New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-03-08
OREGON LAND FRAUDS.
Testimony That Binger Hermann
Has ''T0 BE Taken Care Of"

washington, March THAT BlnEer Hermann.
former Commissioner Of the General Land once,
and the late Senator Mitchell. OF Oregon. would
have 10 be taken care or out OF the profits Of the
land epeculations depending tho creation OF the
Blue Mountain forest reserve, in Eastern oregon.
was testified TO to-day IN the trial OF Mr. Her
mann George Sorenson. lumber and land broker
OF Portland. Ore, who recently was convicted OF
conspiracy IN land frauds in that state was tho
witness. He was produced BY the government
and Mr.. Worthington sought TO exclude certain
letter purporting 70 have been sent by Mr.. Her
ma1n S. p. Mays. attorney OF Portland,
After first ruling out tElis letter the court allowed
the witness 10 detail n conversation he and Mays
had concerning the transaction.
The idea was. Mr.. SoTsnson said 70 buy up the
state school lands in Eastern oregon. and then
have a forest reserve created which would Include
them These lands could then be exchanged for
lien lands scrip Each citizen he said. entitled
10 take up 800 acres OF these lands. Sorenson
part OF the deal TO acquire the right or clu-
zens.- Some Of these rights, he said, were as
signed 10 him without cost
The majority OF the assignments. however, no
bought paying all the way from glass Of beer
10 81 for each assignment, which allowed him TO
acquire go acres Of land. In this way he said he
obtained for himself about 1900 acres. ana Tor
Mays. Jones ana Smith, the other members OF me
combination about thirty thousand acres AT thls
point the witness said that blue print which
came from Washington and which showed all inc
vacant lands in that region vas handed over py
NAYS to State Forester OTmsby. Inc Witness sS4d
lie protested vigorously against this and told Mays
the time that DrmSuy '.Noulu give tIic 4-'t'
away" so that persons would begin 70 BUY Ilesf
lands Mays insisted that IL would look better m
Washington 10 have the blue print snow rs u on i
that the state lands were vacant. 4 IeustLL'l. ne
said by the court OilclhlS IN Eastern
Oregon. by prominent citizens ana by ABOUT a
ing for the creation ofths forest reserve me W.T.
ness said that II WAS only SNORT uIu'- 49, ~
blue print had been given 70 orInsty lii'I ~.
learned that II go acres Of the land had pee bouBhl
by Mckinley, Parpin and Hyde McINlnley anu
Paruin were told by M Mays that unless lhcy
gave up at least half OF their holdings t'lf ia4oS
would be excluded from the proposed Ioresl re-
serve Mr. NAYS told them that there were man Y
expenses attached to the preliminary VIZ y VI
getting the reserve created and that tht!e We're
several pople In washington who would nave 10
be taken care OF. Mckinley was wlIIhS 10 49, ~
half 81 his land. Some time after thls
said Mays made the same demand on IiIH- -
demanded 70 know who II was In NaEflhs'pl, ,aI
would have TO b. taken care o. Ni''- A-l'''
Hermann and Mitchell" ,,.,-.. q, ,,i,,a
Witness said he EXPRESSED a WliHHEH'S- - bi'e
up his lands to meet this expense 1cc9uhl. =,
The Hermann letter to Mays was hndlIy auHlIl, "a
the extent OF allowing orerson, W tsqai5
recollection Of its contents. II confalned' ne sun
a statement Of the ranges, etc, Whlch IIau pe1I'
temporarily withdrawn for inclusion IN tne pIo
! nosed FORGET reserve. SoreneOn SAID ne eiIploySu
the late Senator Mitchell his attorney itu pIoIi-
sed him $500 il he would get forest reserve proJ-
ect through. - -
Representative Monden, of wyoming, who re,
signed as Assistant Commissioner OF me 6ener5 ~
Land Office TO become member OF C1IltIsss IN
Mr. Hermann's administration ASu NJ i'Si MANN ,
I reputation OF the very best ,-a,, ,o \
+ The cross-eKamination OF MI Alohusl
the entire afternoon session, ana relateu pdTncu-
larlv 10 HIS manner OF copying PERSONA aIIq oiucd
lctters during his term as assistant commissioner