The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-12-05

IA1>LADEh q, 1890
United States can at an early date have the
Denent OF these valuable and useful deposits.
II the lands containing them were owned
py an individual or corporation, instead of
Dy the government,
BUSINESS METHODS
would be pursued in disposing of them; they
would be sold to the highest bidder at pub.
lie auction. or by sealed bids. or would be
ieaseg, or the right to work the deposits
would be granted for consideration in the
shape OF royalty otherwise. Such lands
are Inherent from agricultural timber or
l recommend that congress authorize the
appolntment OF another commission to nego-
tate with the Uncompahgres. explain to them
now the lands allotted can be paid for with
out depicting their trust fund, and that au-
tnorfty be given such commission to sell
esubject to the approval OF the secretary OF
the INTERIOR the remaining portion of the
lands OF the reservation to the highest bid
DER, to lease them, or to negotiate with re-
sponslble parties for the working of the de-
posts, III order that the government may
be fairly compensated, and to the end that
the pubic may enjoy the benefit of highly
useful gift of nature.
ri these lands were the property Of the In
dians, there could be question as to the
ABOVE described method being the proper one
10 ADOPT In the disposition thereof. In my
oplnlon, however, the Indians have no inter
est IN these Utah lands If there are not sufi-
Client agricultural lands within the limits of
the Utah reservation to provide for their al
lotments under the agreement Of $780, the
government would be under obligation to fur
nlsh agricultural lands elsewhere for allot-
ment to the Uncompahgres.
The secretary makes no comment on
the work OF the Dawes Indian commits
sion, but includes in the report a par
tlal report of the commission which is
now engaged under the act of June
10, 1895, in determining all applications
for citizenship in the five civilized
tribes
Under the head of bond-aided rail-
reads, the secretary says he complied
with the joint resolution of June 10.
1886, requiring him to continue the is
sue of patents to bona fide purchasers
OF lands sold by bond-aided railroads,
but he says he declined to issue patents
to all surveyed lands on the applica-
ton of the Central Pacific. He says:
fhe representatives of the Central Pa
cifie further contended that their road is not
IN default to the government and that if it
WERE the lands are not covered by the gov
ernment mortgage and cannot be held to Sc
cure the same. L do not agree with either Of
these statements. The tables presented clear
~ show that the Central Pacific railroad is
IN default to the government; but whether so
or not it unquestionably will be on January
next, or about thirty days hence when
w, 432 coo additional of it's Indebtedness to-
gether with thirty years interest thereon,
49, ANAA NUO esiiu must 10 TGu60Iu6u Dy UQ0
government
In answer to the contention that the gov
eminent lien is not secured by the lands
granted the Central and Union Pacific COM
panies, section of the act of 1862 provides.
that on the refusal or failure of company
to redeem its bonds or any part thereof, the
secretary OF the treasury may take pos
session of all lands which at the time of
SAID default shall remain in the ownership
OF the company. For the above reasons I have
aeclined to patent lands to the Union Pa
except IN cases where 1t can be shown that
the lands for which patents are asked have
been sold to bona fide purchasers.
lnasmuch as the subsidy bonds issued by
the government to aid in the construction Of
these roads are falling due from time to
llme and must be redeemed by the govern
Iient as they mature, while the roads are un-
able to
REIMBURSE THE TREASURY
for the amount so paid, and the further
reason that a bill is now pending in con-
gress providing for funding of this indebt
edness, L deem 1t the part of prudence for
the government to retain whatever of the
property OF the roads 1t may have in it's
possession or in its control, until there shall
government.
The secretary says he has requested
an opinion from the secretary of the
treasury as to whether the Central
Pacific is in default, and the attorney
L.
he is authorized to patent lands grant
ca TO bond-aided railroads, even when
they nave been sold to bona fide pur-
chasers. 1t will be noticed here that
the secretary here by implication cues
lions the authority of the concurrent
resolution directing him to continue the
issue of patents
referring to the railroad commission
ers' recommendations for a commission
10 SETTLE the Indebtedness of the bond
aided roads, the secretary says:
congress is not likely to delegate to any
commission the power to settle this indebted
ness without making such settlement sub
Ject TO It's approval; but whether congress
would do SO or not, the delay consequent Inon
lne appointnent OF commission and it's
WORK would be so great that most or all of
the ponds Issued in aid of these roads would
mature and the government be called upon
70 70 redeem the same. In the meantime, other
DIS would be introduced seeking to effect
olner settlements, and in the end the gov
eminent would receive less for its claim than
IL would II compromise by the cash paw
ment OF lump sum should be effected in the
immediate future and the government he
come relieved thereby from all connection
with these roads,
This Indebtedness has been the subject NJ
attempted legislation for many wears mast
and it seems impossible to frame any renewal
or extension of the loan which will be ac-
SSe ep both to the legislators and the in
debted companies. funding Of the debt.
which eontemplates the government accent,
ing long time bonds for its advances will
not remove this troublesome subject from
the consideration of congress, and would prob
ably result in renewed measures for relief
OF the roads being proposed as those bonds
approach maturity
:, In my Judgment, 1T is much better for
the government to accept a lump sum in
cash for Its claim against these roads. il
Dy so doing that claim can be settled and
the connection between the government and
the only roads it has ever aided by direct
subsidy be effectually severed. Such a solu-
ton OF this vexed question would meet with
the hearty approval of the people generally
and relieve the Legislators and all branches
OF the government of troublesome problem
and trying responsibility.
With regard to the Nicaraguan Mari
time Canal company, chartered by the
government in 1889, the secretary saws
a preliminary report Of the company
submitted to him shows that no work
was done during the present year
In conclusion, the secretary calls at
tention to the cramped quarters in
the interior department, the large sum
paid for rent annually (reaching SAG. 900
last year, and earnestly recommends
the erection of another structure on a
block adjacent to the present building.
adequate to accommodate all branches
of the department