Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-03-31
Land Grabs i'm New Mexico.

MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE or THAT Stair ASK
FOR AN INVESTIGATION By CONGRESS-
Mr.. Springer has received memorial from the
new members Of the New Mexico legislature. drawn
up by O. P McMains, one OF the delegates. with the
request that he present 1t To Congress The me-
mortal charges that millions OF acres OF land In
New Mexico and Colorado have been corruptly
converted to private use and asks that a special
committee be appointed TO Investigate the matter.
IL specifically charges that the several land Offices.
without authority OF law. held In the In
tereSt OF private claimants some 100000 acres OF
public land In New Mexico and Colorado patents
TO portions OF which have been obtained by certain
pafueS from that office. The report specifically
says: "Martin Andrew "a relative Of eX-PreSident
Rutherford b. Hayes, in letter Wit hout date and
headed Executive mansion unlawiully requested
commissioner Williamson TO have an estimate
made for preliminary survey OF unconfirmed pri-
waite land claim No. 80 In Pueblo county, Col that
a deposit might be made fer the same and that
same claim might be presented Ia the 'neyt Con-
greSS' Tor northumberland Commissioner " iIliam-
son unawfuily compiled with this request, and pub
nc land 10 the extent OF about 600 600 acres thereby
held IN reserve 10 the Injury bona de settlers on
the pubic domain" Among the statements is one
10 the effect that Commissioner Williamson I'M
lawfuiiy permitted 3,tJuD acres OF public lands 10
be Included within the limits OF the private land
claims through the influence NJ ex-senator Jerome
b. Chaffee. George VI. Chilcott, OF colorado, and
delegate stephen Ii. Elkins, or New Mexico.
WHAT Is SAID AT THE LAND OFFICE.
In regard 20 this memorial Mr.. Luther Harrison,
the Chief clerk OF the General Land Office said 10
STAR reporter: 1.-The department has the authority
81 law for everything dnne in these matters.
There may be four millions acres reserved
for private Claims, but there is au;hOri-
" on law forit, IL reservations To that amount
nave been made. Patents Tor the Mora, he Sangre
d. CriSto. The Beaubien Miranda or Maxwell grants
were confirmed by act OF Congress. Passed In I-,l
The patents. however, were mol Issued until the L.
5. supreme Court In the case OF john -. Tamelling
piainun in error, art. the uit.d States Ffevnoid
Land and Emigration Co. which involved the d.
termination OF the title and extent of the Saure IL.
Cristo. made its decision. holding that The act OF
ccnlfln3tt2n was absolute anu unconditional with
out any limitation OF quantity, a4d connEnnd all
the land that was embraced IN the bound
aries set out In the recommendation OF
the SlIrI ey0r general. beng the same bound aries
described IN the grant. II became neccsSlry. There
fore, 10 locate the sad boundaries upon the cart 5
surface. which WAS 3fterwai done, and properly
too. and a patent WAS issued uDOn [. = survey 20
made The same course was paTsutI rs to the
Mora and Maxwell, Is the principle OF said decision
Was applicable thereto. Notwithstanding the fact
that the department had previously decided. I'm the
Beaubien and Miranda grant. that IL comprised
only 5000 acres. this decision gave l..p10to
acres. The department Is not In the habit OF allow
Ing hOme5te3QS on mineral lands il IL is known
The government may have been imposed GA IL this
respect"