The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1907-03-13
Especial to The Herald.)

Boise, Ida. March 12-Evidence of
graft in the arid land reclamation
vice of the government has been discov-
cred and is now in possession of the de-
partment Of the interior at Washington.
Action looking toward a number of in
nctments is anticipated The principal
evidence so far as disclosed here relates
to CRAFTS in Idaho, but it is said that
similar conditions exist throughout the
service. and that officials in nearly all
the western states where irrigation work
Is in progress viii have TO answer. The
federal grand jury now in session here
will probably take the matter up. so far
as this state is affected. if the new sec
rotary OF the interior, James r. Gar
field, says the word and decides to fur
rish the inquisItorial body with the evil
dence now in mis- possession Agents of
the department have been conducting an
Investigation for some time Their dis
coveries in Idaho are said to typify con-
ditions in other places, and a reorgani-
cation of the department is said to be in
prospect.
Favored Contractors.
The charges i'm general are that en-
gineers and other officials of the depart
ment are standing in" with favored con-
tractors in some instances. and in other
instances have thrown out bids in order
to make commissions on the purchase of
machinery by the government and to
Profit in other ways. In Idaho the Boise
Payette irrigation project has been under
special scrutiny. Supervising Engineer D.
w. Ross and Consulting Engineer F. c.
Horne are in direct charge of the work,
reporting to superiors in Washington.
Evidence has been seeured also bearing
on the relations of the contracting firm
of Hubbard & Carlson. having headquar
tiers at Boise, with certain department
officials II is charged in affidavits now
on file that this firm has received many
special favors, and explanation has been
of tho fOr
Advance Information.
The affidavits now on file with the sec
rotary of the interior also make charges
with advance inside" information as TO
irrigation projects, whereby they have
been able to speculate on the lands TO
be benefited. One instance Is cited where
in the government engineers pretended 10
favor enc project, giving out newspaper
interviews to this effect. while the clique
on the inside was picking up land which
would be helped by another project.
When the clique had secured the land
it wanted the interior department Off
Gals changed front and decided in ia
vor of the other project. A life insur-
ance company in one of the middle states
is declared to have profited S125,000. by
this transaction. The affidavits deal with
the harassing Of contractors who were
not sin the play so as to freeze them
out and give a monopoly to the elect,
VINO were Favored Dy extras ana IN
other ways. Il is declared that capable
and honest. engineers who stood in the
way of the. gratis were removed or trans
ferred where they would not prevent the
carrying out of the schemes.
Much Evidence Collected.
It is understood here that the work in
Utah, Nevada and other western states
has been under investigation. with es-
pecial reference to commissions on pur-
chfses of machinery.
In Idaho much evidence has been coll
lected as to determinations between va
rious contractors. This evidence has all
gone to Washington.