Bascom Giles
Encyclopedia
James Bascom Giles was Texas Land Commissioner from 1931 to 1955. Implicated in the Veterans' Land Board scandal, he gave up his office and served 3 years in prison.
, in Travis County
on September 21, 1900. He was the son of Banton W. and Leora Norwood Giles. He married Effie Dean Rogan in 1921. They had two sons: J. Bascom Giles, III, and Rogan B. Giles.
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Giles was a mason, rising to the position of Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Texas in 1949.
, Giles conceived of a plan to reward Texas' veterans with the ability to buy land at low interest rates subsidized by the taxpayers. In 1946, the voters amended the state constitution to authorize $100 million in public funds to enable veterans to buy land. Under the program, qualified veterans could purchase ranch or farm land for a 5% down payment, with 40 years to pay off the balance. The state furnished the unpaid balance and held title until the veteran had retired the loan.
In November 1954, a reporter for the Cuero Record, Roland Towery discovered that there was some sort of fraud going on in the Texas Veterans Land program. many of the veterans who purchased land in block sales were not even aware that they had purchased land. In fact, many were led to believe that they were getting free land as part of a veteran entitlement program or else were receiving some type of veterans' compensation from the state. When Towery asked Giles about these irregularities, Giles denied involvement, attributing the irregularities to local land speculators. Struck by the fact that Giles had defended himself before even being accused of anything, Towery ran the story.
Giles was reelected as Land Commissioner in 1954, but facing criminal investigation by Texas Attorney General, John Ben Shepperd
, Giles failed to appear to take the oath of office in January, 1955. Giles was eventually convicted of fraud and bribery
and served three years of a six year prison term. Towery won the Pulitzer Prize
for his investigative reporting.
Early life
Giles was born near Manor, TexasManor, Texas
Manor is a city in Travis County, Texas, United States. It is part of the Austin-Round Rock metropolitan area. The population was 1,204 at the 2000 census; it was 1,877 in the 2005 census estimate. The approximate population for the City of Manor is 5,500, which is calculated from the number of...
, in Travis County
Travis County, Texas
As of 2009, the U.S. census estimates there were 1,026,158 people, 320,766 households, and 183,798 families residing in the county. The population density was 821 people per square mile . There were 335,881 housing units at an average density of 340 per square mile...
on September 21, 1900. He was the son of Banton W. and Leora Norwood Giles. He married Effie Dean Rogan in 1921. They had two sons: J. Bascom Giles, III, and Rogan B. Giles.
Career and public service
Giles entered the General Land Office in September 1919, as a draftsman. He progressed within the office and in November 1936, he became associated with the State Tax Board as Chief Abstractor, which position he resigned on April 8, 1938, to run for Commissioner of the General Land Office. Giles was reelected 8 times as a DemocratDemocratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
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Giles was a mason, rising to the position of Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Texas in 1949.
Veterans Land Board scandal
After World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Giles conceived of a plan to reward Texas' veterans with the ability to buy land at low interest rates subsidized by the taxpayers. In 1946, the voters amended the state constitution to authorize $100 million in public funds to enable veterans to buy land. Under the program, qualified veterans could purchase ranch or farm land for a 5% down payment, with 40 years to pay off the balance. The state furnished the unpaid balance and held title until the veteran had retired the loan.
In November 1954, a reporter for the Cuero Record, Roland Towery discovered that there was some sort of fraud going on in the Texas Veterans Land program. many of the veterans who purchased land in block sales were not even aware that they had purchased land. In fact, many were led to believe that they were getting free land as part of a veteran entitlement program or else were receiving some type of veterans' compensation from the state. When Towery asked Giles about these irregularities, Giles denied involvement, attributing the irregularities to local land speculators. Struck by the fact that Giles had defended himself before even being accused of anything, Towery ran the story.
Giles was reelected as Land Commissioner in 1954, but facing criminal investigation by Texas Attorney General, John Ben Shepperd
John Ben Shepperd
John Ben Shepperd was the segregationist Texas attorney general from 1953–1957 who led resistance to the desegregation of public schools mandated by the 1954 Supreme Court decision Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka...
, Giles failed to appear to take the oath of office in January, 1955. Giles was eventually convicted of fraud and bribery
Bribery
Bribery, a form of corruption, is an act implying money or gift giving that alters the behavior of the recipient. Bribery constitutes a crime and is defined by Black's Law Dictionary as the offering, giving, receiving, or soliciting of any item of value to influence the actions of an official or...
and served three years of a six year prison term. Towery won the Pulitzer Prize
Pulitzer Prize
The Pulitzer Prize is a U.S. award for achievements in newspaper and online journalism, literature and musical composition. It was established by American publisher Joseph Pulitzer and is administered by Columbia University in New York City...
for his investigative reporting.