Show JUDGE LEWIS TALKS COMMON SENSE oa alleged coal land frauds congress the lawmaker law maker the meeker colo herald takes a decided stand against the government action in brand ng men as criminals who have acquired coal land or attempted to do so in conformity ith the rules laid down by the general government it says in the united states dietr ct court at den ver on tuesday judat lewis quashed a number of indictments found against alleged coal and timber land thieves the decision of the judge was very ible and he went in every detail so thor hughly that the attorneys and special agents tor the government did not have a leg to stand on it seems that the entenor department in its zeal to show to the people of the country tl at the government was being robbed of thousands of acres of value able timber and coal lauds promulgated certain lules and regulations concerning the disposition of these lands and even went so far as to declare certain acts and practices ao criminal although these acts and practices were indulged in long before the regulations were issued judge lewis rightfully held that con gress is the law baking power and at no time has it delegated to the depart ment the power to enact criminal la v s the law allo vs coal lands to be taken up by an agent with a proper power of attorney and there is no federal law ting two parties from contracting for th acquirement of such land in the cabes at bar the government got its 10 or 20 per acre for every acre enter ed and for the department to batt in and declare every man who takes i p a coal cla m or an association of men wl acquin several coal claims as a th ef or th eves are pro ce edings which the learned judge did not approve of |