Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1910-01-21
SETTLERS TURN NOW
Will Ask Investigation of Acts of
Special Agents.

At the Congressional hearing which
is expected in the Siletz homestead
cases, an effort will be made to have
the special agents Of the Interior De-
partment given a touch of the probe,
as well as the settlers An investiga-
ton of the staff of these functionaries
maintained in Oregon by the $1,000
600 appropriation made by Congress
at the time of the land-fraud howl,
and through the regular appropria-
tions, the services they have been per-
forming, pay received, and how they
have been reporting on cases, 1t Is al
legged by the homesteaders, will make
very interesting chapter of the ST.
letz controversy, For long time there
has been practically no provocation
for special agent presence here, ex-
cept for the Siletz settlements. The i'm
mense acreage in Eastern oregon
which is yet untaken was not sought
by the homesteader or other land
claimant Only where there was a
good stand of timber has there been
any material homestead activity, and
Siletz was the only appreciable offer
ing in this line.
I'VE want the special agents to have
a day before Congress, as well as the
homesteaders, writes one of the orig
inal locators. I'VE want the privilege
of putting before Congress a few facts
as to the way these agents have per-
where we, the homesteaders, poor and
for existence as rule, have
spent every day we possibly could out
in that dreary forest, Winter and Sum
mer, the luxurious special agents, who
have been reporting against us, have
often been staying at the Portland Ho-
tel on Government money, and too
often never went on or even near the
land which they said we were not en-
titled to hold. Just study this situa-
ton for a moment, and see what you
think of the system.
Braved Wilderness Hazards.
Every man now before Congress
FOR relief did his very best to comply |
with the homestead law. He went into |
he almost impenetrable forest, cut |
rails, built rope bridges and cleared
enough for his garden. From Washing
on came the aristocratic special agent
n Pullman sleeper. He went to the
Portland Hotel, drawing his big salary
ind bigger expense allowance. Then
lie found somebody's who claimed to
lave been out on the Siletz, and who
vas ready to declare against the
not having the fortitude
nd courage even to follow out where
he homesteaders had blazed the trail,
hey performed their duty by remain
ng in the city and declaring that the
'oor devils out in the wilderness were
ot complying with the law.
1--WE know that very few of these
pecial agents ever went on the land.
If course, they now hold that the set
ers own declaration as to the time
pent there defeats them. In other
'ords, they admit that the men who
ent out there were so honest that they
Did frankly how much time they had {
pent on the land, and insisted that .
leir poverty would not permit long ,
r sojourn there.
Then look at the beneficent results
If the special agents win in {
leir contention against the poor 9
These men who went :
ito the forests and worked like Tro- \
ms, while their families were often =
7 the special agents quartered in =
Ortland Hotel rooms, have to see the
itch of squatters come in, live on the
aims eight months, commute by ;
aking small cash payment, and
sell the land for its tim
r. Where does the Government prof
by this? The s1,OOO,O 900 appropria-
on is used to keep a swarm of special
ents at the hotels They prove their
efulness by attacking the original
trymen, report adversely without
eing the land, and succeed in having Z
ese entries cancelled. Squatters who
We been encouraged to rush upon
e property, file another homestead
try, wait six months before taking
residence there, then live on the %
operty eight months. Immediately
t patent by committing without any
mplaint by the special agents, and
soon as title is secured, sell the land I,
: It's timber. 4
We want Congress to pass on the
int whether the Government and L
= people make anything by this L
Insaction. Is this style of law en- a
cement worth the price?"
As soon as a committee has been
slgnated by Congress to give the A
etz cases a hearing. Il is the ex-
,ssed purpose of the homesteaders L,
gather all possible evidence bearing Al
the record OF special agents in ore
D during the past six to eight years. l.
is conceded that such viii not af- Al
q the law in any manner. but the
tiers insist that Congress should ~
CIV how the big appropriations are =,
ng used. and the manner in which Al
Bile service Is being performed.