McCook weekly tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 188?-1886, 1884-05-29
CAPITAL TOPICS.
LAND GRANT FoRFEITURKs.

LAND GRANT FORFEITURES.
The bill relating to the forfeiture of
the Northern Pacific lands, provides for
immediate restoration to the public do
main and to the operation of the public
land laws that portion of the grant lying
contiguous with its main line between Wal
lula Junction and Portland, distance OF
pa miles. 1t also provides for the forfeit
ure at the end of five years from the passage
of the bill of all lands adjacent to that por-
ton of the Cascade grant which shall then
be unbuilt, in effect giving the road five
years to build the Cascade branch. The
bill proposes to authorize persons In pos
session of any of these lands to purchase
800 acres, II SO much has been improved by
them. The railroad company is required
to file its assent to the conditions Of the
bill, so as to avoid all question as to title of
forfeited lands.
LAND GRANTS.
Representative Lewis has been in
strucled by the house committee on public
lands to report favorably the joint resolu-
ton prohibiting the secretary of the interior
from taking steps to confirm, certify or
patent any land grants in cases where re
ports favOring forfeiture Of such land grants
have been made in either branch OF congress,
until after final action shall be taken on such
bills, or the supreme court of the United
States decide ON the validity Of such grant.
The secretary is prohibited from certifying
or patenting any land grant except where
all conditions are strictly complied with.
In doubtful cases the benefit of the doubt
shall be given to the government.
POSTAL TELEGRAPH.
The report of the committee on the
subject of postal telegraph has been COM
pleted. 1t gives summary OF the history
of the increase, debts, rentals and capital
IL A. Y,,;a
the value of United States property, leased
and otherwise, and tells what it would re-
quire to reproduce lines in every respect
equal to those of the Western Union. Three
hundred and fifty thousand miles of wire
would cost, including poles. construction
and instruments, $24, 800 200. The report
asserts that passage Of the postal telegraph
gram from 80 to q cents immed' ately, and
to 20 cents in five years, and secure uni.
formity of charges, irrespective of the
amount of business in the different places,
for kilograms to newspapers and to COM
mercial news associations.
ON TO OKLAHOMA.
The following telegram, dated Fort
Reno, from Major Dewes, concerning per-
sons trying to force their way into the
Oklahoma lands, has been transmitted by
the acting secretary ofwar to the secretary
of the interior: GA courier has just ar
rived from Lieut.. Day, who is on the CHM
maron, and reports that the intruders made
serious resistance. Day has arrested thir-
ty.five and many more are coming. They
may overpower him by numbers, I will
send Captain Carroll, with all available
cavalry, this afternoon. have asked the
commanding officer at Fort Sill for two
troops Of cavalry"
REVENUE REFORM.
The Post prints interviews with
eighty-two democratic members of the
house of representatives in support of the
demand that clear and explicit statement
of principles absolutely committing the
democratic party to the issue Of revenue
reform in the presidential canvas shall be
made by the Chicago convention of July.
| Among those interviewed are Carlisle, Nor.
rison, Hewitt, Rosecrans, Hurd, Slocum,
Cox IN. ", Holman, Buckner and Black
burn. The latter says they look to the con-
vention for vindication OF the contest
made at this session for tariff reform.