Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1876-01-12

the government, and in which their
all was invested, but which had been
determined to be part of grant,
have consented to sign contracts pro-
viding for the payment of an exor-
brilliant price for their lands, and pro-
vidmg that in case of failure to meet
single payment when due the con-
tracts are to be forfeited without the
intervention of legal proceedings and
without the reservation of any claim
for improvements under the occupy
ing claimant law of The state.
In compliance with chapter g.
private, local, and temporary laws.
10Th General Assembly, l employed
HON. Galusha Parsons and Mr.. John
A. Hull, both of whom had been en-
gagged in behalf of individual settlers
upon the school river-lands prior to
the passage of the act, to carry one
representative case through the courts
and determine the status ofthat grant.
They have not progressed so far rs /
had hoped they would have done, but
have advanced as rapidly rs is per-
haps practicable under the dilatory
forms of practice in the courts. You
will find a statement Of what has been
done in the Registers report.
One OF the most important elements
in the welfare of any community is a
perfect confidence in liabilities. In
view of the various and conflicting
Immigrants in this state. without the
exercise of great care, titles i'm many
portions of the state will become in
tcrminably confused. To prevent
this, the land-oflice should have a
complete set of plat-books, and all the
grants should be plated by town
ship and range, as this will enable the
examiner to detect an error invari-
ably, and will greatly assist the Reg
lister in the correct discharge of his
duty. 1t would be well ii the Gener-
al Assembly would authorize the pro-
curement of. such books.
| RAILROADS
The Fifteenth General Assembly
passed an act to establish reasonable
maximum rates of charges for the
transportation of freight and passcn-
gers on the different railroads of the
state. This law has been in operation
since July, 1874 and while it is prob
able that it has not been in force a
sufficient length of time to determine
fully its effect on the material inter-
ests of the state, its practical opera
ton has doubtless developed many
defects which will require cOnsidera-
ton and modification. If either of
ts.provisions has proved to be op-
pressive upon any class or pursuit. or
if it affects any locality in the state
unequally or unjustly, or ifany of its
requirements are shown to be very
embarrassing or damaging to honest
railroad management, there should
be no objection or hesitancy, where
ever such defects are found to exist,
in applying the remedy. And
happily. as most of the railways
have conformed their schedules to the
requirements of the law, there need
be no objection to any just modifica-
ton on the ground that it would be a
surrender of the principle involved
in its passage. When this law went
into operation the roads, with two
or three exceptions, conformed to its
provisions without resistance. In the
cases of those which refused compli-
ancc, and when complaints were made
and suits commenced, attorneys were
authorized to prosecute. After a few
suits had been commenced the Bur.
lington and Missouri River Railroad
operated by the Chicago, Burlington
and Quincy Railroad Company, pro.
cured an injunction restraining the
|, Attorncy-General from prosecuting
the railroad company, and the State
Treasurer from paying out money ia
aid such litigation, and also some OF
the private persons who had com.
, menccd suits, from their future prose.
cntion. The question upon making
this injunction perpetual was argued
in the Circuit Court of the United
| States before Judge Dillon, by the
Attorneys assisted by Judge
, Sewers, for the state. and by Hon. q
III. Browning and Judge Rorer, fol
| the company, and was decided for The
, state. Upon the announcement OF
this decision the company conformed
| its schedules of charges to the provi
! sions OF the law. The case, however
has been appealed to the Supreme
, Court of the United States, whittier
the Acknowledgement will follow it
and 1 trust at an early day will OBJ.
tain a favorable decision. 1t is prop.
CT to say here that the zeal and abili.
ty with which that officer has conduct.
cd these cases have commended my
entire approval, and helieNipg that
the cause OF the state would be as
thoroughly and ably presented by
him as it would be if expense should
be created by the employment of 9th.
er counsel, / have left the case to his
ii..na eilelN'
W nat may pc li'e eliect Vi ieslsIl'
site con.iei upon 'he sehc,ai Iu.ef'
csls ol me people IS liuposs,p,e ~ llie
plesent INT 10 ProI,ites!. ! l,.iNe ho
dcMpl, however, shal l's genera enecl
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