Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-07-06
NOTICE TO OWNERS OF PATENTS FOR
PUBLIC LANDS.

! Mr.. Plumb, of the Committee on Public
Lands, has reported the bill to provide
for the delivery of land patents to their
rightful owners. In presenting this bill
and demanding its immediate consideration
at the hands of the Senate, Messrs. Plumb
Paddock and Berry, of the committee, stated
that there were 100000 land patents in
the General Land Office at Washington.
Before patents are made in the General
Land Office, final payment has been made.
and certificate of this payment has been
issued to the entryman. AS soon as the
| certificate is in the hands of the pre-
emptor, or homestead claimant, who has
made final proof, it is negotiable instru-
ment and is frequently negotiated. The
| right to patent accrues upon the issuing
OF this certificate, and the issuing of the
patent is merely ministerial office. After
| final proof, full payment and the issuing
of certificate of such purchase, title is
| said to be indefeasible in the entryman.
Growing out of this legal conclusion.
much Indifference has been manifested as
to the patent, and this indifference has
been augmented by the delays in the
General Land Office at Washing on.
1t was the policy of the late lamented
Sparks to arrest administration, mistaking
this refusal to administer for good admin
istration. Patents, however, are very i'm
portant as making convenient record evil
dence of title, and the proprietors of land
should see to it that their patents are
issued out of the General Land Office at
Washington, placed in their possession and
recorded in the counties in which their
lands are located. There is no other way
to show clear title by abstract, and how
ever true it may be that the records of the
United States Land Office will show title
in them by reason of final proof, payment
and issuing of certificate, still patent, as
proper record thereof, has very i'm
portant bearing on the merchantable value
of the title. Mr.. Sparks was succeeded in
Office by a fellow named Stockslager, who
was perhaps the worst specimen of ignor-
ance and stupidity that has ever disgraced
a public position in the United States.
Mr.. Plumb, as Chairman of the Committee
on Public Lands, stated that an enterpris-
ing law firm in Washington had under
taken the task of delivering these 100000
patents to their rightful owners This law
firm issued notices to these 100000 people,
offering to procure and send them their
patents for a fee. There is universal
opinion that an attorney is required to do
business with the General Land Office at
Wasbington-that individuals cannot APP
proach the high functionary known as the
Commissioner of the General Land Office.
1t therefore happens that an individual to
whom patent is due will pay $40, and
think the service cheap. Now, these 250,-
900 patents at $40 apiece is 81, 500, 900, and
this was about the stake in sight when Mr..
Plumb interfered with the bill, which
directs the Secretary of the Interior to
send patents to the Recorders in
each county in which the lands
lie, and the Recorder, of course, having
legitimate fee, will see to it that they are
recorded. This relates to all patents in
the General Land Office which have re-
manned uncalled for for twelve months.
The bill should pass, but if it does not the
owners of patents in California should
simply demand that their patents be sent to
them They can do this without the enter
ference Of any lawyer.
Judge Croft, the present Commissioner
of the General Land Office, brings to the
! discharge of its great duties the ripest
learning and the highest Judicial fairness
that has occupied the place for quarter
of century. People having dealings
with the General Land Office of The
United States have in the present Com
missioner a most efficient and able officer,
and settlers upon public lands viii find
when they have rights a proper recogni-
! ton of them and most courteous and eff
Gent attention at the hands of the present
/; Commissioner.