The Washington times., 1909-01-09
Directly Accuses South Carolnian of Using Influence of
His Position to Acquire Title to Land-Action
Was Unexpected

/ wholly unexpected phases of miscon-
duct. The frauds in the postal depart
meut which We're uuearthed some six
years ago. for instance, ofer a case in
point. My suspicious were first aroused
by a report made as 10 the very eX-
trayagaut and debauched manner of
life of a certain postal emplOye, this
report being made by an official Of the
Secret Service in connection with
another transaction on which he was
az work. So with cases. of the abuse of
the frauking privilege.
The POst0fnce never of set purpose
iuspects any package sent through the
mails bV a Senator or Congressman. but
sometimes through the accidental
breaking of such package the contents
are exposed. and III they are of "a char
aCter which makes their transmission
by ranking privilege Illegal, steps are
taken by the POstOftiCe authorities to
collect the full postage. Some of these
instances represent real abuses, sDut In
other cases they are due 10 careless
ness or ignorance, and very OIten
doubtless are entirely unknown TO the
Congressman themselves, and no good
purpose would be served BY any pub
licity in the matter.
A Different Case
But a case has just arisen of a dif-
HNA-AhR
should put before you as Illustrating in
striking fashion the way in which in
vestigatiOns begun by any of these va
rious agents in the strict line OF their
duty may develop facts OF high import
ance. which the investigators would not
in the irst instance have sought to dis
cover, which when discovered ought not
to be hidden or suppressed. but The de-
velopment of which may tend to create
an erroneous impression that the agents
iu question were being used for pUT-
poses not within the line OF their lawful
duty.
Al. Senator Tilman called the at
teutIOn OF the Senate 10 q circular OF a
syndicate firm for the sale of lands IN
OREGON. particularly I'm Coos and Doug
las counties which had been granted 10
corporations by the Government, the cir
cular stating that the company i'm pos
session OF the lands was bound TO sell
them for $3.50 an acre, or upon their
refusal would be prosecuted by the Gov
eTnmeut, and that among those who
have spoken for part OF this land, is
Senator Tillman Of South Carolina, the
leader Of the Democratic party in the
Senate, q man who usually gets what
ne goes after Senator Tilimau denied
the statements of this circular and eN-
pressed a wish for an Investigation, end
upon his request the POSrOIiCe Depart
Eent, through its inspectors, made such
an investigation. He stated in reference
10 this circular
What Tillman Said
"I have not bought any land any
where In the West nor undertaken to
buy any. I have made some inquiries,
as one naturally would. I'm roaming
through the West. I simply want the
people of the country TO be put ON notice
that this sWindler at Portland has no
warrant whatever for endesvOring 10
invelgle others into his game"
I inclCse the circular referred TO. as
Exhibit b; the report of the p0stonice
inspectors, under date Of July -. 1905
as Exhibit g. This is a confidential re-
port OF a type usually not furn shed,
but in this case tine matter IS SO serious
that I felt [ should put it before you.
incIOse YOU also. as Exhibit ID /. ID E.
u 8. y e. and . >, Photographic fac
SMILES of letters and envelopes and
telegram from Senator TiIImau and his
agent. William r Lee. II appears that
ON October %. 1907. Senator Tnman
wrote a letter exhibit j. 81. 10 Messrs. /
Rceder and Watkins, Of Marshfield
ore, who were attorneys representing