Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-09-26
ANOTHER BUMP FOR
GOVERNOR HASKELL
judge Woodruff Discusses
Prairie Oil Company Case.
GIVES DEPARTMENTS SIDE
Throws Hot Shot Into Late Demo-
cratic Treasurer.
SAYS HE THRILLED WITH LAW
Nothing to Show That President
Roosevelt Ever Had Anything to
Do With Pipe Line Case.

The Interior Department to-
day gave out statement concern
ing relations of former Secretary
Hitchcock with the issue of leases
authorizing the Prairie Oil and
Gas Company to lay pipe lines
through Indian lands in Okla
homa. The records of this de-
partment, it is declared, show
very clearly that Secretary Hitch
cock simply complied with an act
of Congress authorizing the con-
struction of pipe lines, and that
nowhere is there any record or
other evidence that the President
at any time either overruled Mr..
Hitchcock or was at variance with
him in the course he pursued in
the issuance of these permits.
The so-called Prairie oil Company boom
erang has circled anG returned. and with
resounding whack has hit the official
head of Gov. Haskell of Oklahoma
The papers in the case were sent for
this morning by Assistant Secretary OF
the Interior Pierce, who went over them
with Judge George W. Woodruff, assist
ant attorney general for the Interior De-
partment.
Statement Of the Case.
After careful perusal Judge Woodruff
gave to The Star the following state
mont:
With reference to the recent conten-
tion about Gov. Haskells action in the
case Of the Prairie Oil and Gas Com
pany's oil pipe line in Oklahoma and the
action of former Secretary of the In
terror Hitchcock and Secretary Garfield
concerning the pipeline privileges to that
same company, I will state briefly and
definitely, without argument of any kind
the exact points at issue and the exact
facts concerning them, so far as they are
known from the records of the Depart
ment of the Interior.
Congress on March II, 1904 passed a
law providing for the granting of pipe
line privileges in the then Indian Terri
tory. now a part of the state of Okla
homa.
The Secretary of the Interior, as he is
always obliged to do when any law is
passed affecting his department, issued
April II the rules and regulations to ef-
fectuate that law.
Everything Was Regular.
The Prairie Oil and Gas Company ap-
piled even before the regulations were
promulgated for a pire line privilege, and
after the most careful consideration Mr.
Hitchcock. in a letter which is and al
ways has been a public document, found
that it had complied fully with the law
and his rules, and therefore, April Ia
approved it's maps of location for pipe
line. which it proceeded to build and
which. by the by, has been able to furn-
ish means of transportation to millions
OF barrels of oil from Oklahoma
1t is absolutely impossible to find
any paper, memo or letter of record in
connection with the granting Of this pipe
line privilege which shows that Presiden,
Roosevelt had anything whatever to dc
with It, 1t is extremely probable that
in the cause of new law involving q
momentous question like this one Secre
tary Hitchcock conferred with the Presi
dent before issuing his rules and regula.
tiOns
That is the custom. and a very proper
custom, I know. of Secretary Garfield.
in all cases of new and important leeis
lation. Such conferences may possibly
have led to n misunderstanding from
which Gov Haskell's claims that the Pres
ident ordered Mr.. Hitchcock to grant tn.
privilege might have arisen. l haven
the slightest doubt that there were ne
orders of any description and the bes
evidence of this is the telegram to the
New York World from Mr.. Hitchcock il
which he says that statement of thai
kind is an absolute falsehood He, o.
course. knows better than anybody else
A Knock for Haskell
To resume then Mr. Hitchcock anC
later Mr.. Garfield in allowing the ex
tension of the line last April acted di
rectly in accordance with the law
Gov. Hoskelrs action, however was or
the face of it at least exactly the con
trary. as will he seen by noting the fol
lowing facts
The constitution of Oklahoma. with the
formation of which Gov. Haskell had
much To do. provided that certain def
mite action must be taken by corporations
before they should have the right of emf
nent domain. among which requirements
was the Incorporation in the state OF
Oklahoma and the filing of list of the
stockholders, officers and directors of the
corporation.
w hen Attorney General West of Okla
IOma iria -
Company was about to build a pipe line
which would cross public highways anC
private land, involving the exercise OF
the power of eminent domain, he brought
suit in equity to restrain the company b,
Injunction from doing this. unless it com
piled with the clear mandates of the
state constitution.
More About the Governor.
The question at issue is not Should tn,
nine line be hlIilt2 hut Sh nlIld the