The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1912-07-21
HANFORD DEAL
WITH RAILWAY
PUT IN RECORD
Federal Judge Alleged to Have
Secured Option on Valuable
Tract of Land Belonging
to Northern Pacific.
DECIDES TAX CASE
FOR THE COMPANY
Is Reversed by Circuit Court
of Appeals; House Subcom-
mittee Uncovers New
Vein of Evidence.
DECIDES TAX CASE
FOR THE COMPANY

railroad company sued Kln(
county, Washington, in United
States District Judge Cornelius Fl. Han
ford s court for a reduction Of the com
pany taxes assessed in 1907.
On May l, 1908, the Northern Pa
cific, which had hitherto refused to sell
certain lands to Judge Hanford, gave
him an option On the lands,
Judge Hanford found that the county
taxes were excessive in the sum of
$45,5 ,518, but was reversed by the circuit
court Of appeals.
These facts were brought out today
| in testimony before the congressional
committee investigating Judge Han
ford s record
When the committee assembled today
it had evidently given up the idea of
adjourring tonight. Nearly the whole
morning was spent in listening to the
reading Of letters written in 1907 and
1908. George II. Plummer Of Tacoma,
Wash, land agent for the Northern
Pacific, was on the witness stand.
Letters Tell Of Deal.
The letters contained An effort Of
Judge Hanford, for the Hanford Irriga-
tion & Power company. to obtain an
option to purchase place Of eighty
acres from the Northern Pacific. The
railroad had withdrawn the land from
sale because it was included in what
was known as "the Benton project" :"
The railroad company had eight trans
actions altogether with Judge Hanford,
Plummer testified. 1t was made clear
sold or optioned unless the reclamation
service rescinded its request. Judge
Hanford made formal application Feb
ruary II, 1908, for an option on the
lands. and saidi
"We are assured that consent Of the
reclamation service to release these
lands can be obtaine -
There was correspondence between
Plummer and the supervising engineer
of the reclamation service. In April,
1908, Plummer wrote to Hanford that
tho railroad had decided not to grant
the option. On May l, however, Thomas
Cooper Of st, Louis, general land com
missioner of the Northern Pacific,
granted the option, good until June 10,
1908, and Hanford entered into con-
tract Of purchase.
At this point Representative Mccoy
the printed record of the |
Northern Pacific g suit in Judge Han
ford's court to obtain a reduction of |
taxes.
Railway Gets Decision.
The suit was filed April 6, 1908, and
exactly one week later Land Agent
George II. Plummer notified Judge Han
ford that the railway company declined
10 give him the land option he de-
sired Shortly afterward Northern Pa
,ific Land Commissioner Thomas Cooper
,ame west, and on May 1, 1908, wrote to
Judge Hanford from Tacoma, saying
,hnt the long sought option had been
granted.
Judge Hanford found for the railway
company on all points in the tax suit,
lis final decree having been filed Au-
,ust 10, 1911, The circuit court of ap.
,eals reversed Judge Hanford S de-
rec, which found the tax excessive, and
njoined collection of $45,5ls and also
Lssessed costs against the county.
Bank Cashier on Stand.
J. T. Lane, cashier Of bank which
las been mentioned frequently in the
earring, was asked whether the bank
lad held any notes bearing the names ,,
f Ralph NJ. Hopkins Of G, II, Hanford
.ane replied that he could not answer !
vithout consulting his books.
Hopkins was clerk OF Hanford g
ourt for twenty-five years, and is serv-
ng term on McNeil's island for en-
ezZling $4,000.
Cashier Lane was asked If the bank
ad contributed anything to a fund I
eing raised for tine defense of Judge
fnnford, and replied, "no.'' @
Nearly all the afternoon was occu. +
led with the story Of the complicated a
tigatIon in the state and federal 5
ourts over the Seattle. Renton g. South. c
m railway ms related by William r
rawford, president of the company,
he hearing is expected to end Monday.