The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1890-05-01
BEHIND IN WORK.
Three Hundred Thousand
Cases Tied Up in the Land
Department.
The Confession of ClaytOn's
Assassination Causes no Sem
satiOn in Arkansas.

WASHINGTON, Special Telegram,
During the consideration of the legislative
appropriation bill to-day Carter of Montana
presented an amendment calling for an in
crease of twenty-seven clerks in the general
land office. The debate that followed
showed up the fact that the busi-
ness of this department is from elght-
cen months to three years behind, and that
there are almost 500, 100 cases their awaiting
adjustments. Mr.. Carter had statements to
show that there are over 10000 cases in the
contest division alone-three years behind
time. 1t was safe to say that 500,0oO peo-
pie were directly interested. In these cases
settlers had to pay their money IN ad-
vance and they were being derauded OF
their rights, In Montana there were valu.
able mineral claims tied up for years for
lack OF attention in the general land office.
Peters of Kansas and Pickler of South Da-
kota made emphatic speeches in support OF
Carter, holding that it was cold fraud on
settlers to hold their titles to their lands
| from them. Cannon of Illinois and Dockery
of Missouri oppased CaTter's amendment,
and it was lost
OPPOSITION TO SURVEYS.
When the point was reached appropriat-
| ing for surveyor generalin in North and South
| Dakota, it was found that the bill provided
for only one office. Pickler moved to
/
amount named for two ($2 0OW for surveyor
general and $1,000 for clerk hire.
Cannon and Holman both made
point that there was only
one. district and were surprised to
find that there were two. Cannon then
amended Pick kler's amendment by splitting
the sum for clerk hire in each office $500.
To this amendment Pickler made strong
objection, and pointed out that the Sioux
| reservation was soon to be surveyed besides
great deal of other land which was settled
upon. He also talked for North Dakota.
Mr.. Hansbrough was not present at the
time, but it would have made no differ
ence, as the opposition to Western surveys
was plainly apparent. Pickler told some
plain truth about the manner in which the
West was being treated. Mr.. Sayers OF
Texas raised a poiTt of order against the
clause providing for the appointment by
the secretary OF the interior OF nine mcm-
bers OF board of pension appeals at 81 600
a year each. After a short discussion the
chair sustained the point of order.
SALARIES FOR SURVEYORS GEEERAL.
The Western states and territories took
up the fight generally on the appropriation
for surveyors general. When Idaho was
reached Dubois wanted the salary of the
office and clerk hire increased, but was
s.. 500 and clerks $4,000. and fight was
made for Arizona and Wyoming with
like results. When Oregon was reached
Hermann made very strong speech. He
represented the resources of his state, and
the meager pittance for the surveyor gem
eral and the small amount for clerks was
totally inadequate. There was great deal
OF trouble about the reservation surveys.
caused by insufficient clerk hire. He
wanted the salary of the surveyor general
increased from 81, 800 to s., 500, and amount
for clerks from So, coo to 5000. Hermann
pleaded with his fellow members of con-
greSs to give his state justice in this matter,
| but it was no use-the fates were against
him. Neither Carter of Montana nor
/ Wilson OF Washington made any
! fight for Increase In tlneir states,
N6jlt u was observed that t.sv
bill provided that the surveyor general in
Montana was down for 81, 500 and clerk
/ hire $6,o00 while Washington's surveyor
general draws $500 and $500 Tor clerk
| hire. Both of these men had got in their
work with the appropriation committee,
and knew that fight would make no diff
| ference. The assault stirred up Cannon,
OF the appropriations committee. He
said that the West had already been given
100000 for examination of surveys, tf at
was money that would do some good; that
the surveyor general and his clerks would
do as good work with salaries as fixed in
the bill as we'll as tor the increase asked.
The Western men, while they did not get
all they wanted, made quite a strong fight.
Five hours were consumed tonight in
getting together a quorum to vote on the
| bill. On ordering the previous question no
quorum voted, and the speaker counted
Abbott, Breckenridge of Kentucky, De Ha-
ven, Enloe and Goodnight as present and
voting, and declared the previous question
| ordered.