Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1909-05-14
FOE OF LAND FRAUDS.
Ex-Secretary Hitchcock's Method OF
Handling Them.

0An0IIuS IbSH'
When Ethan Allen Hitchcock. who
recently died ut Washington. was Sec
rotary of the interior he directed sweep
ing Investigations of alleged land
frauds. arousing the enmity Of power
full political interests. He prosecuted
cases against numerous men In public
life and private business.
His method Of handling fraud was
illustrated in the case Of northwest
ern lumber ring, which connived to-
gether to put in bids for some Indian
timber advertised for sale at the high
est obtainable price. Certified checks,
Of course, accompanied all the bids.
When the award was about to be
made Mr.. Hitchcock scented something
wrong and decided to make an inves-
tigation and see whether there had
been unlawful collision between the
bidders. The highest bidder began to
squirm. The secretary surely would
hand him back his certified check If
operations were to be suspended?
"Not a bit of it," was the secretary's
answer in effect; lone check In the
safe is worth two in escrow. Your
check is locked up where it will take
a champion craftsman to find it, and
there it stays. till am satisfied whether
you have been trying to cheat the In
dians."
AS secretary of the interior Mr..
Hitchcock was the executive head of
all departments dealing with Indian
affairs. 1t was to him the Indians
came with complaints, and it was for
him to decide what should be done.
The Indians have their troubles about
land allotments or dead and down tim
Der propositions or legislation affecting
their interests They are ready to find
an excuse to visit Washington, and
Secretary Hitchcock had to listen to
their complaints. They 60 back to
the reservation. but others come, and
the secretary Of the interior had more
squabbles to settle. They seldom ex-
press gratitude.
It was with no surprise that the Sec
rotary some time ago looked up from
his desk and saw several Indians lined
up waiting for him to speak. He rec
ognized the Indians as members Of
tribe with whom he had had a great
deal Of trouble. The principal chief
held out a paper, and then they gravely
contemplated the secretary as he read
what he supposed was some new griev-
ance. but what he did read was this:
Washington.
~
the Interior:
Dear Strive take this method, now
that we are about leaving for our homes,
to say goodby and also to convey to you
our thanks. We thank you for your
prompt answers to all our requests for
information. and. while your letters did
not come up to our expectations, we rec
ognize that. with the reports before you.
you could not do otherwise than you
have That Gods blessings may always
attend you and yours is the sincere wish
Of yours obediently,
WAH-SKIN-TON-GAH,
Principal Chief.
JAMES BIGHEART,
Assistant Chief.
PETER BIGHEART.
Delegate.
The secretary was surprised, but he
talked to the Indians in a way that
made them feel heap good, and when
the chiefs withdrew it was with smiles
upon their faces.
d"
Bright and Hot.
NSmith got OF a bright thing the
other day.
"What was it?'' ?.E5t;%A -
"A lighted cigar some one had care
lessly dropped into the chair he sat
on."-London Fun. .. ~'7's