The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1909-01-04
Government Gets Land.

Concerning this case the United
State attorney at Omaha states: There
are three cases against stewart, one
for fencing, one conspiracy. one per
jury. all good cases and chances or
conviction good.
In connection with the Nebraska
prosecution the government has by de-
cree secured the return To the govern
msnt OF over million acres OF grazing
Land: in Colorado Of more than 1000
acres Of mineral land. and suits are
now pending involving 10000 acres
more.
All these Investigations in the land
cases were undertaken in consequence
Of Mr.. Hitchcock. the then secretary or
the interior. becoming convinced that
there were extensive frauds committed
In his department.: and the ramiflca-
tions Of the frauds were SO far-reach-
ing that he was afraid to trust his own
officials tn deal In thorough going
fashion with them, one OF the secret
was appointed in the interior depart
ment 10 carry on this work. The hrst
thing he discovered was that the spe-
Clal agents division or corps or detec-
tives OF the land office OF the interior
department was largely under the con-
troll or the land thieves; and In conse-
qucnce the Investigations above re-
ferred 10 had TO be made by secret SER
IL the present law. for which Messrs.
Tawney Smith. and the other gentle
men l have above mentioned are re-
sponsible. had then been in effect, this
action would have been impossible. and
most OF the criminals would unques-
tionably have. escaped No more strik-
ing instance can be imagined OF the
desirability of having n central corps
OF skilled investigating agents who can
at any time be assigned, if necessary
in large numbers. to investigate some
violation OF the federal statutes, in no
matter what branch OF the public SER
vice. In this particular case most OF
the men Investigated who were public
servants were In the executive branch
Of the government. But In Oregon,
where an enormous acreage OF fraudu-
lcntly alienated public land was recov-
cred for the government. United
States senator. MIR. Mitchell, and a
member OF the lower house. Mr. Will
hanson. were convicted on evidence oh
tai1ed by men transferred from the Sc
cret service. end another member OF
congress was indicted.
From 1901 TO 1904 successful In
vestiEation of naturalization affairs
was made h. the secret service, with
the result of obtaining hundreds OF
convictions OF couspirators who were
convicted OF selling fraudulent papers
81 naturalization subsequently con-
gress passed a very wise law providing
special service and appropriation for
the prevention or natura lization frauds.
bat unfortunately. at the same time
that the action against the secret ser
vice was taken. congress also cut down
the appropriation for this special SER
vice. with the result OF Gripping the
effort to stop frauds I'm natura liza tion)
The fcgltives Greene and Gaynor. inn
plicatcd in "A peculiarly big government
contract fraud. were located and arr
rested in Canada by the secret service.
and thanks to this they have since
gone to prison for their crimes
Peonage stamped Out.
The secret service was used TO assist
I'm the Investigation OF crimes under
the peonaso laws, ard owing partly
thereto numerous convictions were se-
cured and the Objectionable practice
was practically stamped out, at least
I'm many districts. The most extensive
smuggling Of silk and opium In the his
tory OF the treasury department was