Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1885-11-20
conxlssIOsss srAxxs.

- ~'VoO~s0SO " ~ CvOG Wv ~ 3G0UND |
Irrespective 81 Political FAITH, ~ Al |
Omcioss. Ignorant aaa Aaiieisusly
Active Idiot.
When. some months ago, Commn-
sioner Sparks issued his infamous or.
der 'sspending al pre-. smption and
homestead applications for patents,
after the final proof required BY Law
had been made, until tie could have
such proofs examined by two or more
special agents, the TlAEs Immediately
denounced it, because: .s
Firstly.-It Disseminated against
the Western States and Territories, a
II purposely excluded the Southern
States from its provisions.
Secondly.-Because it said, in Of.
fest, t. very poor settler on the pub.
lilo domain in the West and to his wit
nssses, that they were perjursrs.
Thirdly.-Because it Disseminated
in favor of capitalists and others who
had made cash entries, to the detri-
msnt Of the bona fide but poor set.
tier.
Fourthly.-Because it would re-
quirs the employment of an army of
special agents whose pay would ab-
sorb more than the revenue from the
sale of lands would amount to.
Fifthly.-Bsoause it would retard
the settlement and opening.up Of the
Western pubic domain, and thus re-
tard the progress and prosperity Of
the United States.
Later on Commissioner Sparks is
sued another order changing the in
appreciation heretofore placed upon the
laws relating to the cutting of timber
upon the public domain in such way
that vast quantities of timber cut by
millmen for use IN the mines, and cit
les, towns and villages OF the Wes'
were seized BY some Of his specia
agents or spies.
On the appearance Of this order
the TINES denounced it because {,
, would inflict great and unnecessar,
hardship upon all millmen who hae
entered the public domain and, ii
coed faith, had cut timbers, lumbe
! and cordwood for ''domestic use," .
that term had hitherto been inter
preted by the authorities.
All this time the press OF the North
west maintained absolute silence il
- this matter, and did not even com
J. ment upon the obnoxious orders
This somewhat puzzled US, and "
x determined to watch the leading pr
y pers for their expressions Of opinio
" o. the subject. At FIRST the editor
of the newspapers referred to faile
to realize how malicious, impoliti
!. and unjust the orders were. Hene
= their silence. -...
,. Now, however, that they begin
!, observe the iar-reaching deviltry an
:, disastrous working Of those ordsrs,the
>. are making up for lost time by tt
:. vigor of their attacks upon the 'po
:. ICY" or lack of it,of the stupid Il AN
A. Of the General Land Office; and Il
,e newspapers from St. Paul, in Mi
to nesota, to the Pacific Coast, irrespe
~ tive of political faith, are almost u
~ animous in their denunciation of NJ
Sparks and his crude, unstatesmanlil
orders. The Salt Lake Tribune, f
in instance, which had not had wo
r. on the subject, now comes boldly
n. the front with the following:
Be From the Butte, Montana, pape
10 the news comes that by recent ord
-. Of Commissioner Sparks Of the La'
~ Department Of the Interior Burea
be the Commissioner construcs the Ia
it. to mean that no man can be permits
de to cut timber from any public Ian
~ except tor the actual use of such inc
- vidual. OF course such . constru
!" ton is simply idiotic, and reveals
ID, tai ignorance, on the part of the Coz
as missioner, OF all frontier needs a.
Dr. rights, if not a total vacuum in
;, lobe of the brain which is supposed
" be tho seat of common sense. 1
order nearly paralyzes the people
h; the North. for if carried out, as
.ey looal land agents are ordered to ca
it out, it will necessarily cause eve
mine, mill and smelter in the Territ'
to close down. In presence OF
danger, the people OF Montana hs
u.s. moved with promptness. They ha
led petitioned their Governor to wire
for the Secretary OF the Int rior, ask
him to cause suspension Of the
- der until the people can be he