Los Angeles daily herald., 1885-12-31
NEWS OF THE WORLD.
Commissioner Sparks on
the Land Question.
HE DON'T FAVOR RAILROADS.,
Markham at Work on Our Postal
Service = Affairs at the
National Capital.

Especial 10 the Herald bv Associated Pre's
CHIcAeo, December SO.--The Daifl
Ns,cs publishes a Washington speeia
which says: Commissioner Sparks, o.
the Land Office, who has been SO Sc
vereiy criticised for recent rulings IN
land questions. was asked II it were true,
as reported. that he wished he had moi
been confirmed, in order to see whether
or not the Senate would now reject him,
and he replied. 81 don't care to discuss
that. Those who oppose my work have
stated repeatedly that II | had not been
confirmed at the outset would now be
rejected. said before and now repeat
that II the Senate would investigate the
condsct Of my office and study the mo
tives which prompted my decisions. II
would not only confirm but compliment
ne upon the faithful discharge OF my
duty. When took the office l had
no special instructions. | was ex.
peeted TO cirry out the laws and
am endeavoring to do so. Land matters
were then in in deplerable condition
as business had been conducted in loose
manner. There was no strict obedience
of Law on the part Of the subordinaies
aud fraudulent entries OF government
land was proceeding with impunity, in
fact the public domain was being rapid
Iy wasted, and nonresident spectators
were acquiring far greater proportion
OF 1t than was going into the hands Of
bona fide settlers. | found organized
rings, who seemed devoted to theft OF
lands. My object has been TO check
these violations OF law and did not ex-
pect to get along without aronsing the
hostility Of great many people. "
When asked whether he was thinking
OF resigning, he answered. "No sir, am
not; nor have | ever so Thought On
the contrary, am more firmly resolved
than ever to remain"
When aneslioned as to the statement
that his decisions had been frequently
overruled, the Commissioner said: IL
assure you upon my honor that there is
not single instance where my decisions
have been overruled. OF course II would
be singular in the multiplicity Of matters
that come before this office il the Secrs-
tary should not find occasion TO reverse
me. It will happen. and often, | pre-
sumo; but thus far, despite the rawlings
of the subsidized press aud the deliberate
falsehoods of the corrupt combinations |
am trying to destroy. there has not been
a reversal. The nearest approach to my
being overruled was in the case Of Gif-
ford VS.. the Atlantic & Pacific Rail.
road. The railroad had a grant
along the line that was described in the
act as running to the Pacific Ocean. II
was constructed from the Kansas termi-
nus to San Bernardino, on the Pacific
slope, and thence it was extended along
the coast four hundred miles to San
Francisco. Glffordhad settled upon pub
lie land along the reservation claimed
adjacent to this extension. | ruled that
he held the land as against the claims OF
the grant along this portion Of its route
by the Atlantic and Pacific Company.
Clifford was there prior to the road aud
hence was entitled to his tract. Bat |
went further aud said that the road had
no grant along this extension for 1t had
exhausted its right when ii first reached
the Pacific Ocean. II il had a grant it
was along the intended route from
Kansas to San Bernardino. IL is
obvious to the most careless observer
that the other scheme, II valid, would
permit the road 10 be rau at will and to
claim the land adjacent to all its cir
cumfexions. Secretary Lamar in this
case only recommended that the reserva-
tion of this railroad for a grant be re.
spected until it should be determined in
an issue squarely involving the disputed
point, but Gifford's right TO his land was
sustained. The railway company has
never appealed. and l don't believe 1t
will. | might add in this connection
that IL Is doubtful whether the Atlantic
and Pacific Road has any right. even
along the original line, for the simple
reason that it has not complied with the
terms Of its grant