The Portland daily press., 1870-02-07
DAILY PRESS.
ND.
Monday Morning, February 7, 1870.
Letter from Washington.
W ASHINUION, d O'j OU' = 'V'V'
ONE OF THE JOBS.
PORTLAND

one OF the most pestilent land and Indian
jobs of which his State has been prolific. I
call attention to it at this time because il
will illustrate the theme treated generally
in last weeks letter.
The bill which Mr.. Clarke sought to obtain
a suspension OF the rules in order to put on
passage, is one removing the Usage tribe of
Indians from Kansas TO the territory south of
that State. For two years past treaty ced-
ing their lands to certain railroad company
has been hanging in the Senate. The reser-
vation embraces eight million acres. The
price to be paid is little over nineteen cents
an acre. At least five million acres is worth
an average of Sl.50 per acre. The other
three millions are growing lands, of no value
until opened by railroad, and then worth
about seventy five cents an acre. The whole
trac: is worth an average of dollar an acre
In the original draft of the treaty there were
no school lands reserved and no provision
for protecting settlers, of whom it is believed
some 10000 or more were occupying farms
having "squatted" in expectation of the re-
An"'"s 7r 49, ~---..---- ThA- -saiiraad seeking
this great endowment, would at the best run
only about fifty miles through it-north and
south. But in reality it didn't propose to run
through mile of this tract. but is now being
built through tract east of 1t, in which they
already had obtained so large tracts. Mr..
Clarke, aided by attorneys representing the
settlers and by State officers, begun an active
fight against the ratification of such an ini-
guilty. But the Senators, Messrs. Pomeroy
aud Ross, aided by Mr.. Harlan, bave kept the
thing alive. The Indians complain that they
were deceived in making such treaty.
Now what Mr.. Clarke's bill proposes is for
the United States Government to take the
tract at uniform rate per acre of one dollar,
removing the Indians to localities alrealy Sc
lected, where the reservation tribes arc now
being consolidated, and paying the expenses
of the Indians survey, &C., and investing the
proceeds for their benefit. The land is to be
sold only to actual settlers.
There are two noteworthy points in this
proposition. The first Is that if it succeeds
1t will override the corrupt treaty system by
legislation and the second Is that the people
and not railroad corporation will get the
land. Mr.. Clarke will succeed, so far as the
House is concerned. Then the responsibility
Of defeating the measure will rest upon the
Senators. They have both shown themselves
ready TO meet it when interference is proba-
BILE with their schemes or those of friends.
Mr.. Pomeroy, for instance, has become quite
a railroad king since he entered the Senate.
For some years he has been chairman of the
Land Committee, 7ery convenient place
the interests there are at stake.
1t is true that one does not find Mr.. Pom
eroy's name at the head of railroad compan-
les or among the ircorporators. But then
we used to at the inception of State move
For example, the Kansas Legislature incor-
porated the "Atchison and Pixies Peak Rail-
road" now known believe as the Central
Branch, Union Pacific. 1t runs west from
Atchison, where the Senator is supposed to
to reside, and when Mr.. Pomeroy afterwards
as Senator came to vote on the Pacific rail-
road subsidy system, this road, having not the
slightest national Importance received $19,-
900 per mile subsidy for 1c0 miles. 1t opens
its voracious NAV for more. Senator Har.
Ian secured similar subsidies for pet branch
up in Nebraska. There can be not the slight
est doubt that both these subsidized branches
were "put-up" jobs, and the Senators having
votes that were needed to secure the trunk
lines the subsidies without which it is sup.
posed they would not have been built, found
1t not difficult to trade. Mr.. Pomeroy's IN
terest does not appear, as about that time
a brother or cousin takes the Presidentship
OF the lucky corporstors.
But what has this to do with the Usage
matter? Not much except in the way of IL
lustration. There is another road, in the
original act of Incorporation for which ! be-
lieve Mr.. Pomeroy's name figures. At any
rate, some of his convenient cousins ant
brothers-in-law are its agents and business
men. This Is known as the "Atchison, To
peka & Santa Fe Road" 1t runs southwest
and would necessarily traverse good portion
of the Western Usage lands. believe tha
this road is being constructed. 1t wa. anoth
er corporation that wanted the Usage lands
But the Santa Fe road would like slice. Las
winter certain railroad contractors to whom
the franchises of the last named road wer
sold, were here opposing the Usage treaty. II
a short time they were its friends. The Iu
NOR is that the change was brought about BY
a contract made by certain Mr.. Gaylord
known unpleasantly by the pretended-o O.
otherwise-sale OF Mr.. Pomeroy's infuenc,
on impeachment) that for and in considera
tion of the sum of six cents per acre, to b
paid him for aiding to secure the ratification
of the treaty conditioned upon granting tt
the Atchison & Santa Fe interest three million
acres.
This is the report. The treaty has not beer
ratified. 1t cannot be, and Secretary Co.
will, it is understood, withdraw it from th
Senate. But you will find, on careful ex
animation of the Globe, that Mr.. Harlan oc
casionally presents petition in its favor iii
brother-in-law, Mr.. Snow, was Usage agen
when the treaty was made) and it is very wei
known that the Kansas Senators are its stead
fas: friends. 1t is the largest kind of job.
Mr.. Pomeroy, the senior Senator from tha
State, is reported to be worth about two mil
lions. When he came to the Senate, he ma,
have been worth one-twentieth of tha
amount, though this is doubtful. The Sena
tor has only been shrewd and successful
business man, suppose. Certainly max
no charges, but only suggest that it woul,
give the public more confidence in him, if h
was not almost always the mover or foremos
supporter of most of the land grant job
which come into the Senate.
DAWES ON ECONOMY.
The Chairman of the Committee on Al
propriations pursues shrewd plan in his pie
for economy. 1t seems to me that Mr.. Dave
| made mistake in the sweeping character
his fist charges of extravaganza. He VIZ
doubtless led into that by misapprehension
certain things which l shall enjeavor to e,
plain.
He based his first speech upon the tota
presented in the book of estimates. Th
volume is made up of the figures presente
by the different heads of Bureaus and lie
partments. The total of these estimates
unrevised by the Secretary of the Treasur,
is about 342,OoO,OoO, allowing for cleric
error of seven millions in the footing of a
| item. This total Mr.. Dawes compares wit
| Mr.. McCulloch not ,cith the estimates sent