Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1909-01-09
TILLMAN LAND GRAB
President Gives Out Copy Of Evidence
He Sent to the Senate.
DEAL MADE WITH PROMOTERS
Senator Said He Wanted Eight Of the
Best Quarters Available.
LAND HELD BY RAILROADS
influence Used to Cause Them to
Relinquish Title.
LETTER FRANKED THROUGH MAIL
PhotOsrnphIc Copies of Correspond"
ence DisprOves Utterauce OF
senator on Fioor---He VIII
Reply Monday.
Senator Said He Wanted Eight Of the
Best Quarters Available.
LAND HELD BY RAILROADS
influence Used to Cause Them to
Relinquish Title.
LETTER FRANKED THROUGH MAI


yelt tonight made public the details of an
investigation by postoffice inspectors and
secret service agents of Senator Tillman's
connection with an alleged '1and grab
In oregon As he presents the evidence
TO Senator Hale, IN response 20 the latter
request to the heads Of the various execu-
tive departments for a statement OF the
operatlons OF tile secret service the presi-
dent undertakes to show:
That. Mr.. Tiilman used his Influence as
a senator in an effort to force the gov
ernmcnt to compel railroad corporation
TO relinquish It's control of land grants
from the limited States In order that he
and his family and his secretary, j. b.
knight, might profit through the purchase
Of some Of the land.
That the senator used his government
frankinR privilege In numerous instances
for tho use OF private business.
Comparatively few senators were favored
with the opportunity OF reading the presi-
dents report to Senator Hale, but those
who did read the report took serious
view Of a. although most OF the senators
refused TO believe that MT Tiiiman had
ever done anything in violation Of his oath
as senator.
Senator Tillnan did not permit the fact
that the president was giving out the
charges against him TO alter his determine
tion to make no statement until Monday.
He said that he could not make his reply
so complete as he would desire for to-
morrows papers and that he would there
fore withhold whatever remarks he might
have 10 make until Monday, when he
would make statement TO the senate
No effort was made by him to conceal
the fact TINT when he had learned the
a. had MN q
an effort TO obtain a portion of the land
in the names of himself and members Of
his family. and declared at most he would
have gotten possession of only few
hundred acres His efforts we're, after all
In behalf Of tho public and not especially
in lis own interest
Immediately after the eopcludou OF the
ohaplain's prayer Monday Mr.. Tillman will
ask the recognition OF the chair on dues'
tion OF personal privilege. Departing from
his custom OF eNtemporaneous speaking. h'
will read his statement. thus insuring' more
careful adherence to what he desires to sa!
than he would be able TO give in offhanC
speech.
Letter to senator Hale.
The communication to senator Hale
nearly 5000 words long. and in addition
there is appended numerous exhibits, In
cludlng copies OF letters written by Senate
Tnlman and his agent. William f Lee
showing that they did make an effort 4
secure several quarter sections of the ore
gon land and the reports OF the postoffic
inspectors who Investigated the transaction
OF the land, agents 1t was through thi
investigation that the alleged interest o
Senator Tinman was brought TO light, an
fatefully, n appears that 1t was at his in
stigaton the inquiry was begun.
The presidents communication to Sen
ator Hale Is az follows:
THE WHITE HOUSE, WASHINGTON
u. c.. Jan. s. 1sOs.-My Dear Senator Hale
have requested the different department
OF the government. not only those
whom you sent requests, but those to whor
you did not. to give me all the informatlo
about the use of special attorneys speciI
agents, inspectors. etc, IN their depart
ments TO enable me to put befote you a
the facts which, as l understand IL, you
committee desires to have. I transmit thes
reports herewith = call especial attentio
10 tire reTori OF the secretary OF state. III
secretary OF t.a treasury and the attorne
genera
Need % secret service.
Let me at the outset most earnestly el
press my cordial agreement with the vie
that Il is not only the right but the dut
OF congress TO investigate the workings
the secret service or detective agents wit
which alone the government can effectual
safeguard itself against wrong doing. pun
ish crime and bring to Justice criminals.
am well aware of the liability to abuse Il
herent in any effective detective system
secret service system for the measure
the efficiency fof the system Il also Il
ina - ~
the system II Il be applied 20 wrong pu
poses or directed in an improper manne
Il Is eminently to tho public interest tht
there should be visilant inquiry into Il
workings Of this agency, both by the hes,
Of the executive departments and by co
gress.
Discoveries by Accident.
Certain of the special agents, inspecto
and the like in the several department
have highly specialized work to De
form. In the Treasury department the s
cret service is especially trained to de
with counterfeiters and the special agen
with customs frauds. In the Postoffce d
partment the corps OF inspectors is esp
cally trained and peculiarly fitted to d
tect crimlnality or abuses or fraudulent u
of the malls In connection with the post
service. In the Interior department I
special agents OF the land Office and I
inspectors OF the Indian bureau are train
in similar fashion to meet present noe,
in addition, IL is urgently necessary as
forth In MT Roots accompanying repo
that there shall be a central force OF seer
service men who can be detailed for wo
anywhere IN the government service.
I'm the investigation OF specific frau
We sometimes come across wholly une
pected cases OF misconduct. The frau
In the postal department which were u
earthed some six years ago. for instan'
offer a case in point My suspicious NJ
first aroused BY a report made as to I
very extravasant and debauched mann
OF life Of certain postal smploye. {
report made being made BY an official
the secret service In connection with .
---------------------