The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1908-03-19
WASHINGTON
From our Regular Correspondent.

Washington, d. c., March I6, 1908.
An ugly land fraud almost under
the dome of the Capitol has been
discovered within the last week
whereby the Government has been
defrauded of land worth a very con.
siderable sum and only by a mere
chance avoided losing another valu-
able tract. Senator Carter exposed
the transaction in the Senate and
that body Immediately repealed the
law which conveyed TO Biebcr his
last title, the Secretary of War hav-
ing delay ed acting uialer that enact
ment. 1t is not known what the
House will do in the matter as it is
evident that in that chamber there
are powerful influences at work to
hush the whole matter up. For the
entire parcel of land, Bieber appears
to have paid about $50 the par
Gel containing about 20 acres, and
for a small part of the land he re.
Gently refused to accept from the
Pennsylvania Railroad $4,000
cash. The Government has already
expended $500. 600 for improving
the Anacostia River on which this
land, which carries the riparian
rights, abuts, and it is proposed to
expend very much larger sum
The records show that for the last
transaction Representative Bar
tholdt of Missouri was responsible
and Mr.. Bartholdt has made
statement saying that the action of
his committee was perfectly proper
and regular, but there is every in
dication that the Senate will ex-
press different opinion. 1t is as
sumed i'll the Senate that Bieber
must have eXerted very powerful
influence III the House to secure
such favorable legislation.
E..m
Bieber was formerly assistant fire
marshall of the District of Colum-
bia. He became i'll and through
the kind influence of Speaker Can
non he secured a pension of 500 a
month for life, although he is still
a man of middle age and is now in
excellent health. He has recently
been engaged in an effort to have
the two delegates from the District
instructed to vote for Speaker Can
non in the Republican National
Convention. When asked on the |
night after Senator Carter made the |
expose i'll the Senate what he had |
to say regarding it, Bieber said that
he was too busy with local politics
to discuss the matter"
*.*
The fighting in the Republican
ranks is becoming more and more
bitter every day. A Republican
Representative, Mr.. Acheson, of
Pennsylvania, has recently inspired
report to the effect that Cecil
Lyon, the Republican National
Committeeman from Texas, was
collecting from postmasters in that
state 10 per cent of their salaries as
a campaign fund. Then the Presi
dent came back at Mr.. Acheson and
pointed out that Republican, but
not Cecil Lyon had attempted to
make such collection, that he had
been prosecuted by direction of the
President and that only last week
the Supreme Court of the United
States had decided the case against
the said Republican who is now
liable to fine of 500, 900 and i'm
prlsonment for thirty years. The
political end of the fight is inter.
esting, however, from the fact that
this arrays Acheson against the
President and vice versa, and as
Acheson is having very hard fight
IN his district against prominent .
pennsylvania Elk. it is now be-
iieved the Congressman will be de- ,
feated.
*+*
The most brilliant speech which
has yet been heard on the Aldrich
Dill was made last week by Senator
bailey of Texas. Mr.. Bailey spoke
Tor three and one half hours and
neld the attention of an audience
which crowded both the Senate and
the galleries, many Democrats COM
ing over from the House to listen. .
Mr. Bailey opposed the Aldrich
measure because he believes that !
The banks should be allowed to l