Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-06-10
A FAMOUS CASE SETTLED.

The Sterling Ansfln Claim Mt Last Disposed
O-Prcsident Grants Land ProcInma-
tion LezaI-PersonaI and Political Notes
From the Capital.
IHTAsH1NaroN, June 9.-The Court Of Claims
to-day settled the famous Austin cotton
claim. This was a claim for about 100000 for
cotton seized in Louisiana and Texas,
and rested upon the loyalty OF Ster-
ling Austin. deceased, father of the
claimants. 1t also involved the question
whether the general amnesty act OF 1865 re-
moved his disabilities in case he was proved 10
have been disloyal. The court decided the lat
ter point in the negative, and dismissed the
petition on the ground that the loyalty OF Ster-
ling Austin had not been established. A sup
Elementary opinion was. however, given. liking
the value of the property seized at s09, 2SI.
The Secretary of the Interior to-day rendered
an important decision on the question OF the
legality of the Presidents action in issuing on
NAV 23 1870 a proclamation offering certain
lands in New Mexico for sale at public auction.
In pursuance of this proclamation the said
lands, in August following, were offered as
stated, and those of them remaining undis-
posed of were treated as subject to private
cash entry under the act of April "a, $50. In
1886 Commissioner Sparks disputed the legality
of the Presidents order. and recently the pres
ent Commissioner decided that the offering
under the Presidents proclamation was not au-
thorized by law. The Secretary overrules the
decisions, and concludes that the Presidents
proclamation was legal, and that the question
must be accepted as finally and legally deter
mined,
Editorial Excur sIsnisfs In Town.
4 PLEASURE excursion party. consisting of
about So members of the Minnesota Edi-
tors and Publishers ASSOCIATION, many Of
whom were accompanied by the ladies of their
families and invited friends, arrived here at S
o'clock this evening on a special train over the
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. The party will
make the Ebbitt House their headquarters
during their stay, and under the escort of the
Minnesota delegation in Congress will visit all
points of interest in and about Washington.
Tomorrow evening they will be given a recep-
tion by Secretary and Mrs. Window, and by
Senator and Mrs. Davis. Wednesday the ex-
cursionis.s will visit Mount Vernon, and on
Thursday they will be entertained at lunch by
Senator and Mrs. Washburn. The party will
leave here for home next Friday evening"
A Tippecanoe Memorial.
? EPREsENTATIvE O'NEILL. of Pennsylva-
mia, to-day reported favorably to the
House, from the Library Committee, the bill
appropriating $4,000 for the erection of mon-
ument on the battlefield of Tippecanoe In
diana, to commemorate the herOism of the men
who fought and died there under the leader
ship of General William Henry Harrison.
This afternoon Senators Allison and Farwell
and members of the House from Illinois and
Iowa appeared before the Senate Committee
on Commerce in support of the appropriation
of $500 900 TO begin work on the Hennepin Canal
project, contained in the river and harbor bill.
The item was retained in the bill, only one vote,
that of Senator Vest, being against it in the
committee.
James Brooks, ex-Chief of the Secret Service
Division of the Treasury Department. was to-
day placed in charge of the division in place OF
Acting Chief Cowie. 1t is understood that the
position will not be permanently filled before
July ]. The Knights of Labor are very friendly
to ex-Chief Bell, and will, it is said. support
him for Congress in New Jersey district
Settlers Sufficiently Protected.
G ENAToR PLUMB to-day reported adversely
- from the Public Lands Committee bill to
protect land claimants within railroad limits BY
permitting them to purchase the land from the
Government at So so per acre whenever it is
held not to be within the land grant to the
railroad company. Accompanying the bill is
letter from the commissioner of the general
land office, recommending that the bill be not
passed. for the reason that the interests of
bona fde settlers are sufficiently protected
under the present laws.