Evening star., 1924-03-25
HEFL|N SEES LAND
FRAUD PROBE PLOT
Threatens to Go to Senate
With Charge Moses Not
Fair as Chairman.

Protesting at the manner in which
the Senate investigation into alleged
land frauds in the Rio Grande valley
is being conducted, Senator Hefiin.
democrat, Alabama, author of the
investigation resolution, announced
today he would carry the light to
the floor OF the Senate
Chief Postal Inspector Simmons
was on the witness stand and George
Hill, attorney for +. B. Creager.
republican national committeeman
from Texas, was examining the wit
ness. There were questions also by
Chairman Moses.
what he termed the gross cut-saw
arrangement the chair has with~Mr
HILL"
Moses Makes Denial.
Chairman Moses denied that any
such arrangement existed
Mr.. Hill asked if Simmons knew
that James X. Page. the Kansas City
attorney, who is assisting Senator
from justice. had been the subject of
disbarpent proceedings, and had So
licited persons alleged To have been
defrauded. Simmons replied that he
knew of these things in Z general
way.
Page. in an address t. Chairman
Moses, charged that Mr.. Creager had
started disbarmeEt proceedings against
him.
1t was brought out in this discus
sion that the committee expected to
hold meetings in Texas later.
Says Creager Not Favored.
Answering a question by Page. Sim
mons declared that in the investiga-
tion of fraud charges in Texas Crea-
ger was not treated differently from
any one else.
why did you have Inspector VIII
hanson examine Creager's books and
not those of others?" asked Page.
Because Creager had made COM
plant about the previous inspector
being prejudiced," answered the wit
What were the charges of fraud
being made against Creager?
Il know now that 1t was charged
notes were being sold. and that they
were misrepresenting lands in Texas. "
Dfspate Over Questions.
MIR. Hill said he thought he could
clear up the situation if he was
allowed to ask about Ave questions,
but Senator Hef1in objected. This
isn't a trial and we wish to bring
out the facts" interjected Senator
Moses. "As chairman OF this commit
tee ] can ask any questions ! desire
There is nothing to prevent Mr. Hill
asking the questions through me"
Hill then asked Simmons the ques-
tionS about Page, in Mr.. Moses name.
Did you know that a former land
agent became associated with attor-
i
neople that he could have their notes
canceied?' was one of the questions
asked by Hill.
II had knowledge that Page was
connected with the Stewart Land
Company" Simmons answered. II
believe Donaldson and Creager told
me-"
Secs Cross Cut Saw Plan
Did you know that number of
parties discredited in various ways
were trying to use the Post Office
Department as vehicle for the
wreaking Of private malice and for
litigation for gainr' continued Hill.
Chairman Moses remarked that any
answer of, the witness would be only
an opinion, and Senator Helm en-
tered an emphatic protest
~ protest against the croSs-cut saw
arrangement the chair has with Mr.
Hill" he said. ~ will take this to the
floor of the Senate
Page insisted that mot q single
thing asked had anything to do with
the matter under investigation"
'It is absolutely untrue that ! was
q fugitive from justice" he said. L
admit j was indicted down there.
'Fhey got out an injunction from
sending the petition through the
mails. We shall undertake to show
that Mr.. Creager himself caused the
Hidalgo Bar Association to prevent
me from working there, and intend
to deal with that when We go down
there
Mayor Is Witness
Il am trying to get back the money
for the people who were made pau
pers. Creager is drawing money from
those victims Of fraud. and Mr.. Hill
himself is q beneficiary OF fraud, le-
gally it is true, as a receiver.
The excitement Quieted down and
Mayor A. B. Cole of Brownsville ask
ed If ii was intended to show that the
valley as whole was not good, and
irrigation not satisfactory.
I'VE admit that there is good land
in the valley and valid sales" re-
piled Senator Hefiin. mo one is con-
demning the valley as a whole. but
l have been getting letters from
people down there who tell US we are
op the right track and to go ahead"