The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1910-08-13
PRESIDENT TAFT
REPLIES TO KENT

In reply to the telegram recently
sent him by William Kent, president
OF the Golconda Cattle company, Presi.
dent Taft has written the following
letter. AS will be noticed, the docu-
ment 'ntimates that, while civil suit
may not be instituted in case the al
teged illegal fences are removed
criminal proceedings may be COM
menced:
Beverly, Mass, August 2, 1919
William Kent, Kentville, Cal.-Dear
Sir: On receipt of your telegram of
July 2Sth in regard to the case against
the Golconda Cattle company for II.
legal fencing, inquiry was at once
made at the department of justice,
winch resulted in the following state.
ment:
con December IA, 1909, the depart.
ment OF justice was requested by the
secretary of the interior to bring civil
proceedings in Nevada for an alleged
unlawful inclosure of public lands by
the Golconda Cattle company, said to
have been maintained for upwards of
fourteen years. The secretary also
asked that steps be taken to prosecute
eriminally the persons responsible for
the Enclosure. In December. 1909. the
United States attorney was instructed
to examine into the matter and comply
with the secretary's request. if in his
judgment the facts warranted such ac.
tion.
"The attention of the department of
justice was again directed to the mat
ter about July 26, 1910, in a letter from
the secretary of the interior. and on
the same day conference was had
with the United States attorney for
Nevada. from whom il was learned
that owing to pressure of business he
had been unable to complete a prelimi-
nary examination of titles to lands
within the inclosure. which he desired
to make, and, consequently, no pro-
eeeding had been begun in court. An
agreement was reached between the
United States attorney and the de.
partment of justice that the report
from the interior department was am
ply sufficient to Justify the institution
of civil action, and instructions were
issued to the United States attorney
not to delay longer bringing the civil
case.
Ci VIC odbC pTOW0. OF
the firm of Britton & GAY. representing
Mr.. Kent. called at the department of
Justice and was appraised by the de-
partment of all the material. ultimate
facts of the case as claimed by the in
terror department. but the names of
witnesses and other details of the re-
port were withheld. according to the
invariable practice.
Although the papers do not show
that any demand was made upon the
company before suit was requested by
the secretary, the department believes,
from oral statements made by the
United States attorney, that the com
lpany has for some time been cognizant
that proceedings by the government
were in contamination.
1.-THE instruction of the department
to the United States attorney to begin
civil ease (Which left at his discretion
the matter of criminal proceedings)
was issued simply in the due course OF
business. and in view of the unusual
and apparently unnecessary delay in
taking the action upon the data fur
nished by the secretary of the interior
In the manner customary in all eases
of this character. This DELAY is ex
planned above so far as the department
is concerned. and the department be
feves that no sinister motive is tt
he attributed to the United States at
t0rney.
''No information has been furnished
by the department of Justice to tn,
press or to any one concerning thu
case. except to Mr.. Kent's attorney a
above stated until few davs ago
when Information was furnished rep
resentative of a San Francisco pape
regarding the nature and history o.
the case. In view of Mr.. Kent tele
gram of July 2sth. it is the depart
ment s present intention to give him
fair opportunity to remove the en-
closure before taking further proceed
ings of civil character. As tn
United States attorney has not vet re
turned to Nevada. there is no hkeli
hood of bin being filed under pres
ent instructions for a number of day
every truly yours.
"CHARLES ID. NORTON.
Secretary to the President
Ex President Roosevelt Believes In
Kauf