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About The Oregon daily journal. (Portland, Or.) 1902-1972 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 14, 1903)
G OOD EVENING. SK THE JOURNAL'S - ADVERTISING PAGES IF PORT LAND'S MERCHANTS APPRECI ATE THIS NEWSPAPER. The, Weather: -J This afternoon, tqnight and Tues day, cloudy, with tfKcaslonal rain; brisk southerly winds, , . VOL. n. KO. 239. PORTLAND, OB EG ON. MONDAY EVENING. DECEMBER . 14, 1903. PRICE FtTE CENTS. NEWyORKSCHOOL giJiLdrennd:ej&stsnow ITS FRAD (I i " 1 1 1 -i i a. . rm i r DDMAfH'P Quick s Action on Phelps Law by Extra Session wIs' Likely.' ., ONE WEEK FROM TODAY Legislators Will Assemble in Salem Next Monday-Measureis Connected - With the . Tax. Law. Which. May. . Be Prevented A Forecast. One week from today the state legis lature will . convene .in , special session to correct the defects in tho tax law. There Is little doubt that the Phelps ', law, the causa of all the-troubie that haa-arlsen, will be repealed, and, the Idea " of changing the time' of paying taxes will be abandoned. " t .,- - The repeal .ofr.tne phelCs law will probably not be the only tax legislation to ba' considered. Senator Mays will make an effort lo. restore the 1300 tax exemption, which was wiped, out at the ; last session., In this effort he will have strong support-,, especially. , .from, .the jnuiiuuiuan ueieg&uuii ua wm . proua- ' bly be successful. Many county asses- : sors favor a restoration of the exemp tion, and sajf.tMt H.le not .cause, ux serious loss of revenue, while the aboli tion of the exemption will greatly la crease the. labor -and expense ef assess ment nd collection. ' Apportionment Yalldf ' . , There 'are some minor . discrepancies ' and contradictions In the tax laws which require correction, and it Is possible that an effort may be made : to change the , present method of apportioning the state , tax among me various counties. , sev eral months ago .The Journal published" a communication from former City At torney J. M. Dong, in -which, he pre sented strong reasons for believing that the system of apportionment now in " effect "is unconstitutional. This ; belief is shared by many prominent attorneys. If their view is correct the collection of state taxes might be defeated by any taxpayer .who . chose , to appeal to the courts. - A well-known lawyer of Astoria Is authority for the statement that an attempt will undoubtedly be made next year in Clatsop county to defeat the state taxes on the ground of the un constitutionality of the apportionment, If this should be done, serious compli cations might ensue. - i' r Wf But it is very doubtful whether the legislature could be Induced to tinker with this feature of the tax law until forced to do bo by an adverse decision of the supreme court, The adoption of a new system of apportioning the state tax would be attended with many difll cultles, and the matter will probably go over to the next regular session, a year hence., '. , Portage Boad. . Whether any general legislation will ' - be enacted' is a . question upon which opinions differ' widely. The sentiment in favor of a repeal or modification of the portage road act Is strong, but the friends of the measure are rallying ac tively to Its defense. The commercial bodies of this city are apparently-unan- ' imous in their demand for the con struction of , the' road, and they will have the support of most, though not all. of the Multnomah' delegation. . In Eastern and Central Oregon there is ' much difference of opinion as to the ad visability of building the road and some ' who were formerly in favor of It have now changed their-views, arguing that with and delay the construction, of the government canal. .,. m Any serious consideration of the port age road at the coming special session would probably be made the excuse for the Introduction of many .-other meas ures. This,, of course, would mean that the session might be protracted possi bly even to the limit of 20 days. But the majority of the , legislators 'appear " to expect that the session will be con eluded within three or four days. i No caucus of the Multnomah delega tion has yet been held, beyond an in formal gathering two or three weeks ago. It is expected that Chairman Hod son will call the delegation together this week, to agree. If possible, upon somr concerted- action as to . tax leg islation. ': ..,' .. . ..' GERMAN EMPEROR ; GAINING IN STRENGTH (Journal Special BerTlce.) ' Berlin, Dec. 14. President, of the -.Relchstng. Ballostrom.V announced to that body that he In company with. ,hls two vice-presidents" had' been received by the kaiser this morning and that the emperor talked for nearly an hour in a clear, strong voice. i; The Reichstag greteu V11W ItMllwuilVdinriifc nun tiuiiu.- lasm, with, the exception of the Social lets, who remained silent. SALEM POSTOFFICE MAY fiFT iNfRFASF WohlBgton Bureau of The Journal. Washington, Dec." 14. -The secretary of tbe treasury (May. submitted to con gress a lotter from the supervising archl- tect recommending an increase for the . .a.- Q.Imh 4'frvt ' tIAA Ann n $150,000. f The secretary's letter states that expensive work i required, to bring ' the site into a satisfactory condition, and the work required tQ make the site 'correspond with surroundings makes an Increased appropriation necessary. .; , . l' i'A' Movements of the Colom bian Government' Not Clearly Defined.' , BUSY AT MARE ISLAND Not Since The Maine was Sunk In . Havana. Harbor Has Such Activ- Hy Been Seen Powerful " Fleets Ready. . .r Washtngtons D. C. Dec, 14,Rear Ad miral Coghlan- has , cabled from Colon the following: ' , "The Atlanta arrived yesterday, hav ing sailed from San Bias to Oandu without . reelng or. hearing anything of Colombian troops or vessels. The. ofll cers communicated with the shore at all principal .points. The Indiana axe. .re ported to; be very suspicious of strang ers. -Trails from San Bias were found which i are passable for . small . parties, but- none leading inland. Tti Atlanta leaves' tod at for a, cruise o Cape Tibu ron and the Oulf of Darien. - Admiral Coghlan sent the. following: . : "The Maj flower today reports . that the Colombian , war vessels Cartagena and - Plnson were at Turbo with from 400 to 800 men. They took supplies and Bailed on December 8, and are sup posed to ha landed troops at Oandl. The Atlanta, however, was at Gandi on December 9, nd got the opposite Infor mation. . The American consul at Cartagena- reports that the ship Carta gena returned; there 'on Dee. 9. The Atlanta retuonv to the gulf today for further search.' The- state depVirtment officials a,re per plexed over th4 situation, as it is not believed that thai mysterious movements of the -Colombian government means any good, and Where belligerent actions might be soon suppressed by the United States, much trovble, expense and delay of the canal treeky would enBue. . ACTIV IT I AV MASS ZSLAITO. ' (Journal Special SerTloa.) '. San Francisco, Dic 14. Not since the Maine was sunk in Havana harbor has the Mare Island navy yard force shown so much activity ias it did yesterday, when preparing for sea a fleet of torpedo boat destroyers which the government Intends to send to fi'-outh American wa ters. The usual Sunday quiet was broken by almost ati much hustle and bustle as would follow a declaration of war. ; Three of the- torpedo-boat ' de stroyers are alf ready for sea. The Perry, which returned a few days ago from the Tacoma's- trials, is lying at the dock with her two) sister ships, Paul Jones and Preble. . . ' It is reported here "today that Presi dent , Roosevelt has suddenly changed his mind about sending. United States troops b fight the battles of Panama. His advisers placed' objections in time to prevent it. - There Willi be no chang ing, however, of the plan to assemble powerful fleets' of American warships on both sides of the ist hmus to resist any foreign i interference - and prevent any attempt of the Colombian govern ment to retake or attack the new Pan ama republic - . . BABY BURNS WHILE :. i SUSPENDED, IN AIR Fathetle Scene at a Wreck la Which rive Fersons Were Klllnd and .' Many Injured Oars Jwap , the Traek. - " (Journal BpeeUr Service. y ' Ottumwa. Iowa, Dec. 14. Art accident accompanied with unusual herror oc curred near Albia, yesterday n the Chi-, cago, Burlington & Qulncy roadj ... . v ; The westbound passenger train was speeding on a straight track when just as the Cedar creek bridge was wintered the forward car jumped the traaka and collided with .the steel girders of the bridge. Five cars left the tracks and Jthelr sides were torn out by th Iron work of the structure..' ,- '"" ., In one of the first cars five parsons were killed. : Mildred Mitchen, the three-year-old child of Mrs. W. E. Mitchen, fell through' the side of the ca,r and he"r jclothlng was caught on -a cross bar of the , bridge. - Hot coals from ; an ower turned stove fe'll on her body, burning it to a crisp as it hung suspended. The pathetic scene was witnessed by the un injured passengers who 'were powerfess to aid, The little one's mother was killed Instantly. . . - The following are the dead and in jured : ' . - ..i . MRS. -W. E. MITCHEN," Albia, Iowa; killed In wreck. . MILDRED MITCHEN, three years old. burned to death. THOMAS BEATTY, laborer, killed in wreck of smoking car. , - W. FRANKLIN. UNKNOWN MAN, laborer. The injured W. I. Martin, Chicago; C. S. Blalrdjamont, Iowa; Robert Fergu son, Mitchell, Neb.'. Mrs. J. H. Robinson, -Ottumwa .C-F -T Scott... Osceola, Iowa; F. T: Browning, Yates Center, Kan.; Gabriel Allen. Chlcagoj William Branch, Chicago; R. P. Price, Chicago; S. T. Wll Hams, Chicago. None of the injured will dl .': ; 'V ."' v' - v i ".xj 'J'WAM- rROZIIT TO DEATH. X -"V'aterJoo, I IK', Dec. 14. , John 0'Rourke, .'while en route home last night, ,was frosen to dpath. His. body was found today -entangled In a barbed wire fence, from which he had evidently been too- weak to break loose. 1 n r, . ' :! ' --i'?tjl ' r;:r ' '" '':;-S:::ii;::5:t:j:i (. :''.'& ; : : ' 'stW fe.-, '-6.'': f 'New York, Dec. 14. The police during the- last . week" have been cabled upon 'to quella'new evll.whlch Is born of a spirit 0f , fun and ,-childlBh amusement Traffic was Interrupted for an hour yesterday on several streets., where public .schools ,stM,nd. .On West .Thirteenth street, opposite the grammar school, at the hour of dismissal, a score of bluecoats were kept busy keeping the thorough-. fare clear of children. In order that teamsters might pass to the docks with their loaded trucks. In other parts of the city the same trouble was apparent. This condition of things was due Xoa bountiful fall of snow. So soon as the pupils were dismissed for the day, snowballing brigades were formed of boys NOT IN FAVOR OF STATE COKMXSSXOVESS 07 LEWIS Aim ClABX FAZB TB22TX. COT ' TTaTtt DOtyfeT OF TEBM OT SXPO . EITZOH WOULD VOT KXET WTTK OXITXXAL APPROVAL. " " ; It Is doubtful if the state commission of the Lewis and Clark exposition' will ,favor the shortening of the fair's term As advised by the corporation. The state commissioners, so far as- they have expressed themselves, have no objection to the shortening of the period from six months to four and "a half, If there were no . other: side issues involved , In the question, but considering the liability Of : other', changes . being made by the legislature and of the prospect bf popu lar disapproval of the change, they be lieve that it "is Inexpedient to ask the legislature tq make the change as sug gested by the -corporation. The chief reason the corporation de cided pn the shorter session was be cause of railroad influence. Director General Goods informed the corpora tion directors at their meeting last week that he had been advised by a leading official of a transcontinental railroad en tering Portland that the roads would find it difficult to grant reduced rates for the period of six months, the official suggesting that the period ot the fair's duration be diminished, thus avoiding one of the chief troubles the roads ex perienced in' giving the best- rates. Owing to the sparsely settled territory which will afford the chief support "for the fair, Mr. Goode believed . that the official's ' advTcV was valuable, and ac cordingly made the suggestion. - The state commission, at its meeting Saturday, did riot act on the proposal of the corporation, but- referred the question to its executive committee with power to act.-' When asked his viw of the case, Commissioner F A. Spencer said:;,' :.','' .'";-'-' . ' "-''-:. " ' . Popular Sentiment for Long- Term. "Though I belleye that no harm would result from the shortening of the. term of the fair, and though we are" generally afflicted' with uncertain weather early and late in the spring and summer, still I believe that popular sentiment is for the full term of the fair, and it . is a question in my mind whether any change Is advisable." '."-. ;.--.-t. ilv :fr':"., Commissioner J. C, Flanders said: "I favor the Shortened term, and believe that it would have been wiser to have had originally only a four months' fair, but considering what course - must be pursued, to secure this change, I doubt If any alteration is advisable. The ex pense fur the longer period may result In considerable loss, as the corporation, which has looked into the matter, seems to have discovered, and were it not 'for the mode of the change, I would favor the shorter t:tm.""- ''-Tj',"''k:'-"''- Commissioner W. E. Thomas stated: "I would favor reducing the period of the fair to five months, starting June 1 and ending November 1,' or- beginning May 16 and closing October 15, and from the evidence secured by the corpora tion, it seems that this might be a wise change, but the less the legislature tink ers with the. fair,, the better for the fair, probably,, and I doubt if it is wise to ask for special legislation." ! ,V r Director-General Goode said today that the action and his recommendation was the result of a conference with sev eral of the chief officers .of - Portland lines, and In his estimation the majority tof the railroad officials were decidedly tn tfaVor of the proposed change, . ', , "' There exists but little doubt In . the cnlnds of corporation- and commission mltke that the legislature will have to (remodel the law if the state appropria tion of $600,000 is to be available, and Kin its communication to the state com Lmlsslon the corporation asked it td sup ftport, the necessary steps that might b4 (taken to secure xrom tne iu session tof the state, legislature the. shortcped Jperlod. . ..- ,... . ., . .,.. , .', 1 , TACK CAUSES BEATX. Joiiri)Kl SiH-clal Bertlce ) tfnn Diego, Cal.r'Deo. 14. Joseph II. Grvter, a wealthycltlsen of Fort Wayne. Ind.,- died here 'yesterday.! of, blood polnonlng. Ha stepped on a tack In a Putlman car on his way out-'He---was heavily interested in tho oil and land business la Indiana. . ,,.. SHORTER PERIOD SUPREME AND THE MERGER Great Interest Displayed. by Those. Hearing Ar- guments Which'; Roast the Northern Sureties Company Roosevelt There , . ' (Journal Special Service.) Washington, D. C. pec. 14. The brief of ihe United States In the appeal of tae Northern Securities company from the decision in favor of the United States, which was delivered by the circultcourt of Minnesota,; was Sled in the supreme court today. Knox and Day submitted the arguments covering 180 pages. ' The questions of law arising whloh they desire affirmed are: First' has a com bination been accomplished through the Securities, company in violation of the anti-trust laws? Second, have the de fendants monopolised or attempted , to monopolize any part of the. interstate or foreign commerce of the United States? Third, was relief granted by the circuit court authorised . by law? , ,v . If, as they contend, either of the first two and third questions should be an swered in the affirmative,'' the decree of , the circuit court must be confirmed. They argue that the anti-trust act is not primarily a criminal statute, but Id PREFER FOX'S'I: TO PRISON CELL soars of , bicx sax fbaxozscaxs AOBEB TO 8KZF BEFOBB . TXE MAST, ' OX WXZCX OOXDZTZOX jTOOB XOOVB COWTIHUES OXABOE AOATKBT TXEX. ' . Rather, than go. to ' prison, Allen Bishop, .alias "Jack" Allen, and F. W. Mien, of wealthy San Francisco families, will ship as 'common seamen on an out bound calling vessel.' . This untquef agreemont was reached in the municipal court today. The men were brought back from Seattle by De tectives Day and Weiner on complaint Of PBUl J.-Vial, who charges-them with stealing his watch, chain and stick pln. ' The prisoners, tali and; good looking, were attired In :well''roade: ctothes and bore an appearance of gentility. ' The complaining ? witness was . not present, as he had not returned from San. Francisco, where be went shortly after he i was robbed.' ' Both' prisoners held a whispered, conversation, with the court and later It. was announced that they would j be permitted i to leave 'the Wltjr..-; Arrangements .will 'be made for them to ship as common, sailors. This, in the opinion of , the court,, will be a good lesson to the pair who, It is said. Stole Vial's property tot-revenge. It is rumored that Bishop and. Mien became Incensed at Vial because, the latter won the. heart of a young woman with whom Bishop was infatuated. Feeling that Ytal had done him an Injustice it is stated that Bishop in passing snatched Vial's watch, etc.,- intending to throw them, through a window. Mien was Im plicated because he was with Bishop. The threTi3d Deen drinking together at the White-House the same afternoon. . . According to Deputy District , Attor ney Adams the state 'will -not have to pay tho . expenses, of bringing back the prisoners. Should-the latter return to Oregon within the statute or limitation, which Is three .years, they are liable to arrest and indictment for1- the same crime. On tho records the case is'slrgply marked ''continued."' Bishop and- Mien are said to come of wall-to-do .families ' in ' San Francisco, Bishop's - father;, being1 Interested in a cracker factory." -The family . of one. of tho pair is. at present traveling in Europe. REXHAXX ZXTBOpVOES BILL. Washlnulon, ilea 1 4l Representative Hermann introduced a .bill to pa,y Rev. John W. Miller 817 for losse sustained by depredations of Rogue river Indians In 166. f I. and girts and merry, times followed. The streets were thronged With young sters, and no vehiclS could pass. Policemen were, called and met with a bom bardment which they did not at first know how, to cope with. t They could not use; roughness on. the children, and finally,' they resorted to the -Weapons used by: their assailants, and iwere successful: lh sending the ' young' folk home. Snowballing between big policemen and school children is are unusual sight ' When the first snowstorm occurred a week ago today, school children about the city, the moment recess was announced, ran to the streets, and neither teachers nor police were able to get them back into the buildings when the call bell was sounded. .,''., COURT framed to defeat subterfuges designed t' evade .the law. '. :' :- In brief, the argument' 'characterises as absurd the contention that two rail waysthe Great . Northern arid North ern Pacific who - were naturally com petitors, will continue to compete after both are subject to the same control, The argument says that it is not to f the . interest ; of stockholders . that one road should prosper at the other's ex pense. It holds that it is not possible to . conceive . a more effective method for combining competitive Interests and for: suppressing competition between rivals, which are naturally competing business corporations, than the merger. It says the circuit court took the most logical course In Its decision. ? - A large, and Interested crowd was at tracted to the supreme court to hear the oral arguments - In the celebrated case. President Roosevelt, attired In deep mourning, was there. Judge Yoking will close for the Securities company. ALARMINGLY COLD! CXZCAOO EXFEBZEXOES WE ATXEB i KOBE FBIOtS FOB XABLT SECEK- BEB TXAX AXY XX 87 YEABS , BZFBTXSBZA EPTDEMIO . BBBAXS : OUT WXTX FBABFXTL KOBTALZTT. (Journal Special Service.) Chicago, Dec, 14. Weather records this mornlog shrtw "the present cold wave breaks all records forthe first half of any December In 27 1 years. The ther mometer., marked ',13 , below xero last night ' j ; - 1 , ; j r There were many deathsiand IS were injured by. falls. or freeslng. . All street car lines are-working with. difficulty -today. The .entire business population Is delayed in Retting to and from. their places of work, ; , Several hundred 'tramp's and homeless people were sheltered in police stations last night Worst of all an epidemic of diphtheria is upon the-city' ad the mor tality is assuming alarming proportions. DYNAMITE PLACED ;,' IN PILE OF BRICKS . (Journal Special Service.) . t New York. , Dec. 14. Two dynamite bombs; each "containing j potind of ex plosive, was found'in a pile. of bricks on East Forty-thlrdstraet today. The con tractors believe they were placed there by. members of the housesmlths' union, who are seeking to revenge the Parks' Imprisonment j The bricks were for use on Acker Terrell's, conduit building. One of-this-firm's buildings wss dynamited last night: .,.'. a . .-.;-" CONGRESS WILL HAVE CHRISTMAS RECESS , , .Jmirnal Special SerlsaL) Washington, Dec . 14. The house to day' adopted a resolution'provlding or a Christmas recess from, Saturday, De cember 19 to January 4.' It-then -resumed consideration of the' pension bill. The senate nassed the resolution 'nam- Ling Rev.. Edward Hale, as chaplain. Sen ator Morgan presented a resolution besri Ing on the Isthmian canal situation, which, went on the table. y EASTERN REGIONS f':' : . - ' J "ii SM SPENCER HAS AN ACCIDENT BBBAXS XEB SHAFT TB3S JIOW; nru wbxlb Acnra dowh tke KXTEB WITH TB3S BAZLET. OAT SEBT LATTER BOAT ' BEAOXED 'FOBTLAim AT 130. ' . - - While racing down the river with 'the Bailey . Oatsert from The Dalles this morning the Spencer broke her shaft The accident happened about one-half mile above Washougal. ' The steamer la not altogether disabled, and is expected to reach Portland late this afternoon. The local agent says she will not go out on her run tomorrow. - Early after the accident a" report was received from Captain Spencer stating that the Oatsert crowded his boat Into shoal waiter, when the breakdown oc curred. .' '"'--.- J-:---- ' i The Gatsert arrived at her dock at 1:30 this afternoon, making the run of 11 miles from The Dalles in V4 hours. This is almost equal to 18 miles an hour. Captain Sherman of - the Gatxert says: ' "We were alongside of the Spencer at the time the accident happened, but we did not crowd her Into shoal water. The steamers were close together, but plenty of daylight was between them. , The Spencer dropped back to Fisher's land ing. I would like to state also that we were not racing." . ' ft r ;: In going' up the river Saturday the rivals reached the : Iocks at atout the Bame time, making- the run of 69 miles In the neighborhood Of five hours. The Spencer reached The Dalles 20 minutes in the lead, having stopped at four land ings, while the Gatzert made five. Both eldes contended that their vessel showed the greatest speed. In accordance with Its published statement' the Regulator line returned the fares which had been collected from the passengers on the Gatxert '. , . . . OREGON SCANDALS .; "V AT WASHINGTON -;.;, - V ':;.; t ' M v ,-:' - , ; 1 ; Charles X.' Carey Says He Is Tisitlnf Xatlonal Capital Only on Pleasure . , Thomson Hatter In .-, , - Abeyance. - Washington Bureau of Tb Jonrnal. . , ..Washington, Dec. 14. Senator Mitch ell introduced Charles ; IL - Cary to the president today. Mr. Cary afterward stated that his visit here is without any political significance, .That he Is on his way to Florida and has no business ex cept of a social nature in Washington. -. . Senators Mitchell and Fulton said to day that they are in the dark regarding the status of Receiver Thomson of tbe La Grande land office, and that the sec retary of the interior has advised them that the matter of Mr. Thomson's rein statement or removal will be held In abeyance pending further reports from Oregon. BROOKS STORE IS VISITED BY CROOKS ;y y : ; , . . '..: ; ' . : jjy (Journal Special Scrrlce.) - J -.- -Salem, Or., Dec, 14. The Jones Mer chandlse store at Brooks, 11 miles north of here, was entered by burglars lajit night and a quantity of goods was stolen. Including -knives, men's under wear, men's and wQmens' shoes, and other articles, valued at 1100. The tracks .were . found to indicate that, the thieves drove up to the store in a buggy,, loaded the, -.goods snd left The stolen goods were, of the best quality in the house- The officers are now work ing on the case. It is believed the crime -was that of local residents and not tramps, . . ,.- , , - BET. XALX AS CXAFLAIX, (Journal Hpwclal Srle.) Washington, Dec. 14. Rev'. Edward Everett Hale, the celebrated 'Massachus etts divine, was selected as the chaplain of ihe senate at a caucus of Republican senators this morning. ' .is-K ,t; t . i tiff; Secretary Hitchcock Calls Attention to Abuses jn His Annual Messaged DEPARTMENT BUSINESS Transactions During Fiscal Year Re nwal of Timber and Stone Act Rec ommendedGrazing In Forest Reserves. -(Journal Special Serriee.) Washington, Dec 14. The annual re- port of the Interior department made public today by Secretary Hitchcock shows that a large atnouni-of business was transacted during the fiscal 'year tndirig June 180S. Particularly ln teresting la that part - of the report' which is devoted to land frauds, and on- this subject the secretary has the following to say: "During the past year there have been indicted and arrested ; in the state of Oregon, charged with forgery and con spiracy to defraud the . government a United States commissioner and three others, the first being a, woman. The United States , commissioner has been removed from her office, . and all are awaiting trial by the court. V Jr ' '"Forged entry papers of fictitious en trymen, alleged to have been executed before the -United States commissioner, alleging settlement on a tract of land within the limits of a forest reserve prior to the creation of such reserve, would be transmitted to the local land office. Within . a month thereafter. 1 probably, final proof notices on said T entry would issue, and after the. period of publication required, forged proofs, alleged to have been executed before this commissioner, would be trans mitted to the local land office,' where, everything : on the face of : the papers being regular, they would be forwarded by the register and receiver to the gen eral land office at Washington, where, no intimation of fraud appearing, , the proof was approved and patent on the entry Issued. : . Forged Seeds. , .' ' "Thereafter, forged deeds alleged to have been executed bv the fictitious entry men before this commissioner or a notary public, conveying the land to one of the parties to the conspiracy,! would be duly filed for. record, and therWter the land would be transferred by ona of said parties to some other person, or else made a basis 'for a lieu selection) under the act of June 4, 187. "The labor involved in obtaining tho evidence of these forgeries and con spiracies and in presenting the same to the federal : grand jury has covered , a period ot many months, and has occu pied almost the entire time ot one ot the most competent Inspectors of this department "who has reoeived invaluabla oo-operation from the United States at torney for Oregon. It is believed, that the: outcome of the matter will go far toward putting an end in that stction to the fraudulent practices that seem to have theretofore been much In vogue lit securing title to public lands. ; .. Fraud Is California. 'Information -has also been received from the department of justice ef the conviction, by the- federal court In the northern district of California! or three persons for subornation of perjury in connection with the entry ot-land under the timber and stone act-' "These convictions, H Is alleged, arej the first of their kind for 15 years in that section, and it is believed they will have a wholesome moral effect toward stopping the fraudulent transactions of this character. At any rate, Jt Is the purpose i of the department to pursue with unflagging seal, until justice is meted out to them, all persons shown to have committed frauds a&llnst tne gov ernment by unlawfully acquiring, an portion 'of the publlo uomaln, - 'Nearly a i year ' ago Information reached the department which strongly Indicated that frauds of a serious na ture had been. and were1 being perpe trated against the government under what is known as the forest reserve lieu land act of June 4, 1897, by a combina tion of land speculators on the Pacific coast The information and Indicated frauds were of so, grave a character that I at once directed a thorough investiga tion to be made. -This investigation was commenced last . January, and has been conducted by those having charge of the actual work with great care, and with all possible expedition comilHtent with thoroughness. Every Cine Followed. ."The investigation has proceeded step by step, without Intermission, under my personal direction, and every' clew to wrongdoing: lias been quietly followed to Its source, with the result thst It Is the confident belief of those in Charge of me inquiry tn mo gumy tmni-u wu be apprehended and speedily brought to justice. "Xi has been my determination from the beginning that the matu-r should he probed to ihe bottom, regardless of -the apparent lnfluentlnl character of some f the men .involved, and the - Inquiry lm been conducted throughout along thie lines., &'be woi'k Is now ncarlng comple tion, srid the, whole matter will at an early date be in shape for dunriMe snd appropriate acuure ns"inav nm vucw i . :, .':. ' . Some' Exaggeration. :- ; "While several' ... hundred thotitmn l acrs of public land are involved in i) . illegal transactions nrougni to nnt, j number of acres to whlen jmtt'riis h vi been'olitafned by1iri'l)rpetreit'vi- of ti.., twn,U Is oompartivly small, it is y, t