The Washington times., 1908-04-17
PERJURY
HITS WITNESSES
IN LAND FRAUDS
Allowed But $1.25 a Day,
200 WeSternerS Are
in Want.
Indignant at Usage, But
Must Remain Here
for Months.

Two hundred Westerner's, residents Of
California and Oregon, who have been
summoned 10 Washington as witnesses
in the NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
land fraud cases, about % per cent
OF whom are women, are practically
stranded in Washington.
The howl that they arc putting up
reverberates through the corridors Of the
courthouse, and the Indignation Of the
Westerners that their Congressman did
not look out for them when the urgent
deficiency bill was put through has made
more than one member OF Congress
shake in his political shoes Justice Day
Of the Supreme Court has been quoted
by one OF the witnesses as declaring
that the niggardly manner in which
these witnesses are treated is a disgrace
on the Government.
Principals Have Advantage.
The principals in the now famous land
fraud case are at their liberty. Al
though under $4,000 bonds. the Jurors.
taken from their occupations and fam
lies probably for four months, and the
witnesses, called from their homes and
friends and work in the Far West. are
stranded in a strange city.
Ihey feel sure that the lady in the
moving robes with the balance in one
hand and the sword in the other. cannot
eyes.
The. urgent deficiency bill, while it al
lowed unlimited funds for the trial az
the case, and the medicinal exuenses
carefully restricted the expenses which
should be allowed the Witnesses sum
moned from the Pacific coast They
are allowed their railroad fares port
1G
ana the magnificent sum of SIS q dav
10 live on while in Washington
Many or these witnesses viii be
opllged 10 stay in the city for months
until they are called 10 testify, and
most OF them, used 10 comfOrtabIe
homes and good salaries in the West.
are feehng the pinch due 70 their re-
sLTlcted living expenses.
The amount allowed them by the Gov
ETAInenIr IS, 10 the ma jOrity OF vii
AesSes- theiE, ole means o. subsistence
.n JhlS city 6ld, when il is considered
tLlaI lAIS Sl-zs East cover all their liv-
ing expenses II a strange citv The
amount looks very small.
No Aid Is Available.
Every day many Of the witnesses 90
10 the Office Of the United States mar
sLal at City Hall and draw the H.25
winch must last them till the next day.
when they repeat the operation. The
n
ner in which they have been dragged
from their homes and occupations in
the - est and left TO struggle along on
The small per diem allowance is he
coming more and more pronOunced
every day.
Many Of them have called on their
Representatives and Senators at the
capitol and urged them 10 do something
Tor them. but they We're told that The
entire matter was cared for in the
urgency deficiency bill, and they are
pOWerless 10 assist them. These wit
nesSes are emphatic IN their denuncfa-
ton Of representatives who yyer, 81
blind 10 the interests OF their own com
Eutuents that they allowed the uigcs~d-
y restrictions Of the item covering the
land fraud trial to pass without a move
10 better the conditions
In most. cases the Government r,r,
Nides hotel accommodations for tyif
nesses which II summons from a dis
lance, and bEJ for the Restrictions in
the bill just passed this probably yyo11IT
nave been done in the present ca~a
Women who were summoned from
California ard Oregon at short notice
with little OI no money Of their ov-r,
reached Washington begrined with Tho
long trip, but under the provisions Of
the bill could not even be allowed
enough money TO have their dresses
pressed
The deputy marshaIs have been driven
almost distracted by the appeals of the
witnesses. but are pOwerIess to aid them.
much as they would like to.