The Washington herald., 1909-01-09

Dy an OElclaI or the secret service IN
connection with another transaction on
which he was at work SO with cases
OF the abuse Of the franking privilege
The post-office never Of set purpose in
spects any package sent through the
mails by a Senator or Congressman, but
sometimes through the accidental break
ing Of such package the contents are ex~
posed. and If they are OF character
which makes their transmission by frank
ing privilege Illegal. steps are taken by
the Post-Off1ce authorities TO collect the
full postage Some OF these instances
represent real abuses. but in other cases
they are due 10 carelessness OF ignorance.
and very often doubtless are entirely IN
known 10 the Congressman themselves.
and no good purpose would be served by
any publicity in the matter
But a case has Just arisen OF different
kind. which Il seems 20 me I should put
before you as Illustrating IN striking
fashion the way ia which investigations
begun by any OF these vs-ious agents n
the strict line OF their duty may develop
facts OF high Importance. which the III
vestiEatOrs would not in the first In
stance have sought 70 discover, which
when discovered ought not 20 be hidden
or suppressed, but the development OF
which may tend 20 create an erroneous
impression that the agents in question
were being used for purposes not within
the line OF their lawful duty.
Mentions Senator TIIImaa.
on the 18th OF February. Is0s (see tx
hibit ~. Senator Tillman called the at
tention OF the Senate TO q circular OF d
syndicate firm for the sale Of lands in
Oregon, particularly IN Coos and Douglas
counties. which had been granted to
corporations by the government, the cir
cular stating that the company IN posses
sion Of the lands was bound 70 sell them
for 500 an acre. or upon their refusal
would be prosecuted by the government
and that among those who have spoken
for q part OF this land, IS Senator TIL
man, OF South Carolina. the leader OF the
Democratic party in the Senate. a man
who usually gets what he goes after"
Senator Tmman denied the statements Of
this circular and expressed a wish for an
investigation. and upon his request the
Post-ofice Department. through its in
spectors. made such an investigation. He
stated in reference % this circular:
7 have not boczht any land anywhere n the wess
nor undertaken 10 by any. have made sous II
cu;res IS one naturally vU-ld. IN roaming through
the West ] Su1ply want the people q the ooun-ry
% be put On notice that this sviudler Portland
has 10 warrant whatever f1z eudezy0uE 70 inFeigls
othe-s into his game.
7 inclose the circular referred 70. as
Exhibit B; the report OF the post-ofice
inspectors. under GATE of July 2. 1908, as
Exhibit g This is q confidential report
Of q type usually not furnished. but in
this case the matter IS 50 serious that
felt I should put II before you Il incIOse
you also. as Exhibits D 1, D . D 3. D I
and D 3. Photographic facs.miles Of let
tiers and envelopes and telegram from
Senator Tillman and his agent. William
z. Lee. L appears that on October %.
I957. Senator Tillman wrote a letter (Ex-
hibit . 8. 70 Nessrs. Reeder and Wat
kins Of Narshfeld Greg. who were at
. torneys representing people who were ap-
pliCants for the purchase OF certain
wagon road land grant land; Dorr was a
land agent making his filings through
ReeGer and Watkins Senator TiIlman's
letter runs IN part as follows:
Want Nine Quarters, Says TfIIman.
wired yUu from Waussu Wis. as f0llOEs. and
WTite 10 coui-m II; "Sm. Z. Lee. ny agent.
VII see yol about land 1 xant nine quarters
reserved WI forward signed sppications and
money az once Members q my family are entry-
uen. Letter follows tSignedi B. r. t. I write
nov % say wired M Lee who rusldss a Moscow.
Idaho. 70 % al once 70 8izrshdeld and see yUu
about the land 70 locate quarters FOR seven mem
be-s o. ny family who are OF age and ore for ny
private secretary. J B. Kuisat, whan desire 70
let into the deal and q col-se he wants quarter
fo- himself
The letter continued. stating IN detail
! what was 10 be done in order 10 enable
the Senator 10 get the land. The VIII
| lam & Lee 10 whom Senator Tillman
| thus referred as his agent wrote TO
Reeder & Watkins. under date Of Decem-
Der :. a letter. Photographic copy OF
which is herewith submitted. marked
Exhibit D a. In this letter Mr.. Lee
| explains that he had written Senator Till
man fully as 20 the status OF the land
matter. advising him that Il was "a
good gamble but that the Senator was
/ tlecturing. so that he did not get Mr.
Lees letter until week and a half
/ previously. The letter continues:
In case Senator TIlmau get In On this deal with
s0me god land u the eiFht quarters We want az.
satisfied that he can b. Of gTest help II getting
matters started from Washington and cause the
Sose-meut 90 get busy ard do something along
the line yUu desire He VII SCI I'D Such a howl
that il Vii b. impossible 70 do OtheTEise. This
VIII be very important for your whois scheme to
have man q bis influence here % ard you az this
end of the Ene By al means ssre a lot q god
land for Is as We intend 70 be Of more value than
any oue Of the Others IN this matter.
TIIIman's Resolution.
On the 3lst Of January. 1905. Senator
Tinman introduced in the Senate the fol-
lowing resolution
Whereas Al divers tine. various rziln0ads anc
other oerTo-sti0us have received large grants Of
( public lands q the Uuited States under and hy
virtue q acts Of Congress Containing conditions u
the effect that s1ch lands shCud be sod 70 actual
settlers ouy OF In Quantities not exceeding fo- sny
ore purchaser z limit fixed b the act relating
thereto. az & prics per acre not greater than an
amount mentioned in the act authorizing such
giant 70 the end that saeh lands might prouptly
become the homes Ct citizens Of the United states
ard
Whereas It IS currently reported and widely be
lieved that the Department 0f Justice has iuforms
ton 70 the effect that certain of the corporations
Aforesaid their alleged SaCUssoTs in title having
obtained coio7ahle tte TO large tracts Of land with
in State CT States Of the Pacific Slope by virtue
Of The grants above mentioned, ard still holding
considerable portions thereof have violated or eEsded
the equitable and salutary conditioDs 50 as afore
sid imDosed bv ths Congress upon such grants foT
the public good; yet the Senate is not advised that
/ any action has been taken by the Department o.
Justice % enforce the sid conditions restore the
said lands TO the public domain: Now, therefore,
! be It
/ Resolved. &c. That the President be requested
If rot incompatible with the public inters 70 in
fern the Senate what information, any, has beer
received AID what action. II any. has been taken
BY the Department Of Justice with respect to the
matters and things II the preamble 10 this resou-
ti0n set forth
and pressed vigorously for immediate &C
ton. The resolution being laid over.
Senator Tiuman introduced the same day
a further and joint resolution containing
{ ~. -o--,o rnrfTofc hr1r 0o0cfr7f7fuer fol