Y
VOL. L. XO. 15,403.
PORTLAND, OREGON, SATURDAY, APRIL 9. 1910.
PRICE FIVE CENTS.
CANNON BLACK OR
WHITE, NOT DRAB
"FIRST-CLASS HGHTIXG MAX,"
ROOSEVELT WILL
LISTEN TO PINGHOT
COLLIE JOURNEYS
INCOMPETENCY OR
FRAUD IS CHARGED
TWO BATTLESHIPS
VOTED BY HOUSE
FACULTY MAY LIMIT
SPORTS AT EUGENE
MOVE AGALXST IXTERCOLLEGfi
ATHLETICS MADE.
EVERY MILE-TRACK
FAR; SAVES MASTER
IS
BEAVER CREEK HOMESTEADER
SAYS MRS. RIDSDALE.
OWES TO BOG.
RECORD
BROKEN
33DemocratsVoteWith
Republicans.
TWO COLLIERS AUTHORIZED
Eight-Hour Law to Govern
Contractors in Bidding.
FOUR SUBMARINES LISTED
Mobson's Proiwsal for Three Battle
ships Receives SmaJl Support.
Jiaval Appropriatloit Bill Now
Carries $128,037,602.
WASHINGTON. April S. By a de
cisive vote of 162 to 110, 14 being
present and not voting:, the House to
day authorized the construction of two
battleships to cost $6,000,000 each.
Thirty-three Democrats voted for two
battleships and 24 Republicans against.
This action was taken just prior to
the passage of the naval appropriation
bill, carrying: 128,0S7,602. This
amount is about $3,000,000 less than
the amount recommended by the Navy
Department. In addition to the bat
tleships, the bill also provides for the
construction of two fleet colliers and
four submarine boats.
The committee on naval affairs had
reported In favor of two battleships.
Tawney, of Minnesota, chairman of
the appropriation committee, offered
an amendment providing for only one
battleship, while Hobson proposed an
intendment providing for three.
Hobson Has Small Support.
By an almost unanimous vote the
House rejected the Hobson proposal.
Thomas of Ohio proposed an amend
ment for four battleships, but the
House voted It down almost unani
mously. Tawneys Amendment for one bat
tleship was lost by a vote of 104 to
1S8. At least 30 Democrats voted with
the Republicans against Tawney's
plan.
Goldfogle of New York offered an
amendment providing that at least one
battleship be constructed at a navy
yard, the second to e built either by
contract or at a navy-yard. After ex
tended discussion, Mann of Illinois,
who oVcupied the chair, declared the
amendment out of order.
An effort was made by Norris of
Nebraska, an insurgent, to amend the
bill to provide for one battleship and
six transports, the latter to cost
91.000,000 each. The amendment was
ruled out of order.
"Apostle of Peace" Speaks.
A strong speech against a two-battleship
policy was made by Bartholdt
of Missouri, the House "Apostle of
Peace."
Representative J. Hampton Moore, of
Philadelphia, attempted to Induce the
House to limit the draft of the new
battleships to SO feet, but his amend
ment was rejected.
A point of order was sustained elim
inating from the bill authority for the
construction of & Jl.000,000 fleet col
lier to be built on the Pacific Coast
by private contract. Under existing
law It will be constructed in a Govern
ment navy-yard on the Pacific Coast.
The appropriation of $1,000,000 for one
repair ship was also stricken out on a
point of order.
Mr. Fitzgerald, of New York, offered art
amendment, which was adopted by a vote
of 131 to 15. under which two battleships
and two fleet colliers must be built by
firms working under the eight-hour law.
Reduction Is Defeated.
Goldfople Introduced an amendment di
recting the construction of one battleship
in a navy-yard. The amendment was de
feated 93 to 103.
Padgett of Tennessee, senior" Demo
cratic member of the committee on naval
affairs, then moved to recommit the bill,
with Instructions that it toe reported to
the House to provide for only one battle
ship. This motion was defeated on a
rollcall. 110 to 162. 14 being present and
not voting.
Democrats voting for two battleships
were: Aiken. South. Carolina;. Alexander,
Missouri: Arts berry. Ohio; Bartlett. Neva
da: Burleson. Texas: Carlin. Virginia
Clark. Florida; Cox. Ohio; Craig, Alaba
ma: Cravens. Arkansas: D. A. DriscolU
New York; Hammell, New Jersey; Har
rison. New York: Hobson, Alabama;
Hughes. New Jersey; Humphreys. Missis
sippi; Jones. Virginia: Martin. Colorado
Maynard. Virginia: Moon, Tennessee:
O'Connell. Massachusetts: A. Mitchell.
Palmer. Pennsylvania; Pou. North Caro
lina: Pujo, Ioulsiana: Raitc.h, Indiana:
Robinson. Arkansas: Rothermol. Penn
sylvania; Sherley. Kentucky; Sulzer, New
York: and Takbot, Maryland.
Republicans voting with the. Demo
crats for one battleship were: Bartholdt,
Crow. Missouri: Davis, Lindbergh, Taw
ney, Volstead. Nye. Minnesota; Gardner,
Michigan: Goebel, Howland, Ohio; Gran
na. North Dakota; Hamer. Idaho; Henry,
Connectlcutt: Lawrence. Ten-ill, Massa
chusetts; Lenroot, Morse, Nelson, Staf
ford, Wisconsin; McCall. Massachusetts;
Murphy. Missouri; Norris, Nebraska;
Prince, Illinois, and Wilson. Illinois.
Action on
"r
l,J"tion Is
Deferred.
Some Favor v, -f.y'tions Be-
tween Classes
UNIVERSITY OF OREGON. Eugt. ...
Or.. April 8. (Special.) Though a coach
of National reputation has been engaged
and contracts have been signed for a
full schedule of games, the University
of Oregon may not have a football team
next year.
More than that, the faculty may with
draw entirely from participation in all
forms of intercollegiate athletics and
limit athletic competition among the stu
dents to Interclass or fraternity games
on the college grounds. Such a resolu
tion is under consideration by the faculty.
Action has been deferred.
If this resolution should pass it would
mean not only the banishment of foot
ball as an intercollegiate sport, but of
baseball, track, tennis and basketball as
well.
While some faculty members are known
to be against intercollegiate sports on the
ground that they take too much time
from studies and that their tendency
is towards specialization, others are
warm supporters of intercollegiate ath
letic competition. It is believed that the
resolution will not pass without strong
opposition, at least.
Athletic organizations here never have
assumed the proportions they have at
some institutions, the scholarship require
ments for baseball, football and track
men being even more strict than for de
baters. STORM SWEEPS VALLEY
Worst Hail Fall in Touchet Record
ed -La Grande Touched.
DAYTON. Wash., April S. (Special.)
The worst hai! storm ever recorded here
swept over Touchet Valley late today.
Hailstones nearly half as? forgo as hens'
eggs fell, partially burying1 themselves.
Some did not melt for half an hour.
The thermometer registered 35, although
lightning, violent thunder and rain ac
companted the storm.
The atmosphere was peculiarly op
pressive all afternoon. .No serious dam
age to fruit trees or grain Is reported.
LA GRANDE, Or., April 8. (Special.)
One of the heaviest April rain storms
ever known here raged tonight for ten
minutes. Electric lines were burned out
and telephone service was crippled by
lightning. A sharp hail added to the
fierceness of the short storm.
NEW CAR IS TO BE USED
Pendleton Ru si ness Men to Take
Excursion Through County.
PENDLETON. Or., April 8- (Special.)
The new motor car for the Pendle
ton-Umatilla run is here and tomor
row will carry a business men's excur
sion to the towns in the west end of
the county. Echo, Stanfield. Hermis
ton and Umatilla will be visited and
75 or more of the local business men
will make the trip. Stops will be made
at each place of sufficient length to
enable the visitors to meet all the local
business men.
Plans are also being- made, for a tour
of the Pendleton commercial zone in
the other direction, with Walla Walla
as the northern destination.
COATLESS DINNER COSTLY
Vancouver Man Hangs Vp Garment
"Wlth $5r5. Money Disappears.
VANCOUVER, Wash., April S. (Spe
cial. Because he ate his dinner in his
shirtsleeves today. B. H. Borsrheim, ac
cording to the story he told the police, is
over 5X) poorer tonight.
Borshelm says he took off his coat and
left tt hanging In the kitchen when he
went in to dinner. In the pocket was
$506, with which he was going to pay a
debt this afternoon. After the meal
Borshelm put on his coat, he says, and
no money was in the pockets.
The police questioned a young man
named Jonee, a stepson of Borsheim s,
but released him.
MINES ORDER OPEN SHOP
Guards Leave to Protect Workmen
in Northern Colorado.
DENVER, April 9. Steps to reopen
the coal mines In the Northern Colo
rado fields were taken today when
armed men were sent to protect the
properties' at Louisville and Lafayette
and at the same time the operators
spread 5000 circulars appealing to thei
former employes to return.
Armed men were sent to guard "The
mines. The operators say the mine
will be conducted on the "open" shop1
principle.
3 BEARS SLAIN IN 3 DAYS
White Salmon Men Hunt Success
fully in Coos Bay Country.
WHITE SALMON. Wash.. April .
(Special.) George Thomas, of White
Salmon, and E. Fish, of Husum, have
returned with their pack of dogs from
a bear hunt in the Coos Bay countrj,
In three days they bagged three bears,
a bob cat and four coons. One of the
bear skins was bought by a Portland
man for $20. Mr. Thomas says they
could have got at least 20 bears, as the
animals are very plentiful in that dis
trict.
WEALTHY PIONEER DYING
T. It. lUbbard, Well Known in Wa
do Hills District, on Ieatli-Bod.
SALEM, Or.. April 8. (Special.) T. R.
Hibbard, a wealthy and widely known
pioneer-of the Waldo Hills country, is
reported on his death bed at Silverton.
He came across the plains from Illi
nois in 1S4SL
Los Angeles Auto Races
Furnish Sensations.
NO ACCIDENTS MAR EVENTS
After Car Is Run Into Paddock
It Turns Turtle.
TEN-MILE MOST EXCITING
Oldfield, After Bad Start, Creeps tp
to Front and W ins In lO0-Mile4
Two Cars Are Lapped for
9 5 Miles of Distance.
PLAY A DEL RBY, Cal., April S. The
establishing of many new speed records
marked the opening of the Los Angeles
Motordrome this afternoon. Every world's
record for a one-mile track, from one to
100 miles, was beaten and five National
speedway marks were lowered in the
trials and the free-for-all contests.
The establishing of new mile track rec
ords was to be expected, as this is the
first board track ever raced on by motor
cars. In addition to the National records
established, new marks were also set in
the stockcar events.
Xo Accidents Mar Racing.
The racing was free from accidents.
At the end of the 100-mile race a Dorris
car, driven by Frank Siefert, turned tur
tle, but this, did not happen until after the
car had been run into the paddock. Sie-
fert's arms had become numb from the
strain and he lost control. He was not
injured.
The first mile on the track was a rec
ord. Caleb Bragg, amateur, sent the Fiat
90 around in 37:5&
George Robinson was next to be sent
away, and his big Simplex thundered
after the 10-mile record. When lie began
clipping miles off in 39 seconds, it was
apparent that the record would go. He
finished the 10 mites in 6:31:37. Strang's
mark at Atlanta for this distance was
7:01:94.
Oldfield' Lowers Mile.
Another world's mile track record and
a National speedway mark went glimmer
ing when Barney Oldfield turned loose
his 200-horse power Benz for a mile, mak
ing the "piepan" in 36.22 seconds. This
car hag never been opened to the limit
and it Is expected this mark will be set
still lower.
Ralph- DePaLma in his 190-horsepower
Flat, cut the five-mile mark to 3:15:63.
He was followed by Ben Kercher, who
cut the two-mile record to lrlS;29 in a
Darracq.
The racing was unusually spirited and
every event was a hard-fought contest,
Ten-Mile Most Sensational.
The most sensational drive of the day
was made by Oldfield in a Knox, In the
ten-mile race for cars with 451-600 cubic
inches piston displacement. Getting
away to a very bad start, due to his
position, on the extreme inside, Oki field
was an eighth of a mile behind the flying
Stoddard-Day ton, with Livingston up. In
the first half mile. Hanshue, In the Ap
person was running second. Oldfield
began his race for the leaders and by
the end of the fourth mile was in com
(Continued on Paw 2.)
"TAKE IT FROM ME, FRIENDS,
HISTORY
In Reply Speaker Says He Expects
Always to Keep Faith of Re
publican Party.
MILWAUKEE, "Wis.. April 8. "I have
always believed in the principles and poli
cies of the Republican party, and expect.
so long as I live, to keep the Republican
faith. In my opinion it is better to fight
and fail if fatl we must than to win at
the sacrifice of those policies and prin
ciples, and have victory, like Deal! Sea
fruit, turn to ashes on the lips."
Thte is the substance of a letter written
by Speaker Cannon to Mrs. Kate Ridsdale,
of Milwaukee, after reading a report of
a current topics talk on Speaker Cannon
and the recent fight in the House which
she gave recently.
Giving an analysis of Mr. Cannon, Mrs.
Ridsdale described him in this way:
'Just on nerve composed of one part
magnetism, two parts irascible domi
nance a little tense, five-foot-five rapid
firing gun, with a cigar instead of a ram
rod, always trained on the enemy, spitting
bullets by the thousand, each. one finding
itis billet and leaving a gash."
And again: 'Be something is Speaker
Cannon's slogan. He is no Tomlinson, of
Berkeley Square, whose lack of individ
uality bared him from right to a place
either in Heaven or hell. Uncle Joe's
supporters say 'He's all white. His foes
declare him unrelieved black. He. may be
either, or both. But even the most color
blind could not mistake him for drab.
He is an individual, a good friend, an un
relenting foe, and whether right or wrong,
a 'first-class fighting man 74 years old
and still in the ring."
INDEX OF TODAY'S NEWS
The Weather.
YESTERDAY'S Maximum temperature 63
degrees; mini-mum, 4o degrees.
TODAY'S Sbowera; south to weet winds.
Foreign.
Roosevelt to meet Glfford pinchot Monday
to hear ex-Forester's complaints. iage l.
National
Senate committee airrees On increased appro
priations for Northwestern rivers and
n arbors. i'age o
Mineral expert testifies Alaska is retrogres
sing because of failure to develop coal.
Page 2.
House votes two battleships. Page 1
Domestlc Cannon says so long as he lives he expects
to keep Republican raitn. fage i.
San Francisco holdup man. on death-bed,
confesses to many big "deals" in West-
Page 3.
New Jersey lad dies of blow received in
fight over girl. Page 14.
Pittbtire grand lurr finds more indictments.
accuses confessed, grafters of hiding farts
and says bank contracts should be can
celled. Page 3.
Sports.
Jeffries does 10 ml les road-work, but post
pones boxing practice. Page 7.
University of Oregon faculty considers reso
lution to abolish, inter-colleglate sports.
Page 1.
Pacific Coast League results: Vernon 2,
Portland 1 ; Los Angeles 2, Sacramento
; Oakland 6. San Krancisco 2. Page 7.
Every one-mile track record broken in Los
Angeles auto races. Page l.
pacific North-west.
legislative investigating committee reports
gross land frauds at Olympia, Page 1.
North Bank carshops at Vancouver to be
enlarged. Page h.
Sailors banked money -with CSohl, alleged
Aberdeen murderer. Page 6.
Bearer Creek homesteader, ill, owes life to
come dog. page i.
Portland and Vicinity.
Heney's trip to Europe made to see Colonel
Roosevelt. Page 3.
Expert to have charge of enumeration of
j ndians. f age is.
E. B. Griffin sues for divorce, saying wife
has several ainntties. Jrage i.
Southern Pacific would electrify Fourth
street as legal controversy solution.
Page 10.
Portland woman transfers property titles
at h Igh figures. Page 1 0.
William Hanley gives $2500 bonds on charge
of cutting Government wood. Page 12.
Council street committer decides on much
paving for South Portland. Page 18.
Citizens dissatisfied with limit of one hour
upon closed draws in afternoon. Page 11.
Clash of legal talent is expected in suit
1 against plumbers' trust. Page 14.
CONSIDERATION OF POLITICAL QUESTIONS, IN RELATION TO
AND EXPERIENCE, IS QUITE ABSURD."
Ex-Forester to Have
Audience Monday.
OTHER SIDES TO BE HEARD
Ex-President Maintains Open
Mind on All Subjects.
FRIENDS URGING RETURN
Taf Administration Said to Have
Been. Criticised by tetter Sen
timental Journey Appeals to .
Romantic Italians.
GENOA. Italy, April 8. Ready -with
open mind to hear both sides of every
controversy which, has developed In the
United Stages during his absence, ex
"President Roosevelt will be visited on
Monday at Porto Maurizio by Gilford
Pinchot, ex-Chief Forester of the United
State
It is already quite certain, however,
that the visit of Pinchot will not be fol
lowed by any of the sensational de
velopments that evidently are expected
in some quarters. Colonel Roosevelt has
announced in advance that he will have
nothing to say after the Interview.
He continues to maintain silence on
political affairs. He has kept a perfectly
open mind, while being informed upon
what transpired during, his absence and
with regard to the present actual poli
tical situation at home. Without bias, he
is always ready to listen to friend or foe.
Both Sides to Be Heard.
Accordingly, Colonel Roosevelt willing
ly acceded to Mr. Pinchot's request for
an interview; and Mr. Pinchot Is ex
pected to explain in detail his side of
the series of events that led up to hi
dismissal from the post of Chief Forester.
Mr. Roosevelt expects to see other
friends, both in Europe and America, on
tuts subject.
He expressed regret because Senator
Root is unable to come to Europe to meet
him.
It is said that, by letter or otherwise,
since he returned to civilization. Colonel
Roosevelt has heard from ardent sup
porters and admirers in the United States
a good deal of sharp criticism of the
Taft Administration and it is believed
also he has received appeals urging the
necessity of his re-entry into the political
arena.
Colonel Xot Talking Politic.
'But if this be so. Colonel Roosevelt has
not given the slightest Intimation of what
impression they have made. He always
insists he has nothing to say concern
ing politics and will have nothing to say
on the subject until he gets back to
America.
Tomorrow the Roosevelts will continue
their journey by train to Porto Maurizio,
where they iwill visit Miss Carew, Mrs.
Roosevelt's sister, who has a beautiful
villa there. The inhabitants of Porto
Maurizio have planned elaborate festivi
ties in honor of the ex-President, but
chief interest in this three days stay
at the Carew villa will be the visit there
on Monday of Mr. Pinchot.
The sentimental pilgrimage of Colonel
CConcluded on Pare .2.)
With Message for Help Tied About
Xect, Canine Travels Ovcr
Mountains for Physician.
ELK CITY, Or April S. ( Special.
Rover, a collie dog. with a handkerchief,
containing a message for help, tied
around his neck, traveled four miles
through tha mountains of Big Elk River
last night and saved the life of his mas
ter.
Jim Parks, owner of the dog. who is
on a homestead at Beaver Creek, eight
miles from here, became ill several days
ago but did not leave his Isolated claim
or summon aid, thinking he would re
cover soon. His strength failed until he
was too weak to travel and he began
to fear death.
Alone in midnight and suffering more
and more from a high fever. Parks called
his dog into the cabin, tied the call for
help to the animal's neck and toM him
to go."
Although the collie had not been away
from the homestead for six months, he
showed up this morning at the home of
the sick man's brother and upon being
admitted into the house leaped upon a
bed and barked. Dr. F. M. Carter, who
was summoned, found tha patient in a
serious condition, but he will recover.
COTTON BEARS TURN TAIL
Confidence of Week. Ago Disappears
. and Price Advances.
NEW YORK. April 8. May cotton
sold at 14.89 In the doping minute of
the cotton exchange session today, or
J4.o0 a bale above the low level of
the week.
The day was noteworthy, not so much
for the volume of trading as for the
timidity of the speculative shorts, who
were finding- it difficult to cover and
clearly feared a squeeze.
Their attitude was in sharp contrast
to that of a few days ago, when it was
confidently asserted that the bull cam
paign had collapsed, with heavy losses
to James A. Patten, of Chicago, and
his Southern associates.
After the close it was widely ru
mored that the bull leaders were ready
to accept all deliveries on near month
contracts. The arrival ot 10,900 bales
from Liverpool, the first of shipments
which it is expected will reach 50,000
bales, failed to reassure the shorts and
the situation continued to overshadow
all the remainder f the market.
Failure of Southern yarn-spinners to
agree on any organized curtailment,
bullish accounts of Manchester trade
and strong week-end statistics were
the chief factors In today's advance.
MISS HEWETT IN ATHLETICS
Portland Girl Will Take Part in
AVelleslcy Tournament,
BOSTONS Mass., April 8. (Special.)
Miss Mary Hewett, of Portland, Or.,
it was announced by the Athletic Asso
ciation today, has been chosen to com
pete for the Lincoln challenge cup at
the all-round tournament at Wellesley
Cortege.
Miss Hewett will be on the junior
team of 10. There will be 13 events
this year In competition and they will
be Judged according to the "form" with
which they are performed. Traveling
between ropes, running, face and
oblique vaults, balance hanging and
somersaults will be Included in the
events. Since entering the college.
Miss Hewett has gained much praise
for her athletic ability and will figure
conspicuously at the tournament.
SUGAR TRUST IN CONTEMPT
Fined for Not Producing Books, It
Will Test-Law.
NEW YORK, April 8. Judge La
combe, of the United States Circuit
Court, today adjudged the American
Sugar Refining Company in contempt
of court, and fined the corporation
$500. The contempt consisted in the
failure to- respond to the subpena call
ing for the production of two books
of accounts before the Federal grand
jury yesterday.
The company based its refusal to
respond on the ground that there were
legal and constitutional questions in
volved and that it proposed to appeal
from the order of the court directing
the submission of the booKS.
DRYD0CK ITEM RESTORED
Piles In Senate Renews Work Spoiled
by Humphrey in House.
ORECONIAN NEWS BUREAU. Wash
ington, April 8. Senator Piles of
fered an amendment to the naval appro
priation bill yesterday, restoring the
item eliminated by motion of Represen
tative Humphrey authorizing an enlarge
ment of a new drydock at the Puget
Sound Navy-Yard and Increasing the
limit cost to S2.300.0OO.
When the House, on point of order;
eliminated the authorization for the en
largement of a dock, Humphrey moved
that all appropriations for the dock be
stricken out. It is now necessary for.
Senator Piles to have the item res'tored
or the work on the dock will cease.
NO RESIGNATIONS COMING
Knox and MacVeagh Will Stay in
Cabinet, Says Taft.
WASHINGTON", April 8. Flat denials
were made today of another crop of Cab.
inet resignation rumors, this time dealing
with Secretary Knox and Secretary Mao
Veagh.
President Taft said he knew nothing of
contemplated resignations by these or
other Cabinet officials and shortly after
wards. Secretaries Knox and MacVeagh
both, made den i a Is. Mr. Mac Vea gh de
clared he did not have the least Inten
tion of resigning now nor in the near fu
ture.
Washington Deprived
of Many Millions.
INVESTIGATORS FILE REPORT
State Timber Sold for Frac
tion of Value.
CRUISERS GET CHIEF BLAME
Legislative Committee Vrges Deeper
Probe Dental Board and ex
State Fair Officers Censured.
OH Inspection Law Useless.
Findings of State of Washington
Legislative Investigating; Committee.
Exonerate state oil inspector of
charges, but declare that present oil
Inspection law Is useless.
vharge state land cruisers with In
competency or dishonesty resulting in
loss to state of millions of dollars.
Declare Land Department has
shown poor Judgment In selection of
state lands.
Report no evidence that land com
missioner has collected Interest on
state deposits.
Accuse ex-State Fair Commission
of extravagance In horse-race ex
penditures and former secretaries of
incompetency.
Deprecate jealousy between State
College and State University.
Hold State Dental Board guilty of
arbitrary and unwarranted actions,
but not of fraud or collusion.
Principal Ibecommendattosw.
Revision of state land laws, crea
tion of two appointive members of
land board, and provision for cruise
of all state timber lands.
Continuation of Investigation of
Land Department.
Passage of law providing for pay
ment to state of interest on land
corniELissioners bank deposits.
Elimination of one or more Normal
schools.
Numerous improvements at State
Training school.
Repeal or amendment of oil inspec
tion law.
OLYMPIA. Wash., April S. (Special.)
The report of the Legislative in
vestigating committee appointed by the
Legislature of 1909 and continued in
authority by the special session later
in the year, was made public by Gov
ernor M. E. Hay today. The report,
is dated April 1, on which day the
life of the committee expired, in ac
cordance with the concurrent resolu
tion under which It acted.
Heretofore the committee reported
on the alleged graft in the Insurance
department and its report resulted in
the calling of an extra session of the
Legislature last year and the filing of
impeachment charges against J. H.
Schively, Insurance Commissioner, in
the trial of which Schively was ac
quitted. The final report, while covering a
variety of matters, ' deals most ex
tensively with the state land depart
ment and the findings charge the loss
of millions of dollars to the state
through the incompetency or dis
honesty of land office cruisers and
through poor Judgment in the selection
of state indemnity and Government
land grants.
' lYauds Cover Many Years. .
The frauds practiced on the state
through 'the collusion or Incompetency
of cruisers, it is asserted, have ex
isted for a number of years and spe
cific instances are recited covering the
period from 1901 to the present time
and embracing part or all of the ad
ministration of the two commissioners.
In these findings no specific charges
of fraud are made against any Indi
vidual, but the brunt of the case is
thrown on the cruisers on whose esti
mates the Board of State Land Com
missioners must rely in appraising
lands. In the instances where alleged
unlawful sales of timber lands have
been made the names of the cruisers
are given.
It appears from the report that the
stand of timber on many quarter-sections
of land has been greatly under
estimated by the cruisers and that al
though the land and timber were of
fered at public auction the sales
brought to the state only a small frac
tion of the value of the property.
Laws Were Violated.
That many of these Bales were made
in direct violation of the law, through
the Incorrect reports of the cruisers.
Is also shown by extensive tabulated
statements. The land laws of Wash
ington provide that in all instances
where the timber on land exceeds
1,000,000 feet to the quarter-section
the timber shall be sold separate from
the land under a specified time for
removal and the land retained by the
state. Much land has been sold, ac
cording to the committee, where the
stand of timber was reported hy
cruisers as under 1 ,000 ,000 feet to the
quarter when In truth the timber
greatly exceeded that amount. One
section in Cowlitz County Is cited where
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