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About Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 16, 1904)
EHB MOBBING OEBGONIAK, TUESDAY, FEBKUABY. 16, IMf, Ghllirn nU nilin PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE SCENES AND RUINS OF THE BALTIMORE FIRE 'fj Tmnk. While admitting: his implication, ie pleaded laxity rather than dishonesty of purpose on his own part. Alexander, according to his statement, was called upon in his office several years' ago by a neatly dressed, well-appearing man, presenting a card hearing the In scription, "J. H. Schneider. Superinten dent of Land Division, Hyde & Co.. San Francisco." For an hour the two dis cussed matters in general and became tjuite friendly. Alexander being -well-impressed with his caller. At the close of the general conversa tion Schneider, he said, drew from his pocket a small packet containing entries on school lands, made In various names, 1. Fayette and Calvert streets, unharmed Fostoftice Trade building on the right. 2. Corner of Pratt and light streets, opposite light-street wharf, one of the busiest sections of the city. 3. Ruins of the Hurst store, German, and Liberty streets, where the fire started. 4. Corner Charles and Fayette streets. In the fashionable retail district. 5. Looking up Baltimore street from the Baltimore Sun office. 6. Corner Baltimore and Charles Streets, snowing" ruins of Carrolton Hotel La the heart of the business section. 7. Scenes at Fayette and Holllday streets during the fire. 8. Ruins on Baltimore street, the principal business street In. the city. 0. Scene at Baltimore and North, streets, showing ruins of Baltimore Sunv(A) and Baltimore American (B) buildings. ns well as numerous assignments of school lands to Hyde & Co. He asked Alexander to acknowledge the various signatures and attest the genuineness of the documents, assuring him that "it 'was all right' Alexander hesitated, as he. did not know the persons named in the filings, and said he could not in good faith certify to their entries and conveyances. Schneider, how ever, persisted, and finally Alexander, as he said. waklv consented.' and affixed his signature as a notary to the papers, re ceiving the regulation fee and nothing snore. The next day, se he testified. Schneider returned with an enormous bundle of entries of a like character, and again sought to obtain the notary's attest. Alex ander was stuplfied by the boldness of Schneider and declined to sign, but when Schneider became obdurate and threatened to expose him for .having certified to entries In a fraudulent manner the day previous. he acquiesced and complied with Schneider's wishes. The practice once started grew Into a habit, and, as Alex ander testified, has been going on for years. He admitted to the grand Jury that he had certified to thousands of entries made In the names of people unknown to him, but declared in all this time he never re ceived more than the regulation fee. WJien flatly asked by a juryman: . "Did you. recognize the names of any of those people whose entries you cer tified?" Alexander replied: "Not one." Another witness today was a Chief of Division In the General Land Office, who laid before the grand Jury copies of the records of his office showing the extent of the operations of Hyde & Co., Benson & Hyde, and John A. Benson. These papers were too -voluminous to be examined to day, but show operations in quite a num ber of states, particularly California and Oregon, and Involve millions of acres of land. - Sent Benson a Dscoy Letter. The Important testimony given before the grand jury on Saturday last, men tioned in these dispatches, was that of William E. Valk. clerk In the Qeneral Land Office. Valk confessed to having "agreed to furnish Benson with "inside In formation," but his first confession was made to Secretary Hitchcock some months ago. At the time of his first con fession Valk was promised immunity from prosecution if. he would consent to as sist the department In bringing about the arrest and conviction of Benson and Hyde. This ho agreed to, and It was he vwho wrote a decoy letter to Benson which brought him to "Washington under the supposition that he was to be furnished a copy of the report of Assistant Attorney- General Pugh and Treasury Secret Service Agent Burns on their investigations. Woodford D. Harlan, ex-Chief of the Forestry Division, has also turned state's evidence and his testimony with that of Valk is to be used against Benson. Today's New York Sun, after relating Benson's manner of bribing clerks as told in these dispatches Saturday, says: "On one occasion one of the bribed clerks "called at the New Wlllard Hotel to see Bonson and found another person In an adjoining room. , - "Come In and meet him,' said Benson. It will be to your advantage.' "But the clerk was suspicious and de clined the invitation. On the next visit, as he was about to open . Benson's door, the clerk said he met Bingpr Hermann, Commissioner of the General Land Office, coming out. They passed without a word. The testimony regarding this encounter caused a sensation before the grand jury." Hermann denounces this statement, and denies having met Benson, except on three occasions. In the General Land Office, when he denounced Benson on account of his fraudulent surveys in California. lngton, Feb. 15. Secretary Hitchcock has notified the Oregon Senators that neither Register Bridges nor Receiver Booth, of the Roseburg Land Office, can be reap pointed. Theidcpartment opposition to Booth was well known, but up to a week ago the de partment had no objection to Bridges. Even now no reason is given except that a change is desired. equals, or exceeds, $23,500. All moneys de rived from the sale of the Indian land3 is to be paid the Indians. Now Says bridges Must Go. OREGONIAN NEWS BUREAU, Wash- FEAST ON OREGON SALMON. Fulton Gives Members of the Senate a Great Feast. OREGONIAN NEWS BUREAU. Wash ington. Feb. 15. Members of the Senate enjoyed a feast today of a monster chlnook salmon from the Columbia River. By Invitation of Senator Fulton, all Sen ators at the Capitol partook of the royal fish, and many a glowing tribute was paid the king of the finny tribe. Two 50-pound salmon were sent to Senator Fulton from Astoria, and by his direction one was today prepared by the Senate chef. It had been the Senator's Intention to serve both fish, but he was advised one would suffice, and this proved to be the case. Oregon Indian Landsto Be Sold. OREGONIAN NEWS BUREAU, Wash ington, Feb. 13. The House oday passed Representative Hermann's bill ratifying the treaty with the Grand Ronde Indians. Thl treaty provides for the cession to the United States of 25,791 acres of lands. These lands are to be sold under sealed bids, but no bids can be accepted until the aggregate sum of all bids received To Improve Mount Rainier Park. OREGONIAN NEWS BUREAU. Wash ington. Feb. 15. Senator Ankeny today favorably reported from the committee on forest reservations. Senator Foster's bill appropriating $5C,OW for Improving ilount Rainier National Park. The committee on conference today struck out of the urgent deficiency bill all appropriations for military cables In Alaska. Astoria Memorial presented. OREGONIAN NEWS BUREAU, Wash ington, Feb. 15. Congressman Hermann today presented to the House a memorial of the City Council of Astoria asking for an application for the erection In that city of a new Custom-House and the en largement of the city Postoffice. OPEN DOOR FOR PHILIPPINES. Bill by Carmack Also Extends Time for Application of Shipping Law. WASHINGTON, Feb. 15. Senator Car mack today introduced an amendment to the bill regulating shipping trade between ports of the United States and ports or places in the Philippine Archipelago. The amendment Is for the purpose of expend ing the time of the application of coast wise laws of the United States to the Philippine .Archipelago from July 1, 1S04, to July 1. 1909. Senator-Carmack ald in explanation of this extension that the' necessity was ap parent from reports of ex-Governor Taft and ex-Secretary of War Rot, to the ef fect that Immediate application to the Philippine Archipelago of the coastwise laws would be Injurious to the trade and interests of the Philippine Islands. TheN amendment also provides a new section to the bill, for the purpose of maintaining the "open door" la the Philippines. The new section follows: "That hereafter any duty or tax levied and collected upon the exportation of any article, the product of the Philippine Archipelago, shall be levied and collected, whether such article be exported to the United States or to any other country, it being the policy of the United States to maintain the 'open door" In the said Phil ippine Archipelago." Russian Guiboat to Stay in Harbori SHANGHAI. Feb. 15. The Russian gun boat Mandjur, which before the war be gan was preparing for 3ea, has now gone several miles, up . the Wu Sung River, where she is likely to remain, unless ob jections are raised by the Chinese au thorities. The Nanking Viceroy has telegraphed instructions to the officials under his juris diction to observe strict neutrality and to take measures to prevent antl-Cbris-tlan and other disturbances. Indorsement of Russia Confirmed. PARIS, Feb. 15. The Foreign Office to day confirmed the announcements made in these dispatches Saturday that Russia and France have approved of the United States' note on the subject of Chinese neutrality with a resolution excluding Manchuria. .Russia Orders Foreigners Away. YINGKOW, Feb. 11. In consequence of the attack by the Japanese upon Port Arthur, Viceroy Alexleft has or dered all foreigners and civilians to leave the place. Dalny was the first place to be deserted. These noncom batants and civilians have .abandoned all their property at Port Arthur and Dalny. Thin babies become plump babies when fed with Mellin's Food. Mellin's Food nour ishes. Whether yon nurse your baby or use Mel lin's Food you will find our book, "The Care and Feeding of Infants," very useful. Simply write for ft. It will be seat free. MELLIN'S FOOD CO.,BOSTON, MASS. CUTLERY h-