The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1909-01-13
T|LLMAN VISITED
ATTY GENERAL
WHEN SUIT WAS MADE AGAINST
HARTMAN ROADS AND ASK
ED BOUT LANDS.
OFFERED HIS SERVICES
And introduced Resolution Which was
ADOPTED, Giving Bonaparte Power
to Claim Forfeiture Of
Land.

Washington, Jan, u. Attorney
General Bonaparte tonight issued Il
statement replying TO that part Of the
speech of Senator Tillman delivered
yesterday in which he declared the
resolution In regard to the Oregon
land grants introduced by him in the
senate January 81, 1908, had been pre-
pared by the attorney general and
that his interest in the matter had
been first aroused by the desire to
purchase some of the timber land. F"
Bonaparte also replied to Tillman's s
remark made in the senate last Feb.
ruary that he had not "boughtany
land anywhere in the west or had un-
dertaken to buy any"
Bonaparte recounts the entering of
the suit against the Hartman roads OIL
September 4, 1908, the purpose being
to forfeit public lands claimed by
these roads, and declares this fact
was well known and could be verified
by any one through inquiry at the de-
partment of justice.
Told Agents to Hold Land.
The attorney general recalls a visit
from Tillman late in January of 1908,
about three weeks before the senator
wrote to agents in Oregon to hold
in reserve for him eight of the best
quarter sections" and little longer
than that period prior to his stating
In the senate that he had neither
bought any land in the west or under
taken to buy any. AT this visit. Bo-
naparte says Tllman wanted informa.
tFea concerning She lanes in qusssi0a.
This information was given him, the
attorney general says.
All this time, Bonaparte alleges,
Tilman gave no hint as to his desire
or intention to purchase some of the
land in question, nor did he know of
such desire on the senator's part un-
til he saw the presidents recent let.
ter TO Senator Hale. The attorney
general says: Il told him (Tillman'
that we deemed II advisable to secure
congressional action in the form of
resolution empowering the attorney
general to claim forfeiture of these
lands; and that | felt some apprehcn-
sion lest such action should be oppos
ed by The largeinterests il would af
feet. Tilman then offered to intro
duce a resolution on the subject. If |
would prepare one; and did prepare
such a resolution which was intro
duced by him and subsequently
Would be Public Domain.
During this interview ! explained
to him that It would be impracticable
to compel the corporations claiming
these lands to sell any particular por
lion of them to any particular person;
OF course, II the government
could establish the forfeiture of rights
under the grant. the lands might be-
come afterwards open to entry on the
same terms as any other portion of /
he public domain OF course, If It WAS |
at any time his purpose TO secure
some part of the lands in question
through arrangements with Recder
and Watkins This agents in Orogoni
or otherwise. this forfeiture might |
END to promote his individual inter
,st: but had no reason to credit him
with any such purpose, and I dealt
with him throughout as asking such
and advice sould give, y
,nly that he might fulfill his duty as
! public officer"