Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-08-08
SPARKS GETS IT HOT
From Land Commissioner Carter in
the Latter's Annual Report.
HIS POLICY Is DENOUNCED
As Having reen One That Greatly Retarded
the Work of the Cf1ice.
IMPROVEMENT UNDER THE NEW RULE

WASHINGTON, Aug. THE annual re-
port to the Secretary of the Interior of the
operations of the General Land Office for
the fiscal year ended June 80, 1892, was
made public to-day. A careful reading of
this report, says Commissioner Carter, will
demonstrate that the liberal and just policy
toward the settlers upon the public domain,
adopted by Secretary Noble at the begin
ming of this administration, has been pro-
ductive of very satisfactory and benefcent
results, The report continues:
report OF last year, that with the force then
at command, the business of this bureau
woulu be brought up abreast with
current work by the end of the
fiscal year just closed. 1t is gratifying to me
now to be able to report to you that a literal
fulfllment of the prediction has been fully
consummated. In order that the magnitude
of the work done during the last fiscal year
may readily be comprehended, and the re-
suit accomplished fully appreciated, feel
warranted in referring to and discussing
briefly the policy that governed and con-
trolled the business of this Office unuer the
last administration, from 1885 to 1899.
Commissioner Sparks, in his annual report
for the fiscal year ending June 80. 1885. said:
"At the outset of my administration was
confronted with the overwhelming evidence
that the public domain was being made
prey of unsoruDulous speculation and the
worst forms of land monopoly through sys-
tematic fraud carried ON and consummated
under public land laws"
Wrong View of Things Taken.
He further stated in the same report in
discussing the subject of commuted home
steads, that the proportion of fraudulent
entries fthis kind could be more nearly esti-
mated as the whole number of such entries
than in any other manner; that the averags
proportion Of fraudulent pre- emption filings
to the total number of filings made and re-
linQuished should be Estimated in round
numbers as exactly LOCO per cent, and that
90 per cent of all timber cut was fraudulent.
Having become wrongfully imbued with
the idea that nearly. all, or at least very
large proportion of the entries made upon
the public domain were fraudulent and
that the great body of well disposed settlers
were unscrupulous, 1T is not surprising that
Commissioner Spaeks, on April 8. 1885.
entries Except on certain scrip locations
and on private cash entries), in the whole
OF Colorado except the Ute reservation, and
New Mexico, Montana, wyoming and por. @
tions of Kansas, Nebraska and Minnesota.
The detrimental effect of this and other
similar swesping, orders, and Of the mis- mis-
prompted them, upon the business of this
office. was very great, and as consequence
this administration, on assuming the reins
a Land Office greatly demoralized in all its
ramif1cations. Injustice, or q denial Of JUS
tice, under the machinery OF the law, was
honestly and laboriously, and at much
hazard and heavy expense, complied in
good faith with all the requirements of the
laws. outraged and indignant at the multi
piled injuries inflicted on him by malad-
ministration, demanded a patent a title to
the land he had, by settlement, cultivation,
and compliance with the law, fully
earned.
A Change of Policy Beneficial.
Thus. by reason of this erroneous and mis-.
taken policy, the legitimate channels of
business in this office had become c.oggel,
and by reason of wrongful delays a vast
amount of work had accumulated, there
being at the close of the fiscal year ending
June 80 1888 $50, 953 entries of all kinds pend
ing or awaiting consideration. Under these
sireumstanees ,aIs change ns of policy vas
March Z. 1885, a now administrative policy,
based on a liberal and enlightened interpre-
has o durns
vening fiscal years. Under this new policy
settlers are presumed to be honest and well
disposed toward the Government and the
laws, and public land business has been ex-
pedited with marked ben eficent results.
In virtue of this marked and beneficial
change of policy, and under the favorable
legislation mentioned, the large number of
accumulated entries above stated, together
with an addition of 3ls0l6 entries, received
since the present policy was inaugurated,
had, on June 80, 1892, been carefully consid-
cred and proper action taken thereon.
Comparative tables accompanying this
report show an excess during the four fiscal
years ending June 30. 1892, over the four
years ending June 80. 1888, in the number
and acreage of agricultural patents issued
of nearly 146 per cent, substan TALLY clearing
the docket and leaving the office on July l.