Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1907-03-07


Santa Fe, y. M, March 5.
Although It's purpose was not to
bring out the facts in the case, but
merely to reflect, if possible, on the
record of Governor Hagerman, the
house resolution calling for an in
vestigation Of the governors connec-
ton with the Pennsylvania Develop
ment company land deal, in which
1000 acres of the territory's lands
were handed out to corporation at
50 per acre, promises to bring some
interesting, and to the people some
instructive, results
For some years past there has been
discussion among the people of the
methods employed for the sale of the
territorial lands There have been
vague rumors of irregularities, but
these rumors have never taken form
sufficiently definite to show just what
irregularities had occurred. The re-
cent attempt of the machine leaders,
however to discredit Governor Ha-
german with this Pennsylvania De-
velopment company deal, and the
present attempt to injure him at
home, has served to revive all the IN
terest in these land matters, and to
bring out statements concerning them
from people in O position t9 MoW'
which have never before been made
The story is being told, for Instance
Of the Sacramento mountain deal and
the Ponham and Holt transaction,
This latter transaction, which was
conducted for the purchasers by MI
Herbert b. Holt, the present machlhe
leader of the house, is as yet uncom-
pleted. and is therefore of especial IN
terest, since the territory's lands III
this case have not passed out OF the
territorys hands, as was the case III
the Pennsylvania Development COM
many deal when Governor Hagermah
came into office,
The fact that the governor has re-
fused to complete this Bonham ana
Holt deal or to allow it to be COM
Melted. is said to be one of the chiet
causes of the bitter fight Mr.. Holt has
waged upon the governor in the pres
ent legislature and in which he has
displayed considerably more of dig
nifty than of judgment
The Bonham and Holt deal mas
been made the subject of an interior
department investigation and IS set
forth in congressional document
Z known as house document 40. 7SO, OF
the fifty-ninth congress. For some
reason this document has never been
made public in New Mexico.
The report of the Inspector who IN
vcstigated this deal is an interesting
one and will bear careful reading by
every one who is interested in the dis
position which has been made in the
past Of the public lands of the terri
tory
The History of the Case.
1t should first be said, for proper
understanding Of the report, that in
the act of congress which granted the
lands to New Mexico for use of the
various institutions, there was clause
providing that not more than l6O
acres Of such lands should be sold to
any person. association or corpora
tion. The effort to evade this provis-
ion. often successful in the past, and
only blocked in the case of the Bon
ham and Holt deal because of the re-
fusal of the present governor and the
commissioner of public lands, Mr.
Keen. to sign the deeds, is the basis
for all of the irregularities, or nearly
all of them which have occurred III
Tho banIIfuU of these lands.
IT WAS THIS PROVISION WHICH
WAS VIOLATED IN THE CASE OF
THE PENNSYLVANIA DEVELOP
MENT COMPANY DEAL, IN WHICH
1000 ACRES or THE TERRI
ToRY'S LANDS WENT FOR SO AN
ACRE: AND IT WAS THIS PRoVls-
ION SOUGHT TO BE VIOLATED IN
THE BONHAM AND HOLT DEAL,
IL WHICH 1T WAS SOUGHT TO
ACQUIRE 5000 ACRES OF THE
TERRITORY'S LANDS AT $3.50 AN
ACRE.
In his letter transmitting the re-
port of the investigator to the secre-
tary of the interior the commissioner
Of the general land office, Mr.. Rich
ards, says
Washington, April 26, 1906.
"To the HonorableI Secretary of the
Interior:
sir: Pursuant to your instructions
Of March 10, 1906, and with your APP
prova March %, e. P Holcomb was
detailed to investigate and report to
this office in the matter of a contract
for the sale Of certain lands belonging