Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-08-14

tlO0 IN the attitude vi UdSh pSudIHS oh
the Roosevelt policy of conservation.
Director Frederick Newell of the re-
clamatiOn service may go, too, and also
Secretary of Agriculture Wilson, IL he
sides with Pinchot'
Reports Fly About.
In government departmental circles.
particularly in the precincts of the De-
partments of Agriculture and the Inter
Tor. gossip is busy There are many flying
reports concerning the controversy be
tween Mr. Pinchot and Secretary Balm
Not one of the many rumors can be
verified. officials of the two departments
most interested refuse either confirmation
or denial in the absence of Mr.. P1nchot
and Secretary Ballinger.
One report has 1t that Forester Pm
chot will resign his position. Another is
that he will positively decline to leave
the government service. Still another ru-
NOR is to the effect that Mr. Plnchot is
supported actively by Secretary Wilson,
and that. in the last analysis. either MT.
Wilson or Mr. ,,allnger will have to re-
tire from President Taft's cabinet.
There are officials of the Interior De
partment who would like TO talk 1hey
explain that they are constrained by the
absence from Washington of Secretary
Ballinger. One Of the lieutenants of the
Secretary of the Interior declared today:
Mr. Ballinger is known as fighter.
When he returns to this city expect
there will be some warm words fioating
about concerning Mr.. Plnchots charges
against him.
On the other hand. officials of the De-
partment of Agriculture. who know
Forester Pinchot well, say he was one OF
the most active wielders Of the Roosevelt
big stick and will hold to his contentious
until something drops
Some One May Get Hurt.
Friends of Mr.. Pinchot assert he will
not resign, nor will he retreat from his
present line of defense of the Roosevelt
policy of conservation.
Some government officials are of opinion
that both Mr.. Ballinger and Mr.. Pinchot
will be asked to step down and out be-
fore the fight is ended.
1t is understood that President Taft Is
much perturbed over the scandal caused
by the controversy. He is expected to
take a hand in the matter very soon.
The departmental atmosphere is filled
with reports anent water power monopo-
lies imposition upon the Indians"
coal land grabs, " etc. 1t seems likely
that nothing short of a congressional in
vestigation will bring the contention down
to tide level.
Land Office Report Published.
Evidently realizing the seriousness of
Department has made public part of the
annual report Of the commissioner of the
general land Office, as follows:
1.-The annual report of the general land
Office upon field work on land matters FOR
the year ending June 30 is now ready for
the printers. This covers what Is gen.
orally known as land fraud investigation.
THE report shows that during the year
there was average OF al special
agents engaged in the Investigations. and
that the number July l last was 332.
During the year there was collected in
cash for coal and timber trespasses and
fines in criminal proceedings $4,000 upon
cases reported by special agents. OF
this. $4,000 was in settlement for coal
trespass after suit brought.
'Since June 30 and not included in
these totals, further sum of $4,000 was
SO collected. There are Cancelled for
fraud and ilegality. '.lS6 unpatented
entries, having about $4,000 acres: also
Alaskan coal entries were allowed to
lapse in the face of special agents in
veStigations.
by proceedings in court of settlement
thereof an even hundred patents were
vacated and 2I.721 acres additional re-
stored to the public domain. There were
also yerdicts secured in 1Ol timber tres
pass suits and S1I,6I1 paid upon judg-
ment therefor.
I'm the criminal cases there were con-
vioti ions of ~ for trespass. 10 for conspi
uras and IL miscellaneous. Decreees were
secured removing forty unlawful inclos-
ureS.
$32. 1896 Collected in Fines.
"7he total fines collected were So. 500
and twenty-six prison sentences were inn
posed The Office received 1.41 adverse
reports and 463 favorable reports upon
entries from the forest service. and 6.3oS
adverse and 100 favorable reports from
its own agents.
ION appeals to the department. on de-
cisions .canceling entries for fraud. the
land office was sustained In 40 cases
and reversed in Is cases. OF appealed
cases 2SS were upon land Office cases
and Is on forest cases. wherein the
Office decided for the government. and lao
special agent cases and forest cases
decided for defendant.
''Without suit and upon demand of
agents 155.3ii acres unawfully fenced
were restored. July there remained
81 ON cases awaiting field Investigation.
''rhe large number of cases still i'm the
field includes all railroad sections In min
eral regions and all right-ofway and
power sites heretofore granted and not
yet reported upon by the field agents.
New Statistics Report.
Statistics of right-ofway and power
sites were not kept prior to the quarter
ended July 1. and upon that date there
were pending for examination 121 such
cases-practically all cases formally ap-
proved--and during that quarter reports
were received upon nfnety-four such
cases favorably and 146 unfavorably. OF
these 146 cases. eight have either been
declared for cited or grantees have been
called upon to show cause why rights
should not be Cancelled by the department
where the right is a mere permit. and
where easements had been granted the
=, rofo 20 tkn
ment of Justice for suit to cancel such
easements.
''Of the suspended coal cases remaining
for action about 100 are in Alaska and
investigation in nearly all these are COM
p!ete except for certain land examina-
tons in the territory.
There remained in the Department. OF
Justice for suit July l, 1a7 trespass
cases. 616 suits to recover lands III fenc-
ing cases, 435 criminal cases. The suits
to recover lands involve about o1,OOO,ONl.
"The value of some of the land recov-
cries is indicated by one case wherein
coal lands were returned by railroad