The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1882-06-15
NEWS OF THE DAY.
Nous from DTaslti,,0to,,,

Representative Hazlet0n of Wisconsin has
introduced III the house bill to establish a
commission of three, before which all pri
vatc land claims against the government are
to he adjudicated and sent to the general
land commissioner for final action. The
surveyor general is now vested by law with
that power in addition to his other duties,
but his time is so taken up that he has not
within several years examined and repOrtell
upon more than 100 cases. 1t is estimated
at the Interior department that at the pres
ent rate of progress it would take 500 wears
to settle all the private land cases known to
be in dispute, and hence the necessity for
some tribunal before which cases can bc dis.
posed of. Officials in the general land office
are busy preparing list Of cases now on
hand and estimates of the probable number
likely to be presented. New Mexico, where
nearly all land Is in dispute, furnishes more
than hree-fourtlls of the cases presented to
the department for settlement, and are gen.
orally most intricate and vexatious claims to
settle: The department officials are hearts
~ in favor of some such commission as is
suggested i'll this bill, and when the matter
comes before congress much light will he
shed upon the subject by the statistics now
in the course of Dreparation
Mrs. Scoville, sister ofGuiteau, has given
to the press for publication the copy of a
4 petition addressed to President Arthur
asking for stay of execution in the case of
Guiteau until q commission of competent
physicians, acknowledged by the fraternity
to be above adverse criticism, shall be
appointed and shall examine into the oues-
tion of insanity.
A patent has issued from the land office
interior Department. i'll favor of ex-Pres-
ident William Harrison. The patent is for
16O acres of land i'll southern Ohio, which
General Harrison purchased III 1906 under
the old credit system. The interest on the
investment already amounts to more than
thesum invested.
In the Florida contested election
case, Withespoon VS.. Davidson, the
committee will dechke Davidson, (dcm-
ocrat), the sitting member, is entitled to the
seat
Mr.. lie Barnes, clerk in the general land
office, has reduced to Methodical form the
vague theory of that office that several wes-
tern railroads have been patening more land
than they are entitled to, and Mr.. Strait has
offered q resolution for a committee of in
quiry into the truth of his assertions.
Senator Johnston of Virginia sustained the
reputation of Virginia hospitality as chair
man of the Yorktown junketing party, by
furnishing the most expensive refreshments.
These items he generously paid out of the
contingent fund and shrewdly allowed more
legitimate expenses to be entered up in due
form i'll the deficiency bill. Champagne,
sherry, old 1880 brandy and other irrigatine
ingredients flowed as freely as patriotic ora
tory on that occasion, but there is trouble
ahead on the adjustment of the account.
Nominations: Geo. J. Pomeroy, agent and
cousul general at Cairo; f. r. Brulalour,
Louisiana, secretary of legation at Paris;
Eccles G: Van Ripper, consul of the United
States at Moscow.