The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-12-24
Grand total zoe. So. Az 27assl Isl 57loIs, sos

This aggregate Is exclusive of Ohio, In
diana and Illinois, in which. IL any pub
lie land remains, 1t consists of q few small,
Isolated tracts. IL Is exclusive of Alaska,
containing SIT 800 square miles. or 359.-
SO 600 acres. 1t is also exclusive OF
military and Indian reservations and
lands subjec, TO sale for the benefit Of GER
tain tribes, and exclusive Of reservoir site
and timber reservations and tracts COW
cred by selections, filings. railroad grants,
and claims rs yet unadiudieated, part
of which may in the future be added to
the public domain.
In the annual report of this Office for
the fiscal year ending June 80, 1889. and in
previous reports. recommendations were
made for legislation by congress providing
for the compulsory attendance OF wit
nesses at hearings before registers and re-
ceiyers of local land offices, in trials In
volving the validity or bona hdes of
entries on the public lands: but fail to
find in any subsequent reports renewal
OF said recon- me ndstion. which seems to
me to be one OF tn most important ques-
tons concerning the proper and just adj
ministration OF the public land laws that
can be presented for the consideration of
congress. Appropriations are made annu-
ally by congress for the expenses Of
special agents to investigate and report
upon alleged fraudulent entries of the
public lands. and also appropriations for
the expenses of hearings arising from
action taken upon such special agents
reports, but the records OF this Office show
that large portion of the moneys so APP
propriated for the protection OF the public
lands Is actually wasted. by reason Of the
inability OF the government to compel the
attendance of witnesses TO sustain its posi-
ton nj the hearings. and thus secure the
necessary proof upon which 10 cam
eel entries reported as fraudulent
by special agents. and restore the
land covered thereby to the public
domain. The same condition of affairs ex*
lists in regard TO contests between In.
diyiduals relating to entries upon the pub
lie lands. Many an honest. but ilhterase
and poor. settler upon the public lands
has been deirauded OF his home by the i'm
PRODUCTION of paid for and pcriered evidence
at a hearing before the register and re-
celver Of the local land office, simply
because If his inability to procure
the attendance OF witnesses 20 shos
his good faith and compliance with saw.
citizens than the integrity and stability Of
the titles to their homes upon that rests The
who e foundation OF the government The
hearings held before registers and receivers
in public land entries are OF precisely the
same character ss suits 1T las to quiet
t,tls ami should he surrounded by the
same safeguards.
A careful examination and comparison
Of The provisions Of these seyeral laws dis
close the utter inadsqaacy of legislation
thus lar enacted 10 provide for the iegiti-
mate procuring Of public timber to supply
the actual necessities OF ths people de-
pendent thereon in aiding and promoting
settlements and developing the natGrss re-
sources Of the pablo lands, or 10 properly
nroteet aud preserve the forests for the
conservation Of the water supply sud the
needs OF the future. The result OF ludie-
ial proceedings under these laws has
proved that some are too impsseticsbie 10
De enforced.