The San Francisco call., 1895-10-16

unavailing, made preparation to file protests
against all railroad lists of selections, as they
would from time to time appear in the several
newspapers OF the State under the provisions
OF the rules and regulations OF the department
of the Interior, dated July 9, 1894. In conSe-
quence OF the vague and indefinite form of the
advertisement which appear in that regard, it
Is impossible to gather theretrom knowledge
OF the exact number OF acres involved in the
protests which nave been filed in behalf OF, and
as the work of this association, by Messrs.
Edward Il. Benjamin and William c. Ralston,
| but this committee has positive knowledge
that at least six hundred thousand acres are in
volved, and it is believed that the aggregate
acreage VIII amount to somewhere in the
neighborhood of one million acres.
Protests involving nearly 800 900 acres filed
in the name of Edward II. BENJAMIN have been
dismissed by the Commissioner OF the General
Land Office on the ground that the character OF
each forty-acre subdivision included therein
was not specially shown. Appeals from these
orders of dismissal were taken in due time to
the Secretary of the Interior, allowed, and are
now pending before him, all briefs on both
sides being now in.
1t is perhaps proper in this connection to
state that the chairman of this committee was
appointed by the executive committee in the
latter part OF March, 1895, to proceed to Wash
1ngton and take such steps as he might see fit
either in the Department of the Interior OF
before the President of the United States
touching these matters.
! The matter was finally laid before the Presi-
dent of the United States directly, both by oral
n
dent of the United states personally assured
! your said representative that he would take
due action in the matter, and TO that promise
may be attributed the present status of what
are commonly called the benjamin appeals -
IT having been heretofore contrary to the prac-
tce OF the Department OF the Interior to grant
appears TO protestant, particularly from an
order denying hearing such as made in those
! cases.
Since the Goth day of August, 1895, there
! have been certain negotiations pending be-
1 fFxrnn bic Il AF,lI.
| agent of the Central Pacific Railroad Company
| touching an amicabe adjustment of the ques-
! tons which have arisen between this associa-
| ton and the land grant aided railroads in this
! classification of the lands lying within the
limits OF their respective grants. There is
agreement from applying to Congress for ap-
propriate legislation in the matter. These
negotiations are still in progress.
Then followed the election of officers for
the ensuing year. The reelection of Pres
ident Neff and Vlce-President Thornton
were foregone conclusions. They were the
only nominees, ana each step, from their
nominations to their brief speeches of ac-
ceptance, was marked by enthusiastic
outbreaks of applause. Both gentlemen
have held their respective positions since
| the organization of the association. four
| years ago.
Great interest. however, attached to the
| election OF secretary. Early IN The contest
which was in progress some time before
the convention met, there were three can
didates in the field, W. G. Ralston, the in
cumbent; Julian Sonntag and w. r.
Thomas of Nevada. Thomas formally
withdrew in favor of Sonntag before the
convention came together, and Ralston
announced that he would not be a candi-
date. But Ralston's attitude did not pre-
vent his nomination by Chris Rumkel OF
Placer in stirring and impressive speech,
the effect of which was lost, however, by
Ralston formally withdrawing his name
assigning as a reason the need of more
time to devote to his private affairs. He
then explained that the only reason he
allowed his name to be used at all was
that Mr.. Neff positively refused to let his
name be used unless those whose Loyalty tc
the association and the miners cause had
been proved to his satisfaction would con-
tlnue to serve with him. He then added
There were rumors that the railroad com.
panies intended to capture this ASSOCIATION, il
possl bic; and q certain opposition 10 the course
OF the association was developed even among
the members of the executive committee itself
mainly however, from a few who never attend
It's meetings or pay the slightest personal at
tentlon TO its proceedings, except when they
! may serve some purpose OF their own by so do