Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1890-02-21
Washington Letter.

WASHINGTON, DC. Feb. 9-[Special.-
Senator Pierce has given much attention
to the consideration of land matters, an
is hopeful of working several important
reforms in the red-tapeism of the general
land Office. This bureau still labors under
the incubus of Sparks id~iosyncrasles, but
the present commissioners a man of broad
ideas, liberal policy, and disposed to assist
in any movement that will promote the
welfare Of the settler. 1t will require time
tie extirpate the roots of the technical tree
planted by Sparks, but the pruning knife
will be applied early to many of it's
branches.
During the Sparks regime there were
sent out blanks containing Undergraduates
which pre-emptors were required to an
swer Through a clerical inadvertence two
questions which Mr.. Sparks deemed essen
tial to a final adjudication were omitted,
but were added to a subsequent form is.
sued by the department.. Meanwhile,
many pre-emptors, having complied with
all the requirements known to them, and
with the receipts of the local ofice-tanta-
mount to an official recognition of title
in their pockets, had transferred in good
faith to third parties all title and interest
in the land; but the land Office officials, i'm
bued with the spirit of Sparks, say an an
sWer to these two questions is a sine qua
non without which the patent cannot be
issued. 1t will not suffice to say that the
failure is due to our negligence, because
to be stretched ever by the tension of an
equity. This absurd ruling, so far as its
retrospective operation is concerned, will,
II Senator Pierce succeeds IN his endeav-
ors, be relegated to that 'innocuous desue-
tude'' in which its author now revels.
Another: Albeit the settler has made
tina proof before the local Office, and op.
%portuDity has been afforded the whole com
muDity to i%nterpose objection, yet at any
time prior to the issuance Of a patent
which in the ordinary routine is delayed
TOO long. any person may appear before the
local officials and contest the claim. This
alone does not operate so harshly. but ii
may and does happen that the2settler, hav.
ing assigned his interest, has departed
from the state and does not appear to de,
fend his claim, in which case the proceed.
ings may be entirely ex parte, but the de-
partment requires that the papers be for
warded to Washington and considered in
connection with the settlers case. This
rule not only serves to retard the issue of
patent, but renders precarious the rights
OF third parties, whereas the contestants
should have no standing because of his
laches. Senator Pierce proposes to mitigate
the hardships of this rule.
The Encouragement is passing under
his official microscope the qualifications OF
the various candidates for United States
district judge. He has entered into CORES
pondence with a number of prominen'
North DakOtans, the result of which will
affect the determination of the contest
Will official communications corrupt gOoC
manners?
WRIGHT GONE WRONG.
Many Of the citizens of Bismarck will
learn with pain that 1t. w. D. Wrigh
who, for a number of years. was so vel
and favorably known to them IN connec
ton with the military telegraph lines
centering in Bismarck. has been publicly
announced to have embezzled about $1,000
receipts of the telegraph lines under hi
charge. He obtained leave Of absence anc
at the expiration thereof did not report fol
duty. Sholld he not appear in4sthree
months, he will be entered upon the rolls
as a deserter. II
MI. Frank Morse has arrived in Wash.
ingtOn, and has entered upon his duties as
assistant sergeant-at-arms of the senate
The position will be rendered especially
pleasant to Nh. Morse by reason of the
fact that Mr.. Reed, brother of Mrs. Morse,
is an old and popular attache OF the senate.