The record-union., 1893-05-06
VOICE OF THE PRESS.
Expressions of Various Papers in Re-
gard to Lieu Lands.
Newspapers all Over the State Warmly
Commend the Vigorous Course
of the ''Record- -Union.o

In addition to the numerous express
sions of papers in different parts of the
State in reference to the action of the
Surveyer-General sin regard to lieu land
applications, which have already been
reproduced in these columns, the follow
ing will be read with interest:
THEY ARE PUBLIC RECORDS.
lMarysville Democrat, May 4th.l
Recently there has been quite i'm
portant action taken by persons ap-
pointed to consider the question of the
legality of the action of the Surveyor
General of California, in receiving and
locking up certain applications for State
lieu lands.
Byron Waters, a. L. Hart and f. S.
Plllsbury, who were styled an Advisory
Board, have recently filed a report which
is said TO be against the action of the
urveyor-General.
We are not advised as to what author
ity these gentlemen acted under in hear
ing evidence in the case, nor what effect
their opinion will have in determining
the legality of the acts of that official.
However, the result of the agitation and
investigation has been the means of
bringing to public notice the slack and
unbusiness- like way that this class of
business has been conducted, and Will be
the means of a reform.
1t ought not TO have been necessary to
call for an investigation in the case of
applications filed with the Surveyor
General for the purchase Of lands, as
that officer is a servant of the people
whose duty in such cases is plain and
simple. Any document purportlng to
deal with the State Of California in an
official capacity, if received by the officer,
at once becomes public record.
In that office, as in a United States
Land Office, there is only one rule of pro-
cedure relative to disposing of public
lands in so far as the applicant is con-
cerned, and that is, the Office hours must
be observed and the first person to ap-
ply has right superior to those who
come afterward. An application, when
received by the officer, at once becomes a
matter of public record, which may be in
spected by any citizen on demand An
officer who is a servant of the people and
paid by them to perform a public service
has not the right to deprive any citizen of
the privileges accorded to them by law,
nor to cause them unnecessary trouble
and expense.
This is applicable to the Surveyor
General in the matter of lieu land apph-
cations which he receives IN the capacity of
an officer, and he had not the right under
the law nor any valid rule TO lock them
up and keep them from being seen on the
request of a citizen. There has been a
great amount of star-chamber work by
never could have been carried on if the
officers had done their duty in a common
sense and business way. The decision of
Judge Catlin Will be approved by the
public, and the Surveyor General should
be taught a lesson. The public lands are
for the benefit of the people who desire
homes, and not to be manipulated by
spectators and favored friends of the
officers.
VERY POINTED COMMENT.
Fresno Expositor, May 4th.l
1t is natural that the San Francisco
Stock Report should defend the lieu land
thieves. 1t has plundered the property
owners of San Francisco so long that it
las a natural liking for rogues and feels
a bond sympathy with every dishonest
scheme that crops up. The defense of the
thieves is equally characteristic. 1t is that
the Southern Pacific wants to steal what
they have stolen. Weare gravely informed
that it is very wicked to expose and dis
turb the rascals who are grabbing bY
fraud, lands which are intended for actual
settlers, because the Southern Pacific has
laid covetous eyes on those lands. While
the defense is wholly irrelevant, no proof
OF any kind is brought forward to sup
port the assertion that the Southern Pa
citic has any interest in the matter at all.
Because the Sacramento RECORD UNION
has exposed the netarious operations of
the land ring, the Stock Report rushes out
with the cry that the said ring is entitled
TO sympathy, not because it is innocent,
but because it is only stealing lands that
the Southern Pacific wants TO steal. In
one breath this exhibits the logic and
morals of thief.
SINCERE, EARNEST, DETERMINED.
Red Bluff Senunel.l
The three lawyers, Byron Waters, a.
l.. Hart and +. =. Pillsbury, who recent
ly sat as an Advisory Board and heard
arguments in the Surveyor Generals of
hce on the RECORD UNIONS demand to
have General Reichert disclose the con-
tents of certain documents in his safe
understood to be applications for lieu
lands filed in the interest of the land
ring-have unanimously decided that
such papers are not bona tide appl1ca-
tions. The conclusion is a wise one, but
has no legal binding force. The RECORD
UNION therefore still insists upon the ex-
posure OF the contents of the safe. This
matter cannot be allowed to rest here, as
ii is of vital interest to the people of the
State and to all who may seek homes
here. The system that has been in vogue
for so many years, by which the grabbers
have been getting the best public lands,
must be broken up, and so etfectually
that it cannot be revived. The RECORD
UNION is sincere, earnest and determined
in this matter, and will be satisfied with
nothing short of a complete reform of the
nefarious system.
LETTING IN DAYLIGHT.
lrulare Register.l
Judge Catlin of the Sacramento County
Superior Court has decided that docu-