Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1883-03-27
CAPITOL NOTES.
REVENUE COLLECTORS.

WASHINGTON, March 26.-The com.
missioner of internal revenue denies
the published statement that the
president fas determined to abolish
by consolidation, about twenty Offices
and collectors of internal revenue.
The commissioner said to-day, in his
opinion, 1t would be very unwise to
take ruch action at present, as the
work devolving upon the service by
the new internal revenue bill will be
"enormous" from the present time
until at least the 1st of June rext.
TREsPAssERs ON PUBLIC LAND.
The secretary of the interior to-day
addressed the following interesting
and Important letter to the commia-
sioner of the general land eff 80 In TO-
gard to the occupation of large tracts
Of Indian lands In Kansas by stock
men.
ST. :-Yeu transmit for my consid.
err. "a and action the petition and
bo- Xion Of the citizens of Barbour
s.dasss., Kansas, relative TO the uG.cw-
full ,nclosing of large tracts of vacant
Usage Indian lands In said
county, amounting in all to
about two hundred thous md
acres, and also sundry affidAvits
corroborating the alleged facts, show
Ing that, among others, one John Nc
Kittrick and one Andrews, his part
ner, have enclosed for grazing pur-
poses tract of about 6,000 acres,
subject to pre.emption, and by suoh
enclosure, and by threats and vio-
lence, have prevented bonafde settle.
ment on the enclosed tract. You also
state that like enclosures are believed
to exist In adjoining counties and
recommend speedy action be saken for
the relief of settlers intending to locate
on such enclosed lands that the fences
be removed. 1 need not advise you
that the enclosures of the character
described arc unauthorized and il
legal, 80 that settlement is trespasa
only, and gives no right to the occu-
pant, or that such occupation does not
legally exclude bonahde settlement by
another. Such trespaas on public
lands Is equally offensive to morals Of
If upon private property. Lands not
legally appropriated are vacant and
subject to disposal. Until settlement
is made under the settlement laws,
there is no objection to grazing cattle
or cutting hay on government land
provided such unsppropriated landf
are left open to all alike. To allow Q
few wealthy stocxmen to fence these
lands, thus not only practically with
draws them from tho operation o.
the settlement laws, bat deprives mer
of small means OF the advantage. Ao
quiring settlement by any other means
will not be allowed under any pretenc'
whatever. Attempts, therefore, By
persons In Illegal occupation of suct
tract to prevent their settlement, b.
fence or threats or violence, will b.
discountenanced by this department
and should be by all good citizens
1t is immaterial that such enclosure
are for stock range purposes. Tho Law
recognizes no such purpose. Th
grasler may as equltably claim an!
other as landed property of the gov
ernment, but neither Is permissible
He may have only what is allowed al
others. The enclosure Of McKittric
and Andrews Is illegal and against tn
right of others who desire to settle o
Craze their cattle on the enclose
tracts. 1t gives them no exclusiv
right to such tract and they canno
thereby or by threats or violence pre-
vent entry thereon by Others VIII
desire to Craze the same land, or t
enter thereon for any purpose With
} the law. This department will there
fore interposs no objection to destruC
tlon of their fences by persons desirln
to make bonafide settlements on sue
enclosed tracts, should McKittrick {
Andrews endeavor to prevent tn
} same by their fences or threats or vic
lence, but will rather lend its inhuenc
: to their appropriate punishment ur
; der the law for their trespsss. 70
, will therefore cause them, aud a
: others enclosing tracts of public land
beyond that allowed by Law, to
notified by circular letter that the go'
ernment will prosecute, or otherwi'
express its disapprobation of the
trespass, whenever, after such noti'
II shall appear that by such enclosul
! thev preyent settlement on enclogE