Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1884-02-02
WASH NGTON.
The Poblle Belt.


WAxHlNoToN. Feb. 1.-The decrease
Ia the public debt for Jxndary wxs tll,-
8,0Ol. the decrease since January
SOsh was y8A66A.U 7A; cash in the treas
ury S&0. Ale, Z32; gold certificates xlVl,-
2GO,6U; silver oertiioatss $llO,l37. go;
certificates Of deposit SIC, 8HO, U0O; re-
funding certificates t307 80; legal ten
ders ~, 66S. lOl; fractional currency
-, xdO.
Ads issued to the Pacific railways,
ins6rSbs payable ny the United States;
principal outstanding ~, 623, 5l2; in
teEest accrued and not yet paid x3S3. O7.
interest paid by the United States $751;
LOO, N6.
TIE FITS Ssha Psraer DIll Passes the
D0sase.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 1.-The House has
passed the Fltz John Porter bill by 184
70 ~.
THE Lana Forfeiture Dili.
WAsHMoroM, Jan. 0.-Senator Slater
today introduced an impO tant bill relat-
ing to the rights Of settlers upo6 lands
within the limits Of the grant Ut North
ern Dakota. Montana. Idaho, washing.
ton Territories and Oregon. whose set
Elements we're made prior ~ July I,
1879.
section provides that patent shall
b issued t. the Northern Pacific Com
paay for any section or portion thereof.
not already patented 10 said company,
designated BY tie act Of July 8, 1854;
and that wherever, on the line Of said
road. opposite to the company's lands.
the limits Of the grant arc not definite
" flied, any citizen o the United States
who has settled and in good faith i'm
proved anv Of said sections or parts
thereof. Or his assigns or heirs comply
ing within eighteen months after the
passage Of this act With tho require,
ineuts Of the pro emption. homestead,
town site or timber culture laws Of ~
Uuited States, upon paying 70 the prop
or officers Of the United States t2.5O yer
ACRE for each asrs embraced in his cot.
Element, the amount not exceeding 16O
acres, shalt have patent issued 70 him,
confirming 70 him title to said land, and
the Northern Pacific Company shalt
either accept the money % paid for said
or may select other sections or portions
thereof. under and pursuant % indem-
nifty provided By the act Of July 2, l664.
0eVSAuo y YkOVs00U Su6S ~ my VI tuO
sections or portions thereof remain IN
disposed Of, pursuant TO the provisions
Of Section 2, at the expiration Of Is
months from the passage Ut this Act,
patents shall b issued 10 the said North
sYn Pacific Company confirming H. title
thereto.
WAaMnoroN, Jan. 3l.-Nr. Cobb,
Chairman Of the House Committee ON
Public Lands, said to-day tnas while he
had not oanvasDod the committee ON the
Northern Pacific land grant question,
he believed the members would b
almost unanimously in favor Ut for
fixture. There arc legal questions IN
volved In the Northern Pacific land
grants that do not appear In the esses
Of other roads, and u may require somc
tims b reach ooaelusion; bat hs had
no dOabs that the result would BE- . re-
port 70 The House In favor Of declaring
its grant forfeited. Cobb thinks the
question Of fosfsitina land grants b
purely . judicial ono; but ~ the Uuited
States Supreme Court has decided IL 20
b. Q legislative ace, the committed voold
% on and do its duty. Tho same prin-
oiplo applies, - 0aid, % al roads
which have failed % comply with The
prOvieiono Of the granting cot.