Waterbury evening Democrat., 1908-01-13
GOVERNMENT GETS BUSY.
Will Begin War on Corporations That
 Have Grabbed Land.

Washington, D. C., Jan, 13.-A great legal battle is about to be be- gun by the vernment-contest that, in fact, will rival, in interest and im- portance the Northern Securities and Standard Oil cases.
 Ill the preliminary skirmish of the battle, the government was defeated. The case involves the entry and dis position of timber, and mineral, lands of the United States, tens of thou sands of acres of which have been ac- quired by corporations and wealthy individuals by what is known as the dummy entry system"
 For many years, the administration of the public land holdings of the government was, to express it mildly, very loose. It was possible, under the sort of administration that prevailed for thirty or forty years for almost anybody to obtain possession of pub lie lands at comparatively little ex- pense. Gradually, the lands so &C., quired were aggregated into large tracts owned generally by rich cor porations. This has been the case particularly during the past twelve, or fifteen years, the net result being that | some of the most valuable timber and mineral lands of the government have fallen into the hands of great com- panies or syndicates, which now are exploiting them to the enormous ad- vantage of their shareholders.
 Investigation by agents of the gov- ernment disclosed the fact that, in most instances, the lands have been acquired by their present holders il- legally. With the preliminary action of the government to protect its in- terests and to compel, if possible, the reputed owners to relinquish their holdings of public lands, the reading public is familiar. In the past six or eight months. many indictments have been found by federal grand juries in the Rocky mountain states, especially in Oregon. Washington and Colorado. against alleged violations of the statutes. Recently, many of these cases were brought before Judge Lewis, at Denver, and he promptly promulgated an order quashing the indictments and dismissing the cases. He made no exceptions, but simply swept his docket clean of all indict- ments charging fraud or conspiracy in the acquisition by present holders of coal and other mineral lands. It has been determined by the pre- sident and the department of justice to carry the cases to higher courts to the supreme court of the United States, if necessary-in an effort to obtain a reversal of Judge Lewis de- cision. Such action is rendered pos sible by the government by the law enacted by congress last year permit ting the United States to take an ap- peal in criminal cases.
 In his decision Judge Lewis re- fected the popular opinion in tho western states that 1t is no fraud to acquire public lands in the way by which they have been acquired for many years, notwithstanding what the statutes may say. He holds that the people who obtained the lands were guiltless of any fraudulent in- tent and that it is absurd to main- tain that a man who enters upon public lands and meets, in a general way. the technical requirements shall not dispose of that land as he may see proper.
 Both the government and the com- panies which have come into posses sion of valuable lands will contest the cases to the last and. as tens of mtl- lions of dollars are involved. the fight promises to be historic. Unless the government should succeed in ob- taining a reversal of Judge Lewis de- eision. the entire policy of the United States as to public lands will be overthrown. It may be understood. therefore. that the issue 10 be joined | in the cases are vital.