The National tribune., 1886-10-14

more, 40 have stopped the paper.
Our terms are cash In advance. hyouknow any
way 10 collect the money ON this check from the
proper crank" aud will forward same, we VIII
be glad 90 fll out the year, but ] must respect
fully decline 10 waste any more time over bill
OF =.
THE SUPREME COURT.
The Supreme Court Of the United States be-
gan the 9-th year Of its official service last
Monday. In accordance with time-honored
custom, after the announcement by the CHIEF
Justice that the call Of the docket would begin
on Tuesday the court adjourned aud made its
annual ceremonial cali upon the President of
the United States, also leaving a card az the
residence OF the President pro tompore OF the
Senate chief officer of the legislative branch,
there being vacancy in the office OF Vice
President The court gets on slowly with ITS
business, and the interests Of ltigants before
the court are seriously affected by the unavoid-
able delay In the adjudication OF their cases.
Congress has been appealed 10 repeatedly with
out effect 10 make some provisions 10 enable
the court 10 expedite its work. IL would re-
qIirc between two and three years 10 dispose OF
c.lses now on the docket, not TO speak OF
new cases being constantly added.
A month ago the Chief Justice of the United
States Morrison r. Waite attained the age of
20 years. He therefore, has reached not only
the period Of natural, but also of official ten
years longevity TO make him eligible for re-
tirement. This makes four members of the
court who can take advantage OF the retire
mcnt act the Chief Justice, Justice Miller, JUS
tce Field, and Justice Bradley. The latter is
"a years old. Three OF these gentlemen enter
tain Federalst or modern Republican doc
trines Of constitutional Interpretation, and one,
Mr.. Field, though appointed a Republican, has
since swung over 10 the anti-Federal or Demo
cratic ideas of the meaning Of the Constitution.
Mr.. Field is the least vigorous Of the four, but
not one Of these eminent jurlsts looks as If he
would give this Administration an opportunity
to name his successor. The Chief Justice
might be taken for man of 90 and Judge Mil
Ter for 30. At present, ont of the nine mem
bers of the court, Judge Field is the only one
who is classed as a Democrat.
STEALING PUBLIC LANDS.
In his annual report Commissioner Sparks, of
the General Laud Office says that the evidences
Of widespread and persistent land robbery which
were mentioned in his last report were fur
nshed by agents of the Republican Administra-
tion, and that the developments of the past
year, under the agencies of the new Admins
tratiOn, have justified every word that he has
said. During the fiscal year ended June 80 the
sales OF public lands were 20,99l,96 acres, and
Of Indian lands l,I32 500 acres the total pro-
ceeds being 5000, 496, an increase Of 800, SOC
rs compared with the preceding year. The
Commissioner then takes up the subject of
fraudulent entries of public lands and says
that i, los entries have been cancelled FOR fraud,
embracing about l75, 900 acres which have thus
been restored TO settlement, and ass cases.
involving 225 000acres, have been held for can
collation..
Concerning unlawful Enclosures Of the public
domain, the Commissioner reports that 375 such
Enclosures embracing $4,000 acres, have been
brought 10 his attention and proceedings TO
compel removal have been brought in So cases,
involving 100000 acres. The total area over
which fences have been or are being removed
is 2,7l4,926 acres, mostly in Colorado. Depre-
dations upon public timber lands foot up So
1869 recoverable 10 the United States. Such
depredatiOns by powerful corporations, wealthy
mill owners, lumber companies and unscrupu-
Ions mOnOpolists though 10 a certain degree
checked, are still being committed TO an alarm
ing extent and great public detriment. The
Commissioner recommends that an act be
passed making false and fraudulent returns Of
public surveys and of surveys of private land
claims ofenses punishable by fine and impris-
Onment.
THE CATTLE PLAGUE.
In reply to an inquiry from the Massachusetts,
Cattle Commission. the Commissioner of Agri-
culture states that the expert veterinarians
agree as 20 the existence of plcnro-pneumonia
among the cattle in certain distillery stables in
Chicago. To eXterminaie the disease % bureau
is doing all possible under the law establishing
the Bureau Of Animals, but this law is so de-
lectiye, as are the laws of the various States
where the plague exists, that effective measures
Of extirpatlOn cannot be undertaken. Unless
all those interested in the cattle industry Of
the country join in a united effort 10 secure the
passage by Congress this Winter of a law that
viii give this Department authority TO slaugh-
ter diseased and exposed animals and a fund
sufficient TO at least partially indemnify the
owners, we may be able 10 confine the plague
within its present limits, but will be powerless
to extirpate it,
The disease stll prevails in and around New
York city In several localities in New Jersey,
among limited number Of herds i'm Pennsyl-
wanna and Delaware, quite extensively in Balti-
more city and County, in this District in a few
of the Eastern Border Counties of Virginia,
and quite extensively in some Of the distillery
and other stables in Chicago. Active measures
for the suppression Of the plague in Maryland
were undertaken couple Of months ago.
VETERANS AT THE CAPITAL.
On Monday, Oct. 4, about 200 veterans Of the
9TH, 10th, aud 37th Mass regiments, Eustiss
Brigade, Sixth Corps, left Springfield, Mass,
for Gettysburg. Wednesday was spent at Get
tysburg in defeating the monuments TO the
dead Of their regiments They remained there
until Friday morning, when about half Of the
party returned home and the others came on TO
Washington. Saturday was sufnrh Az visiting
points Of interest, aud Mt four 49, the party
left FOR Fredericksburg 10 visit the battlefeds
in that vicinity. Many Of the veterans had
not been in Washington since the war, and
their visit was full of interest.
MORMON BISHOPS PARDONED.
The President has paTdoned Ammon NJ
Tenny, ]. q. Kemp and J. II. ChristOGerson,
three Bishops of the Mormon Church, who were
convicted in Arizona, about two years ago, OF
violations Of the Edmunds law and sentenced
10 Imprisonment at Detroit, Mich. They were
the first persons tried under that law, aud the
President and the AttOrney-General, as well as
the Judge before whom the cases were heard
are now satisfied that the sentences imposed
were illegal and excessive.
THE RAwLINs STATUE.
The work Of removing the statue Of Gen
I Rawlins has been finished, and il now occupie.
slightly location on the corner Of PeunsylVa
MIA avenue and Ninth street.
NEW ARCHITECT.
Mr.. NJ +. Bell. the Government Superyisina
i Architect. has been removed by the President
/ William Ferret, Of New Orleans, has been ap
! pointed 30 the position.