Omaha daily bee., 1883-03-27
CAPITOL T
REVENUE COLLECTORS.

WASHINGTON, March 26.-The COM
missioner of internal revenue denies
the published statement that the
president las 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 LIST of June rext.
TREsPAssERs ON UBLIC 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. Yen transmit for my consid.
ers.(a and action the petition and
10 ion Of the citizens of Barbour
's.Sasss,, Kansas, relative TO the .uG.cw-
full ,nciosing of large tracts of vacant
Usage Indian lands In said
county, amounting in all to
about two hundred thous md
acres, and also sundry afidavits
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 a tract of about 6,000 acres,
subject to presumption, and by such
enclosure, and by threats and vio-
lence, have prevented bonaide 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 IL trespasa
only, and gives no right to the occu-
pant, or that such occupation does not
legally exclude bonatide 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
suoj ect 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 inappropriate landf
are left open to all alike. To allow
few wealthy stocGmen to fence these
lands, thus not only practically with
draws them from tho operation d
the settlement laws, but deprives mer
of email means OF the advantage. Ao
quiring settlement by any other mean
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. TIL,
grasler may az equltably claim an!
other as landed property of the gov
eminent, but neither Is permissible
He may have only what is allowed al
others. The enclosure Of McKittricI
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 n exclusiv
right to such tract and they canno
thereby or by threats oil 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
ton of their fences by persons desirin
to make bonaide 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 ~influenc
to their appropriate punishment ur
der the law for their trespsss. 70
will therefore cause them, and a
others enclosing tracts of public lane
beyond that allowed by Law, to /
notified by circular letter that the go'
t eminent will prosecute, or otherwi'
express its disapprobation of the
t trespass, whenever, after such noti'
IL shall appear that by such enclosul
thev preyent settlement on enclogE