New-York tribune., 1907-01-31
ATTACK MR. HITCHCOCK.
Senators Carter and Hepburn Criti-
ciSe Lands POIcu.

Washington, Jan. 80-The Senate to-day lis
tened 10 extended speeches by Senator Carter OF
Montana. and Senator Hepburn IN criticism Of the
Secretary OF the Interior The recent order OF
the Secretary preventing the issuance OF patents
20 tho public lands until after examination on
the ground by a special agent the subject Of
the criticism. and many Senators from Western
states. by casual Interruptions. showed their ap-
prOval OF the sentiments expressed
Mr. Carter began by asserting that the order
ferred to expressed ,he final estimate OF the Sec
Rotary to tho truth and veracity. the honor and
integrity and the good >aith OF all settlers on the
public domain of tho United States lie on
The order is without precedent IN the history Of
the government II is without parallel In the his
inces classes or individuals suspected Of treason
able designs. 1t Is the elimination OF a policy
suspicion. The public records demonstrate that
the order is not only needless but harsh. cruel
For the last six years sensational reports of
emsnatns from the Interior Department @ from
day to day, so sweeping in their scope as TO create
Western population Is. and has been. engaged in q
and per- jury over the whole broad surface Of the
! public domain.
amount OF money by the present Secretary. the
truth remains 70 be told that the percentage Of
years disclosed by investigation bears about the
same annual proportion to the whole number Of
entries az obtained during each Of the preceding
forty years II remains 10 oe shown by the rec
been less efficient during his eight years service
In challenging erroneous, Improper or fraudulent
land entries than his four predecessors during
the eight preceding years. Even tho abuses under
the so-Called Timber ana Stone law, which tho
Secretary might have stopped any day. shown
by the records 10 have been shamefully exag-
gerated.
I fully realize that even the President OF the
United States has been deceived and alarmed
the current oft-repeated and uncontradIcted
been able go through the records and into the
details of the Interior Department and its opera
tions Burdened with more work than any or his
predecessors have undertaken. the President must
accept the statements OF his subOrdinates as true
He cannot check and cOunteTcheck them all He
has relied the reports OF the Secretary Of the
Interior. 3 have the people generally outside
states to which his accuse tlous apply. The Prest-
dent and all others msied hy the crusade OF mis-
representation clearly free from responsibility
except to hear the truth told hY the government
records and then 20 do iussice 10 outraged
people
As to all final entrymen Of public land. the Sec
retary Of the Interior violates the law by refusing
execute 70. VI" has violated the law by adding
il conditions oppressivey extending time limits,
thereby essentially changing it's letter and intent.
He has violated the spirit OF the law by presCTth-
ing odious methods OF procedure neither contem-
plated sanctioned by the law.
Mr. Hepburn took the position that the order
legally order of the President. !Ie said. the
President in recent message had said Practical
ly' that he (the PresidenO had ordered the Secre-
tRry OF the Interior not TO execute the public land
laws. He asserted that the fraud came I'm under
"the rules and regulations OF the department