Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1885-11-26
LEWISTON IDAHO TERRITORY THURSDAY NOVEMBER 1885
COMMISSIONERS SPARKS AND
THE SENATE.

The report that the cattlemen and the
railroads will make common cause against
the confirmation of Land Commissioner
Sparks was probably started by that zen.
t!eman's own friends. If the country
could be made to believe that he has 50
conducted the office as to incur the dis.
pleasure Of the kind things and the mag.
mates Of the rail that wonld make him
the great favoiite of the people, more
especially if the ranchmen were in the
Lad. Vast tracts Of public land have
been fenced in aud the rights Of pioneers
sacrificed. To bring the spassers to
time would be very popular thing t.
do, but that is not what Mr.. Sparks is
doing. His fights is not against great
c r,ti,ns, but against homestcads
The pioneers wh are trying to acquire
u.:s for their Iam les und the
homestead, timber culture, or pre.emp
in acts find in this nan 5. Ks their
worst enemy, ,ui tho Senate ought to
espouee their cause, aud probably will
Hence his anxiety to appear in a falls,
light.
That thrra are some fraudulent land
entries no one acquainted with human
nature wuull think Of quest oning, bu
that indubitable facts affords no excus,
for suspending, as Sparks is doing, til
rish. Of pre- emption. NJ patents ha' .
been. issued since the lst of April. Fol
seven months this state Of things ha,
continued. II the law were allowed I,
take its course in the natural way tn
patents would amount to about $500 4,
month. I, follows that 1880 are nov
in susI en- 'e, and by the time Congress
cpnvenes the number will be 10000
These figures include tree claims, bu
those are as legitimate as any others
The government, by law Of Congress
has entered into contract with th,
irontiersmcn Of the country to sell then
land on certain specified terms TIL,
payments are partly in money. and partl,
in work. BY the time the Senate con
venes the government will be charged
with bad faith in 10000 cases, and al
because this man Sparls, blocks the way
by an abuse of his authority as Commi-
sioncr Of the Land Office.
!
! The excuse that Mr. Sparks makes j
that some fraudulent claims have bee,
made, us ii the fact that some persons
are rascals WIS an excuse for treatin.
them all as such. It's his duty to throw
about the public domain every possibl,
protection, but it is net his duty to nul
! lify the law, aud be should be cut shor,
in his career of nulliGer. Let him inves
tigate as closely as he please, and in
every suspicious case bring proceeding,
before the courts to test the validity OF
the patents issued. A real estate It'll,
procured by fraud can be set aside
The land can not in the meanwhile be de
plcted or carried off.
Among all the citizens Of this county
who deserve credit for usefulness tn,
very highest need of praise belongs t.
the pioneer who by hardship and toi
makes the wilderness fruitful field
This proposition is too plain for argu
ment And as class they are excep
tionlly honest, as well as industrious ano
frugal. Shall they de singled out fo'
exceptional abuse? Eevn the prisoner
at the bar is assumed to be innocent un
til proved guilty, albeit au Indictment hai
been found against him, but the tarmcrs
upon the frontier are assumed to be ras
Gals until proved to be honest That i,
the Sparks idea of "reform. The Sen
ate should make quick work with such ;
'reiormer." Nothing could excuse tn,
policy he has pursued for seven mouth,
toward the vast army now engaged in cx