The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1885-12-12
WASHINGTON WAITS.
An Important Mining DecisiOn-At-
torney Generals Report.

WARRINGTON, December 9.-The proofs
submitted in the Munroe lode mining claim
from Deadwood, Dakota, pending an appli-
cation for a patent, and conflicting with a
prior placer claim, has been approved by
Acting Secretary of the Interior Mild
row, it being held that a voluntary dismis-
sal by the placer claimant of the suit insti
tuted in court was an abandonment OF the
grounds in conflict and sufficient waiver
OF the claim to the entire width applied for
by the lode claimant. He authorizes the
issue of a patent accordingly. The decis
ion is important as it establishes a prece-
dent in such cases.
OUR MARINE SERVICE.
The bill introduced by Senator Frye for
the encO ragement of the American mer
chant marine is the one introduced by him
last year. 1t embodies the subsidy clause
Of the last postoffice appropriation BILL
LAND LAWS.
Senator Dolphs bill introduced in the
Senate to repeal the timber culture, ,pre-emp-
tion and desert land acts, provides that
in the place of these modes of entering
land, all persons entitled to make home
stead entry shall be entitled to desert or
mountainous land. Desert or mountain
Gus lands are defined as all lands exclusive
of timber and mineral lands, which will not
produce agricultural crops without irriga-
ton and all lands which are so mountain
Gus and rough that they cannot be
ploughed and cultivated. 1t further pro-
vides that any forty acre tract OF which
three-quarters are desert or mountainous
shall be desert or mountainous land.
ANOTHER REPORT.
The Attorney General in his report says
the aggregate amount of fines, forfeitures
and penalties imposed during the year in
criminal prosecutions was $4S1. .S56, and
the amount of these fines, forfeitures and
penalties collected during the year was
S62 1874, while Sc, 1877 was realized on fines,
furfeitures and penalties imposed in former
years. The amount of court expenses paid
during the year was $2.874.733. The At
torney General suggests the advisability of
building iaiIs at each place in the country
where United States courts are held. The
necessity Of building a penitentiary
where all persons convicted of United
States offenses could be confined, is strongly
urged Such convicts, he says, could be
employed in the manufacture OF supplies
exclusively of the Government, which work
would assist in making the institution
self sustaining. He also suggests the
propreity of erecting on grounds adjoining
the Department ofJustice proper building
for the accommodation in addition to that
department nf the Supreme Court and other
proper courts and commissioners OF the
United States The Attorney General
makes number "fother recommendations
among which are the following: That the
fees of marshals in
MONTANA, IDAHO AND WYOMING
be doubled; that the salaries OF marshals
he revised; that the compensation al
United States attorneys for New Mexico
and Arizona be increased and that the
compensation of the clerks OF the United
States courts in California be reduced;
that attorneys and marshals be required
to make returns by fiscal instead OF calen-
dar years; that the accounts OF the chief
SUPERVISORS OF elections be taxed in open
court under the inspection of the district
attorney; that the penalty for the punish
ment of persons resisting officers be made
more severe; that increased provisions
he made for the protection OF the United
States witnesses and that a suitable Uni
ted States Jail be built at Fort Smith, Ar
kansas. The report closes with brlef
statement of the Union Pacific Railway mt
iqation and says that motion Will be hled
by the Government in the Supreme Court
in a few days to advance the appeals on
the docket and have a speedy determlna-
tion OF them. The Attorney General adds
tha the motion will doubtless be granted
and the matter disposed of at an early
day.
THE CAUCUS COMMITTEE
of the Republican Senators having in
charge the arrangement Of the member
shin of the committee, held a meeting this
afternoon. 1t is understood that a decis.
ion was reached to tender Senator Sewell
the chairmanship q the Joint Library
Committee, vacated by Senator Sherman,
and to General Logan his old place as
chairman of the committee on military al
fairs, now held by General Sewell.
THE FEDERATION LABOR UNIONS
of the United States and Canada at it ses-
sion to-day considered the resolution Civ
ing the legislative commission OF the feder-
alton authority to manage all strikes and
lockouts in cooperation with local or
qanizatiuns, to levy assessments on the
different organizations, not to exceed two
cents a week per member, and limiting the
benefits to be paid members on strikes to So
y week. 1t was finally decided to extend
the time for voting on this measure to
March 1st next, in order to allow all or
carnations an opportunity to express
their sentiments in regard to it. resolu-
tion providing that the eight-hour resolu-
tion 90 into effect on May 1st next was
brought up. but it's consideration was post