The Washington herald., 1908-01-12

Attorney General BOnaparte is not will
ing to admit that the administration has
decided to drop for a while the prosecu.
ton of land fraud cases. He issued ar
official denial yesterday that such a de.
cislon had been reached.
The first sentence reads:
1T was stated officially az the Depart
ment OF Justice yesterday that there
would be no cessation in the prosecution
Of the land fraud cases in Colorado and
other Western States" This Is followed
by the contrary statement that il is in
tended mot to ask for further trials untf
the pending questions raised by the re-
cent decision OF Judge Lewis are set
tied"
Denial Confirms Report.
The Attorney General adds that the
government viii in the meatlme ask for
indictments in the cases in which the
statute of limitations would intervene in
the event OF delay The purport Of Mr..
Bonaparte's denial is. as a whole. such
as 10 confirm the report published yester-
day morning.
The Attorney GeutraIs statement is in
full as follows;
1T was stated officially at the Depart
ment Of Justice yesterday that there
would be no cessation in the prosecution
Of the land fraud cases in Colorado and
other Western States, although the de-
clsious OF Judge Lewis have made 1t
necessary to change the procedure in
some respects. 1t is pointed out by the
Department of Justice that pending the
appeal from Judge Lewis decisions.
which will be expedited in the Supreme
Court as rapidly as possible. there would
be no advantage in bringing further Grim
inal proceedings on similar charges ex-
cept as might be necessary to avoid the
operations Of the statute Of limitations.
in cases In which there IS danger of
prospective defendants securing immunity
by reason Of the expiration Of time, If is
intended to have indictments brought
within the time limits, but not to ask
lions are settled.
Organization In Colorado.
In view Of this course. which IS en-
forced by the present status of the
matter. It Is regarded as wholly IN
necessary 10 retain the same oTganiza-
ti0n in Colorado that would have been
necessary to prepare and bring to trial
new cases Of this character. and ar
rangements have. therefore, been made
that number Of Secret Service oper-
atives who have been engaged in the
work Of preparing these cases IN Col
orado shall be released from this duty
and that the field force in that State
shall be considerably reduced. This re-
duction does not, IN any way, affect the
legal force of the department at work
on these cases. and no designations
from this force have yet been received
by the Department Of Justice. and no
reductions are in contemplation at the
present time.
Judge Lewis Decision.
1t is stated positively that there is no
change in the purpose. either of the In
terror Department or the Department Of
Justice, TO continue activity in the prose
cution Of land cases. and the only change
which has taken place is that which nee
essariiy followed Judge Lewis decisions.
II is also stated that an arrangement has
been made by which a strict division OF
the work in these cases between the two
departments has been laid down. so that
hereafter the Department Of Justice will
undertake no preliminary investigation,
but such work will be done wholly by the
Interior Department, which VIII have con-
troll of cases until they are fully ready for
prosecution. When these have been certi-
fed 10 the Department OF Justice for legal
action. either in the matter Of criminal
prosecution or for civil proceedings for
the protection OF some of the rights of
the government, the matter viii be who'll
ly under the direction OF the Department
OF Justice. and all steps VII be taken BY
and all negotiations must be conducted
with, that department and its officials