The advocate., 1890-04-02

resolutions aud sOnd thom here 10 manifest
10 Senators and Representatives tho politi-
cal influence which they intend 10 exercise
against members who have tho temority 10
protect tho Government against their exorbi-
tsnt demands for pay.
Mn. ISoALLs. Mr.. President this Is vory
bad time 10 be increasing salaries In tho
midst Of profound peaoo and plenty fatal
blight seems 10 have fallon upon the In
dustrles OF the country. Tho prices Of all
agricultural products are low TO degree
seldom known In our economic history.
There is want, distress, discomfort thous-
ands OF mon are out OF employment de-
prociatod values exist and there is a s0nti-
ment OF apprehension about the future
Mr.. President, recognizing those facts, /
again Say II Is a very bad time 10 DO inoreas-
ing salaries. notice that In tho report Of
the committee the latest recommendation
for the increase suggested was In 1895, and /
should be very glad indeed 10 know II In the
latest reports oithe Secretary Of the Interior
or OF tho President Of tho United States
there Ia any suggestion that there IN any
want Of efficiency in tho Land Department
on account Of deficient appropriations for
salaries, Until something Is shown which
indicates chat unless this appropriation Is
made the interests Of those who have busi-
moss before that department arc 10 suffer-
shall protest against II.
Mr. STEWART. Mr.. President, think that
u might be economy TO increase this salary
OF the Commissioner 10 5000 and perhaps
TO double that and make II $4,000, or even
S2O,O0O II we could curtail somo Of the no-
torlously unnecessary expenses In tho adj
ministration of the General Land OGico.
Between 100000 and 100000 is annually
appropriated for special agents Of that De-
partment They are sent from distant soc-
tions Of tho country into the West, they get
up largo numbers OF lawsuits, involving tho
Government In vast expense, and most of
them are failures because they ought 10 fail
They must do something TO koop up the sys-
tom. When they fail, the Law department
claiming 10 DO attorneys Of tho Land De-
paFtment collects tho fees. Many honest
people are worn out with litigation and there
Is great suffering throughout tho country on
account Of the lavish appropriations for this
special-agont system.
should DO perfectly willing 10 increase
this salary TO $1,000, but should hope, II
that were done, that tho Commissioners would
look into this matter OF Extravaganza in
making appropriations for these special
agents and devise some method whereby the
expense In that direction or portion OF IL,
at least, may be avoided, II that were done
we could afford 10 pay the Commissioner
large sum OF money for accomplishing such
a reform. The $500 extra added to his salary
is a moro bagatello compared TO tho two or
three hundred thousand dollars annually ex-
pended over which there Is very little control
and with regard TO which there is no inyesti-
CATION. The Commissioner Of the General
Land Office 10 his own auditor and comp
troller. He audits the accounts himself.
There Is a secret division, called division
b, in that department, which directs and
manages the whole thing, and the litigation
and investigation are 80 extensive that the
head Of the bureau can not know what is
going ON, much less the Secretary Of the In
terror. When called upon TO investigate
particular case whore there il litigation
pending,with a view Of determining whether
litigation should proceed, the Secretary Of
tho Interior Is unable even 10 give IL partial
attention. Itisimpossible TO get the opinion
Of the Attorney General whether these cases
shall be prosecuted or not. They are turned
over 10 the Land Department, Of which he is