Omaha daily bee., 1907-01-31
CARTER ON THELAND FRAUDS
Senator from Montana Severely CritioiseI
Action Of Secretary Hitchcock,
REGULATIONS ALLEGED TO Be STRICT
Speaker Says Interior Department
Has sIandered Settlers of the
West and Exercises
Power Not Legal.

WASHINGTON. Jan. SO-Besldes fixing
February 20 as the date TO vote on the
declaration that Senator Reed Smoot of
Utah is not entitled to his seat, passing a
bill appropriating 100000 to conhne the
Colorado river TO its banks and another
placing the management of the Panama
railway under the Isthmian Canal COM
mission, the senate today listened to an
extended speech by Senator Carter of
Montana in criticism of the secretary of
the interior and another by Senator Hey
burn to the same end.
The recent order OF the secretary prevent
ing the issuance of patents to the public
lands until after an examination on the
ground by a special agent was the sub
Ject of criticism and many senator's from
western states by casual Interruptions
showed their approval of the sentiments
expressed.
Senator Carter Speaks.
Severe criticism of Secretary Hitchcock
was made by Senator Carter of Mon
tana The criticism was based on the order
OF the secretary of last December, which
prohibits the issuance of a patent to land
under any of the land laws until after ex-
animation on the ground by a special agent,
Senator Carter some time ago presented
resolution. which denies the right of any
executive officer TO prevent the granting
OF patent, when the law under which 1t
is claimed has been carried out
Mr.. Carter began by asserting that the
order referred to expressed the final
estimate of the secretary as TO the truth
and veracity, the honor and integrity and
the good faith of all settlers on the public
domain Of the United States.
at likewise arragns" he added, "all other
persons seeking title to public land under
existing laws" and continued
The order is without precedent in the
history of the government. IL Is without
parallel in the history of any government
save as applied to provinces, classes or in
1t is the elimination of a policy unwar-
ranted in fact and founded only on baseless
suspicion. The public records demonstrate
that the order is not needless but harsh
cruel and oppressive.
Sensational Reports.
For the past six years sensational re-
ports of evil doings in the public land
states have been emanatlng from the In
terror department from day to day, Sc
sweeping in their scope as TO create the
impression in other sections that the en-
tire western population is, and has beer
engaged, in Veritable saturnalia Of Grim
inal conspiracy, fraud and perjury owe
the whole broad surface of the public
domain. Since 1901 insidious interviews ana
bolsterous proclamations have passed from
the Interior department to the public pres
lands; The words ',grafters," land grab
bers," "consprators, 'looters Of the public
domain" and like terms have become
part of the vernacular of the secretary
otticse In referring TO public land entrymeI
of all kinds The routine work of the lanI
service has been pillaged in quest of item
for publication rejecting on Individual
and dommunities. The slightest irreg
uiarity. savoring OF scandal or possible
sensation has been diligently exploited be
fore, during and after Investigation. Ever,
one was Indicted and no acquittals wer
ever recorded In these scandalous reports
The exploitation OF evil reports has beel
conspicuous feature of the present sec
retary's administration.
Should some morbid, moral delinquen
pay nightly visits TO the dens OF vice AM
make morning calls at the police court
N all your splendid eastern cities an
then announce to the world from day to da
with loud acclaim that crime ana mora
leprosy overwhelmed YOU all, he would a
his pitiabe best. play In your field the par
the secretary Of the interior has playe
as regards the people of the public Ian
states
Many ChRrges JnfOunded.
Excluding the timDered area of the north
west, the people of every locality in tn
country concerned well knew that as
the secretary We're unfounded to any Just
fable extent, but they supposed. being
possession OF the public records, that tina
Official knew OF fragrant violations of III
law In other sections, II frauds were bein
perpetrated in. the acquisition OF publ
land the settlers OF every locality II. m
west desired them stopped and the pei
petrStors punished. As TO their sever;
neigloors, residents generally knew IN