Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1882-01-26
Our WASHINGTON LETTER.
Cousress-star Route and Land o.
fee Frauds - Railroad Grants
Homestead Decisions.

Homestead OeClalOuos
WASHINGTON, D. G.,
Jan. 3, 1882.
The holiday season is now over and
in q few days Congress will re-assemble
Ia enter upon one of tho most protract-
ed and important sessions that has been
held for some years. The members OF
several committees, whose homes are
too far away to carve the Christmas
turkey in, have remained here during
The recess, and applied themselves to
shaping the enormous amount of work
to DO performed before tho final ad-
iournment. The private bills already
introduced are of themselves sufficient
to lenethen the session far into the
sammer, and with tho railroad and
other schemes which the myriad Of lob
byi,ts have cooked and primed, will
max. this session distinctively bust
ness one.
The large number of contested cleo
tion cases, considering the closeness and
complexion of the two Houses, attract
peculiar attention, and especially is this
true Of the Utah contest, about the re.
suit Of which there is great diversity Of
opinion. This case, which will be taken
up carly in January, presents some
psrplexing features, and several of the
best lawyers in the House are in doubt
rs to the course they ought to take in
regard to it. Mr.. Campbell holds q
certificate Of election from Governor
Murray, while Mr. Cannon has moth
ing but certified statement Of the re-
turns, showing that he had majority
Of the votes cast. The friends of the
Mormon candidate claim that the Gov
errors certificate is irregular, in that
It contains the clause, "beins citizen
Of the United States" that the law
gives the Governor no power to judge
Of the eligibility Of candidate for Con-
grsss but commands him to give a cor
ti6cate to the person having the great
ct number Of votes, and that Congress
alone has the right to judge Of the cit
issnship Of the candidate. While Camp
bells friends argue that tho law de-
clares that the candidate shall be
citizen of the United States, and that
the offending clause in tho Governors
certificate is merely explanatory, being
true, but still unnecessary, and there
fore does not vitiate the certificate 1t
i not improbable that both contestants
will be rejected-Campbell because of
. defective certificate and Cannon be-
cause he has none.
There is a strong determination
among Congressman to take vigorous
means TO suppress polygamy, but sever
al Of those who are most earnest in this
design. say that by recognising tho
Governors right to judge of the eligi-
bility OF candidate for Congress, =
precedent would be established which
might give rise to endless trouble in
The future.
From the bills introduced and the
manifest disgust Of certain members,
Who cannot be purchased, it is easily
seen that the railroad monopolies who
have had large laud grants and then
failed to perform their part Of the con.
tract will be brought to face the fact,
whether they can break their contracts
with impunity and still continue to hog
in the land. Some Of these highly
injured corporations, after obtaining
vast gifts Of lands under definite and
express provisions Of law, not only have
the cheek to inform Congress that lands
once granted cannot revert except by
special act, but they have the money to
check proceedings Of custer implied
and authorized by the natural process
Of law. In order to accommodate the
pious ssruplss Of those corporations,
Senator Plumb has introduced sweep
Ing bill to restore to tho public domain
oil lands, in cases where the contract
With the Government has not been
kept.
Tho fght will, doubtless, be lively
- tho railroads have numerous lobbi-
ests and plenty of money. which in such
fights sis all powerfully powerful"
Bat whether the land shall again be.
come public, or continue to DO gobbled
up by the companies, it will probably
cause an increased activity in the con
struction Of the roads, and thereby
afford an outlet for the wonderful re-
sources of our Territories aud frontier
States.
This seems to he An uoff yearn for