The Kansas herald of freedom. [volume] (Wakarusa, Kan. Territory) 1854-1860, 1859-08-20
From The Wash oo'rtspoadent Of Lear H,c,,
Washington Items

WeehBtou Aeku3.
A decision of considerable imno-,,.
has Just emanated from the United S.
Auditor of the Post Office D4n,,ma'"'
il regard to "garnisheeing Pnst M,.,@,,r.
II this instance, an individual b.,d
judgment against mail contractor az
garnisheea the post master, who witbb.li
the money. and applied to the head >,
the Department fnr instructions. II
decided that he could not be carDisbs.1
for money in hand arising from the br,;
ness of his Office. The mail contr,co,'
in the Western States and Territnries a.,
generally well paid by the Governm.r,
yet they sometimes endeavor to pl,rs
construction upon laws relating to tbs.,
office, which are certainly wider THAI /.
consistent with the object in view Un5s,
the postal pre- emptit'n law each contraco,
has the right TO pre- empt one quare,
section for every twen,,v miles ri the
postal route, and some has been 80 san.
guine as to believe tina: the, could PIE.
emp, IN Indian Reserves, when the rcu;a
was located through such; hut Iris VS.,
decided against them some time s,'nCe,
and now they have raised the ques,nq y,
whether they have n t the right to max.
the same pre emption upon each renewal
of contract, upon the route. Spch A
construction of the law would make i,
very desirable object to obtain a renewed
contract, since after several successive
renewals. the contractor would pre- em,a
all the uuoccupiel land on the ronre =
The Commissioner of the General Land
Office has very justly decided that The
renewal of a contract upon the same ron,e
does not renew the right to secor1
pre-. emption, but that the right expires
with the first pre-. emption of the quantity
allowed.
The General Land Office has Determined
TO adopt the most stringent measures
against trespassers upon the public land,
This abuse has been matter of much
concern ever since the adoption of ihe
present land system. Ia fact, it has al.
most been impossible to convict them, and
in nine cases out of ten the Goverumrr.
has failed to accomplish anything, anl
been mucted fo,' heavy costs. The open
aud hagrant violstions, hy individuals
and companies, in the Western States,
are too well known, aua, apparently easily
proven; but. in nearly every Instance, the
technicalities of the law allow them
some loop hole for escape. More strn.
gent measures are now to be takeI. The
attention of the U. S. Attorney for WIS.
consin has beea called tn the case Of
certain individuals in that State, who have
been guilty Of long aud continued VIC.
lation of the law on this subisct. This
have large saw mills, which
annually turn out millions of feet Of lum.
Der from logs cut off of Government laud;
but as they have become immensely
wealthy at their disreputable business, i;
will be most difficult matter to convict
them.
If these officials would turn their atten.
ton to this matter in Kansas, they might
accomplish something which would have
a great influence upon the prosperity Of
the Territory, for owing to the scarcity Of
timber there. the abuse is far more iujari.
Dns both to the Government aud the Ter.
ritory than in other localities and S ates.
Almost the first thing the pre- -emptor does,
after securing his own claim. is TO fence it
with timbsr from the adjoining u1occu.
pied land. thereby rendering many
quarter section perfectly worthless, which
would otherwise be settled aud improved.
Tits useless to go into an extended account
Of the evils of this practice; they are
apparent to every eye, aud the officers 10
Kansas should give more attention to
6 erecting an abuse fraught with such
serious consequences to her future wei
fare.
The President has directed the removal
II the Land Office at Ogden to Junction
City. The removal will take place
Immediately after the September land
sales.
The following post offices have been
established and discontinued:
E,tablished-Decora, Breckenridge Co.,
<. t; Diamond Springs, Morris Co, K.
T.; Nebraska Center. Buffalo Co., n. 7.
MISUNDERSTANDING Sun, Jefferson
20, K. T.; Richmond, Nsmahs c., K.
L.; Peoria, franklin Co., X. r.; Co.'s
wells Landing, jackson Co., No. G.
81