The Wenatchee daily world. [volume] (Wenatchee, Wash.) 1905-1971, 1910-06-18
Resolution in Congress
Tells of Vast Frauds
in Idaho.
SETTLERS AROUSED
Committee Will Dig UP
Some High Handed
Transfers.


time in Idaho" said a man to a Daily
World representative today. The
man, who refuses to give his name
for publication, is acquainted with
conditions in Idaho and says that
there is probability that the con-
gressional committee will find some
mighty interesting material for the
muckrakers. 1t is alleged that vast
areas of Idaho's timber lands have
been illegally and unlawfully COB
bled up by subsidiary companies of
Weyerhausers trlst. 1t is said that
there have been instances where SAL
aried employees of some of these
companies have practically bluffed
bona fide settlers from their home
steads and timber claims.
Poindexter Introduces Resolution.
A Washington report says:
Gigantic land frauds in the Mar
ton of the Sherman antitrust law
by members of the Weyerhauser
timber syndicate and collision in
the same by Idaho officials was
charged in a resolution introduced
by Representative Poindexter today.
An investigation of the matter Is
proposed by MIR. Poindexter, to be
conducted by special committee
selected by the house.
The resolution is the outcome of
charges filed with the interior de-
partment recently by J. H. Rich Of
Spokane, who says that prominent
eastern Washingtonians are impli-
Gated in violations of law.
The resolution caused sensation
in congress, but it is said there will
be a much greater sensation if the
matter is investigated.
1t is charged that the rights of
many settlers on the land are being
forcibly interfered with by the syn
dictate, which has succeeded in re-
ducing the value of the land from
$500 OTTO $4,000 a quarter section.
Lands for Timber Trust.
The resolution charges that in
1900 Earl Marvin, representing the
Weyerhauser people, began opera
lions to obtain possession of the
land for the syndicate; that he in.
| hn fn % xr,lt
drawn as part of its school grant;
| that he served as special agent of
the state and lumber prospector for
the syndicate at the same time; that
in 1901 he began fling Northern
Pacific railway scrip on land occu-
pied by settlers who were seeking
TO perfect their titles under the law;
that he caused false reports to be
made to the land office; that Frank
]. Davies and B. r. Lewis employed
Bully Taylor and other claim
jumpers to GUST settlers in the Mar
bic creek district, paying the claim
jumpers IS a day; that Davies and
Nat Brown employed agents to con-
test the claims of settlers
| Acts in Name of State.
Marvin is alleged to have appealed
from settlers filings to the land Of
! flee, acting in the name of the state,
but really for the syndicate
The rights of 200 settlers are in
volved.
Although there was no decision
from the Occur d'Alene land agent
to appeal from, the land commits
sioner decided in behalf of Marvin
and his syndicate. The matter was
carried to former Secretary of the
Interior Garfield, who refused to at
firm the commissioners decision un-
less the state should relinquish the
settlers claims.
Blames Land Commissioner.
The real party contesting the set
tiers claims is said to be the Wey-
erhauser syndicate, acting through
Marvin, Davis and George A. Day,
state land commissioner of Idaho,
who is interested in the Potlatch
Lumber company, which is said to
have purchased from the state tim
Der worth $3.50 a thousand stump
age for 40 cents thousand.
Day is said to be associated with
A. j .Showalter, who obtained con-
tracts from the settlers to clear
their claims for $3.50 each, which
Showalter says was to be divided
between Day and members of the