Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1909-01-13
SAYS SUITS HAVE BEEN ENTERED
Declares Legal Action Taken -Four
Months Age for Recovery Of Oregon
Public lands-Denies That Iiliman
Some Of Lands.
(By Associated Press.)

NASHl\G ION. .. e., Jan. Eat
tointy General itonaEar," 10nigh: Is
yued a Statement: replying TO mat
part Ct the speech Of Senator TIL
man delivered yesterday in which h"
declared n" resolution in regard 10
the Oregon land grants introduced by
him in the Senate on January II.
1908. hal been prepared by the at
torrcy general and tina: his inter
est in the mater had been h-st
AROUSED by a desire Il purchase some
of the timber lands
Mr., Bonapartc also replies to Sena-
tor Tillman's remark made in 1h'
Senate last February tina, h" had
nc. "hough, any land anywhere in the
West Or undertaken to buy any
NJ. Ronaparte sets forth that suits
against those holding the Oregon
lands involved in the case have been
instituted. a fact that Coull have
leen asCcrtained b. any ne upon in
quiry of his department any time
within the past four months.
Mr.. Tillman had intimated no steps
had been taken. despite the rejolu
ton passed.
Disputes Senator's Statement.
The attorney general disputed the
senator's statement that the latter
had informed him in their conversa-
tion that il was the senator's wish TO
acquire some Of the lands.
Mr.. Bonaparte sets f2r1h hat h"
lid not know Senator Tillman had
any personal interest in the matter
Says Mr.. BOnaparte:
He never told me a word o. any
connection on his part with an ar
rangement to acquire some part OF
these lands. nor that he intended.
expected or even desired at that
time tc make any such purchase. AS
stated by him his reason or making
the inquiry was that he might better
discharge his public duties. and
was totally ignorant until saw the
documents transmitted by the Presi-
dent to Senator Hale hat Senator
Tillman. at the time of his cOnversa-
ton with me. hal any private inter
est. WUetuST dCtudi VI VApN''sh''>' =
In connection with the subject Of on;
conversation.
Gave TiiIman Information.
II gave him a full statement OF the
information which had been collec:-
cd by the department as the result
of a protracted investigation made by
Mess. Townsend and McRlair. a.
special counsel. and which had con
,inued Turing Z considerable Da:' %;
'hc preceding year. told him al
so that We deemed ii advisable :"
secure congressional action N n"
form o: a resolution empowering The
attorney general to claim a forfeIiUr.,
Of these lands: and that felt som'.
apprehension lest such action shorl
DO opposed nv The larg" interests
which II would affect.
Senator Tillmar then Offered to
mi -oduc" a resolution on this sub
jet If woulI prepare one: and J
lid prepar" such resolution. which
was introduced by him and subse
qucntly adopted
Pointed Out DIFFICULTIES.
During This interview ! cXT lainc'!
20 him ha; il Md hc impractica
bic 20 compel the corporations claim
ing ;hcsc lands TO sell any portion e
them 10 any particular person: al
though. Of COURSE. II the government;
could establish f,-fei;ure Of rightS
! under tho grant. the lands might h"'
ccm" afterwards open 10 entry on the
same terms a. any Other portion ri
I tie public domain OF course IL y
! were at thai tim" his purTose 20 So
! cure Some raT; Of the lands in qUcS
! ton thr ugh arrangements with Mos
| srs R~cdcr and Watkins or other
/ wise. this forfeiture might tend ~
promote his individual interests: IN
! had no reason 10 credit him with
! any such purpose. and I dealt with
, him throughout as asking the info~
nation and advice coulI give. unIs
iha, he might fulfil his duty a. a
public cffccr."
Mister Only ~ Memery.
Senator Tillman late tonight. a'tsr
Il