New-York tribune., 1909-02-28
NO STATEHOOD ACTION
THARGES OF CORRUPTION
MADE.
Sensation Destroys Bills Chance for
This .Session-President Sends
Delegation Array.
rFrom The Tribune Buresu-l

Washington. Feb. 27-The manifestation OF
determination on the part of the SENATE ieauel9
10 prevent the granting OF statehooo u
Mexico and Arizona eliminated To-Day ".'-
Senators Feyeridge and Nelson brought oeloIe
,he Committee on Territories series OF ChaI Iee'
of corruption in New Mexico and the meeting
broke I'D without even the fornality OF ao1ouiH-
ing. .
-ra+ there are only thirteen votes in the Senate
AGAINST the measure. bu. they were wholly un-
able TO meet the charges Of corruption sprung
on them to-day, and were obliged to acquiesce
g. +be r,o,,cv Of deferTing action until later
session II IS now regarded as probable tha'
.ho.a territories will not be admitted 70 state
,,oos ,,ntal the next census has been complelSo'
and Il, the mean time there may be some sensa-
tsonal developments.
There are some significant facts IN corhec'iO"
with the sensation which developed IN the coiii-
,nittee to-day For instance. Governor CurFS
and five other members Of a delegation from
New Mexico which has been in Washihstoi
for the purpose of promoting the statehoou
1,u have suddenly left the city at the request
OF the President. who learned that 'heir CA
renses were being paid out Of ar appropriation
Of S3500 made from the treasury OF the terTi-
tory. The President not only requested the
Mexico but insisted that the territory be re-
imbursed for every penny spent on the trip.
The charges presented TO the full Committee
on Territories to-day include various signed
statements some of them sworn 10. which charge
various individuals with corruption The names
tf these persons are given. but generally they
ere referred to as the gang" One OF the most
sensational statements is that prepared ana
signed by young woman who was secretary 10
Ornsby McHarg. a special attorney OF the De
,,a-+r,ent If Justice who went 70 New Mexico
10 conduct prosecutions of various persons ana
VINO obtained the indictment Of fourteen persons
. Cor alleged irregularities in disposing of timber
and timber lands granted to the territory by the
federal government.
Senator Beveridge made the charge in COM
rnittee that the land grant to the territory had
consisted Of 100000 acres and that the law
provided that the timber this land should not
be cut whereas At had been cut without any
remuneration TO the territorial treasury.
one Of the most sensational charges is that the
life OF Mr. McHarg was threatened. that his
mail was opened and that he was bounded and
f,e-secuted and the intimation is made that this
was with the knowledge and consent of persons
"a high favor in Washington
It is further alleged that when Mr.. Mebarg
was hot on the trail Of certain offenders he re-
ceiyed q telegram from Washington ordering
him 10 drop the case, as nothing could be ac-
cornpllshed by its further prosecution. Mr.. Nc
Hars Is described as replying that, as he
! understood the policy Of the government, it was
10 conduct prosecutions when the prima facie
evidence warranted il, and that such evidence
he had discovered, Rhereupon he was ordered TO
proceed.
A man living in New York. and regarded as
close personal friend OF the President, is impli
-,,-tzo
came TO Washington 10 protest against Mr.. Nc
Harg's work. 1T is further maintained that
Solicitor General Hoyt went to New Mexico and
after looking into the facts indorsed the work Of
slr. McHarg, but the statement closes with the
assertion My understanding Is that the in
dictments obtained have been quashed dis
missed
Mr. McHarg will be remembered the at
torney who represented Frank II. Hitchcock be-
fore the Republican National Committee when
the numerous contests OF seats in the last ma
tional convention were heard.