The morning call., 1892-08-04
SENATE BILL VETOED.
The President Declines to Approve the
Land Case Act.

WASHINGTON, Aug. 3-The President
has vetoed the Senate bill amending the act
OF March 3, 1887, comforting on the Court
OF Claims jurisdiction in contested land
patents
The President in vetoing the bill SAYS In
part that the work of the Land Office for
the past three years has been so efficient
that the large accumulation of cases have
been swept away and the Office Is now en-.
gagged on current business. 1t seems to the
President that the transfer in whole OF
part. of this business to the courts, some OF
whose dOckets are already loaded up, can
not tend to expedition, while it is manifest
that by reason Of the greater formality in
the taking and presentation of evidence re-
CURED III the courts. and the long distances
that settlers would have to travel, the costs
would be enormously increased.
AS to the concurrent Jurisdiction given
the District courts and the Court of Claims.
the President says it is doubtful whether
the Territorial courts are District courts
within the meaning of the bill If they are
held not to be such the effect OF this legis-
lation would be that all the suits from the
Territories must come to Washington. The
plaintiff, 1t will be observed by the act, is
also given the option TO sue in the District
courts or the Court of Claims. The Presi-
dent cannot understand why a plaintiff
should have this advantage, one n not given,
as lar as he knows, in any other law fixing
the form OF litigation between individuals.
The Jurisdiction of the Court.
Not only this. but the Court of Claims
was established as far as he recalls wholly
for the trial of money claims and has no
adequate provision for conducting suits be-
tween individuals cOntesting private rights
ha lrt of CIajT io d.,
burdened since the reference to it of the
Indian depTeGationS and French SpoliatiOns
claims, etc.
Again. the bill is so indefinite in its pro-
visions that 1t cannot be told, the President
thinks, what function, II any, remains to be
discharged by the General Land Office.
IL conclusion, the President says he is
inclined to believe that If provisions were
made as in section 1868 Of the Revised
Statutes, relating 10 the claims in 0ther de-
partmentS for the transfer to the proper
court under proper regulations Of certain
contested eases involving questions affecting
large classes of claims, il would be a relief
to the Land Office and would tend to a more
speedy adjustment of land titles, the result
OF which would be to the interest of all the
people. There is nothing more dsadvan-
tageous to the community, its progress and
peace. than unsettled land titles. This bill,
however. is so radical and so indefinite in
its provisions that the President cannot ap-
prove it.
Conference the Fair.
The committee of 10 members of the
House on the Worlds Fair matter met this
morning, and as the hours progressed the
statement Of those who came out of the con-
ference was that an agreement would prob
ably be reached. The following basis was
agreed TO: The House to reconsider its
action Oh the sundry civil bill, by which it
agreed to the Senate amendment apDro-
priating S., 600 for the Worlds Fair,
and the bill was sent back to con-
ference with the understanding that
it shall be eliminated from the bill {;
the Durhurow Worlds Fair bill shall be
taken up and shall be voted on Saturday,
the amount carried by the bill. however, to
be reduced from $4,000. coo 10 81, SOC, ,0n0, aud
10 make 1t direct gift The committee
simply submits an agreement TO the caucus,
and the members are not bound to vote in
favor OF the DuIborow BILL They merely
agree. if the caucus adopts the proposition.
not to fijbusteT against il.
The Democratic caucus was one of dis
sensiOn. The Texas delegation left the
hail, refusing to be bound by an agreement
which has not yet been read TO them.
Many other members followed their ex-
ample, taking the ground that the decision
of the caucus would have no binding effect.
Utah Judges Nominated.
The following nominations were made
to-day: Judges of Probate for the Territory
OF Utah-Martin Slack, in Washington
County; Orange Seeley, Emery County
Henry Shields, Summit County: jacob
johnson. San Pete County; Stephen Y.
Frazier, Rich County; Hector w. Haight,
Davis County; William Goodwin, Cache
County; Thomas 5. Watson, Wasatch
County: John Rider, Kane County; Alvin
L. Robinson, Wayne County.
Rescue of Abandoned SeaIers.
Acting Secretary Seeley has sent word
to Commander Evans. commanding the
United States feet in the Northern Pacific
Ocean, to dispatch vessel to ST. Matthews
Island, in the Bering Sea, for the relief of
three hunters reported to have been aban-
doned there by sealing schooner.
Not Needed in Honduras.
The United States steamer Kearsarge will
not bly, be called upon to make the
cruise to Honduras. While no official news
has been received from that country for
several days the officials of the State and
Navy departments have no reason to dis
credit the press dispatches stating that the
revolution is ended.