Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1893-04-20
NATIONAL CAPITAL.
Chief, Justice Fuller Announces the
Decision in the Case of the N.
P. R. r. VS.. Walker.

The State Department has been in
formed that the owners Of the conces-
sion for building railroad from the
City OF Mexico TO the Pacific Coast have
deposited $4,000 in bonds with the Ma
tiOnal Treasury as required under the
terms Of the concession. The builders
Of the road are TO receive a subsidy Of
$12, 900 mile.
As result Of the controversy between
Mark W. Harrington, chief of the
weather bureau, and ]. B. Mclaughlin,
chief OF the executive division OF the
bureau, Mr.. Harrington has demanded
Of Secretary Morton an immediate and
full investigation of the administration
Of the bureau. Mclaughlin was sus-
pended by Harrington for insubordina-
ton and recommended TO the Secretary
for dismissal. Mclaughlin responded
by filing charges of corruption against
Harrington. An investigation by the
management Of the bureau will be made
ut once.
Secretary Carlisle has received from
Edwin Walker, Chairman of the Com
mittee on Legislation Of the Worlds Co
lumbian Exposition, a letter raising
certain questions in regard TO the sundry
civil act, in which is included the appro-
priation for the Worlds Fair. He asks
especially for the construction of the
Congressional action authorizing the
coinage Of the $5,0O0,000 souvenir half
dollars iOr the benefit Oi the lair ana
afterwards passing an act declaring the
exposition must furnish security for the
payment of s570,880 appropriated for
/ ar,Iu 30 Tho g
sition are in doubt as TO how TO construe
these acts. Secretary Carlisle referred
the question. TO the Acknowledgement for
decision.
United States Consul Seymour at Cam
ton, China, has cabled the State Depart
ment that 10000 Chinese actors, etc.,
belonging to rival companies, have left
Shanghai for the United States TO visit
the Worlds Fair, where they will land
at Vancouver, Tacoma, Portland, San
Francisco and other places. In accord
ance with this information Assistant
Secretary Spaulding of the Treasury De-
partment has telegraphed the customs
officers on the Pacific Coast and North
ern frontier 10 exercise the closest scru-
| tiny that none but bona-fde exhibitors
or employees whose services are required
by the exhibitors at the Worlds Fair
Exposition be permitted to enter this
country. This exemption as to the Chi
nese exclusion act in favor OF exhibitors,
ETC., was made by Congress TO cover Just
such cases as this.
Chief-Justice Fuller has announced
the decision of the Supreme Court of
the United States in the case OF the
Northern Pacific against Charles Walker,
County Auditor, ct al, from the Court
OF Appeals for the Eighth Circuit. The
railway company in 1890 began suits
against the Auditors OF twelve counties
in North Dakota for iniunctions to re-
strain them from assessing taxes against
certain lands, the title to which vests in
the county. The Chief Justice stated
the amount involved in any one county
was not sufficient TO give the Circuit
Court jurisdiction, and indeed the rec
ords show that the total amount in the
twelve counties is not sufficient. The
judgment oi the Circuit Court was there
fore reversed and the cases remanded for
further proceedings. No disposal was
made, the Chief Justice explained, for
the reason that by the time the cases
are returned the amount involved may
be sufficient, in some one OF the counties,
to give the court jurisdiction, but it cam
not obtain jurisdiction, he said, by COM
blning the amounts OF issue in two or
dozen counties.
The Supreme Court has announced its
construction OF the proclamation by the
President and act OF Congress in 1889,
opening the Creek Indian reservation in
Oklahoma. They contained this provi-
sion: ANY person who may enter upon
any part OF said lands, prior to the time
the same are opened TO settlement, will
not be permitted to occupy or make en-
try of such lands. or Law any claim
thereto" Alexander f. Smith, rail
road employe, living at Edmond station
ut the time the lands were opened, en-
tered n quarter section. His right of
entry was contested 10y Eddy b. Town
send and decided in his favor by the lo-
cal land officer, but on appeal the Com
missioner OF the general land office, the
Secretary of the Interior, and the Dis
trict Court and the Supreme Court OF
Oklahoma succcssivcly sustained Town
sends entry, and Smith appealed TO the
supreme Court of the United States.
Justice Brewer announced the decision
OF the court in an opinion review
ing the facts and law in the case, con-
cluding with the statement that any one
who was within the Territorial limits ut
the hour OF noon April 30 was, by both
the letter and spirit OF the statute, dis
qualified to take homestead therein.
The Assistant Secretary of State has
been directed hy Secretary Gresham
TO examine more thoroughly than has |
been customary into the personnel of |
the State Department. with the view, il |
is understood, OF determining the fitness |
ot the employees Tor the positions held hy |
them, II is reported, and ON good au- |
thority, that tradition ami precedent |
will not obtain in the State Department /
during the incumbency of Secretary /
Gresham, and that there will he less rcd |
tape and greater dispatch OF business /
hereafter. Secretary Hoke Smith has
alWady begun TO carry into effect his
policy OF dispensing with the services OF
all incompetent clerks in his department,
or those appointed purely for political
reasons, Under the direction OF Chief
Clcrk Warile the individual rccori OF
the clerical torcc OF the census office is
hring thoroughly examined, and all the
clerks found TO be deficient will be dis
missed. IL is Secretary Smiths belief
that the work of the census should he
by the end OF the calendar
year without asking an additional appro-
priation from Congress, but to do this
he is convinced there must he not only
economy in expenditures, but each EN-.
ployc must do good and efficient work.