The Kansas herald of freedom., 1858-09-11
For Ae Rerald Of Freedom.
LAWRENCE. Sept. 9th. ,5s

VIC AtOhb iOOAn vi lnCiA OlANCc. OpoA
plaint was made to the Department, that
they bad employed those persons as clerks,
to do that business for them, which would
have been violation of the order of the
l enquired into the matter
at the time and found that they reported
to the Department, that they had granted
such facilities, to persons who were not
only not clerks employed by them, but
that they were not to pay anything to the
officers Tor the facility granted. They, at
the same time, desired to be informed,
whether the facility or privilege given
was contrary to the wishes of the Depart
ment; if so, it should be Immediately
withdrawn. They further demanded an
investigation of the charge, which was
granted. The persons who preferred the
charge failed to sustain it; on the contrary,
it was shown that they were not en-
ployed by the officers; that they were
not to pay anything for the privilege of
writing proof papers for pre-emptors, nor
would they do so. Some time in Febru-
airy last learned that the same charge
was renewed. To which they again re-
piled that they were not their clerks, that
they had not and would not receive one
cent for the facilities granted. The De-
partment being annoyed with these COM
plants, on the 5th of April, 1858, issued
to the Register and Receiver the following
order:
"Referring to complaints heretofore
made against the officers at Lecompton,
on account of their permitting certain
parties engaged in making out pre-
emption papers and proofs, to occupy
a portion of the Office, rooms, &C., have
to direct that this privilege be at once
withdrawn; that no person, acting as an
agent or attorney, be allowed 10 occupy
positions in either the Register or Re-
ceiver's Office, and that no undue access to
the records or files be allowed any such.
at is expected that this instruction
will Immediately be carried into effect, as
any further complaints of this character
must be submitted for the proper rem
edy."
Upon the receipt of this instruction
the persons who had made proof paper;
in the Office withdrew, and engaged il
the Land Warrant business, and making
papers for pre-emptors.
On the 10th of April, 1858, the De
partment issued to the Register and Re
ceiver the following:
Referring to complaints heretofor
made on the subject of excessive charge
made in your office, in pre-emption cases
| have to inform you that this office ha
been recently again informed that yo'
charge every one who makes an entry
ten dollars and fifty cents for every quar-
ter section where Warrant is laid, &c
l have to state that such charges, if made
must at once be discontinued.
at is presumed that the party prefer
ring this recent charge, has been led t
suppose it true, from the fact that pre-
emptors hare paid parties not connected soit
your office, but ,oho haze occupied desks 4
one Of your rooms for preparing their case
Be pleased to make an immediate report
also inform this Office whether the re
quirements of my letter of 5th instar
have been complied with"
Now the complaint, on the part of pre-
emptors and business men, is that tn
Register refuses to pass proof papers, n
matter how correctly prepared, if the
are not made in the Office in connectio
with his, alleging as reason for so gro'
violation of the above orders, that "h
is compelled to adopt this course to pa
the expense of his Office" / lear
from the letter of the clerk, (Mr. Price
employed to write proof papers, whic
was published in the Herald Of Freedo
August %, that the money received f
making such papers is paid over 70 M
3 Baker, and that he makes generous loan
? to the Register to defray the expenses
8 the Office.
; Now we know this, that the Regist
= charges one dollar for every filing and
> certificate, which, in little over a yes
has amounted to many, very many tho
" sands of dollars, tohich money is allotc
him for the express purpose Of enabling h
J to detrdy the expenses Of has office. II
money he is not required to account
the government for. Therefore it appes
that this clerk, who talks about thin
being "incredulously false" is ignorant
u his subject. l do not think that "tl
: is private matter between thems elv
n and none of the public's business
y only for the reason stated. but becau
e l know the Register has obtained lar
e sums of money for notices issued in co
l tested cases, in addition to thousan
l. received on filings, and has also very Il
p properly permitted his clerks, in contest
g cases, to charge each contestant five doll
20 per day, making the clerks fees in ca!
l. as high as $50.
= 1t is perfectly clear that the Regis
IA does not require any aid from Mr.. Bak
o. or any other person, to enable him to {
~ fray the legitimate expenses of his off
II nor are the people to be humbugged
re any such nonsense. From the bungli
IN attempt of this clerk to refute the cha
Is preferred against the Register, we conf
Us it looks as if it were true.
= 1t has been my pleasure to sustain
' public officers whom / believe faithful
y the discharge of their duties, but
= otherwise.