploited before, during and az.
ter investigation. Every one was In.
dicted and no acquittaIs were ever re-.
corded in these scandalous reports.
The exploitation of evil reports has
beer conspicuous feature of the
present secretary's administration
fraud Constantly Shouted"
Fraud has been constantly and vo-
ciferously shouted from the house.
ops Every item or incident colorado
by suspicion into sensational appear.
ance has been given wings. Ordinary
occurrences have been magnified into
the semblance of great events. On
the assumption that our settlers are
land thieves in the main. the most
odious. oppressive and exasperating
treatment has been meted out to them
IN numerous cases fer the last five
or six years. Residents Of the public
land states no longer enjoy the pre-
sumption Of innocence. but rather face
the presumption of guilt. They are
charged with conspiracy 70 despol
their own states. 10 limit their future
possibilities by depressing themselves
and with cheating their government in
the interest in grasping speculstCrs.
No exceptions arc made by the order
If December Is
should some morbid moral deliu-
quent pay nightly visits to the dens
of vice and make morning calls at the
police courts in all your splendid east
err cities. and then announce to the
world from day to day with loud sc-
claim that crime and moral leprosy
overwhelmed you all. he would. at his
pitiable best play in your field the
part the secretary of the interior has
played As regards the people Of the