Arizona citizen., 1877-11-23

fresh the memory of those whose duty it is to procure needful legislation in this respect, 1 make these references Because of the manifest inappropriate ness of existing law in thIs respect, in structiOns have not been issued for its enforcement; but bad as it is, if the ensuing session of Congress does not enact proper law, it will be better to enforce the present one, and this of flee will offer no further objections thereto.
 In 1876, the report contains these ob .servations:
 In several previous reports, have briefly set forth reasons why the law .conferring upon this office power to make investigation into the origin, history and validity of private land claims in Arizona, and report upon the same, should be repealed, and my views on the premises are only strength ened by continued thought of tho sub .Ject and all it's bearing, present and future. In additions to opinions here tOfore expressed, 1 may now refer to the fact that, under the present statute, the United States has no one but the Surveyor General 10 represent it in such investigations, and any one will readily understand how natural ly claimants or their representatives would charge an officer wItu prejudice against them or their interests, should he find It necessary to exercise the full power conferred upon him by law to prevent attempted fraud. That fraud has been pFacticed by claimants in this class of cases, none will dispute, and hence it it reasonable that it will be attempted again. If the law be not SD changed as to create some other officer or tribunal ta originally pass upon ti- tie to private land claims, then 1 sub init that, should instructions be issued to enforce the present law, Congress should authorize the employment of an attorney or name one to appear in behalf of the United States during the pendency of such claims before the Surveyor General
 Following is from the report for 1877, and notwithstanding it appeared in THE CITIZEN, October 27, we give it again so as to show the whole record of the Surveyor Generals office on thIs subject, so full of importance to Ari- zona-especially to that part lying south of the GIla river:
 Your instructions of January 9, re- garding the investigation of title to private land claims were received by me February 1. The same day, tele- graphed Hon. H. 5. Stevens, our Dele gate in Congress, that 1 could not ef- ficiently execute them unless Congress appropriated the money estimated to be necessary, and asked him to confer with you thereon. He did what he could to procure the appropriation, but Congress refused or neglected to make 1t. February ,, 1 addressed a com municatiOD to your office III achnOwl- edgment of the instructions and gave reasons why 1 could not proceed to execute them. May 9, 1 transmitted to your office a speclal eStimaie to be presented to the extra session of Con gress to convene October 15, and have received advice that you will accord ingly present the matter to Congress.
 May %. papers in the case of the Arivaca claim were presented to me for filing and action thereon, by MT. ChaS. D. POstOn in person. 1 offered to receive and take such care of them as my means of safety enabled me to do, but, upon seeing 1 had only wood en desks with wooden drawers in which to keep them, he preferred to retain them in his possession. About August l, MT Robert Perrin in per son, offered to file papers in certain cases. After showing him my means for their safe keeping, he carried them with him to San Franc IScO. 1 cite these instances to show that claimants regard a good safe necessary to thIs office, and that Congress may recOg- nize the fact that people who are de cidedly anxious to have their titles in vestigated and passed upon, regard my delay in the premises Well-fOunded. To get a safe here it will have to be hauled by wagon 300 miles, and as be- fore stated, $l200 will be required to procure such an one as is needed. To purchase safe, procure record and other books and necessity articles Tn this connection, $2000 ought to be ap- prOprlated in addition to the $500 already appropriated for incidental eX- penses for the fiscal year. NIT. Perrin asked if he and those acting with him could not be permitted to advance the money needed to properly open and conduct the investigation. Of course they could not be permitted so to do, and I only cite this case to show that Congress ought certainly to provide means for the execution of law of its own enactment, when those for whose benefit the law was enacted are will ing, If admissible, to dc so. Upon strictest business principles, Congress should act in thIs matter as requested, and that too, without delay.
 For the fiscal year ending June 90, 1877, there was 5000 apportIoned for survey of confirmed private land claims in this district, and S5000 for the present fiscal year. None of the S2000 was used, and it is very doubt ful if any of the S5000 will be, even with the utmost expedition on the part of Congress and this office.
 A Lucky Starter.
 If is a notable fact that the Silver