St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-12-04

and Gen. Sparks Mr.. jerks is an erudite
juriSt, and with his clear, quick, grasping
mind, he combines joking, happy manner.
He sees much in this life to smile at, and
puffs a relished cigar while treading the
mazes of legal briefs. He is very approach
able, straightforward and able beyond
doubt. He is very fond of athletic sports,
and is himself very active pedestrian.
His gray side-whiskers are but lines that
merely frame his face and leave all its dis
tinctiye features free and open. 1t is a
very kindly face, and the constant smile
that plays upon his lips shows how read
lily he
DETECTS AN ABSURDITY.
asked him bluntly in regard to the sys-
tematic attacks that emaDated from so
many quarters. asserting that he was wag-
lug a crusade upon Gen. Sparks land rul-
ings. 1t is absolute folly, he said, to fur
nish denials for the press. paper that
will wilfully publish falsehood before in
vestigation can scarcely be relied upon to
print denial. In the routine of this Office
certain law matters are referred to me by
the secretary of the interior; in that way
have an appellate jurisdiction over regula-
tions and decisions of the land Office. Gen.
Sparks has the first guess at the law; have
the last which is binding. Time out of
mind appeals have been prosecuted in this
department, approvals made and reversals
ordered. Many of the reversals of land.
office decisions made by me are of those
rendered by the predecessor of Gen. Sparks.
This system of appeal has always existed,
always been practiced. and heretofore no
designing press has found more in it than
in the appeals daily orderedin courts of law.
Gen. Sparks talks directly and with per-
feet freedom. AS to his report having
within it
INFLAMMABLE MATERIAL,
and having been delayed by the secretary,
it is sufficient answer to know that the AS
sociated Press has now mailed that report
all over the United States, and each editor
can go on an exploring expedition by him
self for any combustible matter. The re-
port was held no longer than those of the
Indian and railway bureaus. in fact not so
long. If there were incendiary and radical
recommendations in it no secretary would
cut them ont 1t is not to be presumed
that any bureau officer would entertain sen-
timents as to the business of his depart
ment precisely upon all fours with those
held by the superior official of them all, the
secretary of the interior. The latter ac-
ceptS. rejects, corrects and advances his
own original views. The president is again
the final censor, and adopts and rejects in
the preparation of his own message. FL
nally congress enacts such legislation as it
chooses. This procedure is so familiar that
its statement seems trite. But it is enough
to show the utter absurlity of the charges
made. AS to Mr.. LIE Barnes, law clerk,
being a man who makes Gen. Sparks decis-
ions, one fact shows
HOW RIDICULOUS IT IS.
He has been Republican in the Office for
twelve years. His decisions are so variant,
if he makes them. from what were made in
preceding years as to suggest wonderful
and complete change of mind. The truth
is Gen. Sparks makes his own decisions
and is responsible for them, and if his
judgment is wrong declares that he is glad
to have them reversed. No man presumes
that the vast amount of official papers in
the land office can be prepared by the COM
missioner himself Routine business is
transacted by different divisions. and each
paper bears the initial Of four men through
whose hands it has passed. Such papers
Gen. Sparks signs rapidly, with mere
cursory examination. But his decisions he
scans carefully, ard zen he has attached
his signature to them he assumes all re-
sponsibility. So long as Mr.. jerks and
Gen. Sparks protest that their relations are
harmonious it should require something
more than systematic reiteration of the Re-
publican press that they are otherwise to
convince fair-minded reader.