The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-12-05

many valuable suggestions of amendments and modifca
llons of the existing laws all of which respectfully
invite your attention. The most important are the fol
lowing.
Fva. That the benefits OF the pension laws be con.
ned 10 those who rendered the military service, and to
| lhe widows and minor children OF such dead.
SECOND That more efficient provisions be adopted to
prevent frauds under the various pension laws and
especially under those relating TO inv Aids
Within The last year two hundred and hiFiy.one ap
pllcatons Tor invalid pensions presented from
OF the western States, all OF which authenticated
according 10 the forms OF law. But the. Commissioner
having conceived the suspicion that many OF them were
fraudulent ] caused confidential agent 10 visit the
neghborhool and il was ascerlaned that only sixty
were just, and tina, the residue fraudulent.
Third That warrants for bounty lands under the act
OF 2sih September, 1850. be made assgnable. Most of
the holders OF these claims persons far advanced in
lie, or widows or orphans who have not the OF
locating u en- to advantage, and therefore only make
them available by sale.
Fourt. The enactment of a law making j, felony to
ofse inter- or publish genuine, any forged land
rant or other evidence OF claim the United States
tor land, or any endorsement sisnment thereof
The circuit court OF the United States at Columbus,
Tor forging land warrant the ground that there
no law Of the United States making il penal offence.
beg leave to remark that, the laws Of the United States
IN regard TO the subject OF forgery are exceedingly deiec
tive, and need revision They are generally specific and
directed against enumerated offences. would respect
fully suggest the Proprety of inviting the attention Of
Congress to this subject and OF recommending the pas
sage OF general law similar in lis provisions to those
adopted in England and most of the States OF the Union,
and comprehensive enough to embrace the forgery OF
every conceivable species OF paper TO the injury Of the
United Saies or those having claims against the govern
ment for money, land. or anything else OF value.
In addition 10 ,hs changes PROPOSED oy the Comms
the Pension Ofice, respectfully recommend that pro-
vision be made BY law for the appointment Of an Assist
ant Commissioner OF Pensions. The Commissioners u-
dcai duties furnish him full occupation and render it as
soluely impossible for him to authenticate and transmit
from the otce and perform The other duties OF minis
teral character which he is now required by law 10 dis
charge.
! also recommend that the law regulating the compen.
saton OF clerks be modified enable the depart
men graduate their salaries according 10 the nature and
value OF the services rendered by them respectively AT
present temporary clerk receive more than $3 33t
per day. This is insufficient TO command the talents ne
cessary for branches OF the service and than
enough for others. My proposition would involve no
increase OF the aggregate compensation oil the clerks but
only more equitable appo1tionmeal OF II.
| Public Lands
The report OF the Commissioner OF the General Land
Office will exhibit much activity in the operations OF that
bureau and the various branches OF the public service
The quantity of land sold during the last fsca year
.s474o 100 acres, for which the of $3.50,
s47 45 was received The quantity sold during the FIRST
quarter OF the present fiscal year was 100 acres
producing $60 69l. The quantity sold during The cor
responding quarter of the las, fiscal year was 266
ls79e0loo acres, the proceeds of which amounted
sac SIC os~hus showing considerable increase in
The sales OF The those OF the last sca year
The quantity Of land located during the last fiscal year,
added the quantity sold for cash, makes aggregate
OF 800 SAT 4y1O0 Had The quany located with
warrants during The last fiscal been disposed Of for
cash at the minimum price, the aggregate OF revenue IRON
sales OF the public lands would have been S53S447 45
The whole number OF warrants issued up 10 The lst oil
November instant, under the Mexican bounty land
law Of Ilh February, lsi7 is s0,7sl OF these &C, ,6S
have been located and returned TO The General Land O
fee and of this latter number Go0 have been patented
The whole number OF warrants issued up 10 the same
period, under The general bounty land law OF September
%, 1850, is i,20l and OF the 37Qs which have been
located and returned 10 the General Land Ohce, 1850
had been patented on the lst ullimo.
Surveys, authorized BY law, have been commenced
in Oregon and California, but restricted yet TO the es-
ablishmen OF the principal base and meridian lines IRON
which subsequently 10 be projected the township and
subd divsiona surveys.
The surveyors general Of Oregon and California de-
great credit for the energy which has thus tar char
acerized their abors Pats have already been received
at the General Land Office showing the base and merd-
ian lines in Oregon, and commendable progress IN the
| establishment OF those in California.
In conducting these surveys, the object has been 10
profit by the suggestions OF past experiences and 10 thus
end MANUAL OF instructions IN detail was prepared for
the government of the surveyors general and their depu
ties calculated, it is believed to facilitate their field oPe-
\ ratons,
The law authorizing the extension OF the surveys into
the Territory OF Oregon provided for the introduction o
what is known as The "Geodetc method" should the
department deem eypedient TO do so but for reasons
assigned by the Commissioner, was not considered adj
visabe 10 adopt it, further than 10 combine with the rec
tangular surveys system OF trianguatons 10 prominent
objects observable from the legal stations on the main
lines Of the between the cascade mountains ana
the coast In the instruction 10 the surveyor general hs
attention specially drawn 10 the provisions OF the
treaty concluded the 10Th OF june 1885, between the
United States and Grea, Britain, respecting the rights ol
the Hud.on's Bay and Puget Sound agricultural compa
MES, and OF other British subjects and as no steps had
been taken by the United States with view 10 the ac-
QUESTION OF the lands in the occupancy OF these coma
MES, provided for by said treaty and as no means had
been provided for ascertanlDg and defining he pafuen
ands the rights to which were, by the terms OF ,he
treaty, TO be respected, II BECAME necessary 10 require %
The claimants should 10 the surveyor general he
evidence of the hts claimed by them and The surveyor
general was directed avoid, lar as pracucabe, any
sectional other minute subdvson oil the lands covered
by such claims and merely 10 extend the township lnes
over them 40 as 10 indicate their relative position ana
extent The surveyor general is required 10 report MS
proceedings in the premises and II ~ recommended ths
prov be made by law for The prompt aceTainmeht
and final adjustment OF all the claims coming Whin 'he
Ipurvew OF the treaty. =, .,t
Pursuant 10 the act OF Congress approved 81 March
s5I ",o ascertain and settle the private land claims "
California a commission has been organized apd VIII
convene nj San Francisco The Sth day oil december
proyimo With a TO facilitate tneir operations iheS
were directed organize in this CITY on he ioh OF sep
tember last when instructions as 10 The maea suplees
contemplated By the law gwen 10 them, which ~
hale Vel will be advantageous the claimants and to the
government BY ascsrtaining IN the outset the particular
psrcels of land claimed and thereby avoiding uncertainty
and en- arrassment in dsposlng OF the pubic DOMAIN
The archives of The former governments oi California
have been delivered 10 the surveyor general, VINO -
authorized to employ a competent person 10 arrange, oas
sfy, and index them so that they may De rendered avail
\ able in the examination OF land ules
recommended that our general land system be ex-
tended over California such details the wisdom
of Congress- may be deemed best adapted to the peculiar
condition and character OF the country and that The nc
,ual settlers the agricultural lands may have suGb
- a tt..M- a. l. -