National Republican., 1883-01-27

agreed TO pay the Indians $4,000 year for
fifteen years in consideration Of the oession of
100000 acres Of land now known as the Red
Lake reservation. The Indians title to their
land has in reality lapsed, and the govern
mont is merely under shadowy moral obliga-
tions to keep them there and protect their
supposed rights to the territory. These lum-
bermen have overrun the reservation with
their hircdmen during the past fewmonthsand
pfe.empted many thousands ofacres Of the best
timbertractsby proxy. They havespent $4,000
or$30,00O, and have obtained such a hold on the
property that they can at least keep others
away, even though their own title to it may
be disputed. This selected land is worth all
the way from $40 to $3.50 an acre, and is we'll
worth fighting for. 1t is not certain who will
eventually own this Pine land, but tho poor
Indian will bo left to hold the bag in all
human probability. Tho Chippewa deega-
tion, which is in the city lobbying against
the Washburn consolidation bill, is on cold
TRAIL"
go
Nominations for postmasters are referred to
the senate committee on postoflices and postal
affairs. The cases are distributed among the
members of the committee by DISTRICTS the
gentlemen being required TO report within
two weeks, under the rules of the committee.
Latterly complaint has been made that GER
tain senators who are hostile to nominations
in their own states take an unfair and un-
warranted advantage of their official posi-
tions to quietly pocket and refuse
to report back the papers which arc re-
ferred to them for examination. 1t
has been charged that Senator Miller, of
New York, has adopted this method of de-
laying action on the Utica and Lowville IN.
W cases. "What is there to the charger"
asked the avenue man, addressing q senator
who Is in q position to know. "Scnator Mil
Ter has had the Utica case in charge since the
early part of December, and the Lowville case
for nearly n month";" was the reply. do
not know that he has purposely delayed ac-
ton on the nominations, but he never gets
around tocommittce meetings until few min
utes before adjournment, and then excuses
himself from reporting the papers back on the
ground that the committee will not have time
to listen to the statements pro and con.
1t is getting somewhat attenuated, however,
and an effort will be made at the next meet
| ing to bring him to time. If he has any rea-
son why the nomination should not be con-
hrmed he should state it, and if has none he
should say so, and gracefully get out of the
way. There has been too much Of this sort of
thing"
a@a
1t is very probable, judging from the talk
of the gentlemen who do the voting that the
senate will refuse to concur in the amend
ment to the tariff bill adopted by the senate
as q committee of the whole, which places
lumber on the free list. Several senators who
are known to favor the retention of the duty
ON lumber were away when the vote was
taken in the committee of the whole, aud two
or three who voted aflirmatively on the
proposition did so under misapprehen-
sion of facts. Only about 100000 feet OF
lumber was imported from Canada last year,
mere drop in the bucket, compared to the
total production, but as it can be manu-
factured in Canada for $1.75 and So pc. thou
sand less money than in the states, the aboli-
ton of the duty will turn q perfect flood OF
pine boards this way, and cause American
operators to lose millions.
~
az object to the postal telegraph" said an
official who had given much attention to such
matters, I" for the reason that it will cause d
large increase in the number of political place
holders, and we have enough already. Tho
government could not, would not and should
not buy the Gould system at the figures it i!
held and l do not belieYe the govern
ment should enter into competition against
private enterprise. The Western Union
Mutual Union, and other systems now in ex
isten,o could bo duplicated for $2oOOO,O0O
. and they could not be bought for $sO0OO,0OO
The $60,000,0O0 represents water, and $50,
100000 is too much to pay for water, particu
larly when it is of doubtful purity thinl
the government should go slow in this bust
!, !, ness"