New-York tribune., 1878-03-01
Their liabilities are said to be about million and half
doIlars,
IN ATTACK on SECRETARY SCHURz
he IS CHARGED WITH UNJUST ORDERS AGAINST
wOOD-CUTrEG IN MONTANA - Mr.. BLAINE
READS THE CHARGES IN THE SENATE.

he IS CHARGED WITH UNJUST ORDERS AGAINST
woOD-cUTrrEG IN MONTANA - Mr.. BLAINE
READS THE CHARGES IN THE SENATE.
IBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUsEl
WASHINGTON Feb. 2S.-There was very inter-
esting debate in the Senate to-day OF several hours
duration on a House bill to authorize special term
of the United States Court in Mississippi to try GER
tain suits, fOrty-nine in number, for the
recovery Of logs, lumber. etc., alleged TO
have been taken by the defendants from
Government lands. The result of the debate
was the eorGpleta annihilstion OF the Judiciary
Committee, which unanin ossly reported against
the bill, and Of Secretary SchuTz who wrote long
letter in opposition TO the bill, and of Attorney
General Devens. who also opposed to holding
any special term Of court. Mr.. Edmunds made
very strong argument and most of the members of
the committee spoke against the bill. Mr.. Lamar
spoke in favor of it, giving the circumstances, and
stating the injustice of the proceedings.
The success Of the bill, however, was largely due
to Mr Blaine's efforts. He attacked the course Of
Secretary Schurz in similar cases vigorously. He
said he knew very little Of the present case ana
his remarks were for the purpose of showing that
tho Secretary was unjust and oppressive 70
the people largely dependent upon his oTders-the
labOring lumbermen and pioneers IN the Far West.
he said 'he sccretary's course would not Only re-
tard the progress and development Of new
Territories, but would depOpuate them He
read highly interesting recital Of Secretary
sehurz's course in Montana, prepared ny Mr' Ma Ma
Cinnis, tine Delegate from that Territory. Mr.
Blaine spoke 81 Mr.. Maginnis in the highest terms
Of respect, saving that te had kpSwn Tow hlm better
than ho had known Mr.. Schurz. The following Is
tho statement referred toi
Montana was settled under provisions OF mining laws
and public land laws All timber Is u the mo alns
the valleys being all prairie land Farmers, mne,rs,
Tor @ thoir wood WOO 'I% and for their lumber to build
mo- nSu'ys Tood f' was cn, for % export and ali Sat
used for domestic purposes The territory,
e2pcn led money and labor 90 that the aggregate
amount Of timber Is much greater than when tine
SySS VOID @ as 10 waste % VAS VAS charged and the people
leave tie country. An agent appointed (b0rne on
the rolls oi the General Land Ohce 10 clerk). VITO
de his report The Secretary directed that oil t.s
n.c-woud cut for the town OF Helena on the
pablo lands should be seized no previous notice having
been given tnat the custom OF tie country or
former usage OF the department. was To be changed.
All the fuel piled up for the use of cz ns and even for
soldiers IL arrison cut under coptrac Win the war
Department, was seized. violent ouOw-stOrm was pre-
yaing ~ tue time the order received Winter was
just setting ID, ana the people WeIo alarmed Mass
meetings were called aud Is was represented 10 the
sccrcty that great suffering would cnsue unless the
fuel was released The re0p. could not 1--we without
The secrctcr5 clegrsphed back 20 release the wood
and collect indemnify. board Of award WAS con-
stiIuted by Judge wade, ChicJustce Of the Territory.
when. aGng all the rEecedents. aud the low pllce OF
cents per cord Tor wood rs Il proper consid,ra-
ton. IHr Secretary refused TO receive tIc award ana
tcirl rhed blCE 20 collect dollar per cord Tie
people protested ,hat this rlnous. that t would
.toP cytrl mine ~ ni! IN the Territory, stop the pro
duci0n uf $500, ,OOSi the precious metals per month
and dcpopuAte the Territory The Secretary luck
orab-, aud the people confronted by al Arcic Winter
were Obliged 10 pay this enormous tar, pro-
testing meanwhile that they PAID II, not a.
u matter Of right. but as man would
give up purse 10 highwayman who had pistol at
h h,al I,anW bile tuc officials active Ia prose
clfiu. Their fees were Immense; most, n not all, Of
the proceeds ~ these collections went mo their pockets
ILty scnt Outfroin the states. Ihcy
Lnd 10 sympIthy with tH0 people, aud de-
slgcd TO In. tbsir pockets Tue Helena Board
of Trade and the people CunlIsse putitiOncd
tie SECRETARY h- orders stand, and the prospects OF
t4at promising Territory aIo Iardisz MeauWhhc
,y.rt where. else wood cutting gong on o. usual
80 pro,-cutlous were instituted a. none would have
been there. but that tAe local ocals chance to
make Ices.
Mr. Blame said he had asked several Senators
wao came from lumber counties what was a fair
stumpagc tax for wood. and some had said 10 cents
and soa.e -. some had mentioned 30 cents as a
pos, bic price under tho most favorable clrCum-
stances. The bill for "A special tenn of the court
in Ml-sisslp. finally passed by 30 yeas to 10 nays.