The Washington herald., 1909-02-28
STATEHOOD BILL
DEALT FATAL BLOW
Boomers in New Mexico Con-
nected with Shady Deals.
BEvER1DGE AND NELSON FIRM
SENATE Committee Unearshs Facts
Concerning Land Frauds in Terri
tory that May Prove InstrumentaI
in Killing Measure at This Ses-
sfon-Hfgh Officials Involved.

Statehood for New Mexico got & blow
n the Senate Committee On Territories
yesterday.
The opposition became less peFfunctory,
and, in fact. became hostile on the part
Of a probable majority Of the committee,
led by Senator'S Beveridge and Nelson
Reasons were assigned for not resogniz-
ing the claims OF New Mexico, from which
il was made to appear there had been a
lot Of land frauds in the Territory; that
men who were now Territorial officers.
or had been Territorial officers, were
mixed up IN them. and that a Rough
Rider pull at Washington had held back
the work Of investigation which was SCI
on foot q year ago.
Boomers Are Suspected.
It was said by some Of the Senators
who have faith in the statements made
10 the committee by those charged with
the duty of carrying on investigations in
New Mexico that some OF the boomers
for Statehood have been affiliated with
the crowd that the Department 81 Justice
suspected Of connection with great land
frauds.
1neSe Senators declared the depreda-
tons that had taken place could not
have been committed except by the
connivance Of some Of the Territorial
officers. and some Of the highest men
officially are mentioned in a complaint
Of q government employe who was con
cerned in the investigation. which was
7afS h-Fo-a -ro -r,---,s.-a, e.
yesterday
Il was said that when Ormsby McHarg
was sent 20 New Mexico last July By At
toTney General Bonaparte 70 investigate
frauds in the disposition Of timber lands
and coal lands he was haraSsed from
the moment he set foot on New Mexican
soil BY every one with whom he came in
contact. including Territorial officials, lit
tie and great
At thar time a change vas about to be
made in the governorship Of New Mexico
and the then acting governor. Hsge-man-
was forced 70 resign II was then that
George Curry. Rough Rider with RoOse-
velt in Cuba, was brought from the
Philippines where he had been a captain
in the army, and made governor.
This was Just the time that Mr 1IcHare
found his efforts 70 get information on
which 20 institute prosecution for fraud
were being blocked from sources from
which he had reason TO expect assist
ahee-
High Official Involved.
Names are given in the statement that
is in possession OF the committee. ard
II IS said high Official Of the Territory
who has been in Washington with other
officials trying to force Statehood Iegis-
lation through Congress directly nouhed
McHarg Rnen he was down there that
ne would have to 5esist from MS investi-
cation OF alleged coal land frauds. also
that in the event OF his failure % do Sc,
influence would be brought 10 bear 70
have him recalled 70 Washington.
The statement was a little more ex-
plicit than that, in that it said this high
officer of the Territorial government told
McHarg that ne must not involve this
high officers friends; that he must not
investigate them o. he would be removed
from the Territory
What purporfs 10 be history Is then
rscited in that Il IS alleged that Gov.
George Curry, Attorney A. 2. Fsu and
other government officials and Rough
Riders came to Washington. ard a few
days after their arrival when the gov
ernments case IN New Mexico was ready
for presentation 10 the grand jury Mr.
McHaTg received a telegram from Attor-
ney General BonapsTte saying the de-
partmeHt was Informed there was no use
OF Investigation and that It world dis
tUTb matters IN the Territory. M Nc
Harg was ordered 70 suspend investiga-
ton.
Beveridse and Nelson Object.
Senator Nelson and Senator Beveridse
are both inclined 20 object 10 the grants
Of land that are being made 10 New Mex
leo under the Statehood bill. They are
credited with making the charge In the
committee that the Territory had vio-
lated the conditions under which the land
grant Of 1.Seaeoo acres, made by the act
OF 1895. was made
This was ceded 70 the Territory 10 hold
for the future State on condition that
noEe OF the land could be sold and none
Of the timber touched and they were OF
the opinion that il could be proven that
the timber had been cut Of and sold