The Washington times., 1907-01-30
SENATOR CARTER
FLAYS HITCHCOCK
Montana Statesman ASSallS
Secretary for Recent Re-
StriCtiVe Or1er.
Says 1t Impugns Veracity Of
Hundreds of Thousands
of Entrymen.

The Senate this afternoon was treat
ed to the unusual spectacle Of a leading
Republican member Of that body holding
up TO public scOrn "a member OF the
Presidents Cabinet Senator Thomas
ii. Carter OF Montana arraigued in Wig
orous fashion Secretary Of the Interior
Hitchcock, taking as his text the recent
order Of the Secretary 20 the commits
s!oner OF the General Land Once. which
says:
That no patent be hereafter issued
10 public lanC under any law until. By
an examination on the ground by a
special agent OF your Office or such other
officer or agent OF this department as
may be designated by the Secretary Of
the Interior, actual compliance with
that Law has been found 10 exist"
Ihls order Of the honorable Secre-
tary OF the Interior" declared Senator
1Arter, expresses his final estimate Of
the truth and Yeracity, the honor and
n.egrity and the good faith OF an the
settlers on the public domain OF the
United States. IL likewise arraigns ali
ether persons seeking title To public
land under existing laws. IL is with
OF this or any other government save
as applied 10 individuals suspected Of
reasonable designs.
"SatuInalia of Conspiracy"
For the last six years" he con
tInued, sensational reports OF evil do
ings IN the public land States have been
emanat!ng from the Interior Depart
meHt from day 10 day. so sweeping in
their scope as 10 create the Impression
that the entire Western population Is
and has been engaged an a Yeritable
saturnulis OF criminal conspiracy, fraud.
AID perjury, The exploitation Of evil
reports has been a cons picuJus feature
OF the present SecreJary's administra-
ton. On the assumption that our set
tiers are land thieves ia the main. the
most OdiOus, oppressive and eXasperat-
them IN numerous cases Tor the last
nNe or six years. Unchecked by con-
tradictiOn. embOldened by u0u-resIst-
ance from the West and Dcmerlted ap-
/ plauss from other quarters. the Secre-
! tlry finally violated the legal rights and
assalled the veraclty and integrity OF
! hundreds OF thousands OF entrymen on
/ the public domain BY and through the
| brief order complained OF.
The fact that every alleged fraudu-
/ lent transaction was initiated and CON
| summated under the administration Oh
| the present Secretary has not been given
publicity Few have stopped 20 con-
| slider the slender basis OF the charges
made iudiscriminately against I5.o0J, -
people. iuhabitlng fourteen States and
| three Territories.
Asks Hearing on Facts.
I fully realize that even the Presi.
dent OF the United States has been de
! ceived and alarmed by the current. oft
| repeated. and unc0u'radicJcd reports oil
] the Secretary In the name Of justice
I IN behalf Of more than $4,000 entrymeT
/ on the public domain, in the name OF the
I families dependent upon them, I ash
I for a hearing from the Senate, tht
] President and the country on che colo
[ and silent facts as disclosed by tlt
/ Government records.
I The Senator then entered upon a crIu
! cal analysis Of the land once records
I and concluded as follows.
] TO sum the whole matter up. We nut
I that less than one hnal entry Of public
I land out of every hundred has beer
I found I'm all the years 10 be- subject Z,
l cancellation on account or fraud, de
I fault or delinquency of any kind. Al
| to the homestead settlers. there is bu
I one delinquent substantially IN ever
. 800 final euJTymen'