New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-04-27
SPARKSS LAST GREAT FIND.
HOW INSPECTORS SPEND A MILLION.
THE RESULT OF SEEING DOUBLE TwIcE-$200O0
MAGsIFlED INTO FOUR TIMES THAT AMOUNT.
tBY TELEGRAPH TO THE rRIBusE.I

THE RESULT OF SEEING DOUBLE TwICE-$ZOO,OOO
MAGsIFiED INTO FOUR TIMES THAT AMOUNT.
tRr TELEGRAPH TO THE rRrBCsEI
WASHINGTON, April 26.-The last proclama-
tion Of General" sr arks Commissioner of the Land
Office in relation to the extravagances discovered by
him In the land service should be taken with large
grain OF salt 1t bears on the question of the travelling
expenses OF the Special Agents Of the General Land
oce who engaged Ia the investigation OF fraudulent
entries under the -emption Homestead and Timber
Culture Acts and Of depredaons upon the timber lands
OF the United States. The Commissioner saysi
People may say that this Is very small affair." but 1t
ployed by the Land Office Their travelling expenses
hood OF $4,000 year each The aggregate expenses
or these agents for year will foot nearly 81 100000
honest items win result in a saving Of 100000 or
cans 10 contemplate but it will be nothing TO the dis
credit to the new Administration.
This is an amazing statement to come from the Gem
eral Land Office. General" Sparks ought to know
that the entire appropriation for the current fiscal year.
on account Of special agents for tho purposes above
named amounts to 100000 This amount includes
their salaries at the rate Of GOO year each. II there
be seventy OF them, their salaries would amount to
$1120OO leaving $685. 900 for travelling expenses and
other items From the appropriation mentioned
paid also the fees and mileage OF witnesses in hearings
at local land Offices of charges preferred by special
agents In view OF the fact that the entire appropra
ton is only 100000 is difficult to how the past
management" has been able to expend nearly
Sl,O000O0 in year.
The truth IL that the travelling expenses OF the special
agents average about 800 year each. The number
employed TO investigate entries under the Homestead
Presumption and Timber Culture Acts has been about
twenty five, the total amount Appropriation for the
salaries and expenses OF such agents for the current
hsca year ana for the fees and expenses OF witnesses
who attended hearings being 100000. which includes
deficiency OF $4,000 granted at the last session OF
Congress- This explanation shows how reckless have
been the charges OF eXtavagancs dishonesty which
nave enanated from tho General Land Once since the
present Commissioner took charge OF II.
In dispatch published in THE TRIBUNE OF April 81.
criticism made upon the order suspending the
issue OF oil land patents except In OF entries by
cash OF land scrip and IL stated that effect Of
the order would he 90 enhance the value OF scrip. That
effect has already been ITouced IL appeals that land
scrip which worth I'm Washington Sl3 acre a
week before the order Issued experienced sharp
advance Immediately after its pronugatOn. and within
week vas held at Si7 an About 5000 acres Of
this scrip II IL said are held by Washington specula-
tors, into whose hands Commissioner sparss order OF
April thus put the pretty sum OF $4,000.