The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1909-01-15

the senate for the second time in re-
gard to the allegations against him
in connection with Oregon lands,
Senator Tillman today made reply to
the utterances of Attorney General
Bonaparte and Postmaster General
Meyer He quoted the portion Of Mr..
Bonapartes statement of last Mon
day, in which the latter said that
Tillman had not told him of his de-
sire to obtain some of the lands in
question, and flatly contradicted the
head of the department of justice.
He declared that he had been entirely
frank with Mr.. Bonaparte and had
fully explained to him his interest in
those lands.
He attributed the attorney generals s
attitude to a desire to bolster up
the president"
Postmaster General Meyer was
brought into the discussion because of
a statement made by him regarding
the investigation of the Dorr case.
Mr., Tillman said that Mr.. Meyers
effort to make it appear that the in
quiry had been directed originally
against Dorr was not based on the
truth. He declared that from the
first the inquiry had been directed
against him (Tillman) and not against
Dorr. Mr.. Tillman was also careful
to bring out the fact that the land
which he attempted to get was not
government land at all, but land
granted as far back as 1868, under the
condition that it should be sold at $3.50
per acre.
Reads Letter.
Mr.. Tillman read letter he had
received from Attorney General Bona
parte In response to his verbal re-
quest made yesterday for information
concerning the legal proceedings that
have been brought by the department
Of justice against the Oregon Land
company, the, timber land granted in
connection with the Coos Bay road.
Mr.. Tillman closed with a renewal
of his demand for an Investigation
He said he was prepared for anything,
even the knife of the assassin.
Bonaparte Letter.
Attorney General Bonaparte's letter
is dated yesterday and reads as fol-
lows:
My Dear Senator: Referring to our
telephone conversation, have to say
that l find, on examination of the
files of the department, that the suit
In connection with the Coos Bay Wag-
on road grants was one of those
which, as l had told you, had been
the subject of differences of opinion
between the special counsel engaged
in these cases. A private suit has
already been brought in connection
with the matter, and the question
arose whether the government should |
interfere, in this suit Or should bring |
an Independent suit. After careful |
consideration and rather voluminous |
correspondence with the two special |
counsel, l have decided that 1t would |
be better for the government to bring |
an independent action, without ref
erence to the private suit already in
stituted. / therefore wrote some
time since to B. D. Townsend and |
subsequently telegraphed him, direct
ing that such suit should be brought
rs soon as practical. The question
involved in the suit connected with
the Coos Bay grant and several other
suits of minor moment
will be substantially determined by
decision in the case already insti-
tuted against the Hartman railroads,
which hold the Oregon and California
land grant titles. and it is deemed
advisable by Mr. Townsend to bring
to trial, If possible, the main suit,
namely, that against the Hartman in
terests involving the Oregon and Cali
lornia railroad grants, before these
other far less important suits are
tried. agree W.. him to this ex-
tent and, although, as above stated,
have ordered all the suits brought as
soon as possible, I think no injury to
The government interests have been
,aused by the delay in proceedings in
'egard to the Coos Bay grants and ,
lumber of other matters
Copies of Doekets. i,
II enclose you herewith copies from =,
he dockets of the department a
statement of the present situation of
he main suit against the Hartman I
interest, the bill of complaint, |
which, as you will see, was filed Sep I
ember last, as set forth in my {
tatement of yesterday. I
Respectfully referred, &
(Signed) Il
CHARLES BONAPARTE, I
Attorney General" c
The data furnished by Mr.. Bona /
arte showed that the bill of complaint
gainst the Southern Pacific COM 6
any had been filed September 4, 1908 7
Analyzing the report of the secret c
ervice inspectors in connection with a
Is correspondence with Reeder & s
Mr.. Tillman pointed out +
that he declared to be glaring mac a
uracies, and suggested that there s
hould be some determination of the g
xact qualification for membership in +
he Ananias club. He declared that b
in LAS You Like It." f
as put words in the mouth of Louch- O
tone which determined the degree of