The Springfield herald., 1907-02-08
HITS HITCHCOCK
SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR
SHARPLY CRITICISED.
HoMEsEEkERs ILL TREATED
Senator Carter Of Montana Defends
Western Land seekers-cails Sec
retary's Orders Harsh and oppres-

sive.
Washington. = Severe criticism of
Secretary Hitchcock was made In the
Senate Wednesday by Senator Carter
Of Montana. The criticism was based
on the order Of the secretary Of last
December, which prohibits the issu-
ance of a patent to land under any of
the land laws until after examination
on the ground by special agent. Sen
ator Carter some time ago presented
resolution which denies the right OF
any executive officer to prevent the
granting of patent when the law I'M
der which it is claimed has been car
ried 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 set
tiers on the public domain of the
United States.
at likewise arraigns," he added, "all
other persons seeking title to public
land under existing laws.
1.-The order is without precedent in
the history of the government. 1t is
without parallel in the history of any
government save as applied to prov
inces, classes or individuals sus-
pected of reasonable designs. 1t is
the elimination of policy unwar-
ranted in fact and founded only on
baseless suspicion. The public record
demonstrated that the order is not
needless, but harsh, cruel and oppres-
sive," said Mr. Carter.
Mr.. Carter continued: For the last
six years sensational reports OF evil
doings In the public lands stated have
been emanating from the Interior Do
partment from day to day, SO sweep
ing in their scope as to create the i'm
preston in other sections that the en-
tire western population is and has
been engaged in veritable saturnalia
of criminal conspiracy, fraud and per-
Jury, over the whole broad surface OF
the public domain. Since 1901 insidi-
GUS interviews and boisterous procla-
nations have passed from the Interior
Department to the public press. reflect
ing on all those seeking title to public
lands. The words 'grafters,' land grab
bers,' 'conspirators,' hooters Of the
public domain, and like terms have be-
come q part of the vernacular OF the
secretary's office in referring to public
land entrymen of all kinds. The rou-
tine work of the land service has been
pillaged in quest of items for pubii-
cation refiecting on individuals and
communities.
The slightest irregularity savoring
Of scandal or possible sensation mas
been diligently exploited before. dur
ing and after investigation. Everyone
was indicted, and no acquittals were
ever recorded in these scandalous re-
ports. The exploitation of evil reports
has been a conspicuous feature OF the
present secretary's administration.
"If frauds were being perpetrated in
the acquisition of public lands, the set
tiers of every locality in the West de-
sired them stopped and the perpetra-
tors punished. AS to their several
neighborhoods. residents generally
kne--' the charges were wrong,
whereas all the people outside OF the
public land states believed the charges
were well founded and. SO believing,
app,auded the secretary as engaged In
a righteous crusade against crime.
"It remains to be shown by records
that the secretary has been less eff
cient during his term in challenging
erroneous, improper or fraudulent land
entries than were his four immediate
predecessors. Even the abuses under
the so-called timber and stone law.
which the secretary might have
stopped any day, are shown by the rec
ords to have been shamefully exagger-
ated
Il realize that even the President of
the United States has been deceived
and alarmed by the secretary's oft re-
peated and uncontradicted reports