The Wilmingtonian., 1884-11-22
AN IMPORTANT PORTFOLIO.
Judge Thurman would FIJI The Bill

|
In our last weeks issue we produced sta
tistics to show that millions of acres of the
peoples heritage are at this moment jeopar-
died, the title thereto growing insecure or
vanishing altogether; we quoted from a
speech of Congressman Lore these significant
words:-
"There is DO donbt that for the last twenty
years millions of acres have been thrown
away in the most prohigate, irresponsible
manner, that the contracts between the
Government and the corporations betray
none of that oircumspection by the Federal
authorities, demanded of them as keepers
and agents of the public estate"
In this connection it is pertinent to outline
the work which devolves upon the Interior
Department of the incoming administration
and there is no man in this country who
would be such terror to land grabbers as
| Judge Thurman of Ohio Thurman and
| Edmunds conjointly in theUnited States
Senate formed an insuperable barrier
band between rights of the people and
the unrighteous demands of the Uuion Pa
elf crailroad. A powerful railroad syndicate
will be formed to prevent Judge Thurman
being rendered the portfolio of the Interior,
but President Cleveland is expected to fash
ion his cabinet according to his own judg.
ment and i'll this we see probability of ex
Senator Thurman occupying an exaltid seat
in the Preidents family circle, and we
entertain the hope that it will be at the
head of the Interior Depal tment.
The Secretary of the Interior in the new
Administration will have great deal of i'm
portant work to do. The expenditures OF
tho Government in the last fiscal gear, aside
from interest ON the public debt, were about
s10I, 600, 900. OF this sum $50, 1900, 900 or
nearly 30 per cent, was paid ont by the bureau
of that department. and many millions more
were used by its other bureaus. The pay.
ment of PENSIONS the disposal of the public
lands, and tile care Of the India ms are the
most important of the matters intrusted tu
this department. The new Secretary should
be man who will secure the enforcement
of the laws with reference to land and se'
that both settler and the land grabber hav'
justice. There are millions of acres to be
reclaimed from thieves and millions in un
earned grants that should be restored to til,
public domain. By fraudulent use OF tht
homestead, pre-enption, and timber culture
laws, honest settlers have been deprived o
vast acres by spectators, aud millions OF
foreign cattle companies should be released
for settlement. The Secretary who under
takes to drive out tha land grabbers will bt
confronted by powerful politicians and
wealthy combinations that have heretofore
successfully defied the Government. The
restoration of the forfeited grants will de
pend upon the legislation, but the proper
enforcement of the law will depend in great
measure upon the Secretary. One of thu
subordinates will deal directly with the sub
sidized Pacific railroads that owe the Govern
ment more than slOO, 100000. Tue manage
ment of that bureau has been at times scand
alously bad. 1t should be placed in til,
hands of a man who has none of the pecu-
liar views of THEoPHILUs FRENCH, and even
when directed by faultless Commissioner ii
it will require the Secretary's careful atten-
tion.