The Washington herald., 1907-01-05
GRAFT TO End
Law VIII Be Rigidly En-
forced After April |.
FENCES MUST GONE DOWN
Criminal Prosecution, 10 Be IHsti-
fufed Against Those Who Persist
Order Sent Out by Secretary Hitch
cock-NumeFOus Requests.

Announcement was made yesterday. both
by President Roosevelt and Secntary Of
the Interior Hitchcock, that beginning
April /. there viii be an enforcement,
along new lines. Of the law prohibiting the
Illegal fencing Of lands Included In the
public domain.
Secretary Hitchcock made public an or
der 10 the effect that on and after the date
named. all Illegal Enclosures and obstruc-
tons on the public domain viii be sum
maTlly removed without notice. Following
such action, criminal prosecutions will be
Instituted in the courts against persons
who violate the law IN this regard. In his
letter on the subject. addressed to Secre-
tary Hitchcock, The President expresses
mis- approval Of the Secretary's order.
Charges have been made repeatedly that
thousands Of acres Of valuable pasture
lands in the West have been fenced in vio-
lation Of law. and the name OF a proni-
nent United States Senator has been uub-
licly mentioned As "A conspicuous offender.
1t has been the practice heretofore. in
cases Of illegal Fencing. 10 give the per-
sons 50 violating the law sixty days no
tice Of intention on the part Of the gov
eminent to remove such distractions.
This has resulted. it is explained by the
officials. in defeating the successful prose
cution Of a number Of cattIemen who were
caught red-handed, building FENCES. incIos-
ing public lands that were to be used As
private pastures. For that reason Il was
decided to waive notice after April ]. TO
remove fences on sight, and Immediately
prosecute.
Prosecutions 90 be Rigid.
This programme. whiE H. means a more
aggressive prosecution 8f the land frauds
and land grafters. was adopted by Secre-
tary Hitchcock after conference with the
President In his letter 10 the Secretary
the President said.
In response 10 your letter. and in car
rying cut what, after our conversation to-
gether, seems to be the best course, 4
approve the circular YOU intend 10 issue.
with the modification of having it apply
TO all cases and OF taking effect per
emptoriIy April ] next I trust that the
Senators and Representatives from the
great grazing States viii realize that this
means that II, as believe there shuaId
law by which il would be possible 70
allow by lease the temporary incI0sure
Of portions Of the public domain for graz
ing purposes on such conditions as the
department finds compatible with the best
interests Of the actual settlers. Of the
small hOmesteadeTs the homcma kers-
then this change Of law must be made at
this session.
Requests Are Numerous.
Year in and year out YOU and I have
been bes0ught by men interested in stock
growing 10 permit the fences 10 stay up
for another six months or another year
on the ground of the great damage Ger
tain TO be done by taking them down
Many Of the men making these requests
are entirely honest men. whose requests
it would be in the interest Of the com
munity 10 grant We're II legally possible
to do so Ohis. of course, does not apply
70 some of those making the requests.
but it is quite impossible permanently To
permit such an arrangement.
There must be some adequate proyf-
sion OF law il there is 10 be any salts
factory solution of this problem and i'm
default Of this provision the present
faulty law must be enforced. You are
perfectly at liberty to show this letter e.
any and all Senator'S whose constituents
are chiefly concerned in the matter"