Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-01-13
WASHINGTON NEWS.
Important Decision by Land Commission.
er Sparks-NOminations Confirmed by
the Senate-LOsses by the Late Storm.
WAsHINGroN, Jan. l2.

Land Commissioner Sparks TODAY promul-
gated an important decision effecting the
claims of the Northesn Pacific Railroad Co.
to grant land between point on Columbia
River. near Portland, Oregon, and Tacoma,
on Puget sound in Washington Territory.
The commissioner says the road between
these points was authorized to be construct
ed by joint resolution of Congress in 1869,
without a land grant. The original act of
1864 provided for main line of road across
Cascade Mountains to Puget Sound and
branch from point not more than 800 miles
east of the western termination. passing down
Columbia River to point at or nesr Port
land, Oregon, but made no provision for
road or grant between Portland and Puget
Sound. The railroad company lay claims To
a grant fer this portion of the road under
u joint resolution of Congress of 1870. which
provided that the company might construct
its main line down Columbe river, and its
branch across the Cascades with the same
grants a. provided for by the original act of
corporation. Commissioner Sparks holds
that as no grant was made bv the original act
of construction of the road from Portland to
Tacoma, and none by the act of 1869, no
such grant can be presumptively drawn from
the joint resolution of 1870. He hold that
no such grant was made by any act of Con-
gress. The decision effects the odd num-
bered sections of land ten miles in width,
for a distance OF LOG miles, aggregating some
two and half million acres, estimated to be
worth $4,000 The claim of the Railroad
Company to these lands has long been dis
puted by the settlers.
The Senate today confirmed the following
nominations:
Henry L. Muldrow of Mississippi to be
or
Geo. A. jerks of Pennsylvania, to be as
sistant secretary of the interior.
VIM. +. Mclean of Indiana, to be first
deputy commissioner of pensions.
Joseph j. Bartlett of New York. to be
second deputy commissioner of pensions.
Robert b. Vance of North Carolina, to be
assistant commissioner of patients.
VIM. Il. Smith of New York, to be assist
ant secretary of the treasury.
Conrad n Jordan of New Jersey, to be
treasurer of the United States.
James W. Whelpley of New York, to be
second comptroller of the treasury.
The Senate in executive session today. af-
ter confirming about 100 no limitations as fast
as they could be read, is said to have reached
that OF minor postmaster whose predeces-
sor had been removed to make vacancy.
Some one made enquiry as to the cause of
hle pEtutCcSeOE TcHlONdi, ueNelOplHR tne
fact that the committee on post-ofices had no
information on the subject. This gave rise
to an hours discussion. No one was able to
say what the policy of the administration in
this regard would be, and beyond an ex-
preston of individual opinions, and in some
cases narration of individual experiences OF
Senators in securing information Of the heads
of executive departments, nothing was done.
The reports receiued by the general super
intendent of life saving service show fften
vessels wrecked within scope of the opera
tons of the service during the storms of Fri
day night and Saturday morning last, and
that the crews of fourteen OF them were res
cued, while that of only one was lost This
latter vessel was the schooner Mary G. Farr,
which went ashore in the night time ut Spring
Lake, N. J. 1t was found impossible to rem
der any aid to the crew. and it is believed
from the latest reports received that of all
the persons on board of her two only were
alive when she struck.
In reporting the Hoar bill to regulate the
presidential succession to the House ma
lorlty of the committee say it is absolutely
necessary to provide for the succession un-
der the circumstances now existing, having
turthea and more satisfactory provisions for
contingencies which may arise to other meas
ures hereafter TO De proposed. There are
grave doubts as to whether the president pro
tempore of the Senate or Speaker of the
House are such officers of the United States
as in the meaning and intent of the consti-
tuition could succeed to the presidential Of
flee. Statutes providing therefor to the con-
trary, Notwithstanding the doubts, would dis
turb the succession under the present stat
utes, and would in all probability lead to
contest that would disquiet the nation, unset
tie business and disturb the peace of the
country. grave objection to the present,
in the opinion Of the majority, is the fact that
it merges the executive into the legislative
branch of the government and "annexes"
the powers and duties of the chief executive
Office to the position of president pro tempro
of the Senate or speaker of the House. The
majority of the committee think the cabinet
officer selected by the chosen President of
the people, by and with consent of the SEN
ate, the representative body of the sovereign
States and certainly the proper successor to the
administration OF the government for the re-
mainder of the term. 1t concludes with
strong recommendation for the passage of
the act.