The Leavenworth weekly times. [volume] (Leavenworth, Kan.) 1870-1880, 1879-12-25
WASHlNGrON NOTES.
PUBLIC LASDs-copIFYINGr THE LAW.

PUBLIC LASDs-copIFYNG THE Laws.
WASHINGTON, d. C., Dec. 23.-The com.
mission appointed to codify existing laws
relating to the public land system In the
West is finishing its work Is rapidly a.
possible. The work has been divided among
sub committees of the commission in o,dsr
to facilitate the classification of material.
The scope OF the work has necessarily beso
large, embracing . thorough exsmination
into the laws relating to the homesteads
mining claims, irrigation, pasturape. tim.
Der protection, and the numerous other in
terests forming part of the great land ones.
tons anecting the immense area of thu
MisslsslPpi river. The Commission bs.
visited all OF these Western States ,nd
Territories, and has taken q vast amou,, ~
testimony by Layers, farmers and miners
touching their social interests.
THE WORK HAS BEEN DyyrnEn
into three parts, namely: the elsss;6c,.
ton Of exciting laws relating to nnh,;.
lands; the classification ard survev y,
public lands; and th.ir recommspds,io, 70
Congress OF such q method of dispo.ipo ~
the public lands to settlers az will oosn
them up most rapidly to cultivation. There
are now NOSE than 4 900 lave on the tai.
u:e book relating to public lands. These
NUT be examined 70. the purpose of con.
depsing them into a manageable form nv
striking on, tho-e which are oba,lete and
consolidating others where the obiec, 10 h..
attained is the same This part of the
work 10 lar the most important. and the
most onerous, and the members of the
commission are engaged upon il now. hold
ing daily sessions. They have until Jplv
next To compleIe the work. bar ,bav .,s
sufficiently advanced in il to be able in .
few months to make certain recomand,.
tons to Congress-. In making these 70
commendations the Commission will ,c,
upon thu advice Of a vast pumbsr Of
men we'll qualified to speak on tbesr
matters.
CLOSED FOR THE HOLIDAYS.
All the departments will be closed Christ.
mas and New Years. On the dsy- inter
vsninS the Treasury Department will he
open between ten and one; the other de.
partments IRON nine to twelve. Ar IN.
Navy Department half the clerical foycs
Will be absent every other day. All the
departments cease at IL to morrow
TOBACCO MANUFACTURERS PROTECT
The New York tobacco mapnfsc,urir,
companies protest against the pron,..S
change IN the manner of printing inter, al
revenue stamps on tin-foil tobacco vrap.
and the department promises to cousult The
wishes Of the trade before making aItera.
tions.
PROTECTING THE IsRAELIrrs
With reference to the proposed n.so,i,-
t,on iof commercial treaty between the
onifed states and Rnum mia, it is ascer.
tanned that Secretary Evarts hiss instructed
Minister kasson to take notice of a ls,,s,
hled at the State Department by simon
Wolf IN behalf OF the board of delegate. of
American lsrselite., protesting against sny
recoenition OF the Roumauian Government
until It complies with the provisions of the
Berlin treaty, guaranteeing not only civil |
but religious liberty to sll tssuhisc,s
Minister kaseon Ia instructed to act in az \
cordance with the request of this letter.
MINERAL LANDS.
The Secretary of the Interior rendered a
decision OF importance to all purchasers of
public lands BY private entry" holding
that whenever, prior to psrenling. il is
discovered that the land previously offered
and entered as agricultural is really min
erai In its character, the entry must be
and the land reserved for eu,ry
under the laws specially applicable to
mining lands The issue WAS presented
BY a case, involving. the title TO a tract
Of 1000 acres of land in Camden. Arksn-
'as district, which was purchased from the
at private entry in 1873. but
subsequently, found to contain argenti-
erous lode ore.
SILVER FOR GREENBACKs.
The Treasury will di,burse silver cer,i-
icates in place of greenbscks.