New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-03-22

Surveyor General, deposited in the
treasury Of the United States, specifying
the land to be surveyed, and
specifying how much for field work, etc.
The party depositing the money gets
tripicate receipts; one is given to the Sec
rotary of the Treasury, one is deposited IN
the Office Of the Surveyor General of the
United States and one is kept by the party
himself. The survey is then made accord
ing to the laws of the United States. After
the survey is made, return is made to the
Surveyor General, the account is made
out and draft on the United States Trea-
sury sent to the party makiug the survey.
Then, if the amount deposited by the par
ty ia the first place exceeds the amount Of
the cost OF survey, the surplus is refunded
to him. The only way, then, to have
these lands here surveyed in accordance
with the Ian Of the United States, is for
the State to ask the Surveyor General Of
the United States for the survey, and TO
deposit in the United States treasu-
ry the estimated cost of the survey. The
surrey will then he made so as to conform
to the subdivisions Of the United States
surveys. | will state, Mr.. President, that
a large amount of unsrrveyed swamp land,
turned over TO the State OF Louisiana IN
surveyed, has been settled upon, aud the
settlers are unable to get title to the
land, because it is not surveyed.
The object Of this bill is simply to have
these lands surveyed, so that the parties
who have settled and made improvements
upon them, may acquire title to the land,
and the Surveyor General Of the State is
the only representative between them and
the United States.
The amendment was adopted, and the
section adopted as amended.
Mr.. Lynch: | wish to explain, Mr..
President. that this money received
for the purpose OF making the survey, is
forwarded to the United States treasury,
and the surplus remaining after the sur
vey is complete2, is returned to the party
applying for the survey.
The bill was finally passed.
Mr.. jerks called up House bill No. 123,
can act for the relief of E. II. Angomar
and Charles lard" etc.
Mr.. Day: Mr.. President, l would Ike to
have some explanation Of this bill. If the
claim Of these gentlemen is just and
proper, will vote for it. l do not wish
to throw any obstacles in the way, but
Mr.. Ray: will state, Mr.. President, in
regard to this bill, that before it passed
the House an elaborate report was made
by q committee of the House. | have re-
examined the evidence submite ed TO the
committee Of the House, and found it to
sustain the report. Messrs. Augomar and
lard were, by recommendation OF the pre-
vious Levee Board. appointed commits
sioners to go to Washington City and New
York. They spent a great deal of time
and money, and would have accomplished
their purpose, if the Legislature had car
ried ont the purpose for which these COM
missioners were appointed. All that they
ask is fair compensation for their time
and return OF the money expended.
The bill was finally passed.
Mr.. Lynch called up Senate bill No.
237 IAN act TO legalize the sales of State
lands made by ". Is. Armstrong as Comni.-
sioner and Register OF the State Land
Office during his term of service"
Mr.. Lynch Mr.. President, | wish to
make an explanation. Those persons who
bought land, and paid the purchase
being paid to the Treasurer, and for
il is doubtful whether they have q good
title to their land TIE Register received
tdis money under false pretences, and |
do no. Il ink thai the title is good; still it
wopld b. hardly fair that these innocent
parties, who bought their homes and paid
their money for them. should be IN doubt
as to their titles; and the object OF this
bill is 10 make the title good for those
who paid the purchase money to this de-
fault;ng Register. l believe there can he
no objection.
Mr.. Fu;ch: I would ask the Senator
th,s-I have understood that this Register
has sold land that was entered during the
days of the Confederacy, and to legalize
these sales, l think, would be unconstitu-
tioral.
Mr.. lynch: l do not wish to cover any
thing of that kind.
MIR Futch: l would ask, Mr.. President,
whether this bill will really accomplish the
purpose for which it is intended? 1t pro-
vides for the legaliZation of sales made
according to law" as understand the
object of this bill, it is to enable parties to
acquire title to land, purchased, not sac
cording to law but in good faith.
Mr.. Packard: Mr. President, | will eX-
plain this. If the Register has made sales
in pursuance to law, there is no necessity
for this bill: but if he has sold it contrary
to law, and it has been purchased in good
faith there is. The fact Of the purchase
money having been paid to the Register,
if the law provides it TO be paid into the
State treasury, is what we want to provide
for There Is, think, this point of legal
ity, that the money should have been paid
to the State Treasurer, and not to the Reg
lister of the Land Office.
Mr.. Lynch: move 10 strike out tie last
clause.
Mr.. Bacon: Mr.. President, if it is pro-
posed to pass this bill and homologate the
proceedings Of this defaulting officer, post
pone all investigation, and allow him to go
away with the money, we leave the door
open, and his successor may, perhaps
pursue the same course.
Mr.. Lynch: Mr.. President, will state
that this officer makes no concealment of
his transactions, and he is low making
every effort to pay the money which be
has received by the sales Of these lands
into the treasury OF the State. He paid
nine hundred dollars yesterday, and eX-
poets to pay every cent that he has col
lected. ! 60 not wish to screen him or
any other defaulting officer, but the object
Of this bill is simply to enable the pur
chasers to acquire titles to the land pur-
chased by them in good faith, and for
which he received the money, he receiving
it under false pretences.
Mr. Bacon: Mr.. President, I have no
but it struck me as good op-
portunity, as an opportune moment to
make the inquiry, as the other day We had
before US a resolution to address him out
of Office which was postponed.
Mr. IInch. | will stata furthar Mr.