Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-01-08

are now pending applications for leases of
this character covering several million
| acres, and the matter is receiving careful
consideration by the secretary and the
committee on Indian affairs. There is
strong suspicion that the capitalists want
something more than pasturage; that the
opening of the territory to settlement is
expected to occur within q
few years, and that persons in pos
session under leases from the
Indians will have the best chances for get
| ting large tracts of land at low prices.
One of these enterprises is seeking pos
session of not less than 100000
acres. These choice grazing lands. similar
| blue grass region, will make men who can
get them at low figures enormously rich,
| but even if these leases should not lead to
ownership they would drive all the small
herders out of the territory, and enable the
lessees to get their cattle grazed at figures
far below what are now paid. If there is,
not vast land speculation here, there is.
at least great beef bonanza.
RAILROAD BRIDGES
| The bill to regulate the building of rail
! road bridges over navigable streams, the
passage of which was easily secured in the
senate by Mr.. Sawyer, was called up in the
house yesterday for concurrence. Several
granger members were suspicious of the
bill because it was being advocated by
supposed railroad men, and, objections
being raised, it had to go over. 1t had
been unanimously recommended for pas
sage by the house committee on commerce
and Horr, of Michigan, a member of that
committee, objected to it because, as he
said, he didn't know what it
was. Anderson, of Kansas, also
objected because "the railroad
men are too anxious about it,"
Mr.. Washburn, of Minnesota, explained
that the bill was in the interest of railroads
to build bridges, so as not to obstruct navi-
CATION. Failing to do this, the secretary
Of war may tear down the bridge and have
it rebuilt at the expense of the company
ewing it. The explanation was made in
vain; the grangers could not be undecsiv-
ed and an Important bill fails for the pres
ent.
THE RIVER AED HARBoR BILL.
Representatives who did not assist in the
preparation Of the Jumbo river and harbor
bill are free with expressions Of oommenda-
tion of Secretary Linooln's report. They
particularly 7enjoy what they term the
&slop" received by Page in reference to
| his Sacramento appropriation, and, now
that their tongues are loosed by some On
couragenmt from the war department,
they are not averse to telling what they In
dividually know about particular appro-
priations. Neal, of Ohio, for example, said
to-day: 81 happen to know a good deal
about some Of those West Vir-
ginia appropriations that have
been. running through series of
years. There is the Little Kanawha, for
example. The harbor has been owned by
the Jackson family for the last dozen
years, and they have levied toll at every
place where pound of beeswax or dozen
eggs were sent over it, an account of some
dams which they hat built at a certain
place. Year after year Judge Jackson has
bsen here, and has managed to obtain an
appropriation ostensibly for the benefit of
the commerce of the Little Kanawha, but
really for the benefit of the Jackson fam
lily. In the Last act, believe, the condi-
ton was inserted that hereafter
no toll should be charged upon
any freight that might be shipped
from any point where the government
should establish slack-water navigation.
No congress, however, imposed any such
condition, and the Jacksons have had their
own sweet will. 1 might mention other
appropriations in that state which were
givon in the name of American commerce,
bat which were virtually for the benefit of
corporations or individuals"
| Mr.. Neal then went on to give other ex-
amples where the money heretofore appro-
priated has been expended on streams that
are of ne commercial Importance what
ever, and expressed the opinion that the
secretary of war might have added good
many items to the black list and still ks pit
! far within bounds.s
THE PENSION CLERKS.
Commissioner of Pensions Dudley says
the statement that a large number of
clerks will be dismissed at the end of
their six months prob alton, is purely con-
jectural
Il don't know" he says, "and no one
knows, how many will be dismissed. I am
going to fix certain standard of excel
| lence. Each one of the new clerks has
| had chance to make q
record on his work, and this has been
carefully kept. When the six months ex-
pire those that have not come up to the
standard viii not be reappointed. It is
the general remark in the Office that the
new clerks are unexceptionally capable.
Of course there were some who had an idea
that the Office was reward for political
work, and they would have sinecure, but
they soon found out their mistake, and as