The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1882-10-25

prooecutiont Against Lum-
Der Men, but IL Alter
wards ThWarted BY
F., 1Gaginnis.
Independent, ut. e.
II n one of the characteristics Of
carpet-bag officials that they look out
for s'nun,ber ONE" regardless Of the
iuterpsts of the people. They are
here to make money. They do not
consider it home. They know that
they secure their positions without
regard to the sentiment Of the people
Of the Territories and In defiance of
such sentiment, and hence they mat
urally care but little :or lop"lar"pin-
Ion.
This fact is illustrated in the case
Of NJ rsl,sl B0tkin with reference to
tin,bef seizures in the Territory.
These timber seizures in the past,
have been largely instigated by
United States Marshals for the fees
and enolun,ents resulting there
from.
In 1875, when the Federal Mar
sl,~ls made . general raid upon all
wood cut, and lumber sawed In the
Territories, Delegate Maginnis
INTRODUCED A BILL.
Exenlpting all thinker from seizure
when used for domestic purposes and
not for export. This bill he pressed
through the house with great vig"r |
and supported it's passage in speech
Of marked ability and elsYuemce,
which attracted much attention ut
the time. In the Senate Blaine and !
other friends vino were enlisted by ,
Maginnis IN support Of the measure
carried the bill through triumphant
~. Senator Blaine in The course Of
the debate paid glowing tribute to
Aaginnis, the author Of the hill,
which afterwards became law.
The people Of Montana, after the
passage Of this law, considered the
vexed timber question settled. But
the
RESTLESS AND RAPAcrOUs SPIRIT
OF the United States Marsl,als, and
Of Marshal Botkin, was not
content with any such settlement.
Carl Schurz, while Secretary of the
Interior, nettlesl at the passage Of the
bill over his opposition, had frequent
" intin,aled u construction cf the
law which would virtually render it
nugatory. He held that the law only
contemplated a permission tn the
residents and citizens of the Terrific
ries to cut such wood and saw such
ums'er us they needed for their own
'se, bu. that NO man under the law
rad the right to ent wood or saw
u'nl'er for sale tn others. ~ course
uch construction would compel &
very citizen If Montana to start 4
aw mill and wood yard of his own, =; :.
r do without these important essen o
ials to comfort and happiness.
Mr.. Botkin eagerly seized upon 81
his construction Of the law. Papers J.
n file at the department at Wash q
ngton show that he and bis depu. u
es caused Information to be fled II
Rainst the tie-,.utters on the Yellow. ~
.Unc, and that =.
A GENERAL sWOoP ~
Vas In preparation to Ike made on u
very saw.mill man, and on every :" ~
In the Territory. \ q
reat harvest Of fees for the Marshal I'll
nd his deputies was ripe. Az an ~
lustratiOn Of the f0rtive methods ~ ''
l"pted Ivy MARSHAL Botkin in this ~
after, We intrOtiure a letter from
In to Commissioner Mcfarland Us
ID same appears upon the flies Of
e department ut Washington. The II
tier Is ~ follows: III
HELENA, Montana, Feb. -, 1852. ~ ~,
M. y. {. .MrF;tr'um,l, Commission. -
er General LNnsi L6ic~:: MI
5lR:-.l have the honor to forward M,
rewtth = copy Of u letter from Fruu- an,
Crane, complaining Of trespass on mr.
bile lands. L0wcrrr thc htm of IN,
. may br c0Msfr"cti, IL can h,,r,liv tx
=" bccm intended {" uDor.l 1,rOt,t:-
J" 10 mill 0"Mtrs, ,ch0 strij, GO,vrm- I'm
'"t ht:fts tn MtuM"ftlctMrc iMMsLrr far
u IT, the deprivation NJ settlers who ..n
~ the ttml'er for purposes that are =.
fact 'dOmetic." At the same H.:
ne 1t does not appear that have IN
= duty t" perform In the premise. ":
re ~ process may be issued und s..l
ICED In my hands for execution. nm
Very respectfully, o.,
ALEX. &. h,rKIx. n,
IS. Mursl,al II.
I will Ike observed that Mr.. Hotkin or
'pts the forced construction Of the ln
by which Secretary ss.hnrz w..
'ght to evade It's provisions. He NJ,
''is that ''h"wevcr literally the Mi
OF 1873 may lbe construed, 1t can M.
rlly been intended tn afford pr,,. '",
ito" to mill owners who strip Gov. tho
l,lent lands m.
uAxrr..r,.,. , fri,
~ IL ''s" FOR pr
SALE.
Z remaining clause ito the .lonr;. ear