The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-04-08
CAUGHT IN A BIG STEAL.
Attempt to Plumber the Nation OF 6OO,-
600 Acres or Land.
The Old Ernissaries of the Southern Pacific
Railroad In the Land Office Used
as Go-BetweeDs Chambers
Order Regarding Wives
of Naval Officers.
New York World Washington Special

New York World Washington Special
Every day new proof is brought forward to
show the wisdom of the change in the admin
istration of national affairs Each day new
evidence is brought to light showing that the
changes in the personnel of the departments
can hardly be too sweeping or radical If a
thorough reform in the administration OF
public affairs is TO be secured. The other
day dispatch was given in the World des-
cfiuing the radical steps being taken by Gen
eral Sparks 10 protect the interests of the
Land Office from the corporation interests
which have so long controlled 1t. Their au-
dscity in holding on to the very last mo.
ment is something very extraordinary.
Yesterday General Sparks found evil
dence OF an attempt TO steal over half
million sores of land right out from
under contrary order of Secretary Lamar's
few days before General Sparks gained
possession OF the Land Office. For q number
of years the Southern Pacific has claimed
1900. OCG ceres assigned 10 them By the Tex.
as Pacific Railroad. Congress st the lsst sss.
sion declared this grant forfeited, and di-
recled that the land should be- restored TO
the public domain. Upoa March Is Sscre-
tsIy lamar Issued an order directing the
Registers OF the varic~s land offices through.
out the country TO held these lands subject
TO entry and settlement. In the survey OF
the Southern Pacific Road il laps at the juno.
ton with the Texas Pacific Railroad in such
a manner that for number of miles ii runs
across the lands Of the Texas Pacific grant
After Mr.. Lamar had issued his order the
agents OF the road, anxious tossve something
out OF the wreck of 10, 900 GOO, applied
through their old friends in the Land Office
10 have the lands adi dining their road where
it laps upon the Texas Pacific line exempted
from the order.
Such an exemption was MAIDS and was
issued March Is by the acting Land Commits
sioner, Harrison. The tract exempted en-
braces nearly 6000 GOO acres of land. This
violation of Mr. Lamar's order was very
quietly accomplished. It was only yester-
day that General Sparks discovered il. He
called upon Mr.. Harrison to explain his
issuing such an extraordinary order. He
said that he had signed it merely in routine
way. This is favOrite defense for every JOB
uDsarthed IN the departments. The order
was traced back to the Chief Clerk and the
head OF the Railroad Division in the bureau.
Neither one Of them would assume the re-
sponsibility of the order.
General Sparks intends to carefully inYes-
tgate the whole subject and find out who is
responsible for 1t. Here under the beautiful
workings Of the civil serVics the expert
agents of the plunderers of the public lands
Lave DScu Acib ia tbo OCpaItHucAtH III 6uCu
positions that accident only disclosed their
attempt Il take out over half million acres
of land contrary TO the order Of the head of
that department throwing these lands open
to public entries. There Is no defense TO be
made for such on attempt. Il was rs delib.
crate a theft as vas ever planned for if the
order could have stood undIsturbed for a
number OF years it would have gwen the
Southern Pacific Road good claim 10 title
in the courts. What is true of the Land
Office is probably true OF any one of the
great bureaus of the Government where the
corporations Of the country have had large
interests at stake