The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1886-05-12
HOUSE.

RHsHIKGTos, May 1.-The specia
order for to-day being the considers
ton of the business reported from the
committee on private land claims, the
House Immediately after reading the
journal, went into committee of the
whole on bills providing for the appoint
ment of a commission to ascertain and
settle the private land claims in New
Mexico, Arizona and Colorado.
The bill provides for the appointment
Of three commissioners who shall re-
eeive a salary of 5000 each and serve
for four years, for the purpose of ad-
Indicating Spanish and Mexican land
claims in New Mexico, Arizona and
Colorado. In deciding the validity OF
any claim, the commission shall be
governed by the provisions of the treaty
of Guadalupe Hidalgo. the Gadsden
treaty with Mexico, the law of nations,
the law. usages and customs of the gov
ernmentfrom which the claim is derived.
and decisions of the United States to
the Supreme Court. In case of the rejec-
ton or confirmation of any claim by the
Commission 1t shall be lawful for the
claimant or United States District At
torney TO present petition of the Dis
trict Court of the district wherein the
land is situated praying for review of
the decision. The District Court shall
render judgment upon the evidence,
and shall upon the application of the
party against whom the judgment Is
rendered, grant an appeal to the
United States Supreme Court. The usual
provision is made authorizing witnesses,
employment of stenogrsphers, etc.
Weaver (0hi0), thought the House
should 90 slow in passing upon the sub
lect. He read letter from George w.
Julian, Surveyor General for New
Meuco, in which the gentleman eI-
pressed the opinion that the passage OF
the bill would be disastrous 70 the best
interests of the Territory.
Symes (Colorado). while he had great
respect for the opinion of Mr.. Julian,
declared these private land claims could
not be properly settled unless by sys-
tenn Of laws which left the adjudication
to the executive and political branch of
the government. What has been the
experience under the act un-I
department, through the Sur-
Teyor-General of New Mexico, settle
private claims in that Territory? The
SurYeyor-Generalh had proceeded TO in
Yestigate and TO report to the commits
sioner of the general land Office, and
upon these reports the cases have been
brought before Congress now and then,
and claims have been confirmed for
millions of acres in excess Of the proper
amount Of land involved. Fraud has
been charged and countercharged. The
Maxwell land grant was a sample of the
fraud, and had arisen from an attempt
which had been farcial failure, to set
de the private land claims by tie execu-
tive branch OF government, when the
claims were worth millions and the
cupidity OF ringsters and schemers was
involved.
On motion of Reagan (Texas), an
amendment was adopted providing be-
lore the title 10 any claim shall be con-
nrmed, the claimant shall show that all
axes due the Territorial and municipal
governments have been paid.
On motion Of Hewitt New York;,
An amendment was adopted providing
nat whenever claim is presented be-
L9re the commission it shall be the duty
u The commission before proceeding 10