Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1882-03-02
scHuRz AT WASHINGTON.

Ex.Secretary Schurz arrived to-day. It
is understood here to assist in the Northern
Pacific lobby efforts to quash the measures
pending in Congress for forfeiture Of lapsed
grants. Washington Telegram, Fec. 81.
It would seem from dispatch which
We publish on the outside that the
Judiciary committees Of both Houses,
who have under consideration the ques-
ton of the lapsed grants, that they
propose to investigate Schurz very
closely 10 connection with his decision
overruling that of the Commissioner of
the Land Office in relating to the laps
ing of the Northern Pacific land grant,
10 learn whether the decision was made
through ignorance Of the law, favor
itism, or venality" implying that it
must have been made through one Of
these three, and that in case it was
found that it was made through any
one Of these three then the bill would
he passed authorizing the Attorney
General to restore the lapsed grants
to the public domain. 1t would seem
from the dispatch that strong senti-
ment had obtained, in committee, that
there was something crooked in Schurz'
decision. 1t is well remembered that
At the time it was made public, it sur
prised the whole country, who had
been induced by the terms of the N. P.
grant TO believe that it required an act
Of Congress to extend the time for the
completion Of the road in order TO en-
title the company to the land after July
1877. The question Of this having
been made q grant in present. had
never before occurred to the people Of
the country, and Why should it have
occurred to them9 The company had
already sought and obtained from Con-
gress extensions of time and authority
to change their route, thereby recogniz-
ing that they could not act beyond the
limit fixed in the grant without the
further legislation Of Congress, and
Sehurz assumed to decide virtually that
the company could 60 Harvard and
build the road At their leisure, even il
they went far beyond the limit of time
: fixed in the grant and the extensions
granted by Congress, and then claim
the land as in the original grant, the
whole country was taken by surprise
Yet it seems that but few we're disposed
70 find fault with that decision, because
they recognised the fact that tha orig
inal bcndholders who had suffered
BY the failure Of Jay Cook, had prompt
y stepped forward and rc-orgauized
for the purpose Of building the road
through upon the original terms and
plans under White l. Fred. Billings
The people seemed satisfied and hoped
to rec the good work 60 forward art
the road soon completed and put il
operation ~ great national road acros
the continent, and when Willard mad
the proposition to Billings to get tn
control Of che road, Billings reply SET
ting forth the purposes and objects Q
the company to build in good faith at
cording to the obligations Of the charter
everybody seemed satisfied and eule
gizsd Billings reply. But 70 soon a
Willard with his blind pool secured
controlling interest, then the pecpl
feared I'll ths rightsand interests G
The people Would fail ~ Md protectie
under him, and that sentiment has il
creased universally, save in few loca
ities where the people have been spec
ally favored by Willard. Portland
ono Of these places. But Portland
not the great Northwest, and viii
Portland has the promise Of being grea
lybene6ttsd by Willard, other sector
At the Northwest have been correspon'
Aingly placed in jeopardy by his pr
gramme Of action. They don't lii
Wizards freight exactions. They don
IKE his organization of the Oregon II
provement Company and tie Orese
Tanscontinental Company and the
relations to the Northern Pacific,
seeking to absorb the lands of the cor
pany for speculation upon the poke
Of the settlers, and by absorbing all Il
tributary roads to be built to the Mort
ern Pacific, 80 as to control the freight
They don't want these subsidiary CO,
panies to act as Credit Mobiliers ma
ing all the Oontracts and pocketino ,